Encompassing Reality

by Richard Lord

  Adam looks at her and replies, “This? No. Similar sure. Joy is Joy. She didn’t arrive with an instruction manual. They never do. I had to learn your buttons and valves just as you learned all about my levers.”

  Completely understanding the statement, Tomorrow laughs. “Speaking of which, she seems awfully caught up in what she’s doing, but I’d like to get caught up in what you’re doing.” She stands and looks at him. “I’m sure you realize you have what some might consider a village growing in our basement.”

  “Uggh, I thought you wanted to check my lever. But, come along then. I’ll show you some of the things they have produced. By the way, had you stepped to lever, fun, but you stepped to village, so you and Joy are now signed up for sword fighting lessons. Guess who the instructor is.” Adam grinned at Tomorrow.

  “I thought we already covered that.” Tomorrow responds while turning to walk away.

  Adam casually says, “You learned basics, you didn’t learn brutal and that means you can’t ensure a win. We’re not the only ones in the world who can do this. Some are on our side, some are then aren’t then are again or aren’t then are then aren’t again and some are against us. It’s why I haven’t moved you around in time very much, because you would run into them and they’ve had a lot more practice at surviving those encounters.”

  “Is this speech meant to make me for more comfortable about the fact our daughter is doing this now?” Tomorrow turns and looks back at Adam scolding and defensive at the same time.

  “No, the training should.” Adam rested his case.

  Tomorrow stood very still for a lot longer than was normal. Adam could not hear, because she was blocking him form her thoughts. She said, “Let’s see what they have created out of the mind of a madman.”

  Adam grinned and said, “As long as I can still add one and one, and keep you and our daughter safe, madness is acceptable.”

  Tomorrow, knowing enough about his past said, “I’m teasing you. I shouldn’t joke like that.”

  Adam strode to her and picked her up and said, “If you didn’t joke with me, life would be dreary.” He kissed her and clicked.

  Arriving in Joy’s room, he motioned for Tomorrow to go to Joy who had just turned around, at first wondering what she did wrong and then giggling as she heard her father’s thoughts.

  Adam said, aloud, “That tandem thing you did with the kids, let’s do that. It was brilliant concept. I’ll steer.”

  Joy got up and took her mother’s hand. Tomorrow looked at Adam and said, “I’m not sure this is a…”

  When they appeared the long stretch of green hills, Tomorrow looked out at the color in the canvas of the world she was standing in. Joy giggled, Adam looks at the small group of people working on so many things.

  The seamstress approached first, “Finally, we can see if everything fits.”

  “We’ll get there, Kumadri. You have worked hard on this I know. How was today’s catch?”

  Kumadri motioned at the kettle and wafted her hand upwards from her chin. “Sit, I will get bowls, so all of you can try it. It’s very good.”

  Tomorrow listened to Adam’s thoughts and began to realize what was going on. These people were not living in her basement.

  They all at together and Tomorrow laughed with them as she realized they were happy and not living below ground. She had taken on Adam’s dislike for that lifestyle.

  “Kumadri, that was a treat. It reminded me of old times in a land you haven’t seen yet, but of which you are extremely aware of it’s traditions.” Adam paused and bowed in thanks. “I’ve told you of styles of other lands, so please present to my family some of what you have produced, and of course we would like to start with you showing us your work.”

  Joy, having heard her father’s thoughts clicks to his side. Adam reaches down and puts a hand on her head and messes up her hair as much as he can get away with. Joy stands still but makes funny faces that her father can’t see. She garners smiles form those who can.

  “Here are the outfits.” Kumadri bows as she hands them to Adam and Adam notes she has certainly folded them well. He pauses at what he is about to do next for that reason. Adam drops the garments to the ground, releases Joy, pushes himself airborne with his right leg, vanishes and returns. The blade in his hand swings mightily with the full force of him landing behind it. It stops as it strikes the stack he had let fall to the ground.

  Adam turns the sword and places it to his left within the belt he was wearing and looks at Kumadri. “The weave works well. Let’s see your design work now.”

