Pisces.
Sir Frederic had two passions in life. One was his job, which did not mean that he believed that what he did was always morally justifiable or even necessary, but he happened to be good at it. The other, his roses.
As sixty-five was drawing on he was quite looking forward to spending his retirement years in his garden. Perhaps try for the Chelsea Flower Show. There was this wonderful Floribunda Tea-hybrid he had that could well fall within the prizes or perhaps his lovely high Polyantha (rare nowadays) 'Orange Triumph'...
He was therefore agreeably surprised to find himself coming to in a rosegarden full of varieties he had never seen before in red, white and, astonishingly, black.
Soft scents drifted on the breeze. He had never been so close to his idea of Paradise.
"Perhaps I have died and gone to Heaven. Flowers In winter? Unless I have been teleported to the Antipodes..."
"Do you like my roses, mortal?" asked a gentle voice from behind.
Sir Frederic was far too experienced an Intelligence Officer to make the mistake of turning round. Instead he scrambled to his feet, dusted the dirt and grass off his uniform, straightened his cap that had miraculously kept on his head and replied, casually but honestly: " Very much, although I must admit I prefer the oranges and yellows, and of course the wild, white rambling English Rose. The slightly pink Rosa Eglanteria that smells of apples so praised by Shakespeare...
"A connoisseur! Ah yes, of course, you are English..."
Now Sir Frederic turned.
"Mountjoy. Colonel, SIS, temporarily in active service. And you are?"
He eyed the young man in his pale blue chiton that left one shoulder bare with studied interest.
"I am called Aphrodite." said the youth. Long blonde curls framed classical features marred only by a small mole under the left eye.
"In Greece that is a man's name too." he added defensively as if in anticipation of the Englishman's reaction. Sir Frederic had none.
"I know the problem." he said mildly, " My middle name is Earnest.* One gets used to the sniggers eventually."
Sir Frederic looked around. Somehow the garden seemed a bit too perfect. The grass was too green and too neatly clipped (and as an Englishman, he knew about the upkeep of lawns) the earth between the flowers devoid of the merest hint of weeds, the scents too heavy and the blooms themselves too rich and fully open... These roses were simply too, well, rose-ish.
"This is very lovely, but could you please end the illusion? I prefer reality."
It was a long shot, and Sir Frederic was as surprised as the young man was astonished to have hit bull's eye. Aphrodite had not counted on a mere mortal being so perspicacious as to recognise falsehood.
Slowly his appearance changed. The simple chiton became the Pisces Cloth complete with helmet. The garden too, faded. Summer blend into winter and where the roses had been there were merely the thorny stalks, neatly cut back at the appropriate height. Nevertheless the beds were as well-tended and as free of weeds as in the illusion. A couple of taller bushes were packed in straw.
"Having a little frost trouble? At this height that is to be expected. You seem to cope remarkably well: I have rarely seen garden better prepared to weather the winter. Enough about horticulture though. Obviously you have no intention of killing me as yet, or you would have done so already and not gone to the trouble of that illusion. Let me guess: you have thrown in your lot with Aleksej of Blue Graad, the odds are now against him and you are pulling out?"
"You are...not wrong."
"On the other hand, " Sir Frederic pursued his rather gruesome train of thoughts, " You stand to gain by offering my head on a platter to whoever is in charge of Sanctuary at the moment. Buy your way back into the fold, so to speak."
"I have backed the wrong horse twice before." admitted Aphrodite, " The outcome of this struggle is doubtful. Four Gold Saints have fallen: Kanon of the Gemini, Cancer and Capricorn. That last one is too close for comfort. The Cosmos of Draco who went to protect the Libra Temple and Scorpio's is very faint. I can barely sense Taurus: he seems to be alive but heavily wounded. Saga is deep in a depression of sorts, Leo has just come out of an equally deep healing trance, and Virgo is meditating as usual. Which leaves only Aquila who has taken up position in Sagittarius and Camu before the intruders get to me, and they are way ahead of schedule. With Cygnus and Phoenix and, I believe, Andromeda and Aries helping you, that makes you a serious player in the game, and I want to be sure this time I'm on the side of the winner."
"We did not come to supplant Athena." said Sir Frederic with a frown, "Though the International rule of Law may decide to have her, theoretically if not factually, deposed. She is not officially recognised either as a head of State or of a Cult and she's a minor. Most likely that you will be regarded as a criminal organisation and treated as such. Some ten hours ago my opposite number in the Koan Chosa Kyoku** informed me that they were about to dismantle Graad.
The Japanese are extremely embarrassed that the West has found out that they have allowed such an Organisation to thrive for so long on their territory and ours -hell, it happens - so I don't give it much chance of survival: they are very efficient when they want to be, at the KCK. Naturally, each and everyone of you Saints is capable of resisting any force we might throw at you, so maybe Athena will try to take over Earth as a whole rather than work behind the scenes as was her wont. Now that she has been found out, that may be her best option. I am actually quite surprised that not one of you has tried that before..."
"Except for Poseidon and Hades who aimed to destroy rather than to take-over. Saga made a half-hearted attempt, and the spirit of Ares we think possessed him. His, I mean Saga's conscience played up and he did not reach halfway his preparations." said the Pisces Saint, " Bunglers like he are very hard on those who want to be winners. Before you know it you end up with the losers. Can I offer you a drink? No tea, I'm afraid, but I have an excellent retsina. Perhaps a little ouzo?"
Sir Frederic could not help it: he had to laugh.
"You are a wonderful opportunist. Have you considered going into politics? I can predict you a bright future in that trade. I'll go along with the retsina. Any change of going into the warmth? I get chilblains."
"Not a problem. The Zodiacal Temples are not very accommodating, but I've managed to add a few home comforts."
"Ah. Am I right in presuming that you made a few illegal outings into the 'real' world to obtain those comforts? Including the drink..."
" You are. They date from the days that Saga was passing himself off as Sion though: he did not forbid his nearest collaborators to slip out and enjoy the pleasures of Athens and other places once in a while. Athena is like Sion in that respect."
"No R&R for the troops? That is asking for trouble. Hmmm, did you pay for those pleasures?"
"Why should I?"
