AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Okay, I'm back. Sorry I haven't updated in a whileÉlife got in the way.
For starters, I needed to fill out all those EFFIN' forms for applying to colleges and scholarships (I still have more scholarships to go, shit), not to mention all those stupid essays. The good news is I got into two so far, just need to decide on which one to go to.
Then there was fencing: practice 5 days a week and all-day tournaments on the week ends; very exhausting. It's fun, though.
Well, I read The Da Vinci Code, so now I'm going to try and incorporate all the kick-ass symbolism, iconography and religious ideas that are masterfully displayed in that work of sweet paganism. (In the voice of a Southern, hand-raisin', feet stompin', pulpit-preachin' Reverend: "PRAAIIISE THE GODDESS!!!!")
Also, I attended the KICK-ASS conference known as TEDÑTechnology, Entertainment, and Design. I highly suggest you check out the websiteÑwww.ted.com. To give you an idea of what's there, I saw the world's first real flying car, art etched on a grain of sand, the founders of google.com, and a clock that can keep precise time for 10,000 years with out maintenance, just to name a few.
One of the speakers, Sheila Patek, spoke about mantis shrimp, which use a spring-like devise in their arms to smash snails with 200 lbs of pressure per sq inch at 40 miles per hour under water!!! (Keep in mind that it's shrimp we're talking about, here!) They reminded me of the mulefa's wheels, and I told her that afterwards. Turns out she was reading Amber Spyglass, and had it in her hotel room! That was cool.
Anyway, for those of you who don't like what I'm doing with the whole sex thing, I can appreciate that. Thing is though, this isn't about sex, but about the cycles of lifeÑof which sex is a key component of. I'll explain my reasoning at the end of the story, but see if you can figure it out for yourselves.
Here are some reading assignments to help you out:
1) The Da Vinci Code. This will introduce you to some interesting concepts behind the Divine Female, orgasms as a form of Communion with God/Goddess, the Holy Grail, Jesus' sex life, and the balance between the male and female aspects in our lives.
2) Any of the books by Morgan Llewelyn
3) Reread His Dark Materials, specifically the following scenes:
In The Golden Compass, when Lord Asriel tells Lyra about Adam and Eve, Original Sin, and Dust
In The Amber Spyglass, both scenes when Ms. Coulter talks about Lyra and the temptation to Lord Asriel's Lieutenants and The President of the Court. Also read the Marzipan chapter.
Oh, yes, at the end of the fic, there will be a lexicon of names and terms I have used throughout the story (all, or at least most of them, are based on fact and real languages). It will include meaning, language, pronunciation, and source.
DISCLAIMER: I have long hair, a silver earring, a mustache and goatee, and wear a kilt to school. That certainly doesn't sound like Philip Pullman, now does it? HDM are in no way, shape, or form mine, they are PP and NEW LINE's (and I wish they'd hurry up on the friggin' movies!!)
TUGGING ON THE STRANDS OF FATE
"Well, Hafror," Mary said with a sigh, "That's another interview gone bust.
She was walking along a shady path towards the parking lot of one of the many corporate laboratories and research centers that dotted Oxford's streets. The building behind her was a neo-modern structure, completely out of place in the established culture of Oxford's architecture. No one was in sight, save the bird that flew above her in the trees. It's black, lustery feathers reflected the glaring noonday sun as it fluttered from branch to branch, never getting too far ahead from the woman below.
"We may need to take a job as a clerk or secretary some where," Mary continued, her voice grudgingly accepting defeat.
The bird dropped in the air suddenly, diving downwards to land lightly on the woman's shoulder.
"Is this the same Mary Malone that found a way to talk to angels?" he asked incredulously, "Or who refused to let the wheel pods float out to sea? Because this certainly isn't the Mary I know; she would never give up this easily.
"But what can we do?" Mary countered heatedly, "No one will accept me with out letters of recommendation, a proper resume, and investigating any criminal files. Who will hire a scientist who was fired for destroying her lab?
"I don't know, but we can't work as a clerk or something. We can't live like that! To never satisfy our curiosity, to never learn anything new? No, we can't do that, and you know it.
