Zenith (4) (The Underground Kingdom)

by Steve Elliott

  "Here we go, troops," I said, tugging at my clothes to straighten them. "Leave all the talking to me and please don't howl me down when I start spinning my stories. Keep an eye on the Elders. I want to know if they do anything unusual."

  "Surely you don't suspect one of them?" Thorn gasped, horrified. "Stephen, what are you thinking? These are the Elders!"

  "Thorn’s right," Fink vehemently agreed. "You can't possibly suspect them!"

  "I seem to recall a time when you said the same thing about the Mayor," I reminisced, "and look what happened there. I don't want to totally disillusion either of you, but anyone can be tempted to stray. I'm not saying the Elders are involved, but all I'm asking is for you to keep your eyes open, okay? I’m not accusing any particular person at this stage."

  I knelt down and faced Trix. "When I give the word, sweetie, I want you to take those coins out of your pocket and let Zenith smell them. Try and do it so nobody can see you. I want to see what happens after that. Would you do that for me?"

  "Of course I will," she replied, "although I still don't know what good it will do."

  "Neither do I," I sighed, standing up. "But we have to try something." We straggled into the Council Chambers and stood before the Elders.

  "I believe congratulations are in order," one of them said. "Again."

  "Things did go fairly well," I said.

  "Please tell us the sequence of events," I was asked.

  "Very well," I acquiesced, and began to tell the story of our adventures. For the most part, I related the facts as they had occurred, emphasising the role Zenith had played in our rescue.

  "Remarkable," they murmured, appreciatively, eyeing Trix’s pet.

  I continued my tale, coming to the section of it where we found the money, and that's where I began to diverge catastrophically from the truth. I described the discovery of the coins but then elaborated the progression of events into a fight for the possession of the money. I told the Elders how we’d been surprised by a contingent of dwarfs and how, in the following struggle, the money chest had fallen down a crevasse and had been lost forever.

  As soon as I'd announced the fabricated story, I stared intently at each of the Elder’s faces, hoping for some reaction. The majority of them had a ‘tut, tut, what a shame!’ look, but one of them betrayed anger and incredulity. An interesting reaction, I thought. Why would he show so much concern over the missing money? Keeping my eye on the Elder, I quickly summed up the remainder of our adventure to the present time. There were sighs of relief when I'd finished.

  "So, the money is lost," one of the Elders mused, "but at least it isn't being used for nefarious purposes and that's all to the good. You've all done well under very difficult circumstances."

  I bowed slightly and said, "Thank you for your kind words. I’m only sorry we couldn't save the money, but circumstances intervened."

  It was at this stage that I nudged Trix. I stepped in front of her, shielding her actions as she stealthily removed the coins from her pocket and offered them to Zenith. I could hear him sniffing at the proffered items and heard Trix’s soft ‘Go!’ command. He raised his head and glanced around the room, then made a beeline for the Elders, causing some consternation.

  "What is your pet doing?" Trix was asked, as the Elders imperceptibly crouched down in their chairs.

  "He just wants to be better acquainted," I told them. "Don't worry. He's very friendly and likes to sniff people. Well, everything really. He's a sniffing machine. That's how he sorts things out. A dog's nose is a hundred times more sensitive than ours, you know."

  "Amazing!" was the consensus of the Elders as Zenith moved amongst them, causing a noticeable shifting of feet away from him. Interestingly, but not remarkably to my mind, Zenith ignored the majority of the Elders but put his forepaws up onto the legs of the one who had displayed agitation at the missing money. Ah ha! Confirmation! But of what I wasn't quite sure.

  "Call him back," I whispered to Trix.

  "Here, Zenith!" Trix commanded. With a final sniff at the marked Elder, Zenith scurried back to Trix.

  "Yes, an interesting animal," one of the Elders remarked. "He certainly does like to sniff, but he's a bit unruly, if you don't mind me saying so."

  "He’s still a bit young," I advised, "and needs more training, but overall he has the makings of a good pet."

  "That he does," was the general consensus from the Elders.

  "I think that concludes our business," I concluded. "And now, with your permission, we'll withdraw."

