Chapter Six – Atropos' Tale

1

Nona walked around Derry until noon, anxious about her appointment with Atropos and secretly hoping he wouldn't find her. Eventually, she found herself sitting on a park bench, appearing to but not really, watch people rush about their daily lives. Some had taken the day off work to picnic with their kids; some were scurrying in and out of the café across the road like ants. They're so oblivious, she couldn't help but think. So much is going on around them and they have no idea.

Before she could stop it, a second, darker part of her conscious added, and if they did, would they care?

Of course they would, they'd have to, wouldn't they?

Ignorance is bliss, the other retorted. They're so self-absorbed that they'd rather not know anything than let themselves care. Wouldn't you? When Nona remained silent, her dark half1 continued, you're jealous of them aren't you? They're allowed to carry on their lives as normal, none of this supernatural bullshit to keep them awake at night. No angels of death are fighting over their souls, is there?

[Ignorant, aren't they?]

Nona turned, startled, to see Atropos standing at one end of the bench with his hands casually in the pockets of his jeans. [That was you in my head, wasn't it?]

[Wasn't me,] he shrugged innocently. [That was all you, Sweet-Cheeks. Everyone has their cynical side, but for me, it's all I have. Why don't you just embrace her, let her speak for you. Come, I'll get the conversation started.] The little man jumped up on the bench next to her. Nona tried not to flinch, but failed when his hand brushed against her arm. [Don't be so nervous, sweetheart, I'll be gentle,] he gestured to the people across the road and began. [The human race thinks it's so important, it's so dominant, so superior. Just look at that dog pissing on the telephone pole – in truth, humans are no better than dogs, they're worse, in fact. At least that dog has a place in the ecosystem: you see those hundreds of flecks in his aura? They're fleas: the mutt's a fuckin city.] Atropos turned and pointed to the family on the grass, [that kid's got nits, the other one's got worms: they have their place. But what about the olds? Nothing – wait, the bird's got herpes, wonder if Daddy knows? He doesn't exist for any real Purpose, though, he just exists, wasting the earth's resources, a waste of fuckin air he is so why shouldn't I take him?]

For a moment, Nona thought the question was rhetorical and said nothing.

[Well?] Atropos insisted.

[Because they need to take care of their kids,] was the only answer she could think of.

[Oh, come on, Sweet-Cheeks, you of all people know that's a crock of moral bullshit. Besides, even if the kids don't make it without their parents, that's two less Shorty morons to waste energy on.

Let me tell you a little secret, Sweet-Cheeks-]

[Stop calling me that.]

[No. the secret, Sweet-Cheeks, is that the Earth itself is actually an All-Timer. It's not the inanimate rock you morons think you can harvest like a crop until it's nothing but dirt ready for the next sowing season2. One day, either the Random or the Purpose will have to cut its lifeline because of what your species does to it. Even one of your Holy

Writings states that you're here to protect it, but instead you exploit it. And it's not just the planet either, but every creature, every plant. You continue to think that they're here to serve you, when in truth it's the other way round.

[Humanity is evil, Nona. It should by all rights've been wiped out decades ago by nature itself. Look at 'em: all these fuckers give a shit about is lining their own pockets with fuckin gold. Deplete the rainforests? Why the fuck not! Suck the earth dry? Sure! Just keep on pumping that fuckin oil! Ozone? What ozone? Murder. Rape. Paedophilia. Necrophilia. Arson. Fraud. Theft. All these things – and more – are fuelled by One. Fucking. Word: G-R-eeeddd! Think about this for a second, sweetheart: do you really positively abso-fuckin-lutely think that this species has any right to exist?]

Nona stared at the angry little man, astonished. All she could think was my god, he is cynical. [No, they don't. they should never have existed in the first place,] the other spoke before she could say anything to the contrary.

[It's good to hear you say that, Sweet-Cheeks. Come with me: it's time to have some fun.]

2

['fun'? surely you don't mean –?]

Atropos reached into his pocket and revealed the rusted scalpel. From afar it had looked as though the entire tool was covered with rust, but up close she saw that it was only the handle: the blade that glinted in the noon light was by no means dull. The little man used it to point to the father on the grass. [Don't worry, Sweet-Cheeks – no one can see you. They're not really here, it's just you and me: they won't even see you coming,] he winked.

[You can't possibly expect me to…]

[What will happen?] The other interjected excitedly.

[Aren't you just itching to find out?] Atropos grinned sadistically. [Go on,] he added in a conspirator's whisper and held out the scalpel for her to take.

For a moment, Nona merely looked at it as though it were a

(an asp)

poisonous snake. It didn't take long for her dark half to take control and reach out timidly. She pinched the grip above Atropos' fingers, refusing to flinch from his touch this time, and he let go. She looked at the man on the grass, happily seducing his wife as the children called out for his attention, and turned back to Atropos timidly.

[See that? He'd rather have a shot at getting laid by his diseased wife than pay any heed to his own kids. The bastard deserves to die. Give him the wake-up call.] The little bald doctor whispered his encouragement.

Nona clutched the scalpel between her breasts and began walking towards the man on the grass. My god, am I really doing this? Am I honestly going to take this man – this father, this husband?

No, sweetheart, the Atropos-Nona piped up, but you are letting me. Nona moved like a wraith, she was unstoppable. With Atropos' scalpel in her possession, it seemed she was all powerful: a real angel of death approaching such deserving prey.