  Kumadri looks at him inquisitively so he points to Tomorrow. Kumadri smiles and holds up a suit to Tomorrow’s back. Then Kumadri points to a tent. Tomorrow, hearing thoughts from her and Adam at once realizes she is to put it on.

  Emerging with a smile that showed both her excitement and her reservations, she looks at Adam and asks, “For protection or hotness factor?” Adam looks back at Tomorrow. He knows she heard his response to his question with no vocal necessity. Tomorrow notes his response and says, “Then I like it a lot! Joy’s I’ll assume does not mean that, at her age, she could even possibly be part of what I am doing.”

  Adam looked at Kumadri who handed Joy her outfit. Joy looked up at Kumadri and said, “Thank you.” Then she ran to the tent.

  Adam walked over to eye up the attire adorned by Tomorrow. “It looks good. Hers is designed simply as clothes that are protective. With her, we’re going to have to make a lot more, but we had to start somewhere and it made since to make her first set have the cool factor so she didn’t feel left out. Yours is designed for the job you’ve taken on. Mine is designed to avoid damage, as much as possible, should you require my assistance. I’m over the days of having to heal all the time.” He looks at her, moves his hand instinctively to his ribcage and grins.

  Tomorrow’s smile broadens. “Adam, I get what you’ve done here. You always say Plan A stands for Action Plan, Plan B stands for Backup Plan and Plan C stands for Cut Losses Plan. This village of smiths, of a wide variety, is your Plan B. Just in case Shang-tu and Pompeii fail. That’s why it’s not connected. They will be a city eventually.” Tomorrow serves Adam a look of correction, “I keep telling you I’m not the idiot you take me for, my love.” Tomorrow loos at him with adoration, but then asks, “So?”

  “You are still far from an idiot or I wouldn’t be that interested in you, my, dear. We’ve always known this to be true.” Renfield grinned at his wife and his eyes peeled off of her for a moment to glance at the tent his little one had entered.

  Renfield asked, “First Teacher. As your teacher, am I still required to answer all of your questions? He paused looking at her in mock seriousness sand then said, “Or is that a requirement of being your husband?”

  “Either ruleset works for me as long as I get answers.” She smiled and then showed him how the rear side of her uniform fit around her body well.

  Adam chuckled before looking more serious. “Stephen knew what he was going to do. We did not. Perhaps he had a Plan B. I must consider that at all times. Especially considering that I can no longer see the what comes to pass. However, it can no longer be whimsically changed. Albeit at a great price. I didn’t say this is a better plan.” Adam motions his arm to the village as he looks at Tomorrow, solemnly. “It’s Plan B, as you put it. What you have accomplished is a great plan. One day may these three foundations work together, once travel is re-established and they discover each other. May that union make all of them stronger. Keep in mind we are starting to see what was once called organized crime. Later it will be known as legislation. We want to avoid that. The few should never be allowed to put the many into such slavery. Passing, what they consider, the law of the land because it benefits them. Drug companies, insurance companies, banks, they all will play a role in that. Drug companies will control the flow of medicine, insurance companies will control the flow of ‘just in case’, and banks will control which of the two gets the money as long as they
get a cut. It’s a horrid system, You must think faster and stop it from happening again. It will eventually lead to someone who wants to take over the two cities realizing that their best option is to found their own. We used to call that the beginning of a dictatorship. That is what we called a government based around a person who rules by fear.”

  “Why would anyone join that city over what we have to offer? I have head your stories of slavery. I gather you prose such horror was inflicted on the many and not by race, but by class?” Tomorrow looks confused.

  “It always begins with promises, gifts, making everything seem like it is the better path. Once there is a foundation in manufacturing, etc. it becomes very difficult for people to leave and simply go somewhere else. By then they have begun families. They have to raise families and that requires an income and that requirement means they do as they are told. They only think it’s a requirement. The government owns all of the land, at some point and says they monitor it for the safety for the people, but that’s an hallucinatory concept. Do remember the people who run the governments, I’ve taught you about, are just as programmed as the rest, mostly. So they are innocents continuing a concept that should never be again.” Renfield explains.