  "By all means," I was told. "And thank you again for your endeavors on our behalf."

  Chapter 13

  My companions and I congregated outside the Council Chambers and I found myself immediately besieged with questions.

  "What was that all about?" Fink demanded.

  "And why were you telling such outrageous lies?" asked an agitated Thorn.

  "Did Zenith do what you wanted?" Trix enquired. "What was he supposed to do anyway?"

  I held up my hands. "One question at a time, please," I begged.

  "I'd certainly like an explanation," Fink proclaimed. "I’ve this stolen money in my possession and you’re involving me in procedures I'm not sure are even legal. I want to hear some sort of justification for what we’re doing."

  "Stephen, for goodness sake, tell us what's going on," Thorn pleaded. "You're doing this secretive act of yours again and it drives me crazy. Just this once, let us in on your plans."

  "I'm not trying to be secretive," I told them, "and I'm sorry if you feel that way. At this stage of the game all I have is theories and no proof of anything. However, did you notice that when I talked about the money being lost, one of the Elders seemed extremely agitated and he was the very one Zenith sniffed out as having the money scent? And did you also notice that he just happens to be the Elder who lost the money in the first place?"

  "Yeah, so?" Fink stated.

  "Zenith wasn't following the money," I explained. "He was chasing the smell of the original robber – the one who had handled the money and who left the handkerchief. Now do you see?"

  "I’m beginning to," Thorn said, slowly. "If Zenith was following the scent of the robber, then the only ones who’d have that scent on them would be the robber himself and his associates." She stopped, aghast. "But that would mean …….."

  " ….. that the Elder knew the robber and had dealings with him," Fink finished for Thorn.

  "Exactly!" I exclaimed. "Therefore, the whole robbery scenario was faked. The thief was given the key to open the door. The Elder knew the money would be refunded, so he wouldn't be out of pocket. For some reason he’s supporting the dissidents and we have to find out why."

  "I can't believe it!" Thorn whispered. "An Elder! Involved in crime! It defies imagination!" She turned to me, almost angrily. "Are you sure about this, Stephen? Where’s your proof?"

  "We don't have any proof right now," I acquiesced. "All we have is a substantial suspicion, but it's a start. It's up to us to find the proof."

  "And how are we going to do that?" Fink asked. "It's not as if we're going to break into his house or anything, are we?" His voice faded away as I looked at him, not speaking.

  "Here we go again," Trix murmured, a slight grin on her face. "Stephen, I have the distinct feeling that if you weren't law-abiding, you'd be a master criminal. As it is, sometimes I find it difficult to tell you apart."

  "Don't be so sarcastic," I chided. "I do what has to be done. If you think of any other way to do things, let me know."

  "So, you intend to burglarise a house?" Fink questioned, troubled. "I'm not sure I can allow that. After all, I am the law."

  "I respect your conscience," I assured him, "and I don't expect you to come along. All I ask is that you don't stop us. Will you do that much?"

  Fink's face mirrored his indecision. Finally, he sighed, defeated. "Being friends with you, Stephen, is hard on the conscience. You make my existence so complicated. I had a lot less decisions t
o make before I met you. Life was a lot simpler."

  "And a lot less satisfying," Thorn pointed out. "At least these days you're making a major difference in the community."

  "Yes, there is that," Fink reflected. "But, morally speaking, I think I'm tap dancing on quicksand."

  After his quip, Fink announced that he was leaving the rest of us to our nefarious activities. I thanked him for his support so far and agreed that perhaps it would be best if he wasn't there when we further pursued our investigations.

  "Good luck," he said, as he left. "If you find anything, let me know."

  "We will," I assured him.

  "When are we doing this?" Thorn asked, when Fink had left.

  "It'll have to wait," I told her. "I have to get back to my body, but I'll be back as soon as I can. Give me an hour. With Phil’s new device, I can come and go as I please, but I have to feed and water my human half first. In the meantime, why don't you go and recruit Nix? He’s always handy if we run into trouble."

