Chapter 13
A Parasite and a Girl (Return to the main story.)
Day 69
Today's gift, her dress, was not like most of the ones she wore. To Samuel, it seemed more like a snakeskin than a dress. It was black and one piece. He tried not to imagine how she got into it. Even if it covered her from her neck to her knees, it hid nothing. He understood that the creature was trying to impress him. Her gift only brought him sadness. In her beauty, he saw all that she had stolen, and he felt everything the original owner had lost.
It was a simple question. He had no expectation of getting a simple answer in reply. His hope for even getting an answer was low. Somehow, she managed to speak about many different things for hours without saying anything. He really didn't know how, but it was all that rambling that led him to his question. He asked, "I don't remember. Are we discovering or determining your fate?"
Mercy stood over the man as he sat in a chair. She had slinked over while he was speaking, and she really hoped that she had been watched. She returned, "Both. You are ill again."
She neared, and a sense of evil had surrounded him. This time had felt no different than any other time. He lied as he spoke, "It will pass."
She mimicked him with very little human showing. She repeated, "This too will pass?"
He continued his search for answers and asked, "If the body of Mercy ends, what happens to the other sisters?"
Mercy's expression was flat with eyes that were blank and distant. It didn't seem to matter what she did; the creepiness remained. The haunting sickness in her never seemed to really go away completely. Her response was measured, and she said, "Mercy will see to it."
Samuel tried to reason out the meaning behind her words. His speech was labored, but not purposefully accusative, "You can't answer the question. That means you don't know. No, That's not it. You didn't want to answer the question. Am I right? Maybe you don't want me to know. You said to me, 'Mercy will see to it.' Can you stop any more queens from being born? That could be it. You didn't want to tell me? What reason could you have for not telling me? You didn't want me to know. Why? You were scared, of what? Of me? You were scared; I would end you? That's not quite right? You are scared? Uncertain, maybe? Or could it be that you just didn't want to be less, in my eyes?"
Mercy stared with blank eyes. She had not moved or blinked since the last time she spoke. A stranger might have thought she was lifeless, a statue.
Samuel prompted her, "Say that I'm wrong? Give me a different explanation?"
Mercy did not respond or move in any kind of way.
He offered her some reassurance, "Alright, here's the flaw in that thinking. If I ended you right now, how would I know that you did your magic? How would I know if the thing was done? Wait for no more queens to pop up? What if they did? And the same for any point in the future. How would I know? I can't be everywhere, and I won't live forever. At least, now you have one reason why I didn't finish this today."
Mercy did not reply. She gave no evidence of being conscious or even alive.
Samuel asked, "And if you were gone, what would I do for entertainment?"
Unexpectedly, Mercy stepped back. She sat in the chair and spoke. "Fear of the man Samuel is constant. Some days it is big, and other days it is small. All of us who live today as Mercy have this fear. The fear is different today. It is Mercy's hope that we can continue. Continue without harm to humans."
Samuel was relieved that the creature had moved away from him. He spoke with a hint of sarcasm. "This is new. Do you have a plan?"
Mercy did not respond to his question. She attempted to smile. She blinked wildly.
Slightly annoyed, Samuel continued, "A goal, dream, notion? A clue? Not going to give me a clue? Anything? Anything at all?" I wish she'd cut that damn blinking out.
Her blinking slowed to a stop. A human smile flashed across her face as she calmed. With a soft smirk in her voice she said, "Sammy, I have a spark of a hope."
He was surprised by the name he was called, and by his curiosity. He blurted out, "You're back! Who are you?"
The voice was from the young woman's body that Mercy occupied. She went on, "I might tell you if you give me a cup of coffee. Oh, I don't have much time. Please listen. You have to treat the monster like she's special. Get her to cooperate with you. If she thinks you care, she'll give you some of the answers. Be sweet, like she's your dear friend."
Mercy stated, "Samuel, were you asking odd questions? I am Mercy. Was I drifting?"
He replied, "Yes, Mercy, I was concerned. And I have to say, don't worry about me ending you. I do believe I want to keep you around. Maybe, for a long while." I have a puzzle to figure out.
Her eyes followed visions that were not there. Mercy said, "I am glad. We fear Samuel will end before time. Before his time. It is good that we do not end before it is over. We do not want friend Samuel to end before the end."