Sir Frederic decided to take a risk. The Pisces Saint had a quaint personality. On the one hand he was unashamedly without scruples, amoral rather than immoral. The Intelligence Officer knew men (and women) on the Service like that, and had always handled them with extreme caution, never ever fully trusting them. On the other hand, Aphrodite was as open and charming as a child about it, and the care with which he saw to his garden taught the Englishman that he was not incapable of love. "It's usually considered a crime when you don't." he said, "Theft."
"A crime! Crimes are committed all over the world. Wars are fought, children are orphaned, abused, killed, what are a bit of furniture, a few bottles of wine and a couple of sacks of compost compared to that?"
"Aha, not completely without a conscience, that one. He has understood what is wrong not just with the world but with Sanctuary as well. And the pleasures of the bright cities seem to be wine and stuff for his roses. He could be a better person than everyone thinks he is."
"Know this, mortal. The flowers here have not been tended with love, but with hate, and I have watered them with blood"
"A very lonely and unhappy young man, too. He tries to hide it with swagger talk."
"You are speaking metaphorically I hope. " said Sir Frederic, " Blood would not be good for them. I can understand that your past has made you bitter, but what have the roses ever done to you to deserve such treatment? Cigarette?"
The officer pulled a packet of Camels out of his pocket and offered Aphrodite one.
"I threatened you just now, in case you have not grasped the meaning of my words."
Pisces accepted the cigarette though.
"Rest assured, I did." said Sir Frederic and passed him a light. Aphrodite inhaled and coughed.
"Yes, they are a bit strong without a filter."
The Pisces Saint smiled bravely and took another puff, holding the Camel in the classical beginner's pose: between thumb and forefinger, in pursed lips. As he ushered Sir Frederic into the Temple, he surreptitiously threw the half-smoked end away. The officer smiled and lit another one.
And so it was that, when Ilya, Mu, Nick and Mr. Field came staggering into the last of the Twelve Temples, they found Sir Frederic and Aphrodite settled down in a comfortable sofa next to a coal burner, deep in discussion on such fascinating subjects as deadheading and how to treat greenfly.
"Ah, there you are." said the officer, " Come and join us. Wine anyone? Nibbles?"
"How do you like that!" exploded Nick, " We get the Abominable Shnowman, and he shits awound with the Ephebe having a good time. Oh wait, I get it. We'we bawely out of the Shagittawiush houw. I shupposhe twadition demandsh thoshe waving lunaticsh hewe to wait theiw tuwn. "
"We don't shit around wave at people." said Aphrodite puzzled, after having correctly identified whom Nick meant with 'lunaticsh', " Oh, you mean raving. I would not complain if I were you. I, after all, am the evil twelfth."
"So you have always pretended to be." said Mu, "Which makes me wonder all the more why you have left this man untouched."
"To see which way the wind was blowing." explained Sir Frederic," Alternatively to wait till we were all gathered together and eliminate us with one blow. That is what I would do. The lad has been explaining extensively about his poisonous, bloodsucking, flesh-eating roses."
"What a delightful conversation that must have been." said mr. Field.
"Quite." agreed his friend. "Very informative too."
Aphrodite stared from one man at the other.
"Mu, can you explain these people to me? Why are they not mortally afraid?"
"Becaushe we'we Bwitish. " said Nick cheerfully, " We don't want to be sheen shivewing in ouw shoesh. Got a weputation to uphold. May I have shome of that plonk? Ta."
« Status, Hubert?" Sir Frederic the senior officer had resumed command
Mr. Field filled him in.
"Capricorn was not in his Temple." he finished, "Thus we were able to come straight here. His Cosmos apparently went out towards the end of the Virgo hour, so we presume he is dead."
"Shnuffed it." said Nick.
"He abandoned his post to do battle in Rodorio." Aphrodite informed them, " Died before his hour struck. The fool."
"Oh good, one lessh to wowwy about."
"Amazing how young people can be perfectly callous when they think they are more moral than us old ones." said Sir Frederic. "However, I agree with the assessment. How about your family, Hubert?"
"Apparently Leo has come out of his healing trance, so they should be away to safety now. Oh, and I forgot to tell you: I am the proud grandfather of a bouncing baby boy."
"Congratulations. That leaves only Queer. He's not here, which means he must be ahead in the Hall of the Pope or Athena's Temple."
"With missh Boobsh hewshelf. Shome guysh have all the luck."
"I wish my cellphone worked. Commander Lawrence and his team should be aware of the changed situation."
"Maybe if Ikki has destroyed the Clock communication will be restored."
"Don't be so optimistic." said Aphrodite, " The Clock may prove harder to destroy than Main Blade Winner. Perhaps I should eliminate you now."
"In one blow?" inquired Mu, ironic as ever, " Against a Gold Saint and a Demi-ourgos? Face it, Pisces. You are outnumbered four, perhaps five to one if Aiolia is in. Taurus is, but his cosmos is feeble. The others are either neutral or put out of harm's way. The old Game is over. New players, new rules. You remain. Decide now."
"I..."began Aphrodite, " I... need to think."
"And I need a dwink." said Nick, taking another swig of retsina. "God, this shtuff's dishtilled tuwpentine. Hash anyone got a fag?"
Sir Frederic threw him his packet of Camels.
"I think someone should go to Thompson. I send Seika and Kiki to him, and they will assist in the evacuation of Rodorio, which should be finished by now."
Mu closed his eyes. " I am in telepathic contact with Kiki. They are far from Sanctuary: aboard a ship…"
"The Enterprise! Thompson must have flown them back. What has happened?"
After a moment's silent conversation, Mu put them all in the picture. " The battle in Rodorio lasted two hours, and then Capricorn appeared. He killed a couple of villagers, and he and Taurus fought. Both were grievously wounded. Thompson did not dare to interfere in the fight between the Saints, but he has ferried the wounded to the ship. Kiki and June -oh, is she called Jane? Jane then- went along. Seika and Shai-Antoinia remained with the Rodorians and led the evacuation. The doctors on board the ship could save Aldebaran, but for Shura all help came too late…we knew that, since we felt his Cosmos fade into nothing. Commander Lawrence is ready to leave. Kiki is telling him now what the situation here is."
"It would be better if a Saint accompanied the diplomats. We cannot demand that of Miss Stafford. Ilya, if you could?"
"Not a problem, with Mu's help I'll teleport directly to the Enterprise."
The Russian vanished in a flash of rainbow colours.
