by Redemption
"Wait," he says. "I have news for you." She is too good, too perfect. Something about her bearing unsettles him, challenges him. He wants to break through her shell of detachment - in the nicest possible way, of course. She professes feelings for him but it's as if she's doing this as a service, without personal involvement, while he feels so strongly for her. Sexual arousal related to surprise and shock?… Will it apply to her also? To a marvellous modern mortal, as it were? Maybe he can turn the tables… . Surprise her with LLife, WWisdom and LLaww? No. No - they can wait.
"The visitor you arranged for me…"
"Charles Hendon?"
"Yes, he had some very interesting information. Intriguing. I'm not sure though whether you might want to hear it."
"Of course I would,' she says with a tinge of unease.
"It will change your view of a lot of things," he warns.
"You're teasing me," she pouts, adjusting her body and feeling Randy in the process.
"That's a bit of a change." He chuckles while she starts to blush.
"Well, come on, out with it." For the first time there is a faint tremor in her voice. She is no longer in total control. And her thighs are starting to ache but she doesn't want to move.
"Charles Hendon gave me a videotape made by Kent before he took that flight to Paris. In it he made revelations that were unknown to the public or even to members of his AAA team. Secrets of the Bold War if you like."
"Why did he reveal them to you? After all these years?" She tries to be still, beginning not to trust her physical responses.
"Kent had his reasons," he says, enjoying being the leader after so long. "His near-death experience changed him dramatically, in the very positive ways of which you are aware. But he retained some of his natural cunning, his ability to manipulate people and events."
"Such as?"
"The Manor fire. It was dramatic and shocking. It defined an enemy, welded the team together and motivated them. But the fire-bombing was not carried out by the Calabrone, it was arranged by Kent."
"But…," Christiana starts to speak but breaks off, searching for words. She wants to move but restrains herself. She creases her brow instead as Andrew starts moving gently, using his legs.
"The air crash on the way to Paris. The world lost Kent but his 'martyrdom' helped clinch victory in the War. However you don't know that he died by his own hand and put the blame on the enemy."
"I… I don't understand," she stammers.
"He had terminal cancer, only a few months to live. Nothing to lose, much to gain."
"But Sylvia…?"
"Your mother?" He smiles wryly. "He didn't know she was on the plane. Xena smuggled her on board."
"Xena…?" Christiana's world is coming apart at the seams. Xena was one of her heroines.
"Xena wasn't all that appeared on the surface. Not only did she lure your mother to her death because of her jealousy, she was about to betray the whole movement to the Calabrone - for big money. Up till then they hadn't been as bad an enemy as Kent led everybody to believe, but Xena switching sides would have made them formidably dangerous. Kent asked her, gave her the opportunity to recant, but she was determined so he had no alternative but to eliminate her - by remote control before he crashed. So Xena's death was his doing, not the underworld's, but they got the blame - yet again."
It is Christiana's turn to be confused and disoriented. Surprised and shocked, blushing beautifully. Andrew feels that, finally, after such a long time, he is on top - at least mentally speaking. He caresses her tenderly, she starts to breathe heavily. He begins to thrust with his new-found strength, she responds. His body is rejuvenating and his world coming together, hers destabilising in uncertainty, escalating in physical sensation.
He forgets his new world and succumbs to bodily desire. Her mounting emotions overwhelm her thoughts. Their physical engagement escalates until they are enveloped in mutual orgasm, and together they soar, in ecstasy, to the Golden Age.
When they subside in each other's arms, Randy has also, finally, subsided. Andrew's physical recovery is complete, but he is exhausted. His last view before he succumbs to sleep is the string of pearls. Pearls that will transmogrify into a string of shocks when he wakes.
CHAPTER 32 Challenges
When he opens his eyes the room is in half-light. He doesn't know how long he has slept but remembers with a glow his 'triple treat'. How warm and sensuous and uplifting. Her weight on his chest reinforces his memories as he closes his eyes and re-lives them.