Calmly, he said, "Mercy, you should go to your sisters now. You don't want to be late. Tomorrow is another day, after all." Damn little monster is talking crazy again.
The thing shaped like a young woman rose sleekly from the chair. It smiled like a serpent, ready to strike. Then she turned and spoke. "Yes, I think you are correct. I am glad you do not end us, today. I am also glad that we have not taken from you that which is Samuel. Even if, I do not understand what that is."
Day 70
The creature seemed different. Its arrival was less grand than normal. Her dress fit, but it did not exaggerate her form. In fact, her clothes were simpler than normal. They almost seemed innocent. Even its movements were less snakelike. There she sat and conversed like any normal person would do. Still, the eerie, haunting eyes remained.
He asked, "Did you like the tea from the other day?"
She had a puzzled look on her face. The puzzled look was not about the coffee. She had rose to stand above the man as he sat. She said, "I believe that you told me, it was called coffee? I told you I liked it then."
He asked, "Oh, yes, of course, coffee. What are you doing?"
She answered as her head flowed around him like a trout swimming upstream. "Looking for damage."
He jokingly said, "Oh, are you hurt? I thought you were bird dancing again."
With a serious tone, she said, "I have no new damage. I believe you may be damaged? I would like to remove my gloves and touch your face. May I do so? Ill? I... we believe you are ill. Yes, 'ill' is the correct word. We... I do not wish our Samuel to be ill."
He flatly stated, "Touching, it will give you no more answers than I can."
No response.
Frustratedly, he asked, "You will continue on this path until I give you permission?"
No response; except a continuation of the bird dance.
He said, "I see, you are determined to move to the poking with the stick?"
Mercy continued her visual examination. She paused then said, "I have no desire to poke Samuel with a stick."
He mumbled. "This could go on all day? Please sit down. I want to talk to you."
She continued her examination.
He was more insistent, "Alright, but you have to stop hovering over me like some kind of crazy water bird!"
With grim determination, she removed one of her gloves. Her entire hand from just above her wrist to the tips of her fingers cupped his face. Her face turned toward the sky. She was motionless for a moment. Her free hand trembled; then, she let it rest. Her face searched for the correct expression. Her smile was one only Mercy could do. "Your body temperature is above normal human body temperature. The difference is not extreme. It is significant. With all that we have seen, this illness does not pass."
He gestured toward her chair, and the sickness he felt toward her began to grow with her touch. He said with as much concern as he could fake. "Mercy, Little One, that is the reason, I want you to sit."
Her hand gently separated from his face. She went back into the chair. Her mind drifted, not to the far place. She stayed in her head. Never before had she felt such closeness with any being. Was this beyond the power and desire of the sisters? But nothing could be beyond our power. This could not be tolerated. Was it to be removed from her? Maybe, we sisters would do so. It is possible we will not want to. The deciding will take much discussion. Oh, such closeness cannot be abandoned. It is the grandest of all desires. Oh, to have the touch of another.
The man smiled and shook his head at the absurdity of being the world's savior, and at being the one it called Samuel demon to the sisters. How could the destiny of the world fall upon someone who did not have any answers? He said, "Mercy, I never finished telling you about you. I'd like to discuss it with you now? It may help you with your discovery-determination of yourself.
He went on, "In the old sciences you were considered to be a symbiotic organism. That is like two beings living like one being. You were right about not being a virus or bacterium. The not human part is similar to a fungus. A really smart, really complicated fungus. Well, it's like comparing a person to a claw on a dog's paw."
She mouthed in a grumble. "I do not like being called a dog's paw."
He thought; Parasite. Hello, my parasite, sitting in that stolen shell of a person. He inhaled before he said, "You would be the other smarter better end of the comparison. Good to see you're awake."
She asked, "Is it possible that your treatment for the fungal spores prevented your joining? The reason you did not come to us with your wife. This medication could have prevented your joining?"
He asked, "Are you saying the medicine kept me from the mad death?" I thought you weren't interested in the reason? I think my creature lied again.
The creature nodded at Samuel as it spoke. "Samuel is it possible the medicine could help other humans? We should attempt to do so?"