"Amazing. The Tibetan guy should wowk fow public twanshpowt." whispered Nick at mr. Field, " Wondew who he ish. Eshk thinksh he ish deshended fwom that Gewman fellow Hawwew."
"Heinrich Harrer is an Austrian and as far as I know he always behaved like a perfect gentleman towards the female population of Tibet in all of his seven years there."
Nick muttered something that sounded regrettably like "I'll get Esk fow thish."
"Someone's coming!" cried the Pisces Saint, casting his senses about.
"Some two, I would say, Saints, and three mor…ordinary humans…no! Four!" said Mu.
It was Leo and Andromeda, and with them were Vimi, Esk and his wife and their newborn baby.
"Was zum Teufel!" shouted mr. Field. When he was really beside himself he forgot about British cool and always subconsciously shifted into German, his mother's tongue. "I told you to pull out!"
"And we talked it over." said Esk calmly. "We agreed we ran as much risk of suffering the Goddess's displeasure at home as here."
"So we might as well confront her." said Vimi with quiet determination. There was a light in her eyes that had not been there before. Her father noticed it at once.
"Vimi?"
"I'm better, daddy. All better."
"Viminalis…"
"It is true, Cap." said Skippy quietly, "The Leo Saint healed her."
For a moment it seemed like the elderly Englishman was about to burst into tears. He cast his arms around his frail daughter and held her tight as he said in a broken voice: " My girl…my little girl…welcome back."
"Yes daddy. I am all back. " said Vimi, her pale eyes large and luminous as her smile -a real, happy smile- lit up.
"Vi...Vimi?"
Nick, who had made himself comfortable on the sofa, was struggling to his feet. The young woman walked up to him and laid a hand on his cheek. The big man went red, tried to take her in his arms, found that this was impossible with a bottle in one hand and a cigarette in the other, thrust the former at Mu and the latter on the floor, whooped, swept Vimi off her feet and swung her round and round. Neither of them spoke, but the happiness on their faces said more than words could. Esk laughed at the sight, and Skippy smiled her teeth white. Mu and Shun exchanged delighted glances, and Leo looked glad and proud. Aphrodite looked on impassively.
Mr. Field turned towards the Leo Saint, incapable of speech. He held out his hand.
Aiolia appeared exhausted and fey like a man who had seen hell, and perhaps he had. Hesitantly he took the Englishman's proffered hand.
"Thank you."
A nod, a shake, a heartfelt smile. More was not needed.
"He helped me too." said Skippy, " Even a sturdy Sheila ***like myself can't give birth and climb seven great staircases immediately afterwards. It is absolutely amazing. It feels like I never had a baby at all! Aiolia could make a career as midwife. Midman. Whatever. Mind you, Shun had to carry me: Esk wasn't up to it."
"I'm an academic, not a weightlifter." said Esk.
"That's no way to call the mother of your son!"
The young couple laughed and smiled at each other and returned to the mutual adoration of their child.
"Where is your mother?" asked mr. Field, " Pray tell me that she at least did the sensible thing."
"Depends on what you'd call sensible." said Vimi, " Pal stayed behind with Virgo. She nearly went ballistic when she saw that girl wearing your coat and nothing much underneath…"
"Girl?" interrupted Aphrodite, " What girl? Nastassia? In Virgo's Temple? Naked?"
"Indeed it was not!" cried Shun, " Why do you automatically presume it is Nastassia? She is not the only girl in Sanctuary. There are women in Rodorio…"
"The village was besieged and when the Clock is running they can't come here anyhow. Shaina and June are there, and Marin was in the Sagittarius Temple, that's all the women in Sanctuary."
"There's Athena…er yes, that may seem unlikely…"
"There is Shaka." said Mu with a chuckle, " I am glad that her secret is finally out."
"Shaka is a woman!?!" cried out simultaneously Andromeda, Leo and Pisces.
"And you knew?" added Aiolia shamefacedly.
"I hope I can tell the difference between a boy and a girl." said Mu smiling sweetly, " No, seriously, Shaka managed to get away with the most outrageous things. Not just posing as a boy, but as a trulku **** as well. There are female incarnations but she'd have to change her philosophy of dispassionate violence to pass herself off as a reincarnated aspect of the Buddha!"
"That seems to prey on her mind too." said Esk, " Anyhow she looked pretty distraught and good old mum felt sorry for her. Decided to have a heart to heart, woman to woman. That kind of thing. Mother her a bit."
"Shaka being mothered! Now there's a sight!" laughed Aphrodite; but he sounded envious.
"Can't do her any harm I suppose." said Mu.
"It is the harm she can do to Helena that worries me." said sir Frederic.
"Shaka does not kill superfluously and would never stoop to harming mere mortals." Pisces informed him.
"That fails to reassure me."
"We awe all dead anyhow." said Nick, " The minute we committed ouwshelvesh to Ilya we wewe on Athena'sh hitlisht. Sho one might ash well twy and appeal to the bettew natuwe of hew hitmen . Ow women. Appeawsh to have wowked with shome."
"Is that what this is all about?" asked Aphrodite, " Do you believe that waving a baby under my nose is going to melt my heart? That ugly, wrinkled smelly thing…"
"That is my son you are insulting." said Esk, " And I happen to think he is beautiful. "
"Beauty is entirely in the eye of the beholder." said the Pisces Saint,
"Although I must admit that his little fingers are quite cute, like maggots…"
"Hey!"
"Maggots are very good for he soil. And his mouth is like a rosebud. Actually he is rather sweet…but I still could crush his skull between my fingers. Perhaps I will."
Skippy drew her baby close to her breast, and her husband went to stand protectively in front of her.
"Over our dead bodies!"
"Yes, that is the general idea."
"What do you want Aphrodite?" asked Mu softly.
"What?"
The Aries Saint's gently spoken question rattled his Zodiacal colleague.
"If you were not a Saint, or if you could opt out, what would you want for yourself?"
"There is no opting out!" shouted Pisces, " I know that better than anyone!"
"Ilya will be going to school." said mr. Field.
Aphrodite stared.
"School?"
"We are preparing him for his entrance examinations. He is very interested in history, literature and philosophy, and has worked hard to catch up."
"What good will that do to him?"
"An education is always worth striving for. It helps one think for one's self."
"I have a mind of my own!"
"Have you? You did not answer my question." said Mu.
