by Richard Lord
“Right this way, madams.” Adam holds out both arms pointing to the staircase.
As she descends, with Joy in her arms, she looks to the dining table. She notices only several large, but shallow cardboard boxes. Her curiosity peaked. She takes the last step off of the staircase and turns back to Adam. “I had been expecting what you call, ‘Asian Cuisine’.”
Adam clicked behind the boxes and open them as she walked towards them with Joy still in her arms. “This is pizza. Best for movie watching. I acquired several styles, please take a bite of each as the night progresses. And be sure to use your hands, not a knife and fork.” Adam grabs several paper towels and hands half of them to her. “No, we will not be having plates either. Tonight, this is a man cave, Tomorrow. Deal with it!” He pulls a slice of plain cheese and put it on some paper towels and lays it gently in front of Tomorrow.
Tomorrow looks at Joy and realizes she has gone to sleep, which she finds ironic given that Adam is not being, in the least bit, quiet. Adam reaches for Joy and puts her in the bassinet. Then clicks back to the counter to show Tomorrow how to eat pizza. Taking a bite, he gestures with is fingers for her to try her slice in the same manner.
“Okay, I’m sold. Why haven’t you brought this before?” Tomorrow asks and moves in for a second bite but Adam puts his hand between her mouth and the slice.
“Wait. Try this now, it’s called white pizza.” Adam grabs a slice and hands it to her and then takes a bite of his own.
“Wow! Adam! Why haven’t you shown me this before?” Tomorrow asks.
“I like that with cow on top, hence what is in this box over here. Next up is Greek pizza and then Hawaiian Pizza. I don’t know if they really come from those regions. I don’t like ham, so the Hawaiian, you do on your own.” Smiling at her he then announces, “Now for the big thing.” Adam pulls her to the couch and seats her. Then he reaches into his pocket and produces a cell phone. He touches it with is fingertips and then holds it in front of her. “This is a movie.” Adam clicks to the box she seemed to like the most and sets it down next to her on the couch. As her eyes grow big and she chews, he walks behind her to watch the beginning with her. Then he notes that she is thoroughly engaged. He clicks again.
Utilizing the element of surprise, he punches the man hard in the face, then clicks behind him and pulls up hard on the man’s throat with his forearm. “You can disagree with me, but if you don’t tell them to stand down, I’ll pull your neck until your eyes bulge. It’s up to you. Do we have an understanding?” He can feel the man try to speak, but knowing the man can’t because of how tightly he is holding his neck, he listens to his mind to confirm what he already supposed would be an affirmative. The man waves off the rest of the group with his hand, arching widely to let them know to stop their advance. “Good boy. Now I’m going to say this once, but I am also going to provide a demo so you are sure not to forget my words. Amassing a group this large, without drawing attention to your plan is impressive.” Adam kicks the man’s calve in a downward motion. He is sure ripped the muscle from the bone. He does not let go of the man’s neck despite the man struggling. He pulls him back up and whispers in his ear again. “See here’s the thing. I know someone who would be even more pissed off about you interrupting trade between the two cities than I am. You’re lucky day, because I’m here instead.” With his left hand he reaches to the man’s face and pushes down on the man’s eyelid while wedging a toothpick sized splinter of wood through the man’s lower left eyelid, once through to his upper lid. Then, with the same hand he spreads the lids. The man writhes with fear and agony. But Renfield holds him firmly by the neck. Then his left hand produces a stretch of leather and he whispers, “I can do the other eye or you can put your hands behind your back, at the waist.” Adam watches as the man’s hands appear. With is left hand he quickly bands them together. Then he kicks down hard on the other calve, but not hard enough to separate muscle from bone, just hard enough so that the man falls to his knees. Then he whispers down, “Twenty-two, hell of a band of thieves. Now watch.”
Adam let’s go of the man’s neck and proceeds to click amongst the observers taking them out fast and moving on to the next. Adam can hear the chaos in the leader’s mind. Adam is distinctly aware of the leader’s heartbeat increasing in speed as his body is flooded with adrenaline. He turns to the leader and grins. Then Adam stands behind his original quarry, raises the blade in his hand and cuts the leather banding from the leader’s hands.