He inquired, "Do what?"
She stated, "Bring this to other humans?"
"Mercy, the medicine was in the hospital. The hospital is gone. The medicine is gone." I won't lead you to either people or medicine.
She exhaled, "I understand. I do not know what to say."
He offered a misdirection, "Besides, the medicine may not be the reason."
She straightened herself in the chair. "Samuel, please explain?"
He said it like she should comprehend what he had not said. "The spores came from a fungus." Got its attention now.
She repeatedly tried to sound sure and pretended like she understood. "Yes, the spores came from a fungus."
He opened his hand. A mushroom dropped to the earth, and he explained. "These mushrooms grow on decaying plants, but they don't grow on dead plants with the white rot."
She said flatly. "I do not understand your explanation."
He continued, "It seems that some fungi don't grow well around other fungi. The white rot is a kind of fungi. Father called it Penicillium. I don't really know what that is." I hope she buys it. It's probably not true, and I don't have anything to back it up.
Thoughtfully, she asked, "Samuel, you believe the spores that were killing you kept you from dying?"
Samuel replied, "Maybe, but they were also the trigger for the illness from the old world." I'll give her something else to think about. This probably isn't true either.
She stayed silent for several minutes," Samuel is it possible some of these spores still live in you?"
"Yes." He returned. "But it is just as likely they are dead or dormant, waiting to wake up. There really is no way to tell which one is true."
Mercy wondered what would happen to her if Samuel ended. She faced the earth as she spoke, "This means, you could have both the spore illness and the old-world illness. To have both. This is not good."
Samuel wondered if Mercy had actually developed concern for another. "Mercy, this is the reason we need quickness. Now, we need to keep going. I'm sorry about my phrasing but being delicate takes too long. I may not have the time to walk around things. So, I will just say it. When a man is taken by a sister, within twelve hours he's in the mad death. Less than five days later he's dead. You said you lose the men. When does this happen? Do you know why?"
Mercy answered, "They are lost to us before the mad death, but after they are taken. We have them for a brief flash. We do not have a reason. We... I do not know why."
Samuel looked into the gray haze of Mercy's eyes. He looked down and then he spoke. "Women who are taken do much better. Except those who are forcibly taken by someone in the mad death. They are never right again. Some of the women taken gentle stay very human for many years. Oh, everyone can tell they are sisters. The way they talk and act. They're shunned and put out. If they don't leave, well bad things happen. They're stoned to death. Burned. Chopped up. That happens in villages, towns or cities overcome by fear. Most people don't have guns. I'm sorry. I got off the path. I didn't want to be that mean."
Mercy spoke as a hint of brown returned to the edges of her grey. "I am sorry as well, Samuel. We... I have never considered that another would have a different view then us... me."
He continued, "I've heard stories of sister towns. They were normal towns; except, only sisters lived there."
She paused to wiggle then said. "Yes, we had several until the calling. Samuel, what difference do you see between the males and females? One last sister village still exists. Between human males and females. That is what I meant to ask. How do you see a difference between human males and females?"
He replied like everyone should know the answer. "The males are bigger and physically stronger. The females are smaller and stronger in every other way."
She asked, "What makes you think it is this way?"
He looked away as he said, "Because we are almost always less without another."
Mercy stated, "That was not expected. I have no words to say."
He wondered out loud, "You aren't going to agree or disagree with what I've said?"
She answered, "We are in need of much discussion."
He asked, "The Sisters Mercy? Or me and you?"
She stood and walked away. The snake in her replied, "We are undecided."
Day 71
She wore the color of nearly ripe plums. This dress was fitted to her shape. It seemed to have been made just for her; stopping just below her knees. Her hat and shoes were the off-white ones she had worn before. Today, her gloves were pale soft leather. The grass separated like a ship cutting water as she walked. She appeared, seemed to be a person. For an instant, this frightened the man in the chair. It didn't take long for his resolve to return. He had to find some form of an answer or weapon.
She lightly touched down, in the chair, and spoke. "We have considered your words from yesterday."
He wondered if she was going to correct him using phrases like 'brain eating parasite' or 'being driven mad to rape and kill'. You know the normal sister stuff.