"I know what I want." said Shun helpfully, " Go places. Get to know people. How they think, how they feel, how they cope. I want to see the world!"
He blushed. "I guess that is pretty selfish."
"Nothing wwong with healthy shelfishnessh once in a while." said Nick.
"I want to go home." said Mu quietly.
"Where would that be? A tower in the middle of nowhere?" sneered the Pisces Saint.
"My home is where I have been happy. Where is yours?"
"I…" began Aphrodite, and hesitated. There came a far-away look in his blue eyes. At length he spoke: " We…my parents and I…we lived in a cheap apartment flat in Stockholm. That was where I was born, and I knew no better. My mother cleaned rich folk's houses and my father was a plunger in a restaurant. Whenever they could they would take me to the park. I learned to walk in the rose-garden. I remember there was an arch of sweet-smelling pink roses that framed Sion when he came to punish my parents for their defiance. It was destroyed, as they were destroyed. There is no opting out, I tell you!"
"I am sure that Dione and Sven knew that too. That did not stop them from trying."
Aphrodite's Cosmos flared.
"How dare you! It was your Master that killed them!"
Then his lip trembled, and he turned on his heels and half strode, half ran out of his Temple.
"Dione and Sven?" inquired Sir Frederic.
"His parents." answered Mu, " I had better talk to him. He will be in his garden. That is where he buried them."
It took a while for the Fields to recover from the horror of Aphrodite's and Mu's revelations. They shared the details of their adventures so far and discussed their plans for the future. Aiolia stood a little to the side, listening but not contributing, unsure how to react. Nick, in the middle of an account in which he practically single-handedly vanquished Camu ("Nobody will evew catch me shinging joyfully about the Dawning of the Age of Aquawiush again!") noticed the young Greek's silence and gave him a friendly nudge.
"Don't be shy! You awe one of the good guysh. Have a shwig of wetshina. Hey, can you gwow my teeth back?"
"Er…no."
"First thing we'll do when we are home is take you to the dentist, Nick" said Vimi.
"I am scawed of them! The only one I tolewate ish me, and I am not a shelf-shewvice!" the big man laughed uproariously at his own joke.
"On the other hand, the first thing we should do is sober you up."
"Sowwy, love, I needed shome Dutch couwage. I thought, what the hell, if I am going to die shoon anyway…'cause dying ishn't sho bad, it'sh nevew sheeing you again…" he gulped and took her in his arms. Vimi kissed him.
"You were always with me. You always are." she whispered.
Sir Frederic, hating to spoil their moment, coughed.
"We are coming to the most delicate part of our mission, so from now on, please, if the least diplomatic member of our party could mind what he says and to whom…?"
He looked sternly at Nick who winked unconcernedly back.
"Let's recapitulate. First our strength. Psychologically we have indubitably the advantage, since we have reached to a point no one thought us likely to come. "
"That would worry some, but not Athena." said Shun, "She has always had absolute faith in us and never doubted our victory."
"There is such a thing as overconfidence. "said Sir Frederic, " One may presume that once she hears of her Saints having a change of heart she will stop deluding herself. Especially with Mu so outspokenly on our side…and three other Gold Saints either hesitant or neutral…"
"I am with you in so far as you mean no harm to the Goddess." spoke up Leo, "I will not betray her again…yet this whole hostage taking business and the introduction of these Blue Graaders …Peace and Justice are not served that way."
Sir Frederic breathed deeply at the naivety.
"Children…Idealistic, innocent children. One day you will find out that those in power will deem any means necessary and justified to achieve their ends, and sometimes that end is indeed peace and justice. The Englandspiel served its purpose at a terrible, terrible price…Apparently that fact of life has dawned on Athena a bit sooner than the rest and she's putting it into practice. My poor lad, what a rude awakening you will have."
The awakening came sooner than Sir Frederic supposed.
"Still trying to think well of Athena?" asked Aphrodite from the open Temple gates. Accompanied by Mu he had returned in time to hear Aiolia's last words. " When will it finally get through to you that not even your precious Goddess can stay clean of the corruption that absolute power brings? Sion steeped his hands in blood for Athena's sake! You yourself were perfectly alright with murdering the young girl Saori Kido whom you believed to be an impostor."
The Pisces Saint crossed his arms over his chest. " Athena, Poseidon, Hades, Ares…they are all one to me now. I'm not going to help anybody anymore. I won't stop you in your quest though. Kill, be killed, it is all one to me. Neutral observer, that is Pisces from now on."
Sir Frederic chuckled.
"Very Swedish too.***** Fair enough. We do not plan on attacking Athena. However, should it come to blows, we do have the best possible defence with us. As I understand, Mu's Crystal Wall and Shun's Chains are solid…"
"That is to say…as long as I allow the Andromeda Chain to repel an attack by herself. I seriously bungled it when I treated the Crab the way I did Scylla's Spider…" said Shun.
"Well, obviously, crabs are not spiders, despite the likeness in appearance and even if they are sometimes referred to as 'sea-spiders'. What did you expect?" said Esk.
Shun blushed. Marine biology was not his forte, nor Ikki's for that matter. Over-confidence was indeed a weakness sometimes. His brother and he had been so certain of their case they had made a near fatal error while battling Cancer.
"Hey! Thish fwom the man who can't tell an Aushtwian fwom a Gewman ! You awe a fine one to cowwect a lad who hash nevew been to school, Mistew Pwofessow!" said Nick, delighted to fault his pedantic friend for a change.
Esk was only momentarily put out, searched and found an answer: " He was at the time when came to Tibet. After the Anschluss Austria was part of the German Reich."
"Heinrich Harrar has always been a proud Austrian." said his father crossly, "He would not thank you for calling him German, any more than a Tibetan will appreciate it when you take him for Chinese."
"Very true." said Aries.
"Which reminds me…" mr. Field exchanged a glance with Sir Frederic, " Mu, can we have a word with you alone? A couple of things we need to make sure of."
The two Englishmen and the young Tibetan went to stand a little way apart from the others who made themselves comfortable in and round the sofa. Skippy bared one breast to give her son his first feed. Her husband watched with delight, the Saints with some embarrassment. Vimi and Nick had eyes only for each other.
"How far can we trust that fellow Pisces?"
