"I'm not sure these wall paintings will be of any help," Shalamorn said sceptically while looking around.
"You requested to take a look at records regarding experiences with the telepathic memory storage," Merein answered and pointed colourful pictures across the walls. "All these were drawn by holy men and women who entered the collective mind beyond the living."
"You mean those intoxicated enough to believe so."
"Yes, you were always reluctant when it comes to metaphysics, Shalamorn," the high priestess replied, smiling patiently.
"Since when are the both of them on the first-name basis?" Jason asked Mera very quietly, wondering about the informal way Merein addressed the Queen since they had entered the Archali Temple.
"She is the highest authority here," Mera told him. "Secular titles, even royal ones, are left outside if you enter the borders of the Archali Province."
"I am reluctant when it comes to psychedelic drugs," Shalamorn corrected Merein. "I respect your belief in the ancient gods, Your Holy Grace. Always have. Even though I never shared them."
"Those drugs how you call this natural substance help the people connect with each other and find a link to their ancestors. Respect towards a faith should also come with respect towards its traditions and practices."
Jason turned away to join Neri in a corner further away from the brooding argument. He didn't feel like getting in the middle of it.
"They are beautiful," Neri said, her fingertips travelling along the wall. She stopped and smiled. "This is Keri, girl who turn into fish to save her lost sister. Father told me the story." During her explanation, she pointed to several small pictures. "Here is cave where sister was held by bad big crab. Keri made friends with many other fish. They tell her where to find sister and defeat the mean crab."
"So, these are fairy-tales?" Jason asked. "Children's stories?"
"I never heard of a fairy," Merein said suddenly behind him and he jumped. "But yes, many of those paintings are the source of tales, myths and legends although the people here believe they are not just fictional stories imagined in a creative rush due to the pollen - " she shot a short glance at Shalamorn, "but fractures of memories."
"So they really believe they entered this collective mind and returned with the stories of deceased?"
"Not stories. Experiences," Merein responded. "I see you share the Queen's scepticism."
"I don't intend to enter this argument," Jason made clear. "I just want to know if it's possible to channel memories of a deceased person. Is there some kind of other data towards the collective mind? A scientific proof of that connection to that telepathic library beyond the living?"
Merein smiled and nodded. She turned to the altar in the middle of the room and pushed a stone button. A holographic triangular screen appeared.
"I don't know what exactly it is what you're looking for," she said and opened a map, "but archaeologists and historians have indeed tried to find proof. They examined several of these old sites with drawings and if possible, spoke to the people who recently painted new ones."
A series of similar pictures was shown on the screen. Three locations blinked on the map.
"These were especially interesting because they tell the same detailed story in the same colours," Merein explained. "They were drawn at the same time."
"Approximately," Shalamorn tossed in. "It couldn't be broken down to the day. And if this pictures once entered the living library, it is out there."
"And you have no proof that the painters actually had all the same encounter," Jason assumed.
Merein shrugged. "Some things are just not meant to be proven scientifically."
"And we need faith now," Neri said.
"You're welcome to participate in a joint prayer," Merein invited them. "But I have the feeling that is not what you've come here for." She gave each of them a questioning look. "Your request was unusual enough and I'd think you already knew your search for proof would come into nothing." Her gaze stopped with Jason. "You said something about channelling the memories of one person in particular?"
Jason exchanged a quick look with the others. "You think it would be possible?" he asked then. "To find an imprint of a specific person with distinguished attributes?"
"Well, you will always find special people," Merein replied, her forehead thoughtfully frowned. "Among the living and also among the dead. But despite us calling it a library, it is not a database where you can just access a specific piece of information. Most of the travellers tell us about blurred visions, emotional fractures and distant echoes. Their encounters are certainly no eye-to-eye conversations."
"We didn't expect it to be," Jason said.
"Call me curious but who is it you are hoping to find?"
"Our ancestors," Mera explained. "And particularly, those with gifted minds."
