Fractured Paradise (Volume III)
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After eating the Meithrin fruit and sleeping, Qwinn stood up and moved away from where Thrace and Sayed lay next to each other, arms and legs entangled. Looking to the front of the Ceffylmor he could see Kuan and Xilotl asleep as well. even the Ceffylmor was still. It was becoming apparent to him that this was the way of life here in Addewid, that every living creature must eat within a certain per time, and everyone must sleep. Mag lay quietly on her side to the right of Kuan and Xilotl. To the back of the Ceffylmor the man with the long, dark, straight hair was sitting up. Qwinn had not talked to him yet, but he seemed approachable, if not outgoing. Walking toward the back of the Ceffylmor, the man who was sitting there turned his head towards Qwinn and smiled. "You're the only one awake right now," Qwinn said, conversationally, "have you already slept?" The other man nodded without getting up, but the two men studied each other. Then Qwinn sat down next to the man, saying "I don't think I've heard your name yet, "Qwinn said casually," hoping to learn more about this man who seemed so quiet, but very much a part of this group he has found himself with. "Xiaohong", said the man, "my name is Xiaohong." Qwinn listened to the man's name and wondered about the accent through which the word was said. He was mystified by the way he could understand everything everyone was saying, but they all spoke with different inflections from within their bodies, as though they had brought into Addewid all of the textures of speech which they possessed on earth, yet he was able to understand them anyway. Through television, movies and occasional encounters on the street Qwinn had seen Asian men with their dark hair and eyes that seemed half closed to his own Caucasian eyes, but he had never really sat down and talked to an Asian man. As a minister he had always considered himself open minded and non-prejudiced, but he did remember some displeasure upon hearing that Boston Symphony had hired an asian man as a conductor many years before Qwinn was killed. He never could understand where that feeling came from, but it was real at the time. Later on he was comfortable with the idea of having an Asian man as the conductor of the Boston Symphony, especially after hearing many positive comments about him over the years. Suddenly he felt some sadness that he never actually went down to Symphony Hall to hear the orchestra play, much less watch the conductor lead, although he had passed symphony hall many times on Huntington Avenue. Qwinn looked at Xiaohong who didn't seem all that prepared to carry on a conversation. "Do you have any idea where we are headed?" Qwinn asked. Xiaohong nodded, "Mag says that Kuan has sensed his presence in Island of the One God," he said, "that's where we are headed." "Island of the One God?" Qwinn responded, surpised. "Yes, Island of the One God." "Have you been there?" Qwinn queried. "No, but I hear it is quite large, and not a place you want to be if you are not a member of the Alliance." Qwinn thought back to the man who shot him in church and the conservative Christians he was raised with back on earth. "Why's that?" Qwinn asked, very interested and attentive. "The Alliance has very little tolerance for those who do not accept the Absolute Truth," Xiaohong said. "Absolute Truth? What is that?" "I don't remember encountering anyone quite like this on earth, but apparently, there were several religious groups which had sacred scriptures that they memorized and used as exact guidelines for living." "In Island of the One God," continued Xiaohong, 'and on all of the islands taken over by the Alliance of Truth, these books have been preserved through the memories of those who followed the teachings in these books." "According to Mag and Hian, there are people on these islands who call themselves preservers and they have the right to test the validity of anyone found on these islands." "How do they test for validity?" Qwinn asked. "They will approach you and ask you to recite a passage from the Canon of Truth. You must continue to recite this passage until you are asked to stop. This could be a short while or it could be for a long while, you never know." "And if you don't pass this test?" Qwinn prodded. "Then you will be punished." Qwinn thought about how he would fare with such a test, recognizing that he would not be able to quote many passages from the Bible even though he had been a minister for twenty years on earth. "Do you know what is in this Canon of Truth?" Qwinn asked the question but he was beginning to think that he knew what the answer would be." "You would