Chapter 859 (1/2)
It had been a while since Randidly had used his hands rather than his Skills to work with plants. Part of him felt somewhat strange at first, digging around the plants and pulling out weeds, pruning the dying stems from the flowers. Idly, he flicked the odd bug from the underside of leaves.
But the more that he did so, however, the more he began to experience a strange sense of connection to the flowers. All things fed into images. For a long time, Randidly had understood the growth and power of plants. Their ever-present ubiquity in our lives. But this was a different side of plants. The fragile and foolish immortalization of emotions in a garden. The naive pursuit of an immaculate flower.
Chasing perfection in an unknowing entity that simply wished to grow and proliferate.
“Sir, please step away from the flower garden.”
Randidly looked up idly, his hand and his plant hand continued to work smoothly in tandem to feel every stem and leaf and check for imperfections. The two police officers were there, but both were staring nervously at his plant arm. With them were two drones. Not ones of his make, but variants; they were around the size of bobcats and likely designed for private use.
Randidly returned his gaze to the flowers. “Ghost, I assume you have a microphone? I meant to contact you while you were in the city.”
There was the sound of static, and then an answering voice. “Yes. It pleases me greatly to hear from you. I have waited with much relish to see the body you promised me.”
Grinning, Randidly said. “I left the plans at Erickson Steel headquarters. Hopefully, all the parts are made by now. If they haven’t been able to finish the engraving themselves, I’ll come and finish it personally.”
“Hey, you fucked up plant stalker,” The Brute interrupted, “I don’t care who you are, but-”
“He,” Ghost’s slightly tinny voice interrupted. “Is Randidly Ghosthound. And I suspect that there are none in the entirety of the Orchard that could keep bar his path. That’s enough, officers. I’ll take it from here.”
Although he didn’t look, Randidly could sense the Brute wavering between disbelief and fury. “If that man is the Ghosthound, I’ll eat my giant black baton. He’s missing an arm, for Christ's sake!”
“Truly peculiar, but then Mr. Ghosthound was never normal,” Ghost drawled. One of the two bobcat drones prodded the Brute. “Miss Alexandra was informed of the situation and has requested that the officers be escorted off the premises. This way please.”
Before they departed, Ghost called back. “I will be waiting, Mr. Ghosthound.”
Randidly nodded idly, running a finger along the stem of one of the lavender roses. He closed his eyes and savored the sensation. Images are built from small truths.If I’m here, I might as well take what nuggets of meaning I can…
Despite his initial misgivings, Randidly found himself spending almost an hour amongst the flowers. And when he stood and allowed his plant arm to fall away, he was immensely satisfied. His right hand was covered in dirt. The garden before him already looked greener; despite the fact he didn’t use any Skills directly, Ignition of the Emerald Essence seemed to have found a way to invigorate the garden.
It didn’t possess the loving precision that it had previously, but Randidly’s touch certainly made it glow with life.
“You are… not Neveah…?”
Randidly turned calmly to face the new arrival. The lovely young woman was wrapped in an oversized grey hoodie, her perfectly sculpted brows scrunched into a frown. As Randidly rubbed his dirty had against his pants, he grimaced.
This is why people think you are a beggar… find a sink or something.
Then he turned to Tia. “Yea, I’m the actual owner of this face, Randidly. I believe we met before, briefly.”
Tia nodded. The two looked at each other, Tia with much more intensity than Randidly.
Finally, Tia said. “You know… I’m sorry you got dragged into the thing with the police… and that you had to come here to work on the garden. I never… I honestly didn’t think Neveah would keep up with it when she promised to always care for it…”