The leader, with no one left to lead asks, “Are you a demon?”
“No, you are. You work against her dream. Now both cities are open. Like I said, your lucky day. If she had found you, I doubt you would have the opportunity to limp back to Shang-tu.”
Adam clicks and appears behind Tomorrow. He leans in to see where she is in the movie.
“So where did you go, Adam?” Tomorrow asks without looking up. She chews on the slice of cheesy madness in her hands.
Adam clicks to the pizzas and grabs two slices, one the Greek and one the white with beef. Sandwiching them together he takes a bite noting they are still warm. Then he clicks to the other side of the box Tomorrow is eating from. He leans back on the armrest of the couch to enjoy.
“This is pretty interesting. It’s like a book, but you can see what’s happening. You’re missing it.” Tomorrow comments.
Adam leans forward and notices she has figured out that touching the screen makes it stop until she touches it again.
Tomorrow comments again, “You’ve read this one before. You went after my target of the evening. I assume it went well considering you don’t even have a simple cut or bruise. Why did you go?”
“You’re smart, Tomorrow, but I am a better negotiator. That group’s concept will catch on, as you figured out it would. I wanted to make a point to those who consider the concept for themselves. There are pros and cons to that. For one, it makes it more likely word of the idea will spread. But fear of the person who came up with the idea limping around with an eye that cannot un-see is a vantage point. You might have thought of it, but I noticed you have a tendency to choose the one you find least guilty to let go.” Adam explained.
“So you’ve watched me, even before Joy was born. How many times before I noticed you standing on the horizon?” Tomorrow asks.
“A few. I am not asking you give up what you do. The more the two cities grow the more complex the problems will become. Eventually there will be a third city, ad infinitum. I understand why you udo what you do and I don’t want to take that from you, but like I said years ago, I’m a hell of an asset in your corner.”
“You’re thinking you’re the longest living man ever. You don’t know that, for sure, Adam.” Tomorrow commented while noting that the screen on the thing he had given her to watch the book had gone dark.
Adam said, “That’s probably the sleep timer. Touch it, if it wakes up it still has power. If not, ‘To Be Continued’.” He gets up and grabs a few more slices and cradles them in paper towels then he heads to the staircase to make his venture to the bedroom they share. Adam looks over at Tomorrow realizing she is angry with him still, if not more so. “I met someone older. I created him, from myself. He’s dead. I’m not, yet. You have a lot to give the world. A lot. I don’t want you dead. I do love you.” He begins ascending the stairs.
“What makes you decide when to click places and when not to?” Tomorrow asks as Adam is a few stairs up in his ascent.
“Instinct. You don’t click everywhere when no one else is around. Had I clicked just then, I wouldn’t have heard that question. I’ve thought about it myself. I think it’s an instinctual thing, which hints that we all know more than we know we know.” Adam replies. Adam pauses on the stair and then looks up to continue and suddenly Tomorrow is there facing him.
“I love you too, Adam. And my instinct says that you should carry me.” She looks at him and then turns from him.
Looking up at her derriere he thinks to himself, “Strange
woman, but I love her.” He grabs her underneath her knees and holds out a hand to catch her neck in his hand and continues his ascent carrying her the rest of the way to their bedroom. Then he clicked back to pick up the bassinet with Joy in it and returns. Tomorrow smiles at him as he grins at her.
CHAPTER 32
“You don’t know until you have more than one source of confirmation.” -- from the Book of Joy
“So we’re agreed that you won’t share that weave with anyone for a decade. Then you can get even richer than I am about to make you. I just thought I should mention that if you cross me, I will see your number. Right now I’m thinking it’s fifty-four. That’s not the way any man should suffer before he dies, is it?”
“I told you. If you pay that much, I can make this. I will only make it for you. What is the fifty-four?” The textile producer looked shaken.
“How about you don’t find out and get rich now and then even richer in ten years?” Renfield said.
