Part 20 (1/2)

He had given them the meaning of his name, which she spoke in the fas.h.i.+on of the clan, to emphasise the meaning and thus the ident.i.ty of the bearer with the clan.

'I run for myself not as a spectacle for you!'

She laughed and ran off with the dog barking in fun at her heels. She stopped suddenly, turned and came towards him.

'Who do you protect? It seems it is we who protect you from being lost!' It was a girlish taunt. He ignored it.

'Where are you going now I've interrupted you,' he said. She did not answer, instead she came close to him, challenging him.

'Why did you shout out like that just now?' He found he could not make direct eye contact.

'There are things I want,' he said. 'But don't know how to get.'

'Such as me?' She stood very close to him. He felt her breath on his face, her warm femininity seemed to fill the s.p.a.ce between them. There was nothing he would rather do than grasp her closely and lose himself. He was prevented by the same dissonance which had made him cry out. This instant of his hesitation was too long for the moment to be grasped and his fate was sealed. To make his claim of her would be to fix him in this valley for ever. He could see no reason whatever to deny this craving. It was everything he wanted, his heart's desire. What scruple made him hesitate for that too long a second?

'You must struggle for me, I have other men of valour with good families, big herds and skills to make me silver buckles.'

She laughed gaily and coquettishly ran off in the direction from which she came. At the same moment a group of four hors.e.m.e.n came from a side-canyon, one of whom detached himself from the group and chased after NightChant, coming alongside he swept her up into the saddle and rode off, her silver laughter following behind like a cape. Two others of the group galloped after them leaving the last, Barboncito, alone with Alexander. He dismounted and taking Alexander by the arm, walked him and his horse in the same direction as the others. Flatfoot had already set off, making his own small dust-storm in his wake.

'You have rivals - they will be displeased that you had her to yourself for so long this morning. They will think you came here early to catch her alone. Are you ready to challenge for her? You will have to out-do them if you are to have her. A worthy prize don't you think?'

'I'm not sure I should try.' Alexander faced Barboncito.

'It is what you want, is it not? It is what you came to the Sipapu to find didn't you?'

'I don't know I can't remember ....Yes, of course it is.'

'So, is it the challenge you fear?'

'Partly, but there's something else stopping me.'

They walked slowly, side by side, companions. Barboncito careful to say or do nothing to damage the illusion of permanence Alexander attributed to his clan members.h.i.+p. Barboncito's instructions were clear. For Alexander to remain on this side of the Sipapu in Elysium with his clan and to guide him in their ways. He was already more than half-way to being fully accepted. Marriage would take him past the point of no return, and the rest would be accomplished by Singing-Woman and NightChant. Responsibility for his own family group would complete his embedding. Alexander needed no encouragement. The family and clan, the life-way, ritual and wholeness of the experience filled all the empty parts of his psyche and clarified his confusions. All he had to do was to slip gracefully and with all appropriate dignity into the life-path of his host community. There were no ambiguities for them and as a full member so there would be none for him.

For Barboncito it was a kind of superlative form of computer hacking. To have his own world enter into the mind of another and for it to drive his will. Locked in the clan, time for Alexander, son of Zeus, will stop, as it had for all in the realms of Chronos and Hades. The road would then be clear for the next step. There was no place for Alexander's doubt in this realm, no place for any activity to promote change. Barboncito thus alarmed at Alexander's hesitation was careful not to reawaken his memory of his mission.

'Of what do you have doubts? I'm certain NightChant will have you. You will of course have to convince her of your superiority, but I will help you. If you are worried about Singing-Woman, leave her to me.' At this Alexander seemed to brighten. Barboncito pursued his advantage.

'I have spoken with NightChant, she thinks of you all the time. She has made it her goal to bring you to fully into us through her. The rest is all teasing. She has no doubt you will beat off any challenge. Who do you fear most? I know them all, I will tell you their weaknesses.'

'That would not be right!' Barboncito was pleased to see Alexander respond vigorously. 'I'll handle the others in my own way, I don't want any unfair advantage. Not that I wouldn't find it handy,' he grinned. 'But you know full well I'll never be accepted if I can't win her fairly.' He hesitated for a long moment, before adding quietly. 'But that's not the main problem, the main problem is me.'

Thoroughly alarmed now, Barboncito's well practised inscrutability needed his full control.

'I don't follow you, my brother. Here is all you desire, a little effort only is needed to achieve it. Eternal harmony, fullness and completion is yours. I understand the prize is so large that you may find the means harder than they really are when there is so much at stake, but you are more than capable. You have fallen in with the ways of the clan and have developed your skills as if born to them. You track as well as any rival, You are skilful with the knife, you ride without fear and with ability, and above all you love us and our land with all your soul. You have a more thoroughly conscious conception of our world than anyone born to it. This is what NightChant loves in you. The others take for granted what you know to be special. There is a light in you missing in the others. This will serve you in the struggle for her. It will carry you to heights of achievement unavailable to my other brethren. It will make you our leader in due time. The world of the Sipapu and you will be one, home at last.'

