Chapter 3:
Heads? Or Tails?
"The good old founding fathers." said the Doctor, looking up at the statue of "Father Washington."
Booker scoffed. "And saints, as well, apparently."
"Comstock likes to use historical figures as religious figures. Basically, old Gerorgie here is Columbia's version of Jesus."
They were in the Garden of New Eden, a place of worship outside of the Welcome Center they had come from. it was filled with rose bushes, reflecting ponds, hummingbirds and angelic statuary. There were three large statues depicting George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. According to the Doctor, each of the three was associated with a different symbol that they carried in their hands, according to what they gave to mankind: Franklin was associated with the key, a symbol of industry; Jefferson was associated with the scroll, a symbol of law and order; and Washington was associated with the sword, a symbol of power and justice.
"Jesus, eh?" said Booker. "So this place is pretty much Christian?"
"Well, yes and no." replied the doctor as the pair began to walk through the Garden of New Eden towards the exit. "It's a bit complicated. I'm not sure even I know how to explain it. In short, the majority of Columbia is under the control of the Founders, the major political and religious party here. They follow Father Comstock's word blindly and trusting wholly in his prophecies."
"I never believed in prophecies and destiny." said Booker as they exited the Garden and ended up in New Eden Square, the heart of the town center and home to many shops and stores, most predominantly displaying "Pilgrims Welcome!" signs in their storefronts. In the center was a monument to Comstock, a statue of him holding a sword into the air.
The Doctor frowned and looked down as they walked. "I do..."
"You alright?" asked Booker, putting a hand on his shoulder.
The Doctor shook his head clear and put on the best smile he could manage. "Yes, I'm alright, Booker. Thanks. Let's continue."
"Alright, Doctor. If you want to talk about anything, I'm all ears."
"Thanks. Now, let's continue."
As they walked, they passed by several citizens who were very ecstatic over the annual Columbia Raffle and Fair. The whole area was in a sort of carnival mood, with streamers and such decorating the area.
"We should go to the Raffle and Fair." said the Doctor. "After all, it's on the way to where we're going."
"And where are we going?" asked Booker.
The Doctor held up an image of the gigantic angel statue Booker had seen when he was in the pod. "Monument Island.'" He lowered the picture, revealing said statue in the distance. "That's no simple statue, Booker. That's a tower. And that's where we'll find the girl."
"Telegram for mister DeWitt!" said a voice, and the pair looked down to see a courier boy holding up a telegram. "Telegram for you, sir!"
Booker took the telegram while the Doctor handed the boy some silver Eagles. "Thanks. Go buy something nice for yourself."
"Thank you, sir!" said the boy before dashing off.
"What does it say?" asked the Doctor, peeking at the telegram.
"DeWitt STOP Do not alert Comstock to your presence STOP Whatever you do, do not pick #77 STOP." replied Booker. "It's from someone named Lutece."
"Lutece, eh?" said the Doctor, a hint of recognition in his eyes.
"You know this person?" asked Booker.
"Sort of. Rosalind Lutece. She invented the technology that keeps this city afloat.
"Giant balloons?" guessed Booker.
"Close. Quantum particles, suspended at a fixed point in space-time."
"So... not giant balloons?"
The Doctor chuckled. "No, Booker, not giant balloons."
"Great shot, Booker!" called the Doctor as Booker scored yet another bulls-eye on a Vox Populi member in the "Hunt Down the Vox" carnival game. Every shot with the carbine Booker was given was a hit, and he was even able to get the bonus target, Daisy Fitzroy, when her likeness showed up at the back. Booker of course got the first prize: a purse full of Silver Eagles.
"Nice work." said the Doctor. "You're a bonafide gunslinger."
Booker chuckled. "Always was."
"Now let's get through this carnival and get back on the path to Monument Island."
"Of course."
After walking a bit, the Doctor suddenly stopped upon seeing the stand displaying the Handyman, a gigantic man in a metal suit. His heart was visible through a small metal window. The Handyman's metal suit was disproportionate and gave him gorilla-like posture, and he seemed fearful at the gawking crowd. Thick bumdles of cables ran from his shoulders to a pair of conductors on his back. His mechanical hands appeared to be made of porcelain, and his feet were like hob-nailed boots, with some bent nails hanging out. He was dressed in a sort of patriotic uniform and his torso bore the label "AUTOBODY."