"Far enough as long as his sanity holds." answered Mu, " You may well worry. My…Sion, the Pope, had his parents executed in front of him. That taught Aphrodite that Power is Everything. The former Scorpio Saint who specialised in poison, finished his upbringing. Most Saints were collected after a similar fashion. Not just every child can become one: it has to be gifted. It is the Pope's job to search the world for such children, when Sanctuary cannot provide enough of its own. The Gemini, Aioros and Aiolia and Milo are from that breeding. Aioros had to kill his own father and Master, the Silver Orion Saint to be deemed worthy of the Sagittarius Cloth. "
"My God how perfectly Freudian." exclaimed Sir Frederic, " Killing one's father to serve one's 'mother', Athena. Like that fellow Orestes…"
"Oedipus." corrected mr. Field, " Orestes is the one who killed his mother because she had murdered his father. It may come to that too. Classic Greek Tragedy in the Twentieth Century. How do you like that?"
"Not at all. Did the others also have their parents murdered?"
"Aldebaran's were happy to hand him over as they thought he would escape the misery of the slum in which they lived. Of Deathmask I only know that he is- was- Italian. Shaka was abandoned. I believe Shura's father was in prison in Spain, and his mother hoped he'd have a better life elsewhere.***** Camu's parents were killed in a car accident, but it may not have been an accident."
Once more the two Englishmen exchanged a glance.
"An impressive hitlist. I thought the Service made the most callous use of their effectives, but the Goddess and her Pope outshadow even us." thought Sir Frederic.
"He does not speak of his own parents. Better not ask. He'll tell when he's ready. " thought mr. Field, and then another thought crept into his mind, one he did not want there, "What if…no, that would be too much of a coincidence. Anyway it is impossible. There were witnesses who saw Dolma and our twins being swept away by that avalanche in the Lipu Lekh******. No, no, I don't want to believe either of them survived, not in China dominated Tibet, and certainly not to become the father or mother of a Saint…"
Sir Frederic, who knew all about his friend's past, saw him struggle with hope, fear, horror and then push it back, firmly.
"Poor Hubert. To be confronted with this young Tibetan must bring back memories. Who could be the lad's father? He's about Queer's age, a little younger, born in '65 at a guess, right in the middle of the worst period for China and Tibet, no westerner can possibly be his parent. Unless he is Nepalese and he was fathered by an early hippie in Kathmandu…Anyway, that is not our immediate concern."
"All this does not inspire me with much confidence. I would prefer it if a trustworthy Saint kept an eye on Pisces. Aiolia perhaps? That will solve his problem of loyalty. He need not come with us to Athena's Temple, and come into conflict with his conscience." said Sir Frederic.
"That would be best." agreed Mu, "I'll put it to him. Keep in mind though that he still believes. If you threaten Athena in any way, you are dead. All of you, including the baby."
"Understood. The lad's an Idealist, he cannot afford to think. Who was it that said: 'A person who is prepared to lay down his life for his Ideal, will be even more prepared to lay down the lives of others for it.'?"
"The French philosopher Raymond Aron." said mr. Field. "But we've encountered that before, haven't we? In our younger years there were Idealists left and right. Total obedience to the leader, bordering on adulation is nothing new to us either. Athena is simply a born fascist. Aiolia is like one of those young Nazi's or young Communists. Their Ideal would save the world, regardless whether of the world wanted saving, or needed saving at all. More often than not they were very likeable young people too."
"All the more reason for keeping the Leo Saint away from us. My second question is: what are your intentions with Athena, Mu? Do you still want to talk to her first? You position appears to be that what we are doing is beneficial to her as well as to us…"
The Aries Saint thought a while before answering.
"Athena had a lot of servants. She does not have a single friend."
"Is that how you see yourself?"
Over the green eyes the delicate eyebrows knotted together, allowing the men a glimpse of the tattoos otherwise obscured by the jaunty curl on the Tibetan forehead.
He looked incredibly sad.
Then the sun broke through over his features and it became summer, and almost happy.
"I would like to have the opportunity to be that one."
Spontaneously sir Frederic offered the young man his hand.
"Then all we can do is wish you all the best, lad. You should go now, before Ikki has destroyed the Clock. Prepare her. Soften the blow so to speak."
"No, wait, one last thing." said mr. Field, " A service. Can you teleport my family away? All of them?"
Mu was puzzled. „First you did not want it when Ilya asked, now you ask yourself. What changed your mind?"
"We've got the girls, which was my primary objective."
"But your son is still missing, the one with the odd name.."
Mr. Field laughed. "Quirinalis is the only one I am totally unworried about, wherever he is. He is a cat with nine lives and has a habit of rolling through every difficulty. Esk has a point of being at risk anywhere, but I want to eliminate the possibility of another hostage taking. Athena is not likely to go out of her way to take revenge on us. She has enough on her plate already."
"Your other son is of a different mind, I think."
"Esk has a misplaced idealistic streak to, of the 'we must stick together' kind. He'll find out to his cost that there is a time and a place for that, and this isn't it. Ah well, 'A father cannot prevent his son from riding a wild horse, nor can the son prevent the horse from throwing him off.' This father though will try is damnedest."
"That is a Khampa proverb!" exclaimed Mu in delighted surprise.
Mr. Field grinned: " Learned it from a Khampa too. "
"You speak my language so well. How come…I'm sorry, perhaps I am indiscreet."
"Not at all."
Mr. Field pulled out his pipe, filled and lit it with practised ease.
"I could lie about it of course, or bend the truth as I did for my own family. But you are Tibetan, and deserve the full truth and nothing but the truth. I used to be an agent for the British Intelligence Service. A spy, if you prefer. In the Second World War I was trained for sabotage in the Far East. I didn't do much- blew up a couple of bridges in Japanese controlled territory- but my main task was recruiting local people to provide us with information. That was my task in Tibet, too, from 1947 onwards, for China threatened British interests in the region. Admittedly they were dwindling with India vying for independence, quite rightly too, it was either that or forget about democracy altogether, not allowing an entire sub-continent of people a voice in their own government. Tibet too clung to its independence, and allowed no-one but the British and the Chinese permanent representation. With the change of regime in Beijing, the Chinese were told to leave, and the Brits soon followed. By that time my interest in Tibet had become personal, and I was allowed to stay. When China annexed the Qinghai province in 1949 I knew it was time to return to Europe, which I did just in time. That is all I can say at the moment. Does it answer you?"
Mu bit his lip.