  "That's an idea," Thorn agreed. "Are you going to say goodbye to Traculimna before you go?"

  "Perhaps I'd better," I relented, looking at Thorn. "You know, the three of us have to sit down at some stage and work things out. The present situation is untenable."

  "I know," Thorn glumly agreed. "It's a nightmare and I can't see any solution."

  "Let's sort this mess out first," I told her. "Then we can sort out the other mess. If we can," I added, not very hopefully.

  "What are you two talking about?" Trix wanted to know. "What mess? What do you have to sort out? It's not about me or Zenith, is it?"

  "No, it's nothing to do with you, sweetie," I said, affectionately tousling her hair. "It's a little problem between me, Thorn and Tracey. It's concerns how we all feel about each other."

  "Oh, that!" she declared, dismissively. "I know all about it. I'm not blind, you know. I've seen the way you look at each other." She shrugged. "I can't see the problem. Just move in with them, Stephen. Easy. I don't know why you're even hesitating."

  "It's not that simple," I said. "I wish it was. But there are a lot of other considerations that have to be taken into account. But we don't have time for that right now. I'll go and say goodbye to Tracey and then I'll head for home."

  We went to Thorn’s house and were greeted by Tracey who immediately demanded a full rundown of what had happened. We supplied the details for her and outlined what we planned to do in the future as well.

  "Please be careful," she pleaded with us. "I can't bear the thought of anything happening to any of you. Are you sure you have to do this?"

  "We can't have someone running around who’s dealing with the enemy," I proclaimed. "I'm positive it's the Elder who was robbed, but we don't have any proof. If nothing else, he might decide to come after us to find out what really happened to the money. We can't rest until he’s safely locked away. You can see that, surely?"

  "I suppose so," Tracey murmured, her fingers unconsciously curling over each other in agitation. "But I hate the idea of you putting yourself in danger. What would I do if I lost you?" She put her palms either side of my face. "You know how I feel about you, Stephen. Please take that into consideration before you take any foolish risks."

  "I will," I promised, pulling off her hands and kissing her fingertips. "And this is something we'll have to talk about later on. You and me and Thorn. We'll have to decide what to do about our situation. To be frank, I can't see any way out of it whatsoever."

  "I can't either," she admitted, her eyes beginning to fill. "Stephen, what are we going to do?"

  "I honestly don't know," I admitted, giving her a hug and glancing across at Thorn who took the opportunity to join Tracey and myself in a common embrace. "I really don't."

  Chapter 14

  After bidding a sorrowing Thorn and Tracey goodbye, I went to see Phil to use his new portable transfer machine. I was somewhat downcast by my romantic entanglements, not knowing which way to turn and very much afraid that there was no resolution to my problem. I dreaded having to relinquish my feelings of love for both Thorn and Tracey. Phil must have sensed my sombre mood and divined its origin because he drew me aside and whispered to me not to give up hope because a possible answer may be forthcoming.

  "What do you mean?" I asked. "What solution could there possibly be?"

  "All in good time, my boy," he remarked, grinning. "I'm working on something right now, but I can't tell you what it is just yet. It's in the experimental stage and I don't know if it's going to work. I'll tell you all about it when you come back." His words piqued my curiosity but, no matter how much I cajoled, he wouldn’t tell me anything more and I had to be content with his teasing initial words.

  I activated the transfer machine and returned to the bedroom of my flat, my mind still whirling with Phil's statements. What on earth could he have meant?

  – He was just trying to make you feel better. There is no solution. You’ve said so yourself.

  ‘You're probably right. I suppose the threesome is the only way out of it, but I just can't see it working. Not for very long, anyhow. We’d be at each other’s throats in no time at all. Besides, I couldn’t do it. Not really. It’d be way too ……. weird.’

  – So? That describes you perfectly.

  ‘Ha, ha! You’re hilarious. In a bizarre and totally twisted, sick kind of way. Don't give up your day job, whatever that is.’

  – My job is looking after you and dispensing good, wholesome advice.

  ‘Now that's funny. You could be employed as a comedian, after all.’

  – Hey, I'm serious. Ask me anything and I'll advise you on the correct path to take.