'Oh I want it! I want to make the step. I was so close to NightChant just now, all I had to do was touch her and lose myself. It is all I want so much that it hurts. But I can't - I just can't!'

'I don't understand my brother, you can, just do it, reach out your hand and enter through NightChant, She will guide you, she knows. Do it. NightChant will choose freely, she has the right. We need you to make good...' Barbonicito stopped short. His eagerness was beginning to show through. Fortunately Alexander seemed not to hear him.

Barboncito changed tack and rather than offer explanations pushed Alexander into offering his own.

'What can't you do? What stops you holding out your hand to her if you wish it so much?'

'I don't know in a conscious sense, but it's me. There is a bit of me that will not give up itself to anything exterior, however magnificent or beautiful. I want to let go with all my heart and soul, but there's a hard centre in me that won't let me go.'

'You mean you're not ready, you need longer?'

'No, however long I take, I know I won't let myself go, let myself go entirely, offered up in exchange. It's just not negotiable, I can't let it go. It's not that I wouldn't, I would do it now, without a second's hesitation, it's that I can't, I won't let myself.'

Barboncito was exasperated and very worried. His task to suborn Alexander into the consciousness of the clan and to lose him there for eternity was cracking before his eyes. This white boy was refusing the best offer he could have wished for. The offer of redemption never before made in this realm was here on a plate and he couldn't take it. Still it was not yet over, the desire was great. Whatever motivated the remaining scruples, if he could sustain and develop the desire he could yet push him finally him over the edge.

Chapter 10.

Zeus walked quickly through the scrub on the track from Chora to Psathi on the little island of Ios. He liked a little exercise now and again. He had a lot on his mind and walking helped him to consider his burden. Under his ma.s.sive straw hat, the brow of The Lord of the Present was furrowed. A storm threatened the Cyclades, but just held off. His anger, deep and sad, he could not dispel. He did not wish to do what he did. He would have Gaia otherwise. He would have mortals otherwise. He would have Yahweh gone or melded with him. He would have Chronos and Hades out of their realms, with him and Yahweh - gone from this race of mortals. But nothing was as he wanted and so he must act. The nearer he got to Psathi the clouds cleared a little, a light, welcome rain fell on the high ground accompanied by a token flash of lightening. He strode onto the terrace to find his wife in close conversation with Themis. Sensing his arrival, they ceased their mind-meld ready to greet him. Zeus a-walking was bad news. He was up to something, something he kept off the 'sphere, working on his own.

'Wife, where is Persephone? Has Hermes brought her as you said? Be quick woman, I don't have eternity to wait!'

Hera, wise to his ways, was not at all abashed at his brusqueness, but had taken the precaution of ensuring Persephone's presence. If the Master were to dabble, she needed to be close to the action, there was always something a resourceful G.o.ddess could do if she knew what was going on.

'Hermes has brought her My Lord. He has news of Alexander. You know well Persephone is here out of time. The harvest may be affected badly. She is justifiably wrathful and she has brought Demeter...'

Zeus cut her short with a wave of his arm and the sky darkened ominously.

'Let them enter, I will converse.' Hera despatched a waiting nymph to fetch the guests, and offered her husband a comfortable chaise-long from which to greet them. He waved it away and paced up and down the terrace, finally he leaned over the balcony with his back to the company as they a.s.sembled. The sky overhead was blue-black.

'We await your pleasure Lord of the Sky,' Hera announced. He caught the sarcasm in her tone, but refrained from loosing the thunderbolt he fingered beneath his robe. Deep within he found her amusing, ultimately they were all so. They were designed for their purposes. Their responsibilities, clearly defined, they fulfilled their various destinies with consummate artistry, vigour and creativity. He admired them, every one. Their freedom of action however, had its reverse side. He had to be on top of his job. His strategy, based on his powers of divination, founded on both knowledge and intuition had to be tip-top. Omniscience was not enough. He fretted about his relations.h.i.+p with Yahweh. The World needed both of them, but Yahweh was so exasperatingly exclusive - no G.o.ds before me - was an explicit mission statement and excluded dialogue. He needed to get Hades and Chronos in partners.h.i.+p with Yahweh if his Grand Plan was to have any chance of success and both Gaia and mortals were to survive. This was not something he could do himself, if he could he would have done it already. This was the hardest part. He was happy to devolve power, revelled in fact in delegation of authority, would give it to anyone who asked. So long as he kept the ultimate authority. Unlike Yahweh he didn't require that people or other G.o.ds eschewed all others in favour of him alone. There was plenty of creation to go round. He didn't ask much, demanded nothing more than they kept their activity within what was reasonable. The ultimate a.s.sertiveness of this last race was too much. They overbalanced everything and used Yahweh as their excuse. He and Yahweh would have to have it out, before 2012, before it was too late. It bothered him that Yahweh did not seem to care if these people died out, maybe he would recreate them as he had done once before after that unnecessary and silly flood, which he had copied from Zeus anyway. It had done no good then and it would do no good now, and he, Zeus, would have to go through the whole creation rigmarole again. The very idea was tediousness personified. More had to change than an intensified belief in His Oneness. Meanwhile his brother and father, plotted in the underworld to wrest the highest office from him. One thing Yahweh had in his favour was lack of family to get in His way. To have a clear run at things would be marvellous, except he would himself have to become a Oneness which he could not abide. So he couldn't get rid of either camp. The existence of Yahweh out there encouraged Hades, down there. If Hades won in the end, time would cease. There would be no future life and nothing would ever change. If Yahweh won, spirit would take over from flesh and blood and there would be no reality to conjure with, no curious life-force to enjoy. There would be no fun! Only he could bring them together. Only he could persuade them to leave their realms to mortals to work out for themselves leaving G.o.ds to depart for other playgrounds, new worlds, new peoples, new beginnings. This Earth was played-out for G.o.ds of every kind as of course was proper in the creation game.

