“The first thing is to dress you, of course.”
“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” It was a peasant skirt and blouse . . . not very flattering, but extremely comfortable.
“Sorry. You are the Librarian. You have to wear the garments of the office.”
Jax’x began to bridle at being told what to do . . . especially about something as dumb as her clothes. “If I refuse?”
“I will . . . I’ll get in trouble.” She didn’t say the obvious – that Jay’gar would suffer.
“Oh.” No threats on Jay’gar, how refreshing. Jax’x was beginning to reciprocate in her feelings for Po. “In that case, let’s find a more appropriate outfit.”
“Thank you.”
Those simple words stunned the other girl. They were obviously meant sincerely and not used as a form of mockery, like so many other Divine Ones would do. Impulsively, Jax’x grabbed the girl’s hand and started to pull her along. “Come on, show me the way.”
Po gave the hand a squeeze . . . and a bond of friendship took its first baby steps.
*****
An Hour Later
“Come out and show me.”
“I look silly.”
“Jax’x, come out please. You’re way too beautiful to ever look silly.”
“Really?”
“JAX’X . . . get out here.”
“Don’t laugh,” and she stepped from behind the curtain. “Ta da.”
Po clapped her hands and laughed.
“Hey, you promised not to laugh.”
“I did no such thing,” and she let out a high-pitched giggle.
“Don’t be mean,” but she smiled as she said it.
“I wasn’t being mean. You look absolutely amazing.”
Jax’x wasn’t one for clothes. Science, engineering and Jay’gar were her only interests. But this outfit did make her feel . . . more feminine. Weirdly enough . . . and, more powerful. “I don’t look too . . . too pompous?”
“I think your pomposity is perfect.”
“You know, for a Divine One, you have a great sense of humor.”
It was meant as a compliment, but Po’s smile disappeared.
“I’m sorry. Did I say something wrong?”
“No, no. It’s just that . . . my whole life has been about ruling people and forming alliances and trying not to offend anyone in power. I never . . . I mean, I . . .” she exhaled then continued, “I never felt like a girl. I’ve never had a real friend. And I almost never laugh. I guess, in a way, I envy you citizens. You get to live your lives like they were meant to be lived.”
“That’s not true. Mostly, we live them like you people tell us to.”
And along with the seed of friendship, one of self-doubt was also planted in Pond Ripple.
*****
They were walking to the main chamber of the Library. It was a huge circular room with books, scrolls and documents lining the walls as far up as the eye could see. On the way, Po found the courage to ask her new friend, “Why do you have that design on your face? Is it natural?”
Jax’x involuntarily reached up and touched it. “I was born with it. Does it bother you?”
“No. I think it makes you look mysterious. I just wonder why no one else has one. Did your parents?”
“No. When I was young, the other children used to make fun of me. I can’t tell you how many times I ran home to my father, crying my heart out.”
“Did he make you feel better?”
“Always. ‘Jax’x, he would say, ‘they make fun of you only because they’re jealous. Only very special people in all the world are given such a gift.”
“Do you think it is a gift?”
“Well, it didn’t scare away Jay’gar . . . in fact it might have attracted him to me.”
“Jay’gar . . . that’s your . . . um . . . your special friend.”
“He is . . . or was . . . the love of my life.”
“Can I ask you something personal?”
Jax’x laughed. “More personal than my markings?”
Po blushed a deep scarlet . . . but it was hidden in the shadows of her hood. “We . . . the Divine Ones . . . we don’t have . . . um . . . anyone special. When it’s time for us to marry, we are assigned a mate. After we bear two children, we go our separate ways . . . each taking custody of one child.”
“I knew that. Seems awful to me.”
“It is what it is . . . I never gave it any thought. But . . . um . . .” she exhaled loudly in frustration, “Never mind. I’m not sure what I was going to ask.”
Jax’x had many remarkable qualities. One of them was empathy. “We’ve been friends for a few hours and you are amazed at what that feels like. So, being intelligent and inquisitive, you now wonder what it must be like to have a lover. Am I close?”
Po stopped short and turned to face the other girl. “Do you read minds?”
Jax’x smiled. “No. But I can sense what others are feeling.”
“If you say so”. She hesitated then asked softly, “Are friends allowed to talk about each other’s lovers?”
Without thinking, Jax’x threw her arms around the other girl. “You are so sweet.”
It took Po a good three or four seconds to return the hug . . . something she had never done in her short life. “Does that mean yes?” she persisted.
They disengaged. “I’ll tell you what. We’ll discuss it over the course of the next few weeks. You can ask me one question each day.”
“Just one. That’s going to be difficult . . . but okay. What can I do in return?”
“I’ll think of something.” Or perhaps a someone named Jay’gar.
*****
They finally reached the main chamber and the enormity of it left Jax’x thunderstruck. She stopped and slowly turned in a complete circle taking in the thousands, or was it millions, of books and scrolls.
“Oh my.”
