1st May
08:38 GMT -5
Brother Abednego looks mildly puzzled. "Who be
that?"
New Plymouth's parliament building is constructed like a fortress. The interior walls are painted in dull, sombre tones, and the walls are decorated with pictures of long dead parliamentarians and metal warding-plates. The actual debate chamber is more similar in shape to the US senate or the Scottish Assembly than the House of Commons; arcs of seats facing a central point. I think that probably comes from the fact that early in they didn't really have political parties; everyone was just too glad to have survived Melmoth for that sort of tribalism to have emerged.
"Christopher Columbus? Italian explorer working for the Spanish crown?
"
"I know the man not. The hell-fiend Melmoth was not given to preserving our history for our benefit. Even our knowledge of the Lord Christ comes to us only by chance; only two Bibles were held by our forebears when he stole them away from their homes."
Diana and Dr. Balewa are talking with their head of state, Lord-Protector Judah. The rest of us are… Not
exactly under guard, but I've noticed that there are more than a few witch-hunters around.
And that most of them are carrying injuries.
"So… Who is it that your country is named after?
"
"
Saint Columba of Ireland, who preached to the heathens of Scotland and converted them to the worship of the Lord. As we ourselves came upon a strange and unchristian land and made it a place of God." For a moment he looks uncertain. "That is… I should not question, but I foolishly did not think to purchase a tome on the lives of the saints while we were upon your Earth."
Ring?
"Yes, that's right. And if we establish a trading relationship, we can certainly include literature on the history of Christianity.
"
Abednego smiles. "T'would be a glorious thing, for all that you're a pagan damned to hellfire."
"You're welcome. You're impressively adaptable, for a man with the colour vision God gave a bat.
"
He looks away for a moment, taking in the walls.
"Tis true, we're not much given to frivolity, but I testify unto thee that mine eyes see just as clearly as thine. I feel the joy of colours when I look upon the natural world which God gave unto Adam, and feel no need to parody the good Lord's work with profane creations."
I nod at the witch-hunter shadowing Major Adams. His arm is in a sling.
"What's with all the walking wounded?
"
"Witch-hunters are right busy folk. When our Lord-Protector called for our service, only those such as myself who walk as synchronicity pilgrims, or who were at the hospital here in New Plymouth could answer his call."
…
He's warded of course, and sheeda/human hybrids raised as puritans don't appear to have
quite the body language I've been trained to read. Still, that sounded a lot like a lie to me.
"How do your elections work?
"
"The business is naught too complex. Each five years every town and area of countryside elects a representative, who meet in the chamber to debate matters of import. The Lord-Protector is in turn elected by their number, to rule us and guide us."
"There are no permanent members?
"
He frowns. "I don't follow your meaning."
"In Britain, at the time your forebears were abducted, our parliament had a second chamber. Its members were mostly hereditary, with a small number of bishops and judges providing spiritual and legal advice.
"
"'Bishops'? We have naught to do with that papist rot. Our church is overseen by a council of elders. And
no, we have no lords but the Lord."
"Do you actually know what a 'papist' is?
"
"Tis an object?" He looks mildly surprised. "I trow it be a synonym for wrong-headed and heretical."
"You really
did lose the history of Christianity, didn't you?
"
He nods. "As I spake unto you-."
"
Brothers and Sisters!"
I rise from my pew as the Lord Protector marches into our antechamber, lizard familiar on his right shoulder. He's a powerfully built man, and a little taller than most of his contemporaries. But his face… He has almost no expression; as if the muscles which would normally animate it have been paralysed. I doubt that the local puritans go in for botulinum toxin injections, so maybe an injury? It makes him look more fearsome, but for all I know he's laughing on the inside.
"The
heathens have requested that we allow them to send a mission to the warlock-breed!"
But he probably isn't.
Diana.. is standing just behind him, and she's got her diplomat-face on. Something odd is happening. Dr. Balewa hasn't accompanied them, so I'm.. assuming that he's already gotten to work? And Alan, Leonid and Major Adams aren't heathens, they're heretics at most. Or is that worse? I can't remember what puritans thought about other Christian denominations.
"I have granted licence for this, and for their study of the artefacts of the accursed sheeda which remain in our possession. In return, they shall aid us against the warlocks who now assail us! Brother Shadrach! You shall instruct them in the progress of the conflict. Brother Abednego! You shall escort their heathen missionary… For so long as you can stand it."
Abednego nods phlegmatically.
"Those of you who are injured, I thank you for the devotion which you show in heeding my call. Return to your sickbeds, that you may regain your full strength. All others, return to your duties."
He about-faces, glaring momentarily at Diana as he marches back out of the room. Him leaving appears to be a general signal to disperse, those carrying visible injuries being given room by their fellows to leave first.
I lean slightly closer to Brother Abednego.
"Are there any restrictions on the medical techniques your people can use?
"
"Anything involving demons, unclean spirits or changes to the sheeda part of our blood, though the latter is less for faith and more for practical reason."
"But a tool of profane magic is fine?
"
"If that wert truly its nature, yes. Have you such a thing?"
I take a purple ray out of my armour and offer it to him.
"A purple ray device. Press the trigger and it emits a ray of purple light that will heal anything it touches. Not immediately, but it's far faster than natural healing.
"
He takes it from me and… A sigil flickers over his right hand and the ray disappears.
"Thank yea. Tis a most generous thing."
Our team moves to gather around Diana as the last of the reassigned witch-hunters file out.
"As the Lord-Protector said, we will be sending a group to the 'warlock-breed'. As you know, when a citizen of Columbia breaks their vows they are transformed by their magic. When this happens they are made an outlaw, and they are usually killed by the witch-hunters. However, those who escape can sometimes establish their own settlement, or survive in the forests away from those who hunt them. It seems that they pass on their physiological changes to their descendants, and it is to one of
those communities we will be sending people. Physician, you will take Orange Lantern and Starfire to the settlement Brother Abednego shows you. Learn what you can of them. The rest of us will be attending a lecture by Brother Shadrach. It seems that the Sheeda are more active here than we believed."
Sounds like a pleasant fellow.
