Origin of the Body
Page 2
Brunel thinks I should get him drunk and pounce on him, of course. But what if he doesn’t really like me like that? What if I make a total idiot of myself? Surely if he liked me he would do something? And he did do something, a MONTH ago, but nothing since. Maybe he hated the kiss? Maybe he thought he liked me and then changed his mind? But if so, why does he keep looking at me? I wish Evie were here, but then she would probably be in Brunel’s camp…I just don’t know what to do.
11th August, 1331.
Bliss! He kissed me again! So last night Brunel (the darling Brunel) suggested Jeff and I come with him to this ledge someone told him about that boasts the best view of the lights; uninterrupted views across the countryside, the horizon seeming to stretch forever. So we went at sunset, naturally taking with us a good supply of dandelion wine (a Wild Sky speciality). Brunel stayed for no longer than ten minutes all in all. He poured us all a glass of wine, drank a couple of sips, said he suddenly felt ill and left us to it. If Jeff realised this had been the plan all along (which let’s face it, how can he not have), he didn’t say a thing. Instead, he looked me in the eye for the first time since the kiss and tapped the ground next to where he sat. I placed myself down next to him, he put his arm round me, and we watched the sunset in silence, both marvelling at the lights that crept into the night and danced across the sky when the sun disappeared below the horizon.
After a while he turned his head towards me and kissed my hair, and my energy literally leapt in response. I met his toffee eyes, the lights casting shadows across his handsome face, so I couldn’t fully read them. All I could think to say was, ‘why have you been ignoring me? It’s been driving me mad.’
‘I know,’ he said, pulling his eyes away to look back at the spectacle in the sky. ‘It’s been driving me mad too. But we can’t do this. I’m not who you think I am and I can’t commit to you.’
‘Who do I think you are?’ I laughed at the melodrama as well as the upfront and frank mention of commitment.
‘A traveller? A trader looking to make his fortune?’
I laughed again. ‘I’ve been out here for months now and I’m afraid you fit neither one of those profiles. You’re way too purposeful to simply be a traveller, I saw you trying to barter for some chocolate the other day which tells me you’re no trader, and you don’t hail from any of the lands we visited so far. Your mannerisms and quirks are familiar to me and yet alien, because they’re the tell-tale signs of an academic; my parents are prominent within the Temples remember? I’ve grown up surrounded by people like you. But I’ve never seen you in Empire, so I’d say you’re from Kingdom. You’re a Body, but you’ve got a good bit of Spirit in you too, like mum. But you’re not really like my parents, so I’d guess you’re from the new generation they talk about in both excited and hushed tones; more radical, more fanatical, more volatile, more dangerous, not willing to toe the Descendants’ party line like the older generation of academics and Councillors.’
He was clearly surprised at my appraisal. ‘You seem to be more astute than I gave you credit for.’
‘Have you met my parents? They’d be inconsolably disappointed if I were anything else!’
He suddenly looked worried. ‘So you think your parents know who I am?’
‘Of course. I mean, they may not know exactly who you are and why you’re here, but they know in general who you are. If I’ve worked it out, then they definitely have. Why? What are you trying to hide? Why are you here?’
He took a long deep breath before opting for honesty. ‘I’m with the Institution…’
‘Really.’ He certainly peaked my interest with this bombshell.
‘You’ve heard of them?’
‘Who hasn’t?’
‘Anyone who doesn’t have two prominent academics for parents I should think,’ he said it defensively, so I backed off a bit.
‘Yeah, sorry, I forget. So why are you here? Obviously something to do with mum and dad?’
He paused, wrestled, although not too hard, with what he should tell me, and in the end just came out with everything (or at least I think he did). ‘I was sent here by the Institution to see your parents, to talk to them about our cause and see if they’d be interested in helping us.’
‘Helping you with what?’
‘I don’t really want to go into specifics.’
‘Well have you spoken to them yet?’
‘No.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because the right moment hasn’t presented itself yet.’
‘You’ve spent loads of time alone with them, how could the right moment not have cropped up by now?’
‘The right moment isn’t just to do with them.’
‘Cryptic,’ I said, mocking him flirtatiously.
He raised one eyebrow. ‘It’s also to do with you.’
I blushed, bright purple, thank the Gods it was dark. ‘What does that mean?’
‘Once I’ve spoken to your parents I won’t need to stay, and I don’t want to leave yet.’
‘Really?’ I said smiling, ‘and why is that?’
‘I think you know,’ he said, lifting his hand to my neck and pulling my lips to his. We kissed for ages, pulling apart every so often, just to change our minds and start kissing again. My energy was soaring, and I could feel his heart pounding through his chest. When we did finally pull apart, we lay on the ledge, entangled, watching the lights. I woke up the following morning to find him still there, gently stroking my hair. We returned to camp, stopping by the tiny trading post first to pick up some pastries for breakfast. This way, if anyone asked where we had been, we could just tell them we got up early to get breakfast for everyone. Not that the ruse mattered anyway; Jeff didn’t let go of my hand until we were standing by the camp fire, kissed my cheek playfully as I went to get some mugs and draped his arm around me as we sat on the ground, leaning back against a straw bale eating breakfast.