"I am Tibetan. As a Saint I have powers that could help free Tibet... A few months ago I was in Lhasa…I stood and watched what the oppressor did to my people when they protested against Chinese domination…I did nothing." ********
He halted, and his distress at his inaction was obvious, " Worse than what I failed to do is what I did do. My …my mother taught me that to be a Buddhist is to respect all life. I have killed. I am not…no longer 'Nangpa'."
"'Within the Faith'." translated mr. Field. "Listen, son; this is very important. The Khampa warriors that were 'noble outlaws' before and 'freedom-fighters' now are Buddhists too and kill.********* It is a matter of their own conscience. Yet you did not leave the Faith. You were taken out. It was not your fault. You were caught in the pattern. Ultimately it is not even Athena's fault."
"Yes. And yet it was all our fault, all of us, and those who went before, that we did not break the pattern."
"Yet another naive idealistic young man." thought Sir Frederic, and immediately berated himself, "Why am I such an old cynic? Forty years in British Intelligence does that to you I suppose. Hubert was right to pull out. And yet he was the man who wanted to be in Intelligence."
Sir Frederic cast his memory back to February the 16th 1942. Eton College in wartime winter. Two seventeen year olds, sitting in their shared study, smoking illicit and smuggled in woodbines. One was a tall, gangling redhead with his tie undone in defiance of the school dress code. He was also struggling not to cry.
"They will be publishing he lists of the…the POW's soon." said the other, equally tall, blond, pale, long-faced and slightly pimply.
"Dad was a civilian volunteer. Think the Japs will treat him as a POW? Thank God Mutti has kept her German nationality. They might treat her better. Damn it, Fred, I feel so powerless. I wish I was there."
"Don't be stupid. You'd be either dead or a prisoner too. "
"You don't understand. All I have left of family here are my father's elder brother and his wife on the family-farm in Sussex. My cousin Ben is somewhere in North Africa. Hell, I'll be eighteen in a couple of months and I'll be called up to fight my German cousins. Paul must already be in the Wehrmacht, the others will soon follow. Damn this war! Damn Hitler and the Mikado and their cliques! Why should chaps like us have to fight to satisfy their greed? I know my cousins are no Nazis, and I guess there are a lot of Japs who would rather stay on their island too. And now they have taken Singapore. My father and mother may be dead. How do you think does that are me feel?"
"Pretty rotten, I'd imagine."
"I want to give it back to them!"
"I see. You won't fight Jerry because you are half one, but you don't mind killing Japs, since they hurt you personally, and that makes it easy to hate them."
"No…yes…alright, it is unfair of me, but, damn it, it is personal! One should be a conscientious objector, but then again, one has to do one's bit. Look, this war has to end and it mustn't be won by the Axis, right? I have to do something. Something that will make a difference."
"No less! We all do. That's why we're in Eton. Jumping board for Sandhurst and a career in the military, the best defence of our democratic values we have so far, since the politicians bungled it. Of course, our careers will start in the field, now that we are at war."
"I didn't chose to be here. Anyway, I could be put to better use than at the front. I mean, I speak German like a native, I am fluent in Malayan and can make myself understood in Japanese. That has to count for something, no?"
"Ask your Godfather. After all, he is an old Eton Boy, he got you placed here after your school was closed down because of the war…"
"And he thought he was doing me a favour. The Major was the only other Catholic in Kuala Lumpur, which is why my parents asked him to be my Godfather. Being in loco parentis Uncle Albert didn't object to the major's offer of help: he believed I'd get a proper education at Eton. Sorry Fred, I know you like the place, you are a good friend and I shouldn't speak ill of it, but Public School doesn't agree with me."
"It shows. If you hadn't knocked the class-bully senseless within a week of your arrival, your life here would have been made a thorough misery. Mind you, you did fight dirty."
"I fight to win. Anyhow, I doubt if the major can do anything…hell, is that the bell for Evensong already? "
"The Headmaster has ordered a special service to honour the defenders of Singapore. You can say a prayer for your parents."
"When did God ever listen?" had said young, embittered Hubert Field, and threw his fag-end into the fireplace in disgust.
Frederic Mountjoy, Headboy of Eton College and an even better friend than Hubert supposed, had written about the conversation to his own father, Colonel Mountjoy, who had in turn spoken two the Major. Both Staff Officers with connections in the Intelligence Service, they had agreed that Hubert Field's talents made him an ideal candidate for SIS, and so the word had been passed down, back via Frederic Mountjoy, that he had best present himself at such and such address. That was how the Service worked, and the best agents were often those who never knew the worked for Intelligence. By contrast, young Frederic Mountjoy had been a soldier and an officer in the regular army in the Far East, fighting his way to Japan, where the two friends met again in 1945. And there Hubert Field had returned the compliment by recruiting him as agent for (and later head of) the Far East department. Sons of the Lost Generation of '14-'18 that had fought in the Great War believing it to be the 'War to end all Wars', they had found themselves at fifteen facing yet another war that forced them to go from childhood innocence to grown-up responsibility. Another Lost Generation. Yet at the end of it they had had but one Ideal left, one firm conviction: never again. Each after his own fashion had devoted his life to a peaceful Europe of common goals if not a United Europe. In Frederic Mountjoy's case, that had translated itself into eternal vigilance by hook or by crook.
The parallels between the Service and Sanctuary struck the Intelligence Officer.
"Shadow-soldiers, working behind the scenes, that is what we are. But there the similarity ends. With us, no glamour, no fancy dress, no heroic sacrifices, just nitty gritty research and information gathering and putting two and two together to make five. Our methods are not always 'clean', not 'honourable', but one has to be ever watchful, for today's friend and ally may be tomorrow's rival and enemy, and the more you know the better prepared you'll be. Ultimately, our job is simply to brief the politicians, and the rest is up to them. This however is a situation no one could have prepared for. The lad calls it a Game. Is he aware of the Great Game?********* Children play at Cowboys and Indians, Cops and Robbers, bang! Bang! You're dead! That is what these children are playing, and they have no idea what goes on in the real world. They butcher on command and call it justice, they think peace is served where Athena rules by turning children into killers. And yet they remain so innocent…were we not ourselves like that once?"
Sir Frederic understood Athena all too well.
