David Gemmell - Echoes of the Great Song

Today there had been two surprises, one curious, one joyful.

For the moment he concentrated on the joyful. One of Questor Anu's acolytes had brought him news of the success of the southern expedition. They had replenished four chests and were on their way home. They should arrive within two weeks.

Rael had expressed his thanks and his best wishes to Anu. The acolyte bowed.

'You may express your thanks in person, my lord, for Questor Anu asked me to invite you to his home. At noon, if it is convenient.'

This was the second surprise. Anu, the Holy One, had withdrawn from public life more than thirty years before. It was, he said, his intention to age and die. He had given his crystals to Rael and retired to his home on the hill above the bay. His decision affected his popularity among the Avatar. He was the Saviour, the one Avatar to predict the fall of the world. He had convinced more than 200 people to join him on a trek to the north, leading them over rugged plains and barren mountains, across deserts and valleys, arriving at last at the gates of Pagaru, the first of the five cities. There were only sixty other Avatars this far north, and they greeted the arriving column with cold courtesy.

The following day the earth had tilted and the sun had risen in the west.

Anu's prediction had been correct, and he had become the Holy One. But his decision to age and die was obscene. No Avatar would even consider such a course. The full Council of Questors voted to place him under house arrest in order to prevent Vagars from witnessing the grotesque deterioration of a supreme being. The five cities contained more than 200,000 Vagars. They were controlled by a mere 570 Avatars. The Questors feared that if Anu was seen to age like any mortal the Vagars would cease to hold them in such awe. Avatar soldiers now guarded the exits, and all of Anu's Vagar servants had been taken away.

He was attended now by three Avatar acolytes, and had not been in contact with any on the Council since that day thirty years ago.

Now he requested the presence of Rael.

The Questor General left his office and moved through to his apartments. A Vagar servant bowed as he entered, and informed him that the Lady Mirani was in the roof garden. Rael climbed the circular stair and emerged into the sunshine. The garden had been designed by Viruk twenty years before, and the air was heavy with the scent of roses and honeysuckle. Mirani was sitting in the shade of an arched trellis, that was adorned by a climbing multi-coloured rose of yellow, red and white. Rael paused and took in a deep breath. Even after a hundred years he found Mirani's beauty intoxicating. Her long, fair hair, dyed blue at the temples, was tied back now with a white ribbon, and she was leaning forward, paintbrush in hand, adding delicate touches to a newly shaped pottery vase. A touch of blue paint had marked the skin of her cheek. Rael felt the burden of responsibility lift from him. He was a man again. Sensing his presence, she turned and smiled.

'What do you think?' she asked him, pointing to the vase.

'It is beautiful,' he said.

'You haven't looked at it.' Moving across the garden he knelt by her side. The vase was tall and slim necked, and Mirani had painted exquisite female figures all around it. They were running and laughing. 'The Maidens of Contar,' she explained. 'You remember the myth? They heard the enchanted music of Varabidis, and left their homes to seek him on the mountain.'

'As I said, it is beautiful. But where is Varabidis? Should he not be present?'

'They did not want him, they wanted his music.' Mirani leaned back. 'What brings you home so early?'

He told her about the summons from Anu. 'Perhaps the Holy One has repented of his decision to die and wishes to join the Council once more,' he concluded.

'I do not think so,' said Mirani. 'Anu is not a fickle man.'

'I do not wish to see him withered and ancient. The thought is obscene.'

Mirani shook her head. 'You see old people all the time, Rael. If Anu has called for you then the matter is of importance. As I said, he is not fickle, and he certainly is not frivolous. Perhaps he has experienced another vision. You must go to him.'

'I know.' Taking a cloth he wiped the blue smear from her cheek. 'You should return to the Council,' he said.

'You are ten times wiser than Caprishan.'

'I no longer have any interest in politics.'

'That is something I have never understood.'

She smiled. 'The moment you do you will walk away as I did.'

'You think what I do has no merit?'

'Not at all. Society will always need to be governed. But here is a question for you, my dear. What does a normal man desire?'

'A family, a home, children. Enough food on the table. Health and a little wealth,' he said.

'Exactly. And when a man has these things, but desires to control — as a councillor — the lives of others, that makes him abnormal. A man who seeks to rule everyone must necessarily be extremely abnormal. It could be argued that such a desire to rule should disqualify any applicant.'

Rael laughed. 'In that case you are the perfect councillor, since you have no desire to be one.'

Her smile faded. 'Perhaps. But I served for sixty years, Rael, and I saw too much. Now go and see Anu. Give him my love.'

On his favourite grey gelding the Questor General rode through the Park of the West, and up over the clifftops. There was a cool breeze coming from the sea, and the smell of salt was strong in the air. He rode down through the small wood and onto the paved road that led down to the docks. Then he cut to the right, guiding the grey up along the unpaved trail until he reached the wrought-iron gates of Anu's home. Two Avatar soldiers saluted as he dismounted. Leaving his horse with them he strolled through the grounds and was met by the same acolyte who had brought the message. This man, his head shaved, but his beard dyed blue, led him through the house and up to a small library on the first floor. Heavy curtains were drawn across the windows, shutting out all natural light, and the room was lit by three glowing lanterns. Anu was sitting in a deep leather chair, an open scroll upon his lap. He was asleep, but woke as the acolyte gently touched his shoulder. 'Ah, Rael,' said the old man, running his bony fingers through his white, shoulder-length hair. 'Welcome to my home.'

Rael found Anu's appearance sickening. The old man's skin was dry and flaking, like a lizard left in the sun.

His neck scrawny, fleshless and withered. Rael kept his disgust from his face and sat down opposite the frail old man. 'Why are you putting yourself through this?' asked Rael.

The ancient face broke into a smile. 'Why are you not?' he asked.

Rael shook his head. There was no point in arguing. That had all been done years ago. 'Shall I draw back the curtains? It is a glorious day.'

'No, Rael. I like the gloom.' He settled back and closed his eyes again.

'You wished to see me,' said Rael, holding his temper.

Anu's eyes snapped open. 'I am sorry. One of the penalties of age, you know. Ah, of course, you don't know.

Anyway… You have four full chests, Rael. They will be the last. A volcanic eruption has destroyed the line.'

'Four will give us a few years. Much may happen in that time.'

'Indeed it certainly will.' The old man's eyes closed and, for a moment, Rael thought him to be sleeping. Then he spoke again. 'We lose much, Rael, by being ever-young.'

'And what is that?'

'Flexibility. Understanding. Perspective. The physical frailties are many, but they are assuaged by a wealth of insights. All living things in nature grow, die and are reborn. Even the earth, as we have so painfully witnessed.

Not so the Avatar. We have forgotten how to grow, Rael. To adapt and change. We are what we were a thousand years ago. Perhaps not even that. A thousand years ago the Avatar Prime and I designed the White Pyramid. It was a wonder, a work of genius from among a gifted people. What new inventions can we boast from the last two hundred years? What strides have we made? We are frozen in time, Rael, and we exist as merely echoes of a great song.'