"Is
There Something I Should Know? by Karen
Massachusetts Bay Colony,
1692
The
glare of the magical time portal appeared in the sky, hovering a few feet
above the
deserted dirt road.
The road meandered south outside a small town of a few hundred souls.
The Gate's by now familiar
sphere of fire and color shimmered, then deposited its two passengers,
and vanished.
Having become used to this
particular manifestation of the Gate's Power, Sata and Brooklyn found themselves
in yet another strange place.
The gargoyles spread their wings to soften the landing, and tried to get
their bearings.
"Any
idea where we are now?" Brooklyn, shaking his head.
"No," Sata replied. "Let us see what Diamante's mirror says," the jade green gargoyle added.
She pulled the
gift from the Incan scyrer, whom they'd about two time jumps previous.
"She
said it would help give us some idea of our whereabouts in time and place."
Sata
removed the mirror glass from her pocket in her obi, in which her kaftan
was also sheathed,
and gently
breathed on the mirror's surface. The jade green gargoyles concentrated
her thoughts
to persuade the
scrying glass to indicate their whereabouts.
The seascape appeared,
eventually blown away by the time winds, replaced by another image:
A small village,
a grouping of slat sided wooden houses all clustered together: shops, homes,
a forge, a meeting
hall, and its most dominant object by far, a church with a spire
surmounting its roof,
climbing to the sky.
Then, the image vanished. Sata pocketed the glass again.
"Seems pretty clear that it's saying we should go there, and check this place out," Brooklyn observed.
"Indeed. But perhaps we need to..." she trailed off.
"You know, Sata. I've been thinking, that's its a good idea, splitting
up the souvenirs we've
collected
on our travels. I mean, I'm carrying the Phoenix Gate, while you
carry the Sun amulet
and the
scyring glass; because they work better for you than they do for me. That
way if we're
ever separated...."
"One person should not be responsible for the amulet, and as for the scrying
glass, it does work
better for
me. But do not talk that way about separating. When I first
met you in Japan, all
these time jumps
ago I swore that we would travel this strange path, so do not even
consider separating
from me," Sata grinned
mock severely.
"Well,'
when you put it that way, Sata-chan. See, even a gaijin is can learn a
few things now and then.
I guess you're right.
It was just a contingency plan, and not a very good one. Besides,
back when we were
in Guatemala, you said 'with
all the trinkets we've been picking up, I'd click when I walked.'" Brooklyn
laughed.
"Indeed,
all this said 'clinking' would no doubt provide any opponent when an unnecessary
warning before
a battle. Yes, trinkets
are well and good, Brooklyn-san, but the best souvenir , are
the memories
of our travels together.
No matter what happens, know that I do not regret a moment of our
time together."
"That means we're in this together. For the long haul. And right now, I
can't think of anyone else I'd
be willing to share this adventures
than with you. Sata, I , I love you," Brooklyn said,
as he pulled Sata closer
and folded the jade green
gargoyles up in his wings.
________
Meanwhile,
not far from the time-travellers, a forest clearing was presently occupied.
It was fenced around
by ancient beech trees; their
smooth, silvery trunks rising like gigantic columns that bore a thick canopy
of
foliage that let in a green twilight.
The forest floor was covered by brown leaves, and clear of any undergrowth.
In the center a circle of women
stood, they wore long, dark cloaks and held candles and incense.
The green
light feel directly on the face of the
circle's leader; a tall woman about six feet, her cape fell almost
to her ankles,
and she wore some sort of golden tiara.
Had there been any passersby, they would have noticed that the cape
didn't seem detachable. The reflected
light of the moon and bonfire glowed red in her eyes. If any member
of
the Manhattan Clan of Gargoyles had been
there, they would have no trouble recognizing a member of their clan
who'd been exiled for betrayal almost
300 years previous, as Demona.
*******
A loud, cracking sound
reached Brooklyn and Sata's ears, like someone or something trying to make
headway despite obstacles
in their path. Whoever it was, sounded like they were in a hurry. They
broke
off their embrace and took
up alert stances on the side of the dirt road, wings outspread.
