Two Days Later …August, 1860
Werner and Duran stood in their inn room, early in the morning, checking their pocket watches. Duran's things were in the process of being packed up while Werner's were ready to go. Duran stood in his usual attire, the brown overcoat over the button up, as did Werner (equipped with broad hat and rawhide coat.) The seconds were ticking away on their respective pocket watches. Duran's was gold plated, whereas Werner's was a dull bronze. The two were anxious to get whatever they were doing over with.
"You ready, Duran?" Werner asked cautiously.
"As ready as I'll ever be, Werner." Duran replied.
"All right then." Werner licked his teeth. "On three."
"One…" Duran started.
"Two…" Werner counted.
"THREE!" The two shouted as they both adjusted there pocket watches in sync with each other. The deed was done; the timing correct with each other.
"Well now. It would appear out pocket clocks have the exact time of each other. So, you can never say you're late again." Duran smiled.
"Neither you. Now, what time does our train leave?" Werner asked as he stashed his pocket watch away in his breast pocket.
"Not for a couple hours." Duran answered while placing a suit in its pack. "Leyline will most likely expect a report of our doings while we were gone."
"Expected, of course. It would be easier to move from here to our next candidate. We could avoid the red tape all together." Werner chuckled.
Duran stopped stuffing his suitcase on the top of his bed and looked to Werner. "Next candidate? My boy, are we even done with this one?"
"What? Melody?" Werner asked.
"Yes, Ms. Melody. We didn't come to a conclusion whether she would join or not."
"Yes, yes, I know. I plan on telling her the results before we board the train today." Werner sat himself down on the end of his bed. He took out his pocket watch and read the time. Five o seven, A.M.
"Well, do you plan on letting me know about your decision?" Duran faced Werner with all his attention.
"Why, you want to know?" Werner fidgeted with his watch.
"Of course! I'm a member of this appointing committee, too, you know?!" Duran growled.
"Huh, I thought you gave me the title, because you weren't good with people." Werner looked to the old scientist.
"Yes, I gave the job to you, but that doesn't mean that I'm out of the loop! I'm your advisor! If I don't play Devil's Advocate with you, then you'll never have the answers for Leyline, Berlitz, or the Senate!" Duran explained.
Werner looked to his shoes for a second. He had forgotten all about all of the people he would have to tear through to get the Council his way. "I'm sorry, old friend."
Duran calmed down a bit. He shook his head and spoke in a quieter voice. "So, what was your decision?"
Werner looked to Duran and stood up. "I decided to let her join. Like I said before, someone with nanotechnological experience is worth it." Werner then picked up his suitcase and began for the door.
"Hold on a minute." Duran stated as he closed his suitcase. "Where are you going at this dreadful hour?"
"To check out." Werner replied. "When did you plan on doing it?"
"Closer to departure." Duran responded. "Look, I want to head back to civilization as much as you do, but we can't leave in the dark like this. This is Slayheim, remember?"
Werner dropped his case near the wall and turned back. "…I guess your right. We'd save so much time if we could leave now."
"I know how it is." Duran sat himself down in a chair. "Now, let me do my job. Ms. Melody's primary field of expertise is in virology. Virology won't be of much use at Yggdrassil, will it?"
"The way she explained it, virology and nanotechnology seem to share a few traits. Having her as a guide to how nanotechnology works within a living being will be most useful." Werner answered.
"Yes, but do we even know that Filgaia is a living being? The Filgaia theory is still just a theory."
"All of Yggdrassil is based on the Filgaia Theory. If the Filgaia Theory doesn't apply, then all of Yggdrassil won't work."
"Well taken, but let's consider this. Dr. Enduro mentioned that Filgaia is a silicon life form and thus different from the biology we know today. How will virology and her use of nanotechnology help us in a field of something so radically different from everything they ever taught at Jefferson University?"
"We hired Elliot and Pete, didn't we? Their respective fields are in anatomy and genetic engineering."
"Ah. Strike one. Werner, don't defend yourself with a question. Dr. Enduro and Dr. Inkapalia haven't been formally approved yet either. And besides, we hired them to help with the power source, not the structure itself, if you'll recall."
Werner grumbled to himself and dropped himself onto the floor, where he placed a finger to his temple in thought, throwing off his hat. Duran smiled.