She must be getting uncomfortable he thinks as he strokes her back. Being able to move his arm feels as good as the touch of her… dress? He marvels that she has been able to get it back on - perhaps as smoothly as she took it off. He senses her body at a different angle and re-opens his eyes. He gazes lazily at the yellow ceiling. Yellow? He strokes her hair. She has put it up again! Uncertainties flood in as her body stirs. Her head raises slowly into his view.
And then his world, so recently put together again, re-constituted at a higher level, is shattered in surprise and shock, shaking him to the core. His mangled mind, his battered beliefs are turned upside down - again - reality mocked. Above the string of peals the smiling face just six inches from his is not Christiana.
It is Sylvia!!
He closes his eyes, tightly, in exasperation - it must be a dream. Yet another. At least it's not the Negcom again. A fantastic dream - to be with Sylvia again. Was 2050 the fantastic future? - perhaps just fantasy? Is this a dream within a dream and he'll wake to Christiana?
Then a voice - Sylvia's - says "Oh darling it's so good to have you back again. Can you hear me?"
He forces his eyes open. It is indeed Sylvia, exactly as he remembers her thirty years ago. She seems to be in the process of withdrawing a hand from under the sheet to wipe it on a towel.
"Sylvia… is this a dream? Is it really you?" Her face is fluctuating in and out of focus as his eyes try to adjust.
"Of course it is. Don't look so bemused, poor darling. You're in a state of shock from the accident."
Before he can say anything more Cameron Dench bursts into the room, transformed as if by magic to be young and beardless. "Andy! Welcome back! Good to see you alive and kicking. Well done Sylvia, I thought it might work. Andy you've been in a coma for six days. We resorted to a - er - device with your primitive side to bring you around and with Sylvia's help it succeeded." He wonders why Andrew recoils when he puts his hand on his shoulder.
Andrew can't accommodate this new information - or is it old? Is it real? Virtual? Rapidly he tries to re-orientate, to re-establish a base from which to make sense of his surroundings.
"Six days, did you say? Six miserable days?" Andrew queries at the top of his voice as they stare at him in surprise. "It was thirty years. You told me Cam. Your Castor - it kept me alive and fit. And all those amazing things that happened. So wonderful,… courageous… and uplifting. The Bold War…"
Young Cameron has been staring at him, surprised, uncomprehending. He coughs as Andrew pauses. "Yes, you muttered about 'the war' in your coma. Strange, because vocal chords don't normally operate in circumstances like this. We think it may have something to do with that severe bee sting on the top of your spinal column. Intriguing possibilities. The instruments show you're in comparatively good shape apart from a few lacerations and extensive bruising. All we needed was for you to recover. (Pausing) Apart from the war you mentioned other strange words - it sounded like 'men-tology' and - er - 'pro-volution'?" Cameron looks quizzically at Andrew.
"Yes, and Christiana? Who's she?" queries Sylvia. "There seemed to be a lot of 'smiling' going on."
Crazed lights had been exploding in his mind at the turn of events. Explode? Explosions? - TMT? - MMM? "Quick!" he shouted. "Pen. And paper. And a tape recorder. I must record it all before I forget."
"Forget what?" Cameron asks, peeved to think there might be something more important than him bringing Andrew out of the coma.
"205
0. A far, far better world," says Andrew testily, his view of Cameron coloured by his 'experience' of the Doctor's ambitions. "LLife, WWisdom and LLaww."
"Sounds like you had what is known as a 'vivid dream' Andy. Sometimes happens in a coma. You're slurring your words, which is cause for concern."
"No, no, you don't understand." To Andrew it is so vivid and convincing he doesn't query its content. He is surprised, (amazed), and delighted to be alive in his own time and strongly stimulated by his clear view, the surety, the 'glory' of the future world. Even more important is his distinct knowledge, his experience and the sensible and practical steps of how to get there from here. But like all dreams it will fade and he must record it before he forgets.
"A much, much better world. What Kent achieved… " He breaks off and looks around. Where is Kent?"
There is an exchange of glances and Cameron coughs again. "Sorry Andy, but Kent was killed in your car accident. Tragic. So much to live for, now all gone. But thank God we've got you back."
