10
The innermost of the council was tacitly on Seth’s side. The witches were as usual neutrally malignant, while the government represented by Teacher Frederick were ‘deeply saddened and regretful’ over their leader’s apparent defection to the Asian East. This came as a televised speech from the President of the Communist Party named Seth as a true friend, an Angel of China, ‘for his heartfelt appreciation of our peaceful culture, and people’.
That night, Saim was tortured and executed by Matthew. Marjorie, like Saul who guarded the cloaks of those stoning Stephen, kept watch over her husband’s blade and gun. She had agreed to hunt down and repatriate Seth, leading a squad of veteran bounty hunters now gathered in Tibet.
As for the Asian Trainer, he died with nothing more sinister than an expression of bemusement frozen onto his face. The soldiers tried all night to send his soul to Hell.
Saim Ye had this last bit of advice for his student: keep moving. The innermost nodded. And remember your loss is your friends’ gain in inexact disguise.
Sounded like something useful he would digest later. For now, he and Ri were adjusting to life under maximum security. Nowhere did they go alone, a daily curfew of one hour for excursions.
*Now are you willing to complete your training?*
Gracie? You lost me a finger!
*Training you lost me my brother. You were slow to pick up*
Seth clutched at his maimed right hand, grimacing.
*Since you’re ‘slow’, know that an old friend of yours is coming for you. Decide her fate. Where is your focus? What are you within? Tell the Universe to obey your calculations. Seth, you are a one off gift to the inexact -that’s how witches know you can if you want to, do… ANYTHING*
What would Erasmus Jr,n say to that?
To move the world, you need a lever ever so long. Soon you discover that levers don’t work in space. Not as they should. Space is the lever itself and mass-gravity is the fulcrum -not the torque. Space - a medium so gossamer, sound does not transmit. Yet light drills electromagnetically through it, powered by its dimension-grabbing screw of right angled forces. Is it any wonder that light is a particle and wave at the same time? Space is multidimensional, magical -if only we scrutinized the shadows of our thoughts.
Help, called a voice from out the window. The lead bounty hunter sniffed the air. He ran his finger over the window frame. He was smaller than the other who stood in the doorway. Inexact raids were done by a pair to avoid inexact counterattacks.
The see-all eyepiece spotted Ri hanging from the window ledge. There was something that looked like a severed finger on it. He checked the periscope and saw a spatter of blood on the alley below.
The big hunter smiled. The target tried to loose us and is wounded. We have his wife. I’ll go downstairs -he can’t have run far.
Sniffer picked up the severed finger and put it to his nose. It was Seth. But suddenly a fistful of soap powder was flung into his eyes and nose and someone grabbed him from behind with a wire to the throat and a tourniquet stick. He was a professional. Last thoughts.
Water cuts through steel. Steel cannot divide water, it flows around. Frozen water cracks stone. Steam powers iron machines many hands together cannot drive. Common H20 conducts heat through our homes, inert to many substances, yetsometimes it sets things aflame, explosively. What have you learnt about the liquid we drink to survive -that’s in our blood? Why does blood worry you? Kept in or let out, it likewise concerns.
Seth grabbed Ri and hauled her back inside. There were steps on the spiral stairway. I thought we got rid of the big one? Ri shrugged.
We meet again, the unmistakable counter tenor of Matthew Fastener.
Show your face.
Matthew removed his sensor faceplate. His eyes burning with righteous fire and his angel hair, they overcame Ri who went weak in the knees. Seth felt the Leader’s overwhelming power as he rushed him, crushing him against the wall.
He felt the breath forced out of his lungs by seemingly superhuman force. He went limp and slid down to his knees. Matthew smiled, too easy, fair and square.
Man or woman, what is your choice? To fill such job, to provide or enjoy entertainment with, to impart wisdom. Neither matters you say -the genders are functionally the same though appearing outwardly different. To leverage on form over function is discrimination. Increasing shows of femininity and masculinity. Do they trouble you, both thus claiming equality?
Then he shrieked as Seth head-butted him in the groin. It was the highest note he ever reached. The blows came again, 3 times before the soldier collapsed.
Seth checked that nobody had died when he noticed Marjorie looking on. She had an unexpected expression on her face. It was one of kindness and love. The same as was before his finger was hurt, before he ran away. But she didn’t approach. Turning sharply instead towards her skimmer on the roof. There might be a next time -he didn’t care to go after her either.
Enough! Enough is enough they say. So when has a person had enough by been given said ‘enough’? The disparity between fulfillment and necessity is the cause of all conflict whether such sufficiency comes before or after expectations. You sneer, spite, and scoff. Emotions of an animal deprived of its food. A man should know his special emotional status regarding satisfaction -hope for, imagine it.
Where was security?
It doesn’t matter. Maybe it was for the best.
Seth and Ri embraced as weary and bruised, their Chinese guards hobbled into the room.