“That is a fair deal. When will you need this?” Abudaman asked.
“Well we agreed to thirty-nine yards at fifty-four inches. Since that is the most common run, I want sample by tomorrow morning to see if your people can do this.” Renfield points at the complex pattern he has drawn up. “You remember use cotton so it takes to dye and remains flexible.”
“Yes, I remember. You said that two minutes ago. I don’t understand, but for that amount of money I will di what you ask. I will need some of it up front to cover the cost of retooling the looms. This”, he points at the drawing that Renfield was holding, “is not easy to do. It will take several of the looms out of production.”
“Invest in your business. Then you will learn to trust me and I will learn to trust you. Perhaps, we break bread one day.” Renfield replied. Then he slid a stack of bills to the man. “That should cover about half of the cost. So we will be in this venture together, if you want to pick up that stack, meaning in ten years, if you keep your word, I or my heirs get half of the profits.”
Abudaman stares at the stack and considers the terms of picking it up. He notes how confident his customer is. He looks up at Renfield then down at the stack. He pushes it back to Renfield, “You are a very scary man. I would like for this to be a one-time transaction.”
“Suit yourself.” Renfield picks up the stack of bills and says, “I’ll be here in the morning to inspect your work. You’re going to need some coffee.”
As Renfield begins to reach for the stack he sees Abudaman’s hand grab it. “How about fifty-one for me, forty nine for you?”
“Not the deal I offered.” He watches as Abudaman’s hand moves away from the stack. Renfield begins to pick it up. Again the hand snaps out at the stack. Renfield grins.
“Okay. Fifty-fifty. Does a man like you even have any heirs?” Abudaman asks.
“I suppose you will know, in time.” Renfield replies and then steps out on the busy metropolitan street. He looks up at what was once his own office and he grins. Then he moves to an alley, ducks quickly into it an clicks.
Looking at Tomorrow he hears her say, “I hired that seamstress. She is considered the best. She particularly liked the offer of free room. I tried to explain that it did not mean she would have access to the rest of the house and that there is no sun down in that place. What is that all about anyway? Is that more man-cave stuff?”
“Kinda, I guess. It’s damp down there, it’s quite a ways down through stone, but I am guessing that won’t bother her. I have electricity down there now, so it’s well lit with the mystery torches, as you call them.” Adam grins at Tomorrow.
“I get the basic concept of them. There are still plenty of books and I do visit the library I established.” Tomorrow stated. “But why would she want to do that? Is living like that worth what you offered her?”
“Ironic that the girl from below would ask that. She’s a synth from another city like the one you come from. She has no aversion to living below. She does, however, have an aversion to torture. She made a mistake in judgement and pissed off the wrong people, so she’s making a wise choice on her own behalf. When she is done what she is working on, you will be happy about the arrangement to. However, I do think we should consider her human and feed her well.”
“Okay. With the ‘plumbing’ done at least it won’t smell down there and she’ll have access to fresh water. Note that it hasn’t gone past me that you surveyed this spot more than you let on. That water table so conveniently placed? I know I wanted this too, but part of me feels talked into it.” Tomorrow floats her cynicism about all of it again.
“If I had really had my say, Tomorrow, we would live out our days in a different time.” Adam responded. Adam turned as he felt the presence approach. He kneeled down and said, “Hey, Joy!”
“Hi, Daddy. I want a grape.” Joy responded while wiping the sleep from her eyes.
Adam swooped her up into his arms and clicked, “Which one?” His arm moved out in an arc to demonstrate to her how many there were in this vineyard.
Joy giggled and said, “You’re silly, Daddy.” Then feeling as if their might actually be a difference her eyes studied the grapes. Then she pointed, “This one.”
Adam held her up to reach out for it. Joy grabbed the grape that grabbed her attention and Adam clicked.
Tomorrow turned to look at the two as Adam sat her down and she popped the grape in her mouth and began chewing and tasting it. Then she walled awkwardly towards her toys. “Adam! Don’t you read books? That is dangerous! Children her age can choke on grapes, you’re supposed to slice them!”