A woman emerged from a bend
in the road, from a southward direction. Her clothes were torn and
she
flung her trailing, ripped
cape off. It'd been picking up branches and dirt along the way, considerably
hindering her
forward movement. The
other thing that prevented her from making progress was the fact she kept
craning her head
around to check for pursuers.
"Oh, hurry! Hurry! They're coming!" she moaned.
"Whoa! Who's coming?" Brooklyn wondered.
"Indeed.
The young woman appears quite agitated," Sata agreed as the red light faded
from her eyes.
She
started to sheath her sword. "I think we have found our reason for being
in this particular time and place.
But
first things first, we must find out what the situation is," Sata said
calmly. "May I help you?" she said
soothingly. "What is your
name. child?"
"I
didn't see you there. Oh, I'm so turned about. Is this the
road that leads to Salem?"
Could
you please help me? My name is Rebecca," the woman replied, not seeming
to be too concerned
about the nature of her rescuers.
"Of course we will,
Rebecca. I am Sata. This is, Brooklyn.' gesturing a thumb in Brooklyn's
direction.
"Allow us to accompany you
into town. Once there, we will talk more, but this deserted road
is no place
to linger if you are in
as much danger as you say." Sata answered.
The three, two assisting the other
continued towards the lights of the town. Rebecca was limping
having sprained her ankle
on the last turn, made it back to her home. Her home was a small wooden
building with potted plants
outside on the porch, which made it more welcoming than its neighbors.
"Are you sure it's safe to leave you here, Rebecca?" Brooklyn asked.
"Yes. I will be fine. I just
have to get some ice for my ankle. Thank you, my friends." Rebecca
said.
"We don't have much in the
way of comforts, but you are welcome to stay here," she offered.
"Thank you for the offer,
Rebecca-samma. We would be honored," Sata said, touching a
hand to
her heart and bowed.
All three went inside, the two gargoyles saw their new friend to her bedroom,
as soon as her head hit
the pillow, and feel asleep, they went back out into the main room.
*****
Sata sat down in high-backed chair, "I don't think this whole trip is over
yet." she remarked.
"Yeah, you're right. I got a bad feeling about this, a really bad
feeling. We should find an out
of the way place to spend the day," Brooklyn said.
Just then, the first faint rays of sunlight creeped through chinks
in the curtained windows.
and the gargoyles turned to stone for the day' sleep.
<hr>
LATER
"Rebecca,
are you awake?" Sata asked, knocking on the door to the Rebecca's room.
" Rebecca?" Brooklyn added.
Having
called the girl's name several times and receiving no response, they went
inside,
thinking that perhaps she was a deep sleeper, attempting to shake her awake,
they discovered that
they'd been trapped in stone sleep, unknown parties had entered the house
and snatched away their new friend.
<hr>
Salem township, the next evening
"The Court of Oyer and Terminer is now in session Chief Justice William
Stoughton presiding. All rise!"
the bailiff announced in a loud, authoritative voice.
The man dressed in black robes sat down behind the wooden bench upon which
rested the tools of his
trade: a gavel, and a state of Justice, a woman with long, flowing pale
hair holding a book in one hand and
a scale in the other.
"Before we proceed with the trial of the accused, hight, one Rebecca Byrne;
I would like to make
one thing abundantly clear. You must understand that under British
law, the basis for the formulation
of the statuettes for the citizens of Salem, Massachusetts, those accused
of witchcraft are considered
to have committed a crime against their government."
He waited several minutes and allowed all those present a moment to let
this sink in, especially
the jury.
"Prosecutor Hawhthorne, are you ready to with your opening statement?" he asked.
"I am, Your Honor," the lawyer replied, standing up and facing the jury.
"Rebecca Byrne was arrested earlier this morning having been found near
her house. She was
found in the company of two night creatures who vanished as soon as the
sun came up.
She could not account for her whereabouts the night previous. What
she could tell was confused
and sketchy at best."
"What was her story?" Stoughton asked.
"She claimed to have been out in the forest. She'd gone riding with some
friends,
but her horse shied when it tripped over a thorn patch and broke loose.
She went after it
and got lost in the forest before two people she will not name, found her
and brought her back
to her home."
"Verification?" Judge Stoughton asked.