Thank God indeed, thinks Andrew, trying to recover from yet another shock. Is there no limit to what my nervous system can withstand? Maybe the Almighty has had a hand in this strange string of events. Was it a dream? - unfortunately yes, it appears. Were the events believable? logical? worthy? overdue? - yes, on all counts. Are they desirable now? - of course! Is he now being given an opportunity? - with accompanying foreknowledge? Is it a challenge? Will he accept it? Should he accept it? Will he be able to handle it?
The questions race through his head as he is brought pen, paper and recorder. Taking the medication offered and apologising, he shoos them from the room, but Sylvia insists on staying. She holds his hand while he dictates. He draws on MMM and DIMPLES and like words and memories. He is grateful for the Journeys as aids to his memory and review. Except that Jazz - he hadn't got to read the details! Damn! Zest and zeal he is going to need in abundance. Maybe he can generate his own Journey using the key words. The overall picture is still distinct, but the edges are fraying rapidly with time.
From his trained memory he dictates Jam and Jar with ease, confident he can construct a Jazz himself at a later date and use it. Sylvia says nothing, but progressively looks askance as the story and strange words unfold.
Damn it all! Why not Jazz now? he asks himself. Yes, definitely now, he answers - while things are fresh - and 'zesty'.
VV
D: Jazz (2):
Out of the chaotic jumble of his re-awakened mind, he generates and dictates 2050 words and names and concepts - slowly, as an explorer in new
territory with a faded map. (He wonders how it will look on paper.)
Aeroplane - a vehicle for my new journey / mission / quest. Its provolving propellers - powering the Provolution.
Students - those precious people involved in Eduction , the ability-raising process generated by Ed.
Pens - writing an inspired story - Inspiracy.
Eye - images passing through my optic nerve to the brain and the Mentology that is there to balance and further technology and sociology.
Yacht - full of CCitizens sailing smoothly past citizens in an old row boat.
Plough - Raj on the plains of India uncovering Buried Treasure and riches waiting to be accessed.
Bullets and other weapons - reminding of the Bold War against the enemies of mankind, won by 'the good guys' - all of us.
Book - Pow-Woww, Pisces III and WWisdom, with input from Rose and Trevor.
Fire - the damaging and consuming effect of Social Entropy and Sed, so capably illuminated by Pip, with LLife rising from the ashes.
Bird - CCivilisation taking off and soaring to new heights, unimaginable and almost out of sight of grounded grovelling civilisation
Wind - powering the yacht and bringing Smiles to the faces of Kent and millions of the throng.
Numbers - all those calculations that must have been done as part of Frip Analysis, or used by Rick in his project management.
Cowboys - who else to be involved in the Muster to find and bring to realisation the artesian assets?
Judge - now out of work, Negcom closed down, even without having input from Mario and McTrue. Now the Judge can work with the LLaww.
Ticket - no tickets, it's F(r)ee, thanks to Yvonne.
Carrots - and Sticks, Brooms and Levers - the implements (sorry - weapons) - how could he forget them - attract, impel, sweep clean and magnify.
Grub - all those grubby Nemes wriggling in the Neme Stream.
Mirror - Guy standing in front of a mirror talking to his PP.
Dress - makes him think of Christiana - talking about RRights?
Ring - that doesn't ring a bell right now, he thinks. Wonder why not? Hasn't, for God's sake, the story finished yet?
==
"All those strange names, so many new terms," sighs Sylvia. "How can you remember them? It's almost like another language."
"It's not hard when you know how, and when you know they are so important and useful," Andrew explains, hearing himself sound like Christiana. "New words help a new life. You see, all these words coming out of the Bold War -it's like advanced software for our brain, for a mindset that can work wonders. It's… it's… Boldware! Er, that's my word, by the way," feeling quite proud that a little more of the creativity of the last six days has rubbed off on him. Or is it a bolt from the black, as he sometimes called the bright ideas he used to write down immediately after waking from a sleep.