Brunel’s mouth actually fell open as he emerged from his tent and saw us. ‘So I take it you two had a fun night?’ he said provocatively, helping himself to a pastry. Neither one of us answered, but Jeff pulled me into his chest and rested his chin on the top of my head, smiling suggestively in Brunel’s direction.
Mum and dad both did comedy double takes as they joined us at the camp fire, but luckily they had the good manners not to say anything. They did however throw a raised eyebrow at each other when they thought I wasn’t looking.
Anyway, bliss, bliss, bliss and again, no one to share the details with, apart from Brunel, but I don’t think he really counts; he’s just disappointed the story is so tame.
1st September, 1331.
It’s been three weeks of walking on air; romantic strolls, secluded campfire dinners, sleeping under the stars, and then today the illusion shattered and I came crashing back down to the ground. A letter was delivered for Jeff to the trading post we’re staying at. He wouldn’t show me the message, but it was from the Institution and the gist was that he had to get back to Kingdom as soon as possible. He looked almost scared as he burned the note in the fire and immediately sought out mum and dad to have the talk with them he had been putting off for so long. Shortly afterwards, there was shouting, dad could be heard telling Jeff in no uncertain terms he was no longer welcome and then mum emerged, looking strained, to come and talk to me.
She led me to a swinging bench suspended from a tree, a feature to be found all over Wild Wood, where we’re currently staying. ‘Clarissa,’ she started, pushing a long strand of my strawberry blond hair back behind my ear, ‘do you know why Jeff is here?’
I nodded, ‘he’s here because the Institution sent him to see if you and dad would help them.’
Mum was obviously shocked at both the honesty and content of my response. She concentrated for a few seconds on getting some momentum going with the swing before responding. ‘Yes, it would seem that is the reason. Do you know what that means?’ She asked me calmly, evenly. Mum was always so level headed, unlike dad.
Mum nodded. ‘I can see how it could have come across like that. The Institution doesn’t just have different ideas; they pursue radical concepts; they’re constructing what most would consider a dangerous philosophy. They want to overthrow the Descendancy and set up a new political system, to forget about sending back the relic, and create a world where we ignore the higher order, those who created us, those who sent us the relic to test us and free us. Since Peter’s birth into the Body line, and the corresponding dip in energy, their cause has grown stronger, finding support from those who think the prophecy is now broken. It’s whispered that Peter himself associates with them.’ Mum looked so sad when she told me this, I stopped the swing and hugged her. ‘Anyway, needless to say, dad and I are full supporters of our current system and strong believers that the current Descendants will find a way to send the relic back.’
‘Of course you are. The Body Descendant is my Godmother for goodness sake. Christiana is one of your closest friends. Why did the Institution think you’d be interested in helping them?’
‘I’d imagine they thought because we’re more forward thinking than most academics, that we can see the sense in what they’re proposing, which of course is nonsense. No doubt they’re trying to muster support from all the prominent academics that don’t directly align with Tobias. The Gods only know what he would do if he thought we were in league with the Institution, he hates our research enough already.’
‘Does he? Why?’ This had come as a large shock to me. Mum and dad spend loads of time with the ruling Mind Descendant and his wife, Camilla. I’d always thought they got on like a house on fire.
‘Some of the research we do he thinks is too radical, which is probably one of the reasons Jeff was sent to approach us. In reality the work we do isn’t that radical at all, Tobias just hates change and anything he doesn’t understand or control.’ We swung in silence for another couple of minutes. ‘Did you really like Jeff?’
I nodded, then realised she had used the word ‘did’ as opposed to ‘do’. ‘What do you mean ‘did’ I really like him? I still do really like him.’
‘Yes, but darling, he works for a dangerous organisation, you can’t continue your relationship with him. It’s impossible.’
‘Impossible in your eyes maybe, but not in mine. You’re always harping on about the benefits of diversity of opinion; you don’t get to pick and choose the opinions you like and call the others dangerous.’
‘But they are dangerous.’
‘Only if they get enough support, which seems unlikely.’
‘It would be wrong to underestimate them, they are gaining a great deal of silent patronage.’
‘But that’s just it, it’s silent.’
‘But patronage none the less. Anyway, Jeff is returning to Kingdom and we are heading for Wild Air, so it looks like this is where you part ways.’
‘Unless I decide to go back with him.’
‘Assuming he wants you to go back with him and he hasn’t just been using you to get to us.’
‘Mum, how can you say that?’
‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for it to come out like that. I’m sure he does truly like you, but you’ve got to admit it’s a possibility.’