have to ask Mag or Sayed, they are more familiar with these people and what they were like back on earth. Mag was alive when the Christians got started and Sayed is more familiar with the Muslims. They both are familiar with the Hebrews. There are other groups within the Alliance but I don't know if their writings are included within the Canon of Truth." Qwinn thought for a moment and then commented, "So the Alliance as recreated the sacred writings of the Hebrews, Christians and Muslims and they expect all who live on their islands to memorize portions of these writings." "Oh yes," responded Xiaohong, "There's even a very strict class system in place which is based on how much of the Canon of Truth one has memorized. I've actually heard of people who have memorized the entire canon!" Qwinn couldn't quite believe what he was hearing. "Has any of this been written down anywhere?" Qwinn asked, more thirsty for information now than before. "There is no writing of any kind on Addewid. There are no tools for doing this," said Xiaohong, "all we have here on Addewid are our memories, and they are our most prized possessions." Qwinn was putting together pieces in the giant puzzle of his afterlife, continuing to be surprised with each new revelation. "Does this mean that everyone arrives in Addewid with all of their memories intact?" "Oh, yes," responded Xiaohong, "with even greater clarity than was the case on earth." After a brief pause, Xiaohong continues, "Memories are so valuable here, in fact, that they are like currency on earth. They can be sold and they can be stolen." "Stolen?" gasped Qwinn. "Yes, by using the branches of the Chwedl tree that grows only on, Ellyn's island." "And who is Ellyn?" continued Qwinn, his questions forming faster than his mouth could speak them. "Ellyn, Qwinn," said Xiaohong, "is the creator." Qwinn was stunned. This was the first he'd heard of this "creator". His mind was now on fire with the desire to learn more. He leaned towards Xiaohong to ask another question when his eyes caught something just over Xiaohong's shoulder, in the sea, next to the Ceffylmor. "What is that!" Qwinn yelled, pointing. Xiaohong looked around and flinched as he saw what Qwinn was pointing at. It was the body of a man, motionless, face down in the sea. Mag, having heard Qwinn cry out, approached the two men, looking past them into the sea. "It's one of the Maru," Mag said. Suddenly, she dove into the sea, disappearing momentarily, then resurfacing. Qwinn couldn't get used to the way there were no ripples in this sea, but it was obvious from Mag's action that one can swim in it. Mag, grabbing hold of the lifeless body, pulled it to the edge of the Ceffylmor where Xiaohong and Qwinn grabbed hold of the man and pulled him onto the back of the Ceffylmor. The body rolled and flopped onto its back at the feet of Qwinn and Xiaohong. The man was tall with jet black skin. There was knotted hair on his head and face and liquid from the sea draining away in creases and curves within torso, arms and legs. The man's genitals sprawled out, flaccid across the top of his thighs and his hands curled up at the end of arms, twisted like neglected roots. Mag crawled back onto the Ceffylmor and stared down at him, "I wonder if he fell of off a drone ship," she speculated. "Go get some Meithrin fruit," she commanded, not taking her eyes from the man. Qwinn walked over to where Thrace and Sayed were waking up to the excitement. "Mag has just pulled a body from the sea," Qwinn told them. He picked up two Meithrin fruits and walked back to Mag, who had pulled the man's face into her lap. Taking one of the fruits in her hands she pried a piece loose and placed it on the man's lips, which quivered slightly as soon as she placed it there. "It will take a few moments for the fruit to bring him out of the Maru," she said, looking at Qwinn, who had the look of confusion on his face. Suddenly, the man's eyes opened and he looked around. "Damn!" he said, "looking up a Mag. "Why did you revive me?" Struggling to pull away from Mag he rolls over onto his stomach and struggles to get up when Xilotl and Kuan arrive. Xilotl pulls her flute to ready lips as Kuan focuses on the man, Xilotl plays a melody, unique to those Qwinn has heard before. The man slumps back to the surface of the Ceffylmor, asleep. "Bring some of the Rhaff vine over and tie him up," said Mag, "this one isn't going to be very friendly when he wakes up." Chapter 13 Kihanga Qwinn watched as Sayed, who had just arrived at his side, walk towards the Ceffylmor's head, where Kuan and Xilotl stood. Sayed knelt down and lifted the coiled strands of pale green rope. It was so light in color that Qwinn hadn't noticed it from a