"Yeah, I know," Mary sighed, "If only we didn't have to destroy the CaveÉ We could have explained away the rest
"Oi, Mary! Wait Up!
The voice was deep and familiar. Normally highly urbane, the exclamation sounded coarse and out of place coming from that voice. Inside, Mary cringed, though she kept her body still and calm. Oh, shit!
"Don't tell him anything first, let him lead the conversation," Hafror warned her as he faded out of sight.
Behind her, Mary heard the pounding footsteps running on the pavement, growing closer every second. Okay Mary, you can do this, just stay calm, she thought to herself, willing her muscles to relax. Turning slowly, wishing there was a way to escape, Mary faced the incoming speaker.
He was a tall man, not a giant by any means, but still above average. His long hair was pulled back in a ponytail, exposing his high forehead and slightly receding hairline. His skin bore the fairness of one who spends most of their time inside, yet it held a hint of the tanned and worn look of those who are used to travel and exposure to the elements. His noseÑlong and sharpÑwas like the beak of a hawk, while his eyesÑwhich shown with a quick intelligenceÑonly made the comparison more appropriate. Over a loose button-down shirt and khakis he wore a light duster, it's fabric waving behind him like the wings of a diving raptor.
Realizing that she was waiting for him, the man slowed down, and eventually stopped just a few feet in front of her.
"Mary," the man said with a smile, "I've missed you.
Mary's expression was warily neutral as she faced at her former collogue.
"Hello Oliver," she replied, "It's been a while.
Suddenly, with out any warning, Oliver closed the gap between them, and enveloped Mary in a tight embrace. Mary wasn't sure what to expect when she turned to meet him, but this sure as hell wasn't it.
"WhaÉ Oliver, I, umÉ" Mary stammered, thrown completely off-balance by Oliver's unexpected behavior.
Just as suddenly, Oliver pulled out of the embrace, pushing himself back, yet his strong hands continued to hold her by the shoulders. His keen eyes moved about Mary's features, as if appraising her. And to make matters even more unnerving, that warm smile still danced on his lips.
"Were have you been these last four months, Mary?" he asked her, "I've been so worried.
"Worried? Okay, this really isn't what I was expecting! Were's the yelling and cursing for destroying his life's work, not to mention sabotaging the entire project?
"Yeah, worried! Oliver exclaimed, giving her a little shake, "First that whole mysterious business with the government, then Sir Charles' sudden interest and just as sudden disappearance, the destruction of the Cave, and then you disappear. I had no idea what happed to you! It's been four months, Mary! You could have died for all I knew!
I didn't know he cared that much, Mary thought to herself, but that still doesn't explain
"Then I heard that a woman was circling the labs of Oxford, searching for a job, but refusing to give so much as a resumeÉ thinking it might be you, I followed it up. What in heaven's name have you been doing?
"I was looking for a job," Mary replied, her surprise evident in her voice.
"Why? Oliver seemed shocked by that. His face stamped with surprise as he let his arms drop to his side.
"I thought I was fired.
"Fired?! Why would I fire you, one of the most brilliant minds in the field of Dark Matter?
"Oliver," Mary said, her brow bent in confusion, "I was wanted for destroying the lab, for goodness sakes!
"What? Oh, come now, Mary, how could they have believed you did that? There was no evidence! The tapes were destroyed, and the guard couldn't remember a thing. I can't believe they did that!
Mary stood speechless in front of him, her mouth agape. WHAT!! That couldn't be true!
"AÉ are you serious?" she managed to ask.
"Of coarse, I just don't understand why they would think it was you. You're just as passionate about Dark Matter as I am. You fought tooth and nail to keep the project alive, why would you destroy it just when we got the funding we needed? I mean, I know you were uncomfortable with Sir Charles, but still!
At those words, Mary felt a sudden chill. She had destroyed the lab, not because of Sir Charles, but because of the angels. But she couldn't very well tell Oliver that.
"Yeah, I couldn't believe it either," she murmured, staring at her feet.
Oliver didn't seem to notice though; he just continued to smile down at her.
"So, do you want to come back?