“Amazing, isn’t it?”
“All this . . . all these books were written before the Great War?”
“For the most part. Some were written during, and very few were written in the years following.”
“Have they all been read by my predecessors?”
Po laughed. “Not hardly. Maybe ten percent have been studied. Here, let me show you.” She walked over to a shelf. “The ones with these white tags on the binding have been studied and catalogued. If it has no tag, it hasn’t been read yet.”
“There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to the ones with tags. You would think that a Librarian would start at one end of a shelf and make her way to the other end.”
“I see your point. But there are no rules as to which one you can choose next. You’re free to read any one that captures your fancy.”
“Then what? Seems like it would take forever just to read one.”
“Oh no . . . you don’t have to read the whole thing unless it’s something really interesting or important. Once you get a sense of the subject matter, you can catalog it for future study or as irrelevant material.”
“How do I know what’s relevant or not? What’s important or not?”
“There are a number of subjects the Absolutes are interested in. Here . . .” and she handed the girl a parchment.
“Their list, I presume.” She opened it and scanned the contents. “Hmmm”.
“What?”
“Have you ever read this?”
“No. It’s against the rules.”
Jax’x smiled slyly. “Is it against the rules for me to read it to you?”
“Yes.”
“How about if I read this out loud and you happened to overhear it?”
Po smiled conspiratorially. “That might be acceptable. But, why do you want me to see it?”
“We’re friends . . . and friends share.”
Po just stared with her mouth opened as she tried to digest that statement.
“You okay?”
“I . . . I can’t be your friend.”
“Why not?”
“Because we’re friends.” The irony of that statement was lost on the other girl.
“Is that wrong? Am I being selfish? Putting my feelings above the need of my people?”
“Po, you and I are Spell ‘Bounders. The Divine Ones and the citizens are Spell ‘Bounders. You, and your kind, just happen to have an amazing gift. Between us friends, I think the Divine Ones misuse that gift. Instead of serving the people . . . you rule them. You bend them to your will. That’s wrong.”
Jax’x had hit a nerve in her new friend. But, it was too much, too soon. Po stood up a little taller . . . and her demeanor changed to one of a superior to her inferior subject. “Please spend the rest of the day studying that list and examining whatever books catch your fancy. Tomorrow I will test you to see how much information you were able to assimilate and how you think those volumes should be cataloged. The kitchen is fully stocked. If there is something you need urgently, you may contact me with this (and she handed a small device to the other girl).
“Po?”
“Please address me as Divine One. I will see you tomorrow morning.” A flash of light engulfed the girl and she was gone.
Jax’x stood there – staring at the spot that no longer contained Po . . . and a feeling of sadness washed over her.
*****
When Po appeared the next morning, she found Jax’x slumped over a desk. The surface was covered with three or four piles of books and dozens of scrolls. Thinking the girl was ill, she rushed over to investigate.
“Jax’x. Jax’x . . . are you well? Jax’x . . .” and she gently shook the other girl.
Startled out of a deep sleep, Jax’x jumped up . . . totally disoriented. She tripped over the chair she had been sitting on and began to fall. Po reached out to help her but the other girl’s momentum caused them both to fall to the ground in a heap of arms and legs. If this was earth, you would swear they were playing Twister.
Stunned, they both sat there entangled in each other’s limbs. “What happened?”
Po managed to reclaim her arms. “Sorry.”
Regaining her senses, Jax’x responded, “Not your fault. I worked through the night and just fell asleep a few hours ago.”
“No . . . I’m sorry about yesterday.”
“Oh. Me, too. I assumed too much. I shouldn’t have said what I did. Well, not so soon anyway.”
“Please don’t take this the wrong way, but . . .”
“No need, Po. You’re a Divine One and I should show you more respect.”
Po giggled. “I was going to say that you’re kind of heavy and you’re putting my leg to sleep.”
They stared at each other . . . then burst out laughing until tears were streaming down their cheeks. When they finally caught their collective breathes, Jax’x hugged the other girl. “We still friends?”
“Oh, I hope so. More than anything in the world, I want to be your friend.”
*****
“I thought you were going to quiz me on the books I read.”
“Sorry about that . . . I was just upset. There’s no quiz.”
“I read all that stuff for nothing?”
“Don’t be silly. You and I will review it, just not now.”
“I take it you have something else in store for me?”
“I do. I showed you the books and such. Now I need to show you the artifacts.”
“Artifacts?”
“Apparently life on Spell’ Bound was much different before the war. Very advanced scientifically. People have found a lot of . . . things that we have no idea what they do. Part of your job is to figure them out.”
“Now that sounds exciting.”
“Really? I guess I knew you like to tinker with stuff. I didn’t really believe it.”
“Why not?”
“I didn’t think girls went in for such things.”
If Jax’x had a hot button, that was it. “Why would you think that? You don’t believe men are smarter than women, do you?”
“Well, no.”
“Do you think they’re more clever?”
“Uh-uh.”