distance. Sayed fingered the loops of cord. It was only as thick as his small finger. He handed the Rhaff vine to Mag and she bound the sleeping arms and legs, carefully turning him on his back, moving his head for calm within his sleep. Mag looked up to Xilotl and asked her to awaken him. Xilotl's flute, once more, sang out, it's music burrowing deep into Qwinn as the man responded with a startled breath. Without saying a word, his eyes opened wide and he trembled as though in fear, then he relaxed and breathed deeply. Looking up at Xilotl and Kuan he said, "your Caller is strong. She is gentle. I didn't have any nightmares like I did with those I was with before. It was peaceful." With a puzzled look he turned to mage and said, "She is a woman. I've never seen a woman Caller before." Looking at those standing around him he said, "you aren't wearing any clothes", then, continuing to look into the eyes of Mag he says, "and you seem to have a woman in charge." Mag stooped down to him, her breasts pressing against the front of her thighs. She pulled knotted, coarse hair away from his face that he had been trying to blow off to the side with his breath. "My name is Mag", she said, "we have no leader, as such, but I am Hian's partner, with whom we have been travelling." "Hian!" exclaimed the man, "I've heard the name being whispered amongst the people of the Alliance." With concern growing within his voice he said, "You aren't wearing any clothes so you must not be in the Alliance. I've heard of you people. They say you are evil and cannot be trusted." He started to tremble again, looking wildly to each of those standing around him. Suddenly, he closed his eyes and chanted, "And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And say to the believing women that they lower their gaze and restrain their sexual passions and do not display their adornment except what appears thereof. And let them wear their head coverings over their bosoms." Qwinn recognized the first few phrases from the bible, then the recitation to a turn he wasn't familiar with. It was obviously something he had memorized and was a part of some ritual. "You are correct," Mag said, "we are not of the Alliance, and I'm not surprised that you have heard Hian's name. The Alliance has been desperately trying to capture him." Once again opening his eyes, he looked around, almost as if he was expecting something to be different, "Is he here? Which of you is Hian?" he said. He looked at the men, one after the other. "None of these men are Hian," said Mag, "We believe that the Alliance is responsible for the rogue Ceidwad who has just recently, within the last three feedings, captured Hian. We are trying to find him now." "But you aren't wearing any clothes, any of you," he stated with disbelief, closing his eyes and covering his face with large, smooth black hands. Qwinn was curious about his obsession with nudity, especially since he was not wearing any himself, then he began to wonder what kind of clothes could be made here in Addewid, but as he thought back into his own life he realized how surprised he would have been if a group of people such as this had walked into church some Sunday morning without clothes. Mag dropped completely to the Ceffylmor's back, crossing her legs at the ankles as she sat up. Looking at the man who continually pulled and tugged on the strands of Rhaff vine. She said, "have you never seen anyone outside of the Alliance?" He shook his head. "How long were you on your island before they found you?" Mag asked. "They were there when I woke up," he answered, with his eyes still closed. Throwing his head back he grimaced in recollection, "I was with a group tracking down a lion when we were surprised by the attack of another lion. It was dark, so dark. He must have attacked me first since I don't recall anything but that first ferocious bite, then nothing. "There I was, waking up to a large group of people looking down on me. "Every one of them was wearing this shiny blue cloth like nothing I had ever seen before." As the man described the clothes being worn by the people on his island, Qwinn thought of the blue fruit and the shining, smooth texture of it. His being was flooded with the images of spears, a full moon and the profile of sparse trees scattered across open land with tall grass and gazelles leaping just beyond the path of a lioness on the hunt. Then he felt the pain of teeth in flesh. "Qwinn," yelled Kuan as she approached him. It was all Qwinn needed as his mind came back to the man laying bound at his feet. The name "Kihanga" sprang into his thoughts. "What is your earth name," asked Mag as she continued to engage the man before her. "Kihanga," he said. Qwinn flinched