Mary looked up at him with disbelieving eyes.
"Of coarse I do," she managed to say.
"Excellent!" Oliver said happily, "I'll expect you at the Lab at 9 o'clock on Monday, then. Again, Oliver pulled her in a tight embrace, patting her on the back as he did so. "It will be good to have you back Mary, the Lab hasn't been the same without you.
Mary felt like she couldn't hold back the tears of guilt that were welling up inside of her. He's been so good to me, how can I dare lie to him like this? But some how she managed with just a small, choking sob.
When Oliver finally released her from the hug, she saw that his eyes were watering as well, but for an entirely different reason.
"Well, now that that's settled," he said light-heartedly, "What have you been up to these past four months?
Again, a sharp pang of guilt stabbed Mary in the heart. After all this man had done for her, here she was lying to him. But there was nothing else she could do.
"I skipped town for awhile," Mary told him softly, thinking up something that sounded plausible. "I stayed with some friends of mine, I guess to let the heat off, you know? Then, after about a month or so, I came back and stayed with some friends here.
"Who?
"The Parry's, you wouldn't know them. Will was a friend of that girl, Lyra, and we got to know each other after a while. For some reason, Oliver face darkened at this, almost saddened. "But his mother wasn't in the best of health, so I've been staying with him. He's only a teenager, and can't really take care of her on her own, so I decided to help him out.
At the mention of Will's age, Oliver's demeanor returned to its former state. Mary was even more confused by this strange behavior, but let it pass.
"So, you've just been staying with friends this whole time?
"Pretty much, yeah.
"Must have been rather boring, not working on anything exciting or new.
Oh, you couldn't be further of the mark if you tried, Mary thought to herself, but only shrugged in reply.
Checking his watch, Oliver gave a start.
"Oh, listen Mary, I've got to go, but I'll see you on Monday, right?
"Of coarse," Mary smiled in reply.
"Good," Oliver smiled back, "See you then
Mary watched him turn back towards the offices, a worried expression on her face. He just welcomed me back with open arms, and in return, I lie to his faceÉ How can I ever repay him? Suddenly an idea came to her, she didn't know how it would help, but she felt an irresistible urge to try, anyway.
"Oliver, wait!
The man turned around, watching her with curious eyes.
"Um, listen, I was wonderingÉ" Mary started, unsure of herself, "I was wondering if you wouldn't mind coming over for dinner tomorrow night. A celebration, if you will.
A smile came up on his face as he asked, "A celebration of your return or of Lughnasadh?
Mary smiled in return, she had forgotten how much of a Renaissance Man he was, and it warmed her to hear him display his repository of knowledge once more.
"Both.
"I would be honored," and with that, he turned around, and continued on his way.
Mary couldn't help but notice the little spring in his step, as she herself turned around to speak with Harfor about this interesting development.
In the branches above, two fingers watched with more then passing interested as the man and woman separated below. One, barely seen in the sun's blinding glare, held a light of soft moon-lit hue that seemed to spread from her own form. Tall and elegant, she was as young as a maiden, yet her nude form was etched with ancient lines.
The other form was even more beautiful. She, too, was illuminated by a light from within, yet hers was a bright golden glow that seemed to shine across the entire world. Her hair, long and golden blonde, was held back by a crown of woven wheat, and her gown seemed to be spun with threads of gold and gossamer blue.
"Was that truly necessary, my Mother," the angel asked, "Is the bard that vital to our purposes?
"Yes he is, Xaphania," Demeter replied, "His role is minor, true, but key in the web I weave.
"Then why not let them drift together subtly, rather than this conspicuous manipulation?
The mother smiles gently at the angel before her.
"The years of hiding and lack of power have softened you, my Harbinger," the Zaramama chided her, "Remember, I am a spider mending her web. Sometimes it is necessary to tug on the strands of fate, in order to close the gaps and tighten the weave. Come, we have much to, and little time.
Again, sorry it took me so long to get back. (I know, 6 months is a bit much). Any way, hope you review. This week is Spring Break, so I'm hoping to get the next chapter, Dryads and Aerosmith, up in a few days.
Toodles!