"I had the constubulary check the stables, all mounts were accounted for,
and those that were
showed no signs of having been ridden recently, at last not within the
last forty eight hours."
Hawthorne answered.
"Where are the two people who allegedly aided her in returning home?"
"She says they would not come to the trial, and that they don't agree that
she should
have been arrested. She also claims she's innocent of practicing
any witchcraft."
"Mrs. Byrne." Judge Stoughton said, not unkindly. "Are you aware that you've
been accused
of witchcraft, which entails trafficking with Satan! You have been
accused of dancing with the
Devil by the pale moonlight! Girls and boys have been known to cry
out the names of the people
that have subsequently died from mysterious circumstances." Judge Stoughton
exclaimed.
She glared back at him, fists clenched, "And they've all been hanged because
of it!"
"Yes.' Judge Stoughton sighed wearily. "Under the law, that is the punishment."
<hr>
Meanwhile
Up above, where they had a good vantage to view court proceedings, Brooklyn
and Sata watched
the trial and worried that Rebecca wasn't getting a fair one.
"This doesn't look good for her. I think they've already decided
she's guilty. If that's the case,
why bother with the formality of a trial?" Sata questioned in astonishment
at yet another bizarre
human custom. "I dp not understand. Do not these people believe in
'innocent until proven guilty.?"
"Yeah, ordinarily they do. but something really weird is going on here,"
Brooklyn replied.
******
"We don't need to hear anymore. Jury, are you ready to deliver a
verdict?"
"We are, Your Honor." the foreman answered.
"NO!" a strident voice cried out. "I cannot allow this travesty of justice
to continue!"
Just then the courtroom door burst inward and a tall figure dressed in
a black cloak strode inside.
"The only crime this woman has committed was to place her trust in me!
Release her!
But I will not submit myself to human justice!" the figure screeched.
"Who are you? What are you?" Hawthorne cried.
"Long ago, a king called Macbeth named me Demona," the blue female gargoyle
answered,
throwing back her cloak to reveal her cappped batwings. "That is not important
now. The only thing
that is important is that you uphold what passes for human justice and
spare the life of this girl."
"A demon!" Hawthorne cried.
"Not a demon. I am a gargoyle." There's a difference." Demona said wryly.
"Where did you come from?" Judge Stoughton asked.
"A place very far from here, you would recognize it as Scotland. I am someone
with a very
long life-line. I freely admit I made a mistake here in Salem.
The times simply weren't right for
what I was trying to accomplish here," Demona replied, thinning her lips
in confident grin.
"What were you hoping to accomplish?" Stoughton asked.
"Ancient philosophers called it 'natural science, you would call it magic.
I sought young men and
women who would be willing to accept my kind. Although I have placed
my trust in humans
in the past, every time I have met with betrayal. I am not
sorry, if I seem rude or demanding,
I am just very bitter. Punish me if you must, but do not harm Rebecca.
They came to me of
their own free will. I have heard that you set great store by that."
Demona said.
"Their own will, no doubt you cast an enchantment on them, witch!" someone exclaimed.
"No spell, no enchantment. As I have already explained, they came to me
of their own
choice, they stayed or left me out of their own choice." Demona said.
"Tituba is that you?" Stoughton said incredulously.
"Yes. At least, I assumed the identity of your Arawak slave from
Barbados, during the day."
Demona answered smugly.
"Please, Demona, you don't have to do this for me," Rebecca cried.
"This court was prepared to render the judgment 'guilty as charged' by
in light of this
new testimony that has been presented, I have no choice but to belay
the charge of witchcraft
against the person of Rebecca Byrne and declare her innocent of all charges.
As for the one called
Demona, she is out of her our jurisdiction, but I will demand one thing
of her; she will leave
Massachusetts Salem township, and never return! Case dismissed. Court
adjourned.
Stoughton nearly shouted, gasping in ragged breaths to get it all out at
once.
<hr>
From a shadowed corner in the half open doorway, there came an involuntary
gasp.
"Jalapena! Of all people I expected to encounter on our journeys, Demona
is the last person
I'd thought I'd see!" Brooklyn exclaimed.
"Demona. This is the member of your clan, Brooklyn-san, who was exiled
for betrayal, correct?