“She’s not lying down or being lazy about eating it. She wants to taste it. What is dangerous is the Spanish vineyard we raided to get that grape.” Renfield grinned.
“You’re not funny, Adam!” Tomorrow yelled back and then putting her hands, palms together and touching her head, she laughed. “Okay, I get the point. I did set up those trip lines last week. So I’m doing my part.” She looked back at what she was working on. “Do you know how to make a telescope?”
Adam replied, “More or less. Probably less, but we made crude versions when I was in school and I understand the concept far better now. However, we would need a lens cutter.”
“An eyeglass person?” She responds, wondering if she understand correctly.
“You know what that is then. Something like that, or even specifically that.” Adam turns and looks at Joy to see she has begun to entertain herself. He begins pulling out a pan so he can prepare something more sustaining than a single grape. He feels Tomorrow’s urgency. He clicks and returns with a long object in his arms. “Look at the model number. Find a book about this and you will be able to use it satisfactorily. In the meantime, fiddle with it. I’m going to make us all breakfast.”
Tomorrow looks up in alarm, “I’ll help. You don’t seem to get the concept. For someone so old, it amazes me the things you haven’t learned yet.
CHAPTER 33
“Yesterday still happened, no matter how hard you try to erase it. By putting more effort into erasing it, you give it more relevance in the universe.” -- from the Book of Brian
“Joy!” Tomorrow yells in a panic and clicks to her. “Spit it out!”
Joy listens but gives her mother a look of confusion. She spits it into her hand then holds the grape, she was chewing, up to her mother.
“I’m sorry, Joy. I might sometimes be a little over protective. I wasn’t sure what that was. I just saw you pop something into your mouth and…I’m sorry, Joy. Although I suppose it looks less appealing half chewed.”
Joy pops the grape back into her mouth, regardless. If only to make a point. Then she vanishes only to return in a moment with a new one. “Can I eat this one, Mom?”
“Why does your father teach you these things?” Tomorrow plops herself into a chair as she thinks and realizes the irony, she says to Joy, “Yes, I get it.” Then she says to herself, “I went from babysitter of two space travelers to owner of one. I’m not sure that
’s progress.” Then she looks at Joy. “Yes, it’s progress.” She says out loud. She stops and thinks about why Adam had gone away for the time he had when he could have clicked back at any time and then she realizes, her husband was wiser than even she gave him credit for. Had she not experienced watching Amelia and Conan grow, she would have been far more frustrated at her own child.
“Tomorrow, I’m home!” Adam bellowed.
“I’ve seen a few episodes of that now, Adam, it’s not funny. Come here.” Adam cocked his head but walks over to the chair as Tomorrow pulls him into it on top of her. Plopped in her lap she says, “I love you!” Then after a moment she adds, “But, it’s a bit early for Joy to start traveling on her own.”
“Mmm. Yes, I agree. But how do you propose we stop her. It’s like asking a normal child not to walk. All creatures learn their method of traversing this universe. She is learning hers. Albeit sooner than we may have expected, I’m not going to tell her to sop standing, are you?” Adam looked up at her.
Tomorrow stroked his shoulder for a while and then responded, ”I get your point, but you’re as worried as I am.”
“Indeed!” Then he stood abruptly, turned and kissed her forehead. “However, there comes a point when you hope for your child’s survival, but you have to allow them to grow. You did a good job of finding that line when you weren’t emotionally attached. Now you are. I am not at all suggesting you quite being a mother, just lean on your experience and wisdom. You gained most of that by being wise to being with. It’s why they now call you ‘First Teacher’. I wish I had a lofty title like that.” Adam grinned at her and kissed her cheek. I suspect, if there was trouble, no matter her age, she would be more of a problem to anyone who caused it than she is to us. She’s a pretty quick thinker.”
“You’ve been through this before, I haven’t.” Tomorrow lowers her eyes and thinks for a moment to herself, quite blocked from Adam’s ability to hear her thoughts.