"We have the Gift of Healing and Mending," Neri added. "But we can not heal Planet of the Oceans alone."
"I'm afraid you have to," Merein responded gently, obviously trying to let heir hopes down carefully. "The dead are dead. Their conscious mind is gone and so is their Gift. Even if you can channel some of their memories, you'd still need a medium - " awareness dawned on her face, "and a catalyst … " She scanned them one by one and her face lit up when the realisation hit her. "You want to recharge the synchronium!"
"Yes," Shalamorn replied, "we want to try. We hope that the Gift left a unique imprint, powerful enough to put to use."
Merein nodded all eager and excited. "Yes, I get the idea. That could actually work."
"It was Jason's idea," Neri told her and touched his arm, sending a jolt of pride through him.
"Well, that doesn't surprise me at all," Merein responded and winked at him. "From what I heard, you already proved yourself to be an extraordinary problems-solver several times already."
Jason blushed. "You really think, it's possible?" he asked quickly.
"No one every tried that before," Merein replied, "at least, not that I know of. But with the three of you, I am positive. If you're willing to do whatever is necessary."
The last words put a damper on the excited atmosphere but Shalamorn just nodded. "You mean we will have to initiate a trance state by the pollen."
Merein nodded. "It is part of it. But you have to consider that the travellers have years of training in meditation. You will have to undergo an instruction as well. Without practice, your encounters will resemble your usual dreams. You will have no control or conscious steering through that nebulous worlds if you enter them right now." She locked eyes with Shalamorn. "You will have to drug yourself, as you call it."
"Maybe we can start with meditation," Mera said, "and see where this leads us."
"Of course. Do you want me to introduce you to some of the travellers?"
"You won't instruct us yourself?" Shalamorn asked.
Merein shook her head and smiled. "I have other obligations awaiting me. Also, I am not a traveller myself."
"Well, it's already late," Jason tossed in. "Maybe we should call it a night and head home. Sleep on it."
"Agreed."
The sun had already set when they left the temple labyrinth. Jason resisted the urge to take a deep breath to avoid another intoxicating experience with the pollen. Merein gave him a grin, clearly guessing his thoughts.
"Did you hear anything from Shersheba?" he asked her when they walked through the garden.
"Not since she left to come to your rescue," Merein replied, her tone suddenly very cool.
"We didn't want to leave her there," Mera defended herself.
Merein stopped dead. "But you did."
"We had no choice," Jason said, "and she partly volunteered to stay."
Merein scanned his face and her expression grew soft. "Well, you I believe. It is good to know that I am not the only one worrying about her. Unfortunately, I got no word from her," she told them when they continued they way to the entrance of the temple.
"Well, I just thought, since you are neutral in this conflict as a priestess and her friend," he replied, "maybe there is a way for you to contact them and find out."
"We kept our neutrality because people look for guidance beyond secular issues," Merein explained. "They come to us, not the other way round. I'm afraid we'll have to wait for a life sign, just as you do."
"Thank you for your help," Shalamorn told her at the gate and Merein nodded with her re-found friendly smile.
"Eirhne's and Machna's blessing with you," she said and retreated.
Neri watched her disappear into the shadows with a frowned expression.
"Neri?" Jason asked. "You're alright?"
"She lied," Neri replied quietly.
"About what?"
"About Shersheba. I think she knows more that she say."
"She is a priestess," Shalamorn responded. "The gods know they have their own agenda and secrets."
"Maybe she's just angry with us," Jason figured, "and she wants us to feel guilty and worried for a while before telling us that Shersheba is alright."
"You think so?"
Jason nodded. "That's a very old trick. Brett used to do that a lot when he got in trouble. Sometimes he hid somewhere for hours. So when my parents finally found him they were just glad he was safe and he got away with minimal punishment."
Mera grinned. "Yes, that sounds like him."
Neri's face had lit up as well and Jason offered her his hand which she took while mirroring his smile.
Shalamorn pushed the button and the next second, he felt sucked into the water tunnel.