** *
One hour later…
Margy walked into the clinic office, carrying nothing but her purse. She placed the purse under the front desk and then checked into the duty machine and punched her card. With that done, she immediately began to dusting off the counters, sweeping, wiping, and over all other duties. If time would permit today, she'd get more reading done in her novel, "Disaster Girl of the Wasteland" while Dr. Vilente worked with her animals. She thought happy thoughts about this book, as she never was able to complete it at home with little Janus running amok, as she carried an armful of rags when she bumped into something. She fell to the floor, rags flying everywhere, and thoughts of the disaster Girl interrupted.
"Oh! What the hell?!" The large woman asked, rubbing her bottom.
"I'm so sorry Margy!" Came the unmistakable serene voice of Dr. Melody Vilente. She crouched down and lent a hand to the surprised nurse.
"Melody? What are you doing here so early? You don't normally get in till Seven…" Margy asked, surprised.
"Well, I wanted to see if I could get some work done early, you know what I mean." Melody looked up to Margy, who dusted herself off.
"Yea, well, I know you scientists enough. Gotta get that iodine inhibiting hormone finished before deadline, right?" Margy set to picking up the rags that were all over the dark wooden floor.
"Um, not exactly. …I was thinking about taking an extended break to see Werne- I mean, Dr. Maxwell." Melody confessed, rubbing her hands together.
A spark of interest appeared in Margy's eye as she formed a smile with those large deep red lips. "Dr. Maxwell huh? You certainly have gotten cozy with him lately. How'd that dinner go again?"
"Oh Margy." Melody blushed. "It was superb. At first I found myself panicking over every thing, but he didn't seemed to be bothered by what I was saying. We talked and laughed so much during dinner, and then there was yesterday back here. I think he may be the one!"
"I told you that it would happen." Margy smiled as she continued to walk. "I kept telling you that you'd find him, and you said you wouldn't a hundred times! And now look at you, smiling, cheerful, all a-glow! Reminds me when I first met my husband, the idiot."
Melody placed her hands behind her shyly and blushed at the comments. "I want to thank you Margy. If it weren't for you, I'd never have gotten this far. Really."
"Don't mention it hon." Margy placed the rags down in their designated spot, near the back door. Streams of sunlight were starting to pour within from the windows. Margy unlocked the door and opened it, leaving only a screen barrier from the outside. "It's what we girls do for each other, right?"
"Right." Melody nodded. She glanced out the screen, to the oncoming sun. Each passing day, the sun burned a little hotter and a little longer. Signs of the times, they said. Yet each day, the sun looked as beautiful as it ever did, especially this one. The sky was turning from a deep dark blue to a light pink as the sun slowly climbed into the sky from her ethereal bed.
"So, did you get the job?" Margy asked, readying several needles she had pulled from a cabinet.
"Huh?" Melody asked, not paying attention.
"The job?" Margy repeated, starting the oven so that she could boil equipment. "The one that Dr. Maxwell came all the way out here to ask you about?"
"The Council of Seven?!" Melody jumped, haven completely forgot about it.
"Yea, that's the one." Margy nodded in reply.
"I… I don't know…" Melody turned to the floor. It suddenly dawned on her that was the reason Dr. Werner Maxwell came to her, and she hadn't paid it any heed the entire time. She must have looked like a fool!
Margy looked a bit surprised as she started to boil water. She was silent for a moment, and then took a cigarette from her pocket and lit it in the wood burning stove. She took the first smoke of the day and exhaled, letting her gaze come to Melody, who was working herself up. "What? They tell you they'd contact you or something? I really hate it when employers do that. It's always no. Not to say you won't get the job hon, I'm just speaking from my own experiences."
"I'm a nominee for Council of Seven, the most honorable field in all the scientific community. It would be my job to help save this world and all the people in it. …You, Janus, Barry, Cormano, everyone…" Melody began speaking rather solemnly.
"It sounds like a big job." Margy replied, waiting for the needles to boil as she dropped them in. "A lot of responsibility to put on your shoulders. …Maybe… Maybe it's best that you don't take the job sweety…"
"What?" Melody asked, a little bit of shock in her quiet voice.
"Look hon, the weight of the world would be resting on your small, insecure shoulders. What would happen if you'd fail? I'd hate to see you in any kind of situation like that, Melody. You've got it good right here…" Margy explained.
"The weight of the world…" Melody thought for a moment. The hissing of the pot could be heard in the early morning air. "The world relies on my skills. I know they're not much, but- but even Werner said that Yggdrassil relies on nanotechnology, and who better to guide it than one who is proficient in nanotechnology?! If I'm not there, they all could fail due to a lack of my presence!"
