Chapter 15
The boy held Jack's hand as they made their way through the back door of the hall. Jack was surprised to see how the buildings differed from the ones of the village. Everything was made of wood and covered with tiles. The houses were mere huts with no doors. No fire burned. As they climbed stair and went down others, Jack could see men and women like he had seen in the village, but they were dressed as John was. The went around in silence performing this or that task, never interacting with one another. They were emaciated to various degrees. In many a hut, he saw a person shivering and crying. Some were prostrated on the grown, immobile as if dead. In the midst of this grim spectacle, teenagers with features from a wide ethnic range milled about, walking, running or skipping. They chatted among themselves, laughed and hugged each other, completely oblivious to what went on around them. They did however stop what they were doing to look at Jack. Some back away in fear, other tried to touch him but his guide kept them at bay. They finally reached a massive wooden building standing on the verge of a massive evergreen forest. The young man stopped.
"This is where we live. All of us. I just wanted to show you because the supplicants are not allowed in this part of the Infinity village."
"The what...?"
The youth squeezed his fingers.
"Let's go this way. I will explain it all to you."
They stepped away from the hall and they took a path leading back towards the busiest part of the Infinity village.
"You have questions. But let me talk first. Here, go inside that hut. Yes, the farthest one in the right. We shouldn't be disturbed."
They entered the spartan hut and sat on the cold ground. Jack shivered.
"You saw the moonstones in the hall and the Elder told you about how we contact the ancestors for their knowledge."
"The price you have to pay for this is human life."
The boy nodded.
"It is, but please let me explain. You've probably noticed how people are different on this side. We have traits not found in the people living on the other side of the Hall of Life. We're are what you would call anomalies. That affects our lifespan. None of us will live passed 20." He chuckled. "I find it quite funny to be sitting across from an immortal."
Jack flinched.
"How did you know?"
He wiggled his fingers.
"We may live young, but our bodies and mind are truly connected to the world around us. Your life force is infinite. I had never touched an immortal before."
"How old are you?" blurted Jack.
"I am 15."
"You don't have to die. Not like this. Not for me."
The youth smiled.
"I do. And I will. Please don't interrupt me. You have to understand that this is my purpose. You saw those people outside, the ones in the grey tunics? They are the supplicants. They want something from the dead and so they offer themselves in our service for three infinities."
"Three infinities?"
"888 days. Three infinities. They feed us, they cook for us, they do everything for us. That way, they repay us. They earn the right to wear the red."
Jack frowned.
"But I didn't..."
He stared at the boy as the weight of the realization hit him. John. John wore a gray tunic. The youth smiled.
"Yes. your friend, John, came here looking for answers. The Elder doesn't know how he managed to find us. But he did. At first he was refused entry. He's quite the fighter, your friend. He had to be turned away by force several time. Then, one morning the elder walked in the hall to find him sitting there by the fire. We still don't know how he made it. He made his request. He would serve three infinities in exchange for a chance for your chance to speak with your departed. That was also refused. But John insisted. He was adamant. He even offered to serve twice as much time. The Elder refused but he put the decision through us, the catalyst. would anyone be willing to sacrifice themselves for an alien? Nobody wanted to do it and I wasn't too interested myself but then I saw John. He was so strange looking. I had never seen anyone like it. There was a look in his eyes, a strange edge. This is what convinced me."
"And then..." Jack's voice trembled. It had nothing to do with the cold.
"Once it was decided, John took the gray and moved in this hut we now sit in. Most catalysts don't even acknowledge their supplicants. It'a part of the sacrifice. But John wasn't an easy supplicant at first. He was often angry and would shout at the others. He got into a few fights. Because of that I had to get involved a lot. Without really noticing, I started to take an interest in him and to know him better."
The catalyst stopped talking and gave Jack a sad smile.
"He was in a lot of pain. Most of them are, because of the circumstances, you understand, but John was something different. He would rage and scream all day, but if I came to his hut at night I often found him in tears. So I would enter and sit next to him. He kicked me out a few times but then he let me be. I was eventually able to hold his hand. One day, he started to talk. So many things he told me made no sense, but the feelings were real, so I listened. As he grew to be more and more like the other supplicants, he grew calmer. I've grown quite fond of him. Now you understand why I don't mind being your catalyst. If he thinks you worthy, I believe you are."
Jack felt like his heart was about to burst. Tears had started streaming down his face a while ago, he wasn't sure when. His breathing was constricted, shallow. He was torn between the the gratitude he felt for what John had done for him and the pain he felt knowing that this generous young man would be giving his life for him to see Ianto again.
"I don't want you to die." Was all he could say lest he started sobbing.
The youth took his hand. It was warm and soft.
"But you also don't want to waste your friend's sacrifice."
Jack nodded and covered his mouth with his free hand. Through his tears, he could see the catalyst's peaceful expression.
"You are worthy of the red, Jack Harkness. It doesn't matter that you didn't serve the three infinities yourself. I am glad to die for you to see Ianto again."
They sat there a long while, he crying, the boy holding his hand. This was all sorts of wrong.