Mercy continued, "We do not have the needed information or understanding to confirm or dispute the concepts you proposed yesterday. Your words about one almost always being less without another, puzzles us greatly. No resolution or consensus could be reached on this topic."
He offered. "Nothing new to say?"
She froze in place and blinked once. Then she said, "Samuel. Mercy has a growing concern for your wellness? It is thought that your illness will...."
She didn't move. He waited a few minutes and said, "You have run out of words again? If you don't object, I'll take a guess. You believe my illness is here to stay? And it might get worse? And it will probably kill me at some point?"
Slowly, she responded. "Yes. I would like to remove my glove and touch your face. May I do so?"
Samuel felt she was pushing things too far. He said, "Hey. None of your tricks. Promise?"
Should she be offended? She was not. Then, her entire hand from just above her wrist to the tips of her fingers cupped his face, and she faced the sky. She was motionless for a moment. She felt her free hand tremble. She let it rest. Her face had no expression. Her smile was only for Mercy. This closeness, nothing like it had ever existed for me before. She said, "I think you are ill again, Samuel. I wish to check." She removed one leather glove. Her hand touched his face. She touched his hands and arms. "Your body temperature is much warmer than a normal human. You appear very tired. Are you in pain?"
He shook his head and said, "I'll get a stick. We can poke each other with sticks. Nothing, hum? Work on that sense of humor. Of course, I'm in pain. I was trying not to think about it. I wanted to lay down, but this was as far as I could go. Then you had to get all serious and pokey and everything. Not even one good bird dance in sight."
She paused mid-thought as she said, "I will help you to your bed. I will even tell you dirty jokes and poke you with a stick, if that makes you less ill."
He returned, "Little One, have a seat. It is better if I don't move for a while. What is the next step in fixing your people?"
With a glimmer of humanity, she asked, "Samuel, you speak of my fate to avoid your fate?"
His body jerked slightly. He said, "My fate is set. Your fate can still be changed. Maybe, there's a way to give something better than either of us to this world? I would rather try than not. Besides, my time is not up yet. I have awhile, yet to go."
She said as if she expected to spend that time with him. "We believed human males lived longer. We understood forty more years for Samuel."
He said with more kindness than he felt she deserved. "I don't think I'll make forty. A year, maybe. The last few weeks I won't be me."
She released the pressure that kept her hand up to his face. She spoke. "This too will pass?"
He agreed, "It is always better to have hope. It's just not right to not have hope. Tell me what you have found on your new old girl. And I'll pour us some coffee."
Mercy started. "We have told most of her, already. She must have been very young at the time of joining? What is the word for young human?"
He offered, "Child?"
She replied, "Yes, child, that is not the word."
He suggested, "Girl? Maybe?"
She said, "Girl? No, I have used that one before."
He offered as he began to lose interest. "Teenager. It's an old word, but it may be what you want."
She decided. "Teenager. This sounds too young. Teenager? It is a good word."
He replied. "Good. We'll use the word - girl. And we will call her Defiant."
Mercy slowly swiveled her head until she faced the man. "I have grown fond of your humor. I do not always understand it. But I have grown fond of it. Very fond."
The man said to himself, mostly, "Drink your coffee, and it will come to you."
Mercy explained, "There is sadness in her story that Mercy does not understand. She created the first sister. I do not think she remembers. By the time of the first sister, she was us before the name Mercy. She does not know the world of now. She sees only the world of her beginning. She does not join with us. She wishes to be left alone. She does not like Mercy."
He muttered. "I know that feeling."
Mercy did not seem to notice. She was busy talking about herself. "I find it very odd to think that she looked just like I do."
The creature possessed the girl. It doesn't realize it looks like her? He said to say something. "Yes, it makes one wonder?"
Mercy spoke about the girl for the remainder of the day. She said absolutely nothing. It was all important to Mercy. Mercy was all important to Mercy.
Samuel sipped coffee until it was gone. He watched the position of the sun. He watched the creature drain every full cup she was offered. Samuel thought. How to reach her. The defiant girl.
Did she have a soul? Was she really innocent? Was she the voice Mercy can't hear? He listened to Mercy, and he waited for a word that would lead the way. Maybe, it was the girl that he should try and save? Would saving the girl end the reign of Mercy? Could she stop other Queens from being born?