as he heard the name. Looking over to Kuan he realized that she was watching him, rather than Mag and the man lying on his back. Kuan smiled briefly. Qwinn understood that Kuan knew about his discovery. "That means that the Alliance is taking over islands before new arrivals have been placed there," Mag said, "this is not good." Kihanga stared at her but didn't really understand the impact of her statement. "I thought the Alliance was everywhere," he said. "Oh no," Mag responded, "but they would like to be. What you have experienced is only a small part of Addewid. Most islands have never had encounters with the Alliance, but they are growing rapidly." After thinking about the situation Mag asked Kihanga why he was in the sea. "I just jumped in. Someone grabbed me by my tunic but I pulled it off and jumped into the sea, I just wanted to get away from them. I wanted to die again so I didn't even try to sneak back onto the island to eat. I just wanted to go into the Maru, I just wanted to die, but..." Kihanga's voice trailed off contemplation. Qwinn wondered if he was longing for death, something he was beginning to think was impossible here on Addewid, something which was more desirable than anything else, but unattainable. Mag reached down to the knots she had made in the Rhaff cords and untied them. "I think you'll be fine without these," she said. As the vines fell from Kihanga he sat up, rubbing his wrists. Looking at Xilotl and Kuan he said, "I guess if I tried to jump back into the sea you'd just play the flute and I'd drop back down, sound asleep, huh?" Xilotl and Kuan smiled, then turned back towards the front of the Ceffylmor. Xilotl's flute was soon directing the Ceffylmor and they were moving again. Mag handed another Meithrin fruit to Kihanga and told him to rest and build his strength back up. She promised to be back for more information. Chapter 14 Assignment As Mag stood up she approached Qwinn and beckoned for him to follow her. As they approached the side of the Ceffylmor, away from the others she sat down and motioned for him to join her. "You seem to have strong Walker abilities Qwinn. Hian was right, you may prove useful after all," she said. Qwinn looked at her, but didn't know what to say. "You knew Kihanga's name before he said it, didn't you?" Qwinn nodded. "I think Kuan has warned you about using your gift, but you also must know that this gift can be used for good if used properly. Kuan will be able to teach you these things." Qwinn fingered moved his fingers on the smooth skin of the Ceffylmor from between his folded legs. "I must tell you though, that until we find an Caller mate for you that you not be able to develop fully." "I don't understand," Qwinn said. "An Walker and Caller work together and they must have harmony within the spirit as well as within the mind. In order for this to happen each Walker must be paired with an Caller, like Kuan and Xilotl." "But why?" "Because an Walker is only able to read inside of another creature and they can cause changes in the physical nature of things, but they cannot direct the behavior of things. An Caller is needed to do that." "So why does an Caller need an Walker?" "Because an Caller cannot direct the behavior of something unless they know the Evresyl name of that creature or thing." "And the Walker can provide that name," Qwinn uttered, as he thought of his ability to read inside of others. "Yes," Mag answered. "You are telling me that everyone has two names: an earth name and an Addewid name," said Qwinn. "Yes, that is correct." "But what is the Addewid name for?" Speaking very slowly to make sure Qwinn understood the gravity of what she was saying, Mag said "if you know the Addewid name of anything, a well trained Caller can cause that creature or thing to do anything they are command to do by playing the correct notes on the flute." Qwinn remained silent as Mag stood up and walked to where Kuan and Xilotl were concentrating on the Ceffylmor. The Alliance, Ceffylmors, drone ships, a sky without a moon or sun, Walker and Caller, a creator that lives on an island, all of this was starting make some sense as it increasingly took on a an unbelievable scope. Qwinn walked over to Thrace and Sayed's cache of Meithrin fruit, picked one up and returned to his place of solitude, filled himself with the blue fluids of its sustenance and fell into the deep sleep of dreams about Mississippi, Massachusetts, Cindy, Andy, sunsets, mountain streams and full moons, things that have become the fabric of experience no longer accessible. But the dreams were warm, full of the details of his existence, full of the life he once had. It was from deep within this sleep that he awoke to the trembling