Margy stood there, letting Melody's statement sink in. Melody stood staring at her, a blazing passion burning within those purple eyes. She had become so adamant about it in such a short time. Margy's lips formed a smile around the cigarette. "I see you've made up your mind then. Well, best of luck to you."
Melody's stare softened as she accepted Margy's gratitude. She shook her head. "And to you too, Margy."
"Heh. Would you look at us, saying our good byes now?! There's still a long way till you leave, right?" Margy asked.
"And a lot of work to be done. Let's get to work." Melody nodded, a new smile upon her face.
** *
Hours later, mid morning
The street was once again home to a few feet and a couple of hooves as people and their horses moved about. The whistle of a train's smokestack could be heard in the distance, far out in the fields of Slayheim. Duran checked out for the two as Werner walked out into the sun. It was yet another blue day. It had been nothing but blue days for weeks, almost two months. Another sign of the times, so they said. An ominous sign of how the world was going to end soon enough.
"Yet another blue, sunny day." Werner mentioned.
"Yes, yes indeed." Duran quipped as he stepped out of the "Honey of Roses". "We've been getting a lot of those recently. Sunny days for little girls and boys to play."
"If this keeps up, we're going to end up in another drought. The one we had last year was bad enough." Werner sighed. "Signs of the times, so they say."
"I wouldn't fret over it Werner." Duran started out in the road. "Somewhere out there, an enormous rain storm is gathering and soon enough she'll dump it all. Then you'll get your rain."
"Somehow I don't think your meteorology skills are credible, Duran." Werner laughed as he followed.
"I've read Poor Richard's Almanac for 1860. I know what the season will bring." Duran made a sarcastic joke. "But I do wonder how the weather has anything to do with Filgaia's health."
"Another topic to touch upon at future Council meetings, I suppose." Werner stated. The broad hatted man looked about, but found only a few men on the street. "Where is everyone, anyhow?"
Duran chuckled a bit at this. "Don't you know? Today is Sunday, and like all good Abramists, they've gone to church to hear the pastor read a sermon or two to save themselves from the eternal flames of hell."
"Sunday all ready." Werner shook his head, hardly believing it. "Well, you know what they say. Hell is reserved for sinners and government officials."
"Amen." Duran laughed. A second whistle of the train blew, indicating it's closer presence to the town. Duran looked off into the direction of the piercing whistle, and then turned back to Werner. "Ah, there's our train. We'd better start moving."
"The train so soon? Where is Melody?" Werner looked to the direction of the clinic.
"What's that you say?" Duran asked, not hearing Werner's words. "We really can't waste too much more time. Who knows when the next train will come?"
"I promised Melody I'd meet her before we left. I told her I have something very important to tell her." Werner told the old man.
"The decision?" Duran asked. Werner nodded. "You couldn't possibly mail her a letter with it, could you?"
Werner gave Duran an evil eye. "I plan on keeping my promise."
Duran sighed. "The effects of a charming lady."
** *
A Cannon Buffalo snorted as it blinked it's round black eyes in the round cement room. The latex gloves gave a discomforting snap as Melody removed them from her hands. She adjusted her goggles and looked to Margy, who stood a bit away with a notepad in one hand in pen in the other. Margy nodded as she checked off the last item.
"That was the last one. They've all passed the health inspection." Margy drew in a breath of smoke.
"Yes, but I'm worried about this one. She seems to be carrying a few extra pounds lately." Melody roughly removed the goggles from her face as she stood up, turning away from the resting blue reptile.
"Maybe she's eating a little too many twin tails. Being held in a little pen won't exactly burn off all the extra luggage." Margy suggested, waving the cigarette between her fingers.
"Well, according to the records, she's been receiving the same amount as the others. She could be having a reaction to something…" Melody thought, swiftly glancing over her shoulder at the resting creature. The Cannon Buffalo snorted in reply.
"Maybe she's pregnant." Margy shrugged. "We let them into the outdoor pen unchecked. It's a possibility."
"Cannon Buffalo don't breed in captivity." Melody ran the thought through her mind. "We've always had to import ours."
"There's a first for everything." Margy gave a sly smile. "Like you and the Dr."
Melody leaped up, completely forgetting about her appointment. "Oh Abram! Margy! What time is it?!"
Margy nonchalantly pulled on the pocket watch that was tied to the clipboard by its chain. She glanced at it, making out the time from the two hands. "About ten thirty."
"Oh Abram! I'm gonna be late!" Melody looked frantic, panic setting into her veins. "Margy! Close this up will you?! I need to run!"