Atropos watched excitedly as Nona did as she was bidden. She walked like a queen, but when she raised the scalpel to the man's lifeline, she hesitated like a peasant and turned back to him. [Like ripping off a plaster! Just. One. Quick. Swipe.] He slashed his left fist through the air to add emphasis to each word.

Nona inhaled once and swung the scalpel like it was a katana. And just like that, she had done it.

[Take something from him – anything! He won't miss it. Well – not for long at any rate.]

As the invisible black deathbag crawled over the man's body from his head down, Nona bent and unclasped the St Christopher medallion from around the man's neck.

Atropos beamed with pride as she strolled back to him and draped the necklace over his head. As soon as the sterling silver touched his skin, the fate's expression dropped. He looked almost sad.

[What's wrong?] Am I concerned? [I have done as you asked,] the Atropos-Nona added, [have I done something to displease you?]

3

Atropos remained silent and reached into his right pocket. He pulled out a large dark-red fruit, about the size of a grapefruit, which tapered to a kind of point at the tip. He held it out to her like a child offering a handful of candy.

[What is it?] She asked timidly, trying not to reach out for it.

[Don't be so afraid, it's just a pomegranate.]

Pomegranate? The word conjured up an extremely early memory. Nona's mother had a print of her favourite painting hung over the fireplace back in Odda. The picture was of a pretty woman wearing a blue silken dress. She had her back to the artist and her head turned to him with a guilty look in her eyes. In a raised hand, she held a strange orange fruit with a bite taken from it. The fruit itself looked kind of like a peach crossed with a tomato. That's Persephone, her mother had answered when Nona had enquired one day. She was condemned to be the goddess of the underworld after eating six pomegranate seeds. Her mama was Demeter, the goddess of nature and she was very sad whenever her daughter had to return to Hades every six months. They say that's why the world goes barren during winter, and when Persephone is released in spring, her mama is happy again so she fills the world with beautiful flowers.

[I'm not Persephone,] she said coldly to Atropos. [You can't trick me into eating that.]

[And I'm not Hades,] he replied dryly. [Think what you want, I'm not trying to trick you. Believe it or not, I'm doing you a favour. I never work for the Purpose, but for my brother, I'll make an exception. Call it karma: I owe him.] Unceremoniously, Atropos drew his blade and stabbed the pomegranate through the hard skin, sawing it in half.

[You know he's your brother?] She knew he could only be talking about Clotho. [Since when?]

[Since forever,] he replied dismissively, like an impatient child, as he pulled the fruit in half. The flesh inside was nothing like in the painting: rather than being gelatinous like a tomato, the seeds were separate, each incased in a blood-red capsule of flesh, all crammed together within a white pith that held it in the hard red skin. It seemed the Italian painter Rossetti knew nothing of Mediterranean food. [Unlike them, I have no one to teach me anything when I Become, so I need to rely on my own memories. Wait – he thinks I don't know?] He added unenthusiastically as he shoved his hand amongst the seeds and scooped out a handful. [Shows what he knows, doesn't it? here, taste it.] He dropped the remains of the fruit, picked a seed from his palm and bit it, sucked the flesh off it and spat the seed to the ground. [Tangy,] he remarked as he raised his palm to her.

Cautiously, Nona picked a seed and swallowed it as if it was medicine. [And…?] She asked expectantly.

Atropos sighed, [you have to burst it. take another one.]

Nona complied, and as soon as the juice dripped onto her tongue, it seemed she was plunged into an other-worldly orchard. She was running through the trees at night. One hand held up a corner of her linen skirt which was filled with exotic fruit, the other was clasped in the hand of a handsome young man with olive skin and shoulder-length black hair. Dogs barked in the background and her princely companion pointed ahead to where the trees slowly became bushes and shrubs.

Without warning, Nona began to choke and she was back in Bassey Park, her only companion was the evil little bald doctor and the only dog in sight was one of the mangy local mongrels. Atropos reached up and slapped her on the back, causing her to spit out the malevolent seed. [That was…] she began when she had regained her breath

[A memory,] he finished for her, [from my sister-in-law, Ma'at. Fifteen hundred years ago, give or take. I didn't see it, because I wasn't there, but I know the gist of it: it was the orchard.]

Nona nodded her confirmation. [That man… was that… Clotho?]

Atropos nodded. [My big brother died so that I wouldn't have to, that much you know. He blames himself for Ma'at's death, where in truth, the fault was mine. I loved her – not like a mother to his father, like I should've - I loved her like he did. About a year after my brother's death, I asked her to marry me: I thought I could make her happy again. Instead I made it worse: she took her life because of me, not because of him.

[You see, the truth is, I don't want you, my brother needs you. I'm not evil like you think – nothing is, nothing can be. Everything I've done in the past few days was for you two to open your eyes. I always knew who you were, Nona. I don't think he does yet but he must; only you can show him. And yes, I would've killed him if that's what it took.] The little man glanced behind her and said simply, [It is time. Go to him.]

4

[Nona!] Lachesis hailed her.

She looked at Atropos who gave her a conspiratorial wink. [No!] She yelled at the Random, [I will never become you!]

['Atta Sweet-Cheeks,] Atropos turned on his heel and walked away.

She turned to Lachesis, who instantly took her by the hand. [You must come,] he said desperately.

1 AN: go on – read it!

2 Hey, kids! Count the SK references!