At that moment, Jeff appeared from the wooden cabin of a trading post and I left mum and the swing to go and talk to him. He didn’t tell me much other than the obvious and said he had to go back to Kingdom. He didn’t suggest I go with him, so I didn’t suggest it either. He simply hugged me tightly, squeezing me protectively to his chest, kissed the top of my head and left without another word. Surprisingly, I haven’t cried. I feel sad and drained, like the days will more difficult to get through now, but I suppose I’d known this day would come, he’d told me as much on the ledge.’
Anita stopped reading and turned to look at Alexander. ‘What was your dad’s name?’ he asked.
‘Jeffrey, so I suppose it could be him, but then again, there are lots of people out there called Jeff. It’s odd to read about them through my mum’s eyes though,’ she said, ‘especially when they’re total strangers to me. And they don’t sound as terrible as I’d thought they might, being such close friends with Helena.’
‘You spent a great deal of time with Helena too…she can’t be all bad.’
‘Nobody’s all bad. The question is how bad. Need I remind you that she knows about, and let’s face it, may have planted, the cylinder in my head? She lied to get me to steal something that belongs to Austin, she withheld all knowledge of my parents when she was my mentor, and last night she kidnapped us. So I’m not quite ready to forgive and forget just yet.’
‘I know, I’m not suggesting you do. I’ve certainly not forgiven her yet just for the kidnapping, but maybe deep down she’s one of the good guys.’
Anita looked sceptical, ‘maybe. Anyway, I think it’s time for lunch, I’m starving.’
Alexander nodded, but instead of getting up he pulled her in to him and gently kissed her lips. Both of their energy responded instantly, pouring out of them like a tidal wave. They pulled apart and Alexander ran his thumb across her cheek bone. ‘I don’t think I’m used to that yet,’ he said, smiling as his energy started to return to more normal levels.
‘Me neither,’ she smiled back, getting to her feet and taking his hands to pull him up too. ‘Come on,’ she said, a mischievous look suddenly appearing on her face, ‘race you,’ and with that she pelted out of the trees and down the hill. As they reached the farmyard, Alexander had almost closed the gap Anita had gained from the element of surprise. She shrieked with laughter as he caught her and dragged her to a stop. He pulled her into a playful embrace, continuing to walk towards the farm and refusing to let her go, Anita having to walk backwards to stop herself from falling. After a few paces he stopped, looked down into her grey eyes, kissed her briefly on the lips and then released her from his hold, leaving one arm around her shoulders, not wanting to completely let her go.
Alexander dropped his arm back to his side as they approached the farmhouse, hearing a clamour of happy voices as they passed under the archway into the garden. There were a whole host of new people noisily eating lunch at the table, a feast of soup, bread, cheese and platters of meat strewn across its length. Helena spotted Alexander and Anita and got up to welcome them, indicating to the two sitting across from her that they should shuffle up to make space.
‘Good morning?’ inquired Helena, as she ladled steaming broccoli and stilton soup out of the kettle in the middle of the table into two bowls and handed one to each of them.
‘Fine thanks,’ Anita replied, wanting to keep Helena in the dark about her thoughts on the diary for as long as she possibly could.
Helena ignored her stilted response, instead saying brightly, ‘I’d like to introduce you both to Rose,’ indicating a tall, well-built woman with blond hair and green eyes to her right. ‘Rose is one of my oldest and dearest friends. She was also very close to your parents Anita and she is a long standing member of the Institution, not to mention the mother of your close friend Bas.’ Anita inwardly raised her eyebrows; she’d been friends with Bas for as long as she could remember but had never once entertained the idea she would actually get to meet his mother.
‘Lovely to meet you,’ said Rose politely, although her energy was reserved. There was something about the way she was looking at Anita that made her nervous, like there was something she was holding back.
‘Lovely to meet you too,’ said Alexander, copying her polite tone. ‘Rose, you look very familiar, but I can’t quite place why?’
Rose fixed Alexander with penetrating eyes, taking her time before answering, deciding what exactly to say. �
��We’ve never met,’ she said distantly, ‘but I look a great deal like my cousin, Olivia, Peter’s late wife and Gwyn’s late mother.’ She said it in a way that did not invite further question; Helena stepping in, starting to chat about the farm and how great everyone was being at helping. Anita zoned out, trying to imagine what it was that Rose wasn’t saying, a futile effort of course, given she had only just met the woman. She instead turned her attention to the others who were chatting freely around the place. There was no one she immediately recognised, some younger than her, many Helena’s age or older, and people to represent every age in between. Their energy was relaxed, no one seemed to be there under duress, not according to their energy anyway, and their conversations ranged widely across an abundant number of topics, from trivial gossip, to the energy levels, to the latest fashions. She wondered how they had all come to end up here; had the younger ones been recruited by teachers like Helena? Did one of the older ones recruit Helena in the first place? No doubt she’d find out more in time.
Chapter 2
After lunch, Alexander and Anita retreated once more to a private space, but this time opted for a spot by the river. They lounged on the lush grassy bank, the rush of the water therapeutic after the surreal gathering. Anyone would have thought they were all the best of friends; Helena seemed to have conveniently forgotten she’d kidnapped them both only the evening before.