  ‘Very well, I accept the challenge.’

  – What’s your question?

  ‘What do I do about Tracey and Thorn?’

  – That’s your question? You can't be serious! That's not a real question at all. It’s a Zen statement, impossible to answer. It's like trying to describe the sound of one hand clapping. There is no answer.

  ‘Shot down at the first question, eh? How embarrassing for you.’

  – Shut up. At least I’m not the one who created the Zen riddle in the first place. That was you. Anyway, how could you love the two of them equally? They’re both so different!

  ‘I know. Strange, huh? But I honestly can’t separate them in my mind. I’m totally attracted to the both of them. Tracey is gorgeous ……’

  – Like I haven’t heard that from you a million times already …..

  ‘ ……. and she’s so loving. Thorn is fiery and deep and brave. If you were me, who would you choose?’

  – You idiot, I am you! I can only follow your choice.

  ‘And I can’t decide. What a pair we make. This is so stupid!’

  – No, not stupid, really. Tragic, maybe. A bit Romeo and Juliet perhaps. Unrequited love, and all that.

  ‘We’re still no closer to an answer, are we?’

  – We haven’t moved even the thickness of an atom towards any clarification.

  ‘I didn’t think so. Well, I’m going to have something to eat. Don’t wait up.’

  – I never do. That would imply that I cared.

  ‘As I said before, don't quit your day job.’

  I fed and watered myself, (I sounded like a horse), and ran around the flat a bit to get some exercise and to loosen tight muscles, and then stretched out on the bed and used the transfer machine. After all, I had places to go and things to do, only not here. I still hadn't acclimatised myself to the strangeness of it all. How many people could claim they spent a substantial amount of their time visiting a fairyland? Sober, and un-drugged, that is. I felt the impulse to pinch myself to see if I was dreaming the whole thing. Fairies? Goblins? If I told anyone else about it I’d be locked up for sure. And yet, here I was, about to become a fairy myself. And not only that, I was presently enmeshed in the tentacles of a romantic warren with no apparent exit. What to do about Tracey and Thorn? And what did Phil have in mind? On an
entirely different track, what about the deceitful Elder? Questions. All the time, questions!

  I press the appropriate buttons and entered the body of the clone. Fleetingly, I hoped that process would always behave itself, otherwise I'd end up homeless, floating around in limbo for the rest of eternity. As usual, I found Thorn waiting for me, along with Nix. I greeted them both enthusiastically, kissing Thorn with gusto.

  "Hey, where's my kiss?" Nix remarked, with pseudo outrage.

  "Maybe next time," Thorn told him. "Of course, you'd have to make a few cosmetic changes first. Lose that ugliness first of all, and then change your sex as well. That would be a good start."

  "If I did all that," Nix replied with a huge grin, "I'd probably end up being too good for Stephen. After all, anyone who finds you attractive must have pretty low standards." He ducked, laughing, as Thorn swung a punch at his head.

  "Ah, it's good to be back," I sighed thankfully. "There's something about being surrounded by idiots that makes me feel right at home."

  "I noticed you used the plural of ‘idiot’ just then," Thorn remarked with a raised eyebrow. "I assume that to be a simple slip of the tongue."

  "Most assuredly," I soothed. "There's only one idiot in this room."

  "You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself, Stephen," Nix remarked. "After all, you can't help the way you were born. If you're going to blame anyone, blame your parents. I certainly would if I ever met them."

  "That's enough fooling around," I commanded. "We have some proof of misdoing to find, I believe. Let's go and collect Trix."

  "Yes, about that," Nix asked. "What do you expect to find?"

  "As usual," I answered, "I have absolutely no idea. We’ll find out when we came across it."

  "That's what I like about working with you," Nix grumbled. "I always know where I stand. Everything is so clear-cut and precise."

  I shrugged. "So, it's not a perfect world," I commiserated. "Sorry about that, but that's the way the cookie crumbles."

  "What have baked goods to do with anything?" Thorn asked, confused. "Your human sayings can be very strange if you don't mind me saying so."