No, it must have been his vivid dream, his creative coma. It evolved rapidly while he was unconscious. The forces of entropy were stilled, then turned around, reversed. Entropy reversed takes the brake off mental evolution (the mind brake?). Was this the Stage 4 of entropy / evolution? (Stage 1 - unconscious of entropy, Stage 2 - conscious of entropy, Stage 3 - Conscious evolution, Stage 4 - unconscious evolutionary leap.) He hasn't quite dotted the i's on that yet, he will re-visit when his mind is clearer.
Girding his mental loins, he prepares for the next step. Now that the opportunity to 'do something' is here for the taking, he hesitates. So much energy and determination will be required. So many problems to overcome. He isn't yet the outgoing and resourceful person that Kent was. But with fore knowlege?
He dictates as fast as he can the rest of his memories and how 10R was achieved. The further he goes the more his reluctance recedes and uncertainties dissipate. Finally, an hour later, apart from whether he will be able to gather together enough funds, he has dispelled most of his reservations. Whatever, he certainly must try.
When Cameron returns he tells the two of them his plans. They exchange glances before Cameron speaks. "Sounds 'interesting' buddy. I suggest you take a few days to let yourself get nearer to normality before you embark on anything too ambitious. Of particular relevance to you is that Kent's will has been read to us. It was changed and witnessed the day before the crash. Sylvia?"
"Yes Andrew darling. He left you and me (he thinks we make a good team) half his empire provided we use it to 'change the world for the better'. Had he told you?"
"No… . But I think he was about to," Andrew replies, recalling Kent - was it just six days ago rather than thirty years? - just before the bees, saying he had something important to talk about. So now he has everything he needs to pursue the quest. Thoughts begin to dart into his mind about war strategies - and kudos.
He notices a card in Sylvia's hand. Smiling, she says "Darling, I picked this card for your return because of what it says.
What if you slept?
And what if,
In your sleep
You dreamed?
And what if,
In your dream,
You went to heaven
And there plucked
A strange and
Beautiful flower?
And what if,
When you awoke,
You had the flower
In your hand?
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, (1772 - 1834)
Another wave of intense emotion sweep
s over him, extended as he receives Sylvia's kisses.
"Sylvia… Darling… Would you please - I am acting on a whim - check to see if there is a large blue package in that bedside cupboard?"
"Another thing Andy," Cameron is keen to continue, as Sylvia moves towards the cupboard., "your funds will come from a Trust set up for the purpose, and will be under control of a Trustee. I understand he is one of Kent's most capable and trusted executives. Due in from London today."
As if by cue an assistant enters the room and whispers in Cameron's ear. He nods and moments later two people appear in the doorway. One is Xena, and she glides swiftly across the floor (without a trace of blood) to plant a firm kiss on Andrew's cheek.
"So happy to see you alive," she says as he shrinks, as if from Judas, into the pillow. "You must meet your new Trustee. She waves her hand towards the dark muscular man as he steps forward. A corner of a book peeps out from above an arm. Andrew is startled to see part of a title - '…old War'. What is going on here? Hell, what does he know? Has he finished the Book? (A thrill courses down his rejuvenated spine.) The man removes a black glove from his right hand - in rather an affected way, Andrew thinks, for a man of his stature. He sees a flash of gold on a large signet ring - from what appears to be a large insect. A wasp?… A hornet?!
"Allow me to introduce myself," he intones in a surprisingly guttural voice, managing a twisted smile that induces a needle of light from between his teeth. "I am here to help you in your future endeavours." As he speaks he grasps Andrew's limp hand and squeezes it strongly, coldly.
"My name is… ,"
Andrew feels something, is it a slight prick in his hand? as if from an insect?
……"Con Abassi."
- END -
ENDNOTES
GLOSSARY
AAA Institutes - Institutes set up to introduce Smiles. Attitude, Action, Achievement
Actionaries - Visionaries, but with energy, motivation and gumption. Reactionaries, but with sense, balance, empathy and judgement.
Barcode Books - Use barcodes for rapid identification and selection of books - for readers, authors, publishers and retailers.