"By myself?!" Margy asked, a hint of surprise in her voice. "We've always needed two people to move this things!"
"I'm so sorry! I'll be back! Thanks!" Melody shouted as she ran out the door, her goggles and gloves still on the concrete floor.
Margy was open-jawed as she watched the woman fly out the door. The two ton animal reared onto its hind legs and scratched its side with a clawed leg as it too watched her go.
** *
Melody ran out into the dusty street, her hair a mess and a complete lack of make up. She was still in her lab coat as she saw Werner, impatiently waiting in the street for her. Duran was no where to be seen. The harsh cries of a train whistle were piercing the sky. Werner had suitcases near him. What did this mean? Was he leaving all ready? No! It couldn't be?! Melody shook her head to dismiss such thoughts and ran to catch up with the broad hatted one.
Werner stepped toward her as Melody came running. However, her high-heeled shoes caught onto a rock, sending her falling to the ground. She braced herself for a high speed crash into the dirt road, but found herself avoiding the situation all together. Werner had caught her, and she looked into his face. He looked into hers for a moment, blushed, and set the woman up right again, dusting off her shoulders.
"Nearly hit the road on that one, Melody." Werner remarked light-heartedly.
"I-I guess I did. Thank you." Melody smiled.
"Hey, um, I have something I need to tell you." Werner looked into her shaken purple eyes.
"Yes, I know." Melody spoke softly. They had only met two days ago. Was he confessing some kind of love? Maybe they would start dating? Oh it was something big she knew it!
"Well, um, I guess you would. All right, here." Werner produced from his pocket an envelope. He reached for Melody's hand and pressed it into hers. She blushed at the gesture and looked at the red envelope. "This is for you."
"For me?" Melody whispered.
"I really think you're the one." Werner smiled and nodded.
"…The …one?" Melody repeated, a sort of boundless hope building in her eyes. She looked into Werner's face. He seemed glowing with some emotion.
"Open it. You deserve it." Werner stated.
"A-all right. I will!" Melody carefully opened the red, clean envelope with excitement. Inside was a white piece of paper, of a high caliber. Upon it's clean surface was bright black text, written in a fancy cursive. She read the first line, a bright smile on her face. "To Dr. Melody Vilente…" Her eyes darted back over the text below. It was formal, fancy, and expressive. But it wasn't what she was hoping for. Not at all. The smile had disappeared, and the excitement gone. She finished the letter and looked to Werner, seeking some kind of answer. "…I've been accepted into the Council of Seven…"
"You have all the talents required. We'll need your help more than ever, Melody." Werner beamed.
"…Yes…" Melody uttered, the impact hitting her. It wasn't the love letter she had some how expected. I was ridiculous to think it was going to be so, but she had her hopes up anyway. Finally, there was a man who took her seriously, and it appeared he wasn't even interested…
"All you need to do in sign the paperwork." Werner pulled out a few sheets of legal work. "That is, if your willing to take the position. You will take it, won't you?"
"Oh of coarse!" Melody hopped up, defending herself again. "There's nothing more that I'd ever want! This has been a goal of mine for a long time!" A lie.
"That's always good to hear." Werner smiled. The train whistled once more, and the black serpent finally pulled into the station down the street. Duran was down there, and he was probably having a fit at this moment. Werner searched the train with his eyes, and then back to Melody. "There's my train. You'll mail those back to me, won't you?"
"Train? Y-you're leaving all ready? You've been here only three days!" Melody asked, surprised.
"I need to get back to Leyline and fill out papers and get on with the hiring process. I'd love to stay longer, but I got to go. It's my job." Werner stated.
"But what about… but what about us!? When will we see each other again?" Melody asked, sadness taking hold invisibly.
"We'll meet again soon enough. We're members of the Council of Seven. We'll be spending years with each other soon enough. We're friends I'd suppose, and we'll meet again rather soon." Werner patted Melody on the shoulder.
"Years together…" Melody thought. "Yes! We are on the Council of Seven! Aren't we?!" Melody found a new hope.
"Yes. Well, here's to tomorrow." Werner outstretched his hand, obviously expecting a handshake.
Melody met it, a new determination in her soul. "Til tomorrow."
"See you then." Werner picked up his suitcase after their hearty shake and started off towards the station. He looked over his shoulder as he walked, seeing Melody stand there, waving him off. Once he had boarded the train, Melody stood there, hands clasped over her heart, holding the envelope between them.
"See you then." She repeated softly to herself.
** *