“You think they’re intellectually superior?”
Po smiled. “If I did before, I don’t now that I met you.”
Jax’x immediately calmed down. “Thank you.”
“Come on; let me show you some things that will set your mind a whirling. No one’s been able to decipher any of it. I think you’ll be the first.”
“Where are we going?”
“To the very top,” and she pointed skyward.
“Yuk.” It would be quite a hike up about a thousand stairs.
“Not to worry. I know a faster way. But . . . you have to answer another question.”
“Okay. Ask away?”
“What does it feel like to be in love?”
“Wow. You go straight to the heart of things . . . so to speak.”
“Well?”
“This might take all day. Why don’t we go up there and I’ll try to explain.”
Po smiled. “Wonderful. Here, take my hand,” and Jax’x did.
An instant later, there was a flash of light and both girls disappeared.
Chapter 8 – On Being a Friend
About a year later
She spent too much time in what Po had dubbed The Room of Doom. She preferred a more grandiose name like the Chamber of Enigmas, Conundrums and Perplexities.
Either name was appropriate since it was filled with so much science and engineering that it made her head spin with curiosity. Jax’x couldn’t have been happier.
And that made her more than a little sad.
The present was overwhelming the past. Jay’gar was well on his way to becoming a ghost of what was. She could hardly recall his face or his scent when she laid her head on his shoulder . . . or the taste of his lips.
Po had tried her best to get the young man into the Library but could not get past the force field erected by the Absolute. Likewise, she found she could not get Jax’x out. She wanted to cry for her friend but in truth, she didn’t understand the pain of unrequited love. Jax’x had tried her best to describe what being in love was like but it made no sense.
“I think I understand what you’re saying, but it’s just an intellectual exercise. I can’t feel the emotions.”
“Okay, let’s try this. What makes you the happiest? What makes you so happy that without it you would feel terrible?”
“That’s easy. You. Well, your friendship. The time we spend together.”
“Ahhh, thank you. How about before we met?”
Po answered immediately. “There was nothing . . . and nobody.”
“Something had to give you a sense of joy or happiness.”
“Well . . . maybe one thing. I used to watch the citizens with their families or friends. It made me . . . I hate to say it because it seems so petty . . . I felt envious. Their lives seem so rich compared to mine.”
“Wow, you’re making me depressed. We simple folk always envy the Divine Ones. They seem to want for nothing.” She barked a laugh. “Duh, of course they want for nothing. All you have to do is think it and it appears out of thin air.”
“Things do. But not feelings.”
They lapsed into a reflective silence until Jax’x broached a subject that she hadn’t brought up in a long time. “Can you picture a different world?”
“What do you mean?”
“Say, for instance, where Divine Ones were allowed to marry ordinary citizens. And citizens would help rule this world. Those with your gift would use it only for the greater good and not for selfish gain.”
“Is that how you think of us . . . as selfish?”
“I could be flippant and just say yes. But having spent so much time
with you, I’m beginning to think . . . or at least hope, that many of the Divine Ones are as sweet and selfless as you are.”
Po’s response was unexpected. “I’m terrified that I’ll be reassigned. I don’t want to lose you.”
“Why would you be reassigned?”
“Grassy Knoll is in charge of the Library for only a year which is just about up. Responsibility is about to shift to Forest Green. She’ll want to put her own person in as her representative. My Absolute doesn’t like that.”
“Well it’s unacceptable to me too. I’ll tell them I’ll quit if I don’t have you as my liaison.”
“What about Jay’gar? They’ll use him to force your cooperation.”
The air went out of Jax’x’s indignation balloon. “I guess you’re right. Can I let you in on a secret?”
“I’d be hurt if you didn’t.”
“At this moment . . . right this second . . . I would trade Jay’gar for you.”
“I know that’s a compliment. I’m just not sure how.”
“I haven’t seen Jay’gar in a year. It’s so difficult to keep romantic love alive after all that time. He’s becoming just a fond memory. On the other hand, you’re with me every day. Even though it’s a different kind of love, I would be devastated if I lost it.”
Po smiled sadly and gave her friend a hug. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“So what can we do? I just can’t stand the thought of losing the both of you.”
The girl in red started to walk around the chamber deep in thought. Jax’x watched her with a small smile on her face. ‘Life is so strange’ she thought to herself. ‘No Jay’gar as a lover but a Divine One as a best friend. Beyond amazing.’
“I GOT IT,” shouted Po.
“Got what?”
“A solution to our problem.”
“I’m listening.”
“Sorry, I can’t tell you.”
“Why not?”
“Because if it doesn’t work . . ." but she choked on the rest of her sentence.
“Po, just knowing that you’re going to try . . . whatever it is . . . means a lot.”
“No.”
“No? No, what?”
“Trying is meaningless. Succeeding is the only thing that counts.”
Box Set #5: Nemesis: [The 4 book 5th adventure of Egg and the Hameggattic Sisterhood] Page 7