  “How do we stop this from happening.” Tomorrow stands tall as she asks.

  Renfield point to her. “You do what you are doing. I know a thing or two. Let’s face it, it’s time I spend more time focusing on issues of the mind, and less on using my own body as a bludgeon.” Renfield grins.

  Tomorrow was quite for a time, wondering many things, amongst which she wondered if Joy was being a burden on Kumadri in the tent and if she should step in. Then she turned to Renfield, “Am I doing good?”

  Renfield again waved his arms for her to take in the faces of all of the people working diligently around them on the mountain glazed in life. “You are a bigger hero to those here than you can imagine. In the twin cities, you are a mystery heroine. Here, you are a goddess because everyone here knows what you do.” He reaches out and pulls her to his chest as he illiterates, “They are smiling because you are here.”

  Tomorrow smiles at Renfield as Joy runs out from the tent. “Mom, I look like you!” Joy points and begins to giggle with excitement. Adam clicks, then reappears donned in his gear. Joy yells, “Cool, Dad! We three are cool!” Joy points to the symbol on her mother’s chest, the symbol on the underarm of her own new clothing and then to the symbol on Adam’s arm.

  Joy grabs Tomorrow by the leg and reaches to Adam with her hand. She pulls him down and asks him, “Are we special now?”

  “If you keep secrets. You will lose your specialness if you tell anyone who doesn’t already know.” Adam pointed out.

  Joy responds, “I can be responsible, Dad, I promise.”

  “You know Joy, I don’t doubt that. You are very keen for your age.” Adam responds.

  “Mommy is more special, hers has feathers. You and me don’t.” Joy notices.

  “Those feathers are part of a long story of how you came to be Joy. One day, I’ll tell it to you while your Mom is busy making her dream come true.” Renfield puts up both hands palms out, “I know, she’s the teacher, but I have thing or two to say.”

  “Wait ‘til my little brother gets here! He’s going to punch out bad guys with me!” Joy comments while mocking a punch to the face of whomever is in her imagination.

  Tomorrow strokes the feathers and thinks back to a time that seems so long ago to her, but that made her happy, even if it was under bad conditions. She pauses upon feeling something odd about the feathers and narrows her eyes at Adam.

  Adam looks at Tomorrow and grins, “Joy’s perceptive, like her mother.”

  Tomorrow responds, “Violent like her father.” She pats Joy on the head.

  Adam furrows his brow at Tomorrow and replies, “Oh?” Showing a look of innocence on his face. “I’m the only one who uses physical skill to bring about change?”

  Tomorrow grins, “Tell me about your physical skills again!” She looks down at Joy and blushes a bit. She looks at the outfits gleaming with the accents in the sun. He runs her hand over them. “What is this?” She asks Adam.

  “Gold. Remember you said it’s useless?” Adam grinned back at her. Then he added, “Here most trade is based on food and metals.”

  “So was that bag a decoy or did I have in my hands something you knew would be valuable one day and I was too impatient?” Tomorrow asked Adam.

  “You, Tomorrow, are always impatient while being the most patient person I know.” Adam responds.

  “I should have gotten away while I had the chance!” Tomorrow laughs and then reaches for her husband to kiss him.

  Joy, looking impatient with her parents banter looks up and asks, “Are we ready?”

  Adam replies, “Wait!” He holds up a finger and looks at each of them. “There’s so much more to show you!” He takes a deep bow while gathering his hands in front of him at arms-length, touching at the fingertips, in a wide circle in front of them then releases his arms over their heads to illustrate how much more there is to this journey.

  Tomorrow asks, “What is does this symbol mean? It’s different from Venetia’s.”

  “In olden days we measured time in year, as you know. It was something I came across in the year we called two thousand and sixteen. It is a knot that cannot be broken symbolizing three. Or as it was designed, seven hundred years before that, what was called the trinity.” Adam explained.

  Tomorrow smiles at Adam as Joy indicates she is with him. Joy points to Tomorrow and comments to Adam, “You follow her.”

  “I’ve always followed Tomorrow with Joy.” Renfield replies while smiling at his daughter and then to his wife.