"'Handyman', huh?" asked Booker.
The Doctor did not respond and took out a sort of small metal rod with a green light at the end. He pointed it at the Handyman and activated it, making a high-pitched sound like a combination of whizzing and buzzing. He then stared at the device for a moment before pocketing it.
"What was that all about?" asked Booker.
"That technology..." the Doctor mused. "It's familiar..."
"What?"
The Doctor shook his head. "Never mind. Let's press on."
Soon they came to an admission machine, which was an automaton on top of a vending machine type box. Behind it was a gate.
"Entrance is reserved for dignitaries and very important personages alone." said the machine in a sort of cheerful voice.
"I'm guessing that don't mean us." said Booker.
"I can fix this." said the doctor, pulling out his metal rod again.
Before he could do anything, however, they heard somebody addressing them from behind. The two turned and were met by the woman advertising the Possession Vigor. "Dear friends, have you ever lost a penny to a vending machine? Has a pay telephone ever refused to connect you with a beloved spouse? Well it's time to take back control from the men of metal! With Possession, YOU are the master! You will bend any machine to your will!" The woman was carrying a basket full of green bottles. The bottles were shaped like a woman in a very suggestive pose. The symbol on the front of the bottle was a heart with a green dagger through it.
"What do you think?" Booker asked the Doctor.
"It's probably alright to try." said the Doctor.
"Alright," said Booker, turning to the woman, "give me one of those."
The woman smiled and handed him a bottle. "With just a whisper, they're all ears..." she said.
Booker pulled the heart-shaped cork off and drank a gulp of the Vigor. It tasted like a mix of poppy seeds and honey, but it wasn't the taste that Booker was focused on. A cascade of sensations both pleasant and painful washed over him, and he started to hear whispers in his ears. The woman traced a heart in the air with her hands, green smoke hanging in the air in the shape of a heart, then she blew a kiss at him and the heart dissipated. Before his very eyes, she turned into a ghostly green apparition of a seductive woman giggling and waving and him. Then, just like that, the woman came back, the whispers died down, and he felt normal again.
"What the hell was that?" he said drowsily.
"You alright?" asked the Doctor.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine." he turned to the admission machine. "Let's see if this works..."
For some reason, Booker knew exactly how to use it, but he gave no thought to it. He covered his left hand with green energy, and released a ghostly woman from it that dissapeared into the machine. It began to glow green and the gate opened.
"Well if it isn't Assemblyman Buford!" said the machine. "Your spot at the raffle awaits. Don't know why I didn't recognize you and your son before. Odd!"
"I like it." said the Doctor.
"Heh." Booker simply said. "You want some?"
"Nah, I'll leave the awesome powers to you."
"Alright, then. Let's go." The two headed through the gate, but were stopped by a lady and a gentleman with similar tan-colored suits. They seemed familiar to Booker somehow, but he gave no thought to it. The gentleman was also wearing a chalkboard with a T-chart saying "Heads" and "Tails". There were a few tally marks underneath Heads. The lady was carrying a plate.
"Heads?" asked the man.
"Or tails?" said the lady.
"Come on, let us through." said Booker.
The pair did not answer, and the man tossed him a coin.
"Heads?" repeated the man.
"Or tails?" repeated the lady.
Booker turned to the Doctor to see what he thought about what the hell was happening, but he just stood there and mouthed "heads."
"Uh... Heads." said Booker, flipping the coin. It landed heads-up on the plate.
"Told you." said the man to the lady, who marked a tally under "Heads" on the chalkboard.
"Hmmm." the lady simply said.
"I never find that as satisfying as I'd imagined." said the man as they walked away.
"Chin up, there's always next time." said the lady. As they turned, Booker and the Doctor could see that on the man's back were hundreds of tally marks, every single one of them under "Heads."
"I suppose there is." said the man.
Booker and the Doctor stared after them.
"What the hell was that all about?" asked Booker.
"I'm sure we'll find out in due time." said the Doctor. "Come one, we'll be late for the raffle."
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