"How could it be otherwise?" said Mu suddenly vehement, and his green eyes flashed, " We were kept stupid. Ignorant. Even I who knew more than most did not think beyond my duty to Athena. I could have done better. I should have known better."
"He sounds like Hubert at that age: very intense. The lad is smart and he knows it. He's got spirit too. Indeed he should not have been in the blindly following orders brigade. God, what is it all for if not that young people such as he get a chance of making something of their lives?"
"Is that not what you are doing now?"
"Yes, but too little too late. While Seiya and his brothers were battling Poseidon we Gold Saints were kept in reserve. On Dokho's command I threatened Aiolia to keep him from interfering! I would have killed him if he had disobeyed, just as I tried to kill Seiya for disobeying Athena's command to lead a normal life. Where is the logic? It is just so…so stupid!"
"Son, both Sir Frederic and I have been there. There always comes a moment when a soldier receives a totally dumb order and it opens his eyes. He starts to think. He ceases to be a mere soldier. And yet he has to soldier on. The worst is when innocent people pay the price for your decisions." said mr. Field, " One can live with having killed in battle, when it has been either them or you. At least that is what they tell me, I would not know, never having killed face to face. But I am responsible for people's deaths, indirectly. A friend spend 5 years in a Chinese jail, when it was I, the real spy in Tibet, they were after. A stone on my conscience ."
"That old affair again! Robert never blamed you: such risks are part of the job and he knew it as well as you did. Robert took over from you because you wanted out, and everyone understood that with the Chinese threat looming and you having a family to worry about…in fact to the Service you were a liability since the Tibetan situation had become a personal affair for you…but that's how it is, with men of conscience and responsibility: somewhere, you never stop blaming yourself."***********
"When you grow older you realise that such is inevitable, and you trail behind you a thousand and one bigger and smaller stones, and little and large regrets. As Gyalpo Rimpoche told me once: 'Regret is part of being alive, but one must not let it rule one's life or one will end up not living at all.'"
"Jinchi Norbu!" ************cried Mu, "Did you meet Him? Did you speak with Him? Do you know Him?"
There was envy in the young Tibetan's voice, mingled with a desperate need, and yes, some clear apparent self-disgust.
Mr. Field considered carefully before answering. He did not want to give the Aries Saint the wrong impression, yet he did want to help him come to terms with his past, as he had once had to do. He pulled long and hard on his pipe, and slowly exhaled. "It is a sad thing that in Tibet the faithful are deprived of the merest glimpse of Him, whereas I, and unbeliever, have, on more than one occasion, as I visit Dharamsala at least once a year to see my family there. Back in 1948 I even managed to visit the monastery of Kumbum and speak with the boy that was later to become the Panchen Lama. A rare privilege for a westerner, even more so now that the poor man is completely in the hands of the Chinese Government. I cannot claim friendship with the Dalai Lama, as others can, though I support His cause full-heartedly. On thing I am certain of: He will not blame you for not helping Tibet. In fact, if 'helping' would be violent action, as Saints do, then He would much prefer you not to. Though He would not condemn you if you did, anymore than He does the Khampa rebels. He knows full-well that a world without violence, a perfect world of peace and harmony, is an impossible utopian dream. Athena has that dream, and it is not wrong to dream, but it is wrong to sacrifice everything to it."
"As we Saints do." whispered Mu, and he hung his head. "A Athena does. The rot has set at the core. What will His Holiness think of us...of me?"
"Tendre-me. Nang-la drama chuna, chi-hi tonta drohi mane. Khaliphe, khali-pe'a!" said mr. Field.
Again different emotions were visible in Mu's eyes, as the words sank in; and his sadness turned to joy when he understood the true meaning behind them. The rainbow aura lit his smile.
"Thu-chi-che, bogpo!"***********
Sir Frederic hesitated to interrupt. He was not totally insensitive, and fully understood how his friend had warmed to the Aries Saint. He had himself. But contrary to Hubert Field he had never left the Service, had not become a father, and had never been able to afford sentimentality on the job.
"It is time we came to a decision. Will Mu teleport the others out or not?"
Mr. Field looked at his children. While Nick was drinking the last of the retsina, Skippy basking in motherhood, Aphrodite telling Vimi how he had taught himself English with Assimil ("Classic Greek and Swedish are fine, but it's hell to communicate when you want to go out and about in the world.")Esk was lecturing Aiolia and Shun on the impossibility of the Athena Exclamation.
"Of course it is just a convention of words. The Big Bang Theory is fairly recent. During her last incarnation you would have called it differently, for you would have compared it to some other gigantic explosion. The real thing would have ripped the Universe apart."
"Nevertheless that is what we have done and the Universe is still intact." said the Leo Saint, slightly miffed at being disbelieved.
"If that is true then it would be extraordinary. The possibilities are myriad! If I could work out the maths…and we need to do tests in a controlled environment…"
Both mr. Field and Sir Frederic frowned at the young scientist's words.
"Hmmm, it won't be just the military dying to get their hands on these children. The scientists will be at it too. Esk sounds like he is about ready to stick them into a test-tube like a lab-rat. Damned, I may receive orders in that direction any time soon. Hubert wants to see those kids safe, but if his own son develops such scientific enthusiasm for the Saints capabilities he will run into problems."
"Hubert, when someone falls off a horse, he usually learns a wise lesson."
Mr. Field blinked uncomprehendingly, and then remembered his own earlier words.
"Unless he breaks his neck." he growled in answer, unsure of what his friend was driving at.
"They are young adults, not children. They have made their decision. Esk will not thank you for deciding over his head. If it were Vimi and Nick alone, it would be different, but your eldest has inherited your stubborn streak, and once his mind is set on something…Don't forget what he is, and where his professional interest lies. Research is his passion. Obviously he'd love to study the Saints. Do you want him to see them as people or as guinea-pigs? "
Mr. Field bit angrily on his pipe. "Damn it, Frederic, Esquilinus is my son, not some mad professor Frankenstein."
"Are you sure he can make abstraction of his job and his ethics?"
"Can you?"
"Oh, you know better than that" said Sir Frederic softly.
