Somewhere in the Sahara Desert
The Expedition hiked for two days in the desert night to reach the oasis where we left them last game. It would not surprise me if Dr. Davis and Mr. Blake -- as two of the weaker members of the Party -- lagged a bit at times. At any rate, at some point during those hikes, Madeline would have tried to fall in step with the radiologist when none of the others were particularly close.
"Mr. Blake, I'd like to mention something that's been troubling me, if you will. I know we shouldn't talk long -- to conserve water and strength. But..."
Blake nodded. "I will listen."
Madeline, beneath the veil of desert garb, licked her lips and began. "Our Expedition seems -- if one believes the predictions -- to be, in part, about the light and dark nature of -- Dark Moon -- and myself. Mother Moon said that -- her twins would 'struggle with one another and be a part of the Great Fight' -- which, indeed, seems to be the trail on which this Expedition travels. But there is one more point which I have not yet shared. She said -- we, her twins -- 'had the capacity to work great ill against the gods of Anglia'." Madeline took a deep breath. "This, as you can imagine, troubles me. I have no desire nor calling to be a druid -- despite my -- parents. But I have no wish to in any way harm the gods they serve. Nor, in any way, would I harm my native land. "I -- do not tend to believe predictions. But...." the doctor shrugged. "We have seen and heard of many things -- a scientist does not normally believe." She paused to swallow, then went on. "I -- have no idea what anyone can do about this -- prediction, but -- I wanted someone to know. In case -- there were indications that it might be coming true. I would want -- someone to know to stop me. However it proved necessary."
Blake gazed out across the desert. "Do I understand that this prediction says that together you and your sister would work great ill against the gods of Anglia?"
Flustered, Madeline answered, "No! No... well... I hadn't thought of it that way. It might mean that; but it didn't strike me so. It said we 'had the capacity.' I thought that meant we each had the capacity...."
Somewhat soothingly, the radiologist responded, "Having power -- and various of us do have power -- and the capacity to use that power, does not mean that you have the inclination to use that power for ill. I believe the inclination is the important part. But if I thought you had that inclination and were about to use it, I would stop you. But you do not."
Madeline, softly but with confidence, "I had seen that in your character. I believe you would stop me, which is why I wanted you to know that I want you to."
Shaking off the doctor's convoluted logic, Mr. Blake looked at her. "What does worry me is how to tell you apart, you from your sister ... if, perchance, you were dressed alike and there was great confusion. There needs to be something, some signal, by which I could tell."
"Something only you and I could know? Some shared experience?" Madeline mused, trying to think of something.
"It need not be a shared experience. Just - something, that she would not think of. That she..." his toned changed, "She cannot read your mind, can she? You have some defenses? You would know if she was reading your mind?"
While he was speaking, Dr. Davis paused in puzzlement, thinking back over her training. Blake's mention of defenses brought a light to her face. "Yes, I was trained in some amount of mental defense. I can share that defense with all of our group."
"If we have time," Blake said solemnly.
"Yes," Madeline matched his gravity. "If there is time."
Blake: "It must be hoped that, in the confusion of any such attempt, your sister will be concentrating on you and will not think to check in my mind. So... what should be the signal."
Madeline gazed around at the desert sand. "Ivy," she said softly. "My sister was raised in Africa. She would not have much experience with English ivy."
The radiologist nodded his acceptance.
The contents of this site are copyright 2004 Sheryl A. Knowles unless otherwise specified. All rights reserved.