Nevertheless delegating the responsibility of Gaia to this race of destructive people was a great risk. What if in the end they would see Gaia die by default than effectively tackle the challenge? Unable to see further than the end of their poking noses, they would fall off the world's edge while arguing about whose fault it was. Such a scenario fell right into the lap of the nether alliance. Of course the G.o.ds could start the whole thing again with a sixth new race of mortals. That way nothing would fundamentally change; though there would be the opportunity to do things better: except this time he was not prepared to play the game again. Maybe he would simply retire altogether and leave the field to Hades and Yahweh. But he could not bear such an outcome either, Olympus was made of sterner stuff.

On and on he mused, the only straightforward way out that continued to make sense was for this fifth race to be the last. For them to survive on their own or die out and save Gaia. The ultimate decision he had delegated to them. But first they had to recognise what it meant. Hence the deadline. But first they had to believe it. Not just think about it, or come to it in their own time. They had one chance only, to face up to their own potential to be their own G.o.ds. Only one of their own who understood fully, could help them do it. In the meantime Hades and Yahweh had to co-operate with him to give them the room they needed and not to interfere. All three of them would have to give up their respective claims on this race.

JNO was doing well, gathering together the means of communication so people could act with true knowledge. Alexander was the current problem. He knew the task for a simple human was impossible. A son of his, a genuine hero, might have a fighting chance. He'd done some good work among mortals by this means before, in different times though, but things had changed and he was less sanguine about Alexander's potential in these days. He wondered if the lad was getting all the help he needed. Zeus' inability to travel the sphere in Hades meant he had to rely on those few who travelled across the dividing line. His exasperation was acute. The lad had to get to Hades in his own time and there was only Hermes, Persephone and Hecate to call on. Pan would travel anywhere but was too unreliable for serious work. He also fretted that he had no final control of the Morae Sisters nor the Erinye Girls, the latter being more likely to listen to Hecate than to him. While he could rely on Hecate, she was the sworn enemy of Hera. Yahweh had it made, having no father nor mother, and no family to get underfoot. No wonder he sat smug in his heaven. He couldn't bring Hecate to Psathi because of Hera, and couldn't communicate with her on the 'sphere across the frontier with Hades. Still he knew he could rely on her to support Alexander. She was ever his ally. He needed good information about Alexander's progress before he finished his plans for Yahweh; but first Hades had to be in the bag.

He turned to the a.s.sembled company. Persephone stood proud and angry. Zeus' summons before the third of her time in Hades was properly up for the year was unprecedented. She had had to come without Hades knowing and return as clandestinely. This was no easy task and had meant asking favours of Hecate, which she knew would mean paying her back in some way, like as not unpleasantly. There was also the early spring to re-work later on her full return. Early warming followed by the inevitable frost on her restoration to Hades would have a bad effect on agriculture. Coupled with the effects of global warming, the effect on the suffering of Gaia was less than helpful. If Persephone was angry, Demeter was beside herself. It was time her brother let well alone and stopped interfering in her relations.h.i.+p with their daughter. Had he not conspired at enough trouble with Hades in the past. He may have always regretted it and he should know the first rule of holes by now - when you're in one, stop digging! She and Persephone had a perfectly adequate working relations.h.i.+p, no thanks to him and here he was again dabbling.

Themis and Hera were forced to take Zeus' part. Committed to his strategy and largely ignorant of his private plans they followed his line, if not always knowing what his overall goals might be.

An L3 meld ensued which as usual ranged widely in time and s.p.a.ce.

Demeter: (unable to forgive or forget his connivance at the abduction of her daughter Persephone to become wife of Hades) - So we are here, my brother. At your Lordly call. We cannot refuse but we can be revenged on uncalled for imperiousness. We await your reasons for such disruptions to our orderly arrangements.' (She drew pictures of fields of corn stricken by the early spring and of the efforts needed by both her and Persephone to ensure enough harvest for the coming summer) Zeus: Save me from my complaining family. Sister, daughter when did I ever do anything to deliberately harm you. You know full well there would have been no problems with my brother if you Persephone had had the sense not to eat the fateful pomegranate seeds. (An mighty row ensued in which Zeus was mentally pelted with aeons of pent-up ire from sister and daughter, Demeter, usually pleasant natured, was a fury in the defence of her raped and duped daughter.) Hera: These are old and completed things. We must look forward, Gaia, our mother calls out for our help. Quarrelling is of no avail.