  “Why is it that your statement reminds me of when you introduced me to cheese? Kind of mushy, tastes a bit like ‘ugh’ and a bit like ‘mmm, mmm, good’. Now, I understand what you mean by cheesy.” Tomorrow comments and then after thinking for a moment asks, “Did you really not know my name when we first met?”

  “I did not. However since knowing I was not unaware and noted the irony or the choice you made for our daughter’s name.” Adam replies.

  “I see.” Despite his answer, Tomorrow looks at Adam with her own doubts. “What is this about a brother?”

  Joy cuts in, “I dreamed about him. He’s pretty cool and we are good friends. Mostly.”

  Tomorrow looks at Adam to respond.

  Adam shrugs, “I can’t visit the future, but I suppose she has given us a homework assignment.”

  Tomorrow responds, “I’ll do my best to get a great grade from my teacher.” Tomorrow grins at Renfield.

  Adam turns and say to Joy, “Well, I’ve noticed you and Kumadri have become fast friends. Go on, give her a hug and thank her for making your outfit and helping you get into it.”

  Joy flings herself into at Kumadri who catches her and holds her tight and eventually sets her down and looks at Adam. “You spoke true. This is a beautiful place. Thank you.”

  Adam spreads his arms and wraps them around Kumadri knowing she wanted recognition from him too. He was eager to show let her know he appreciated all she had done. “You’ve done a phenomenal job leading these people. I believe in you and you have been twice as good to my family. As I keep telling them you have more to show.”

  Kumadri grins and says, “Apparently you do too, I will adjust that area of your uniform so that it is more comfortable to suit you.”

  Tomorrow laughs while looking down at her husband’s anatomy. “It gets worse, so consider that. I’ve learned tricks when I want to use them. By worse, between us women, I definitely mean better!”

  Adam groans at the lady talk.

  Kumadri laughs and gestures for them to follow her.

  As they all descend to the village following Kumadri, Renfield turns to Tomorrow and Joy and gestures while he announces, “Prepare to be amazed at what you are about to see!”

  Tomorrow thinks, “Show off.”


  Joy responds to the thought with her own, “I think he’s cool too, Mom!”

  They all begin running down the hill to catch up with Kumadri. Joy, realizing her legs are too short to keep up, clicks herself in front of her father who swoops her up and carries her while smiling at her.

  Tomorrow watches from behind thinking about how excited he looked when she saw the side of his face as he picked up Joy. Tomorrow clicks in front of him too and purses her lips as she leans towards him. She thinks to him, “You’re excitement about life has kept you young for longer than I can imagine. I love you for it!”

  Renfield leans in to snatch her kiss, pulls her into him and whispers, “You invigorate me, you’re the heroine!”

  Tomorrow reluctantly pulls her lips from his while ending the embrace by sucking on his lower lip, “You’re my hero, but you already knew that.”

  Joy rolls her eyes at her parents and moves a hand to cover them. Renfield laughs and says, “Hey girl, there’s nothing wrong with looking forward to Tomorrow! Just make sure you bring Joy.”

  Joy giggles as they begin their descent noting that Kumadri is standing next to a blacksmith already. Both smile as the trio makes their way down the hill. They can’t wait for their arrival. They are excited to show off what they have in store for them.

  The rest of the smiths watch this second presentation, eager to show off their own work. There was no question Kumadri’s presentation would set the tone. As the clear leader, they knew she would not fail them as first presenter to the legends they were soon to address. This was the second presentation. This was the one, they knew, would determine how their own innovations would be judged. All eyes were on Tomorrow.

  “And then what’s next, Bob?” Tomorrow asked of the man she married and had a child with.

  Renfield_2 turns and responds, “How long have you known?”

  “You already know. It was before I was very good at blocking you. It’s been a long time. Adam died too, that day. He is the one who kept us alive. But, your explanation wasn’t completely false.” Tomorrow felt for one of the feathers and held it out. To him as she kneeled. “I met you. I married you. I had a child with you. It’s ok to be you, Bob.”