The other Englishman passed a hand over his face. Suddenly mr. Field looked old and tired. " Yes, I do. Forgive me, Fred. I have made demands on our friendship
I should not have. You've been sticking your neck out for me and undertaken some highly unofficial action…"
"Demand away; that is what friendship is for. Take my advice. Normally I don't approve of civilians in the front line, but this isn't a regular battle. If anything it's a campaign to win the hearts and minds of the opposition. You were a recruiter once, so you know how it works. As a controller, I constantly reminded myself that the people in the field who obtain info for me are beings of flesh and blood, not pawns in the Great Game. Athena needs the same reminder, and what better way than to confront her with the ordinary people she vows to protect? She also needs to realise that the world has changed and that the so-called Gods cannot have it their way anymore. Who better than Athena, whose prime concern has always been to care for humanity, to confront her fellows with Human Emancipation? And it works both ways. We also need to be reminded not to think in black and white, even though what the Saints do, or rather, how they do it, disgusts us. But we must not a priori ascribe evil intent to them. The more I listen and think about it, the more I realise how young, idealistic and well-meaning they are. "
Mu's rainbow Aura inundated the group, showing his happy approval of Sir Frederic's words.
"That is how I see it too! I admit I worried some about your intentions. But you are good people!"
"No Mu, we are not." said Sir Frederic, " We try though. Hubert, your decision?"
Mr. Field sighed. "I'd still be happier if it were possible to pull them out if it comes to blows again. Mu, any suggestions?"
The Aries Saint smiled reassuringly. " It is easier to teleport people when you are holding them or close, but I'm pretty good. I know them all now, and can do it from wherever I am over a reasonable distance. If I link in with Kiki, we can do it together."
"But the lad's aboard the Enterprise!"
Mu closed his eyes and smiled once again, and said:" Not anymore."
"I thought one can not teleport up…"
"When the Clock is running one can, if you are very good, teleport to the last unguarded Temple in the row, in this case Taurus. From there Kiki has but to pass through Gemini, teleport to Leo, go through Virgo and once again teleport to Pisces. The Mountain is taboo, and when all Temples are manned it is a hard climb: that is why it took me six hours."
"Let's hope Saga and Virgo will accommodate."
"I'll try to persuade them."
Later they would all agree that it was at that precise moment, when everything looked so bright, matters took a very ugly turn indeed.
END OF PART III
To be continued in part IV
* A passing nod to Oscar Wilde
**Japanese Secret Service
*** 'Sheila', meaning Australian woman, falls in the same category of name-calling as Jerry (for German soldier WWII), Jap (Japanese soldier, WWII) and Tommy (for British soldier WWI&II) or Yank (for American). Not always nice, but not always ill-meant either, and in the best cases such as with Skippy and the Americans, they good-humouredly call themselves that.
**** an incarnate lama
***** Sir Frederic refers to the fact that Sweden is traditionally a neutral state, like Switzerland. Remember that this is 1988, and Sweden was not yet in the EU
****** Shura was born in the '60's, therefore in Spain under the Dictator Franco. By 1988 Spain was a democracy and part of the EEC. As for Aldebaran, I thought it would heighten the tragedy if his parents were so desperate in their grinding poverty that they entrusted their child to Sion in the hope he would get a better life, as Shura's mother did.
******* a mountainpass between India (north-east Uttar Pradesh) and Tibet,6.300 meters and only practicable in summer
******** Authentic. In the autumn of 1987 a number of Tibetan monks took to the streets to demonstrate for religious freedom and independence, with dire results.
********* Kham is a Tibetan province. Khampa's are originally a nomadic people who had a reputation as thieves and highway robbers, a threat to every caravan that passed through their territory. Being a proud and independent people however they were the first to rebel against Communist oppression and started the revolt of 1959 which eventually led to the Dalai Lama's flight to freedom and exile.
********** read: 'Kim' by Rudyard Kipling
*********** After I had established Mr. Fields character as an SIS agent who married a Tibetan I did some research. Great was my astonishment to find out that such a man actually existed. Two in fact: R. Fitzgerald who married a Tibetan and Robert Ford who was accused of being a spy for SIS (MI6) and incarcerated by the Chinese Government. He wrote a book about his experiences.
A case of nature imitating art or simply a damn good guess on my part?
***********Gyalpo Rimpoche: another name for the Dalai Lama, Rimpoche being the title given to every incarnation
Jinchi Norbu: also the Dalai Lama, translates as: Precious Jewel.
************Tendre-me: 'unfortunate' or 'most sad', 'regrettable'
Nang-la (…) = Tibetan proverb, meaning: If the inside is rotten there is not much you can do about the outside.
Khali-phe, khalipe'a = both are often translated as 'goodbye', however, they translate as: 'Be righteous and go slow.' Mr. Field means for Mu to take those last words literally: if you strive to be righteous and take your time, you can do something.
Thu-chi-che: thank you
Bogpo: friend
My knowledge of Tibetan is minimal, so I cannot vouch for the utter correctness of the above: this is where my research led me
I wanted this to be a quiet chapter yet with an underlying current of tension and threat, largely due to the slippery character of Aphrodite. I also wanted to illustrate the friendship between Sir Frederic and mr. Field, for what they lived through in their youth affects their present actions. I also had the chance to give Nick a better part than the 'hairy comic-relief character genre Hagrid or Gimli' and have him correct the too-clever and pedantic Esk. Now I have no idea if crabs are referred to as sea-spiders in Japan as they are where I come from, but I thought it would be fun to have Shun and Ikki make that mistake in 'Cancer', which also heightened the tension and prolonged the action (They think they've got Deathmask, he breaks free, they have to find another approach…) The two corrections fit in nicely together: the crab/spider (Esk corrects Shun) leading to the German/Austrian one which in turn leads to the comparison Chinese/Tibetan and the important conversation between Mr. Field and Mu (and his inner turmoil) And no, Mu is not mr.Field's grandson, it is far more complicated than that.
On the subject of the passage of time:
Ilya, Mu, Mr. Field and Nick arrive at the Pisces Temple at the end of the Sagittarius hour. The battle of Rodorio lasted throughout Gemini and Cancer, and Capricorn arrives at the end of it. Scorpio sends Vimi and Skippy to Leo at the start of Cancer. Throughout Leo Rodorio is evacuated and Capricorn dies in the Virgo hour. As Ikki confronts Shiryu Mu and Milo meet during Libra hour, and early in Scorpio Ilya comes to. Milo is vanquished a little later. As Sagittarius strikes, Nick and Sir Frederic wake up.
I had planned two more chapters, but I will reserve them for part IV as my other fics deserve some attention now.