Until Nagano sold out the Ishimura-Clan for the sake of jealousy and spite's
sake, I too, could never
have believed that a gargoyles would do such a thing. It would not
be honorable." Sata replied.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. In Demona's case, it was a lot more
complicated, but I never
expected her to take human girls or boys under her wing, so to speak, and
teach them magic.
She hates humans. Or at least she will, even more than she hates my clan's
leader, Goliath," Brooklyn said.
He cocked his head to one side, as he mulled the matter over.
"I guess, until the night of the betrayal, to be fair, Demona didn't always
have such a mad-on for
human. There was a time when she actually believed in the gargoyle
way. But, all that changed
drastically when most of the clan was massacred. Maybe in this
time period she hasn't completely
become the opposite of everything gargoyles believe in. On the plus side,
she will come to care an
awful lot for her daughter, Angela," Brooklyn whispered.
"Indeed. "Sata said as she tried to imitate the brick-red's gargoyle thinking
posture.
"Do you think we should get involved.
"Not just yet. I want to see how this plays out. I think this
time, this is more Demona's
deal than it is ours." Brooklyn answered.
"Maybe if this Demona is a chronal link, than it is wiser that she not
see you. In any case,
even if she did, maybe she wouldn't recognize you."
"Bother time travel anyway," Brooklyn growled under his breath.
****************
FAREWELLS,
LATER
"I am glad you weren't senteced to be hanged like the others we heard about,"
Brooklyn said, stepping back from having just given Rebecca a smothering
bear hug.
"As I am I," Rebecca gasped, rubbing her neck where a roughly woven
rope would have
stretched it.
"Indeed. They gave you and the one called Demona the benefit of the
doubt.
The human justice system can still be relied on," Sata agreed.
"Where did Demona go after the trial, Rebecca?" Brooklyn asked.
"I don't know. She wouldn't tell me." Rebecca replied.
"Well, she's funny that way," Brooklyn said.
"You knew her?" Rebecca asked surprised.
"Yeah, I know her. I knew her. Past tense, future tense. It's
a long story, and it gets complicated.
Suffice it to say, that I know her." Brooklyn said.
"Is he always like this?" Rebecca asked, turning to Sata.
"He does like to talk much, despite this, my traveling companion has many
excellent
qualities that more than make up for that," Sata grinned.
"Uh, gals!" Brooklyn gulped.
The two females, one human and one gargoyles laughed at the expression
on the brick-
red gargoyle's face. his beak hanging open and his face turning a most
interesting shade of
even darker red.
"Must you leave so soon? I've only just started getting to know you," Rebecca asked.
"Our appearance here may be intended or only happen-stance," Sata explained.
"So, it probably means that we are due to depart soon. In any case,
we are a long way
from home, and must continue our journey," Sata answered.
"Then we should have some sort of departing ceremony," Rebecca said.
"What did you have in mind?" Sata asked.
"Those rings you're wearing on your left hands, take them off and let me
see them."
Rebecca answered. "Uh Oh, I think this means you're hand fasted a year
and a day."
They took the rings given them by the Incan scryer, Diamanted, and looked
at them.
"These meant we're hand fasted for a a year and a day?" Sata wondered.
The rings warm tones shimmered in the moonlight, red, green and brown waves
spread
out in pulsating waves which pushed fear of the future to the farthest
horizons, until there was nothing
but the light shining radiantly out from the rings.
"Brooklyn, Sata, you two are one person making a commitment to another.
Do you promise to take care of each other, rely on each other, in good
times and bad,
no matter what happens?" Rebecca asked.
"Uh, what do I say?" Brooklyn asked.
"Just say, 'I promise. This isn't a wedding, it's a betrothal," Rebecca
smiled.
"Okay, I promise," Brooklyn grinned back.
"Now, Sata. Do you promise to help each other, rely on each other,
and put up with each'
other's foibles, to give each other space when they need it and to trust
each other?"
Rebecca asked.
"I promise. Brooklyn-san, You and I are One, now and forever." Sata intoned.
Just then, as if the Phoenix Gate was waiting for the signal, having made
their promise
to each other, Brooklyn and Sata were swept up into the whirling time vortex
and
cast back into ocean of time.
.