fear of the Ceffylmor once again, like the terror he felt within the Ceffylmor as the rogue Ceidwad began to fill its senses. Qwinn knew that trouble was once again lurking nearby. Fearing that his perceptions were once again correct, he kept his eyes closed, hoping that Mag would place a calming hand on his shoulder and tell him that everything was fine and that he could sleep more. Then there were the voices "Stop, in the name of the one and only God!" came the cry. Then the whispers of voices he recognized and the collective concern as their presence held his spirit. He did feel Mag's hand, but it was not reassuring, it was fraught with peril. "Qwinn," she said, "you must wake up now. We have been caught by the Alliance." As Qwinn opened his eyes he saw a massive ship, like the drone ship he observed before, but instead of inactive bodies lined up along the edges with drones administering to the needs of the ship, there were rows of standing men in shining blue uniforms and blue caps, their legs parted slightly, their expressions dour, and their leader's voice exploded with authority. Behind the men standing on the ship were several Ceidwadaid like the one that took Hian from his island. They were perched on their hind legs, their forearms crossed upon their chests and their wings folded in upon their backs, the edges visible from the side. Several of the soldiers followed someone with a blue cap that was higher than the rest. They leaped from the ship to the Ceffylmor. The leader of the group approached Qwinn and asked, "What are you doing in Alliance territory?" Qwinn started to speak when Mag approached and answered for him. "He is new to Addewid," she said, "He doesn't know who you are." The man with the large blue cap looked down at Mag, approached closely to her with his left arm raised and viciously knocked her to the surface of the Ceffylmor. Standing over her he spat upon her, frowning at her presence, his spittle clinging to her dark hair. "How insolent of you, a woman, to speak to me and look directly at me! Lower eyes to pay the respect due to a man and to an officer of the Alliance." Mag refused to lower her eyes, continuing to stare directly into those of the man who attacked her. Qwinn was hoping that Kuan and Xilotl would show up at just the right moment to put these men to sleep as they have before with others, but when he looked their direction he noticed that the soldiers had already captured them, covered their nude bodies with the blue material they brought with them and confiscated Xilotl's flute. In front of them was a large man with a flute, and another standing next to him. It was obvious that the man standing next to him as an Walker and he was reading each of them, gathering their Addewidian names, preparing to control them. These men, Qwinn noticed, knew how to immobilized the entire group. Sayed moved in front of Qwinn and looked at the man with the large blue cap. "We have meant no harm," Sayed said. "We didn't realize we were in Alliance territory." "You can explain that to the judge," the commander said. Immediately after that, the men from the ship grabbed Qwinn, threw a blue cape over him and bound him with Rhaff cords. Although his head was covered he could hear the sounds of resistance, but there were so many alliance soldiers that he figured there was no need for the work of an Caller to silence them. Then he heard the voice of Kihanga, "I don't want to go back to Island of the One God. Let me go." There was a struggle Kihanga's memories began to overtake Qwinn's consciousness: childhood dreams of climbing trees and running along the paths of jungle and tall grass, swimming in streams while teasing a young hippopotamus. "Not the branch," he could hear Kihanga's voice say, "Not the goddam branch. I don't want to give my memories. They are mine! Mine!" Then the memories stopped within Qwinn's thoughts. It was as though Kihanga had become empty, devoid of all existence. There was no more utterance from Kihanga, but Qwinn could feel his presence. It was dark, foreboding, eternal, silence. "Throw him overboard," said the voice of the officer, "he is of no use to us any longer." Qwinn felt himself being lifted. In his spirit he searched for the presence of Mag and the others. They were all there, but fear reined within each of them. He felt his body being place onto a hard surface. Then heard the notes from a flute, a different flute than the one played by Xilotl. It was deeper, stronger, coercive. He could sense the spirits of the three Ceffylmorai pulling the ship. They responded to the notes, but he could feel their resistance. They were dreaming nightmares, just as Kihanga had described, from the Caller of the Alliance. |
