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Brady hadn’t visited the Green Community of San Martin very often. It was a small town with a devout Bodhi Sattva following. He followed the Beardon family coach, patiently, as the Bear was a careful driver, even on the virtually deserted Highway.
The Bear stopped near a large building. He could make out a faded sign which suggested it was once called the Wings of History Museum. Now, it was the Green Revolutionary Hall. There were lots of people milling around. Brady watched the Bear step down from his coach and go to greet an older man. They were in a friendly and excitable conversation. After a while, they parted, and the Bear came over to Brady’s FusionCar™. Brady lowered the window. The Bear said, ‘We could go home, or we could stop off here for a short while. I don’t want to be a bad host, so please just say, I bet you are hungry, brother.’
‘No. Don’t mind me. What’s going on?’
‘Cain is here. He wanted to see me, but I have said that I have a guest with me.’
‘I hope you are not in trouble for talking to me. I wouldn’t want that.’
‘No, my friend. I have some standing here, and I work closely with our Disciple of San Martin. This means she wants me to be involved in the discussions.’
Brady didn’t trust the Disciples or their close associates. He couldn’t help but know Cain, Siddha and Lizzie in his hometown of McFarland, but they had put him off making contact with any others - if he could possibly help it. When he dealt with his reps in other towns, he sensed they were trying to keep Brady’s business away from the prying eyes of Disciples. Brady thought it was like being back in prison, where the screws would turn a blind eye to the low-level breaking of the rules, as long as it kept the inmates calm. I don’t want to spoil things for the Bear. I like the guy, and God knows I haven’t met many people I like in this world. He said, ‘If being with me causes you any trouble at all, then just say so. I mean it. I’ll tell them that you didn’t have any business dealings with Brady Mahone. I’ll say you were just being kind to me. Knowing you as I do - they’ll believe me.’
The Bear smiled broadly. ‘Spoken like a true friend, brother. If you want, I could introduce you to our Disciple.’
‘I’m not sure, man. I don’t think they like what Brady Mahone does in their Green Communities. I’m not one of them.’
‘But Cain already knows you, and you know him better than I do. To tell you the truth, I’m nervous about meeting a man of Cain’s stature, and would appreciate your company.’
Brady wasn’t in awe of Cain at all. He was just another Green like all the others to him. ‘Ok. Let’s do this.’
The Bear went over to the coach, and Brady could tell that he was issuing instructions to Alicia and Tyrone. He watched as the coach drove away without him. He walked over to Brady’s car. ‘My home is only a few hundred yards from here. They’ll prepare dinner while we meet up with Cain. It shouldn’t take long. Cain is a very busy man.’
Brady got out of the car and walked with the Bear to the Hall. He had visited here before, but not for several years. He noticed he was picking up inquisitive glances, and he guessed it was directed at the odd pairing they made. They went to the backstage area, and Cain greeted them. In situations like these, Brady always knew he had to dominate the room. He shook Cain’s hand firmly. ‘No Yellow™ makeover for the Great Cain then, I see - still happy with the old Messiah look.’
Cain laughed and looked dreamily into Brady’s face with his crystal-green eyes. ‘I am comfortable in my own skin. How have you been? I trust your business is growing?’
Brady noticed a red-headed woman in the room. She was talking to a young Native American boy. He said, ‘Absolutely. The nostalgia market grows with every passing year.’
‘What do you plan to do with all your Green Credits?’
‘I’m gonna get me one of those Green FusionPlanes™ of yours and expand my territories - y’know implement my business model across the whole of the United States of America.’ He bragged. He was hoping the red head was listening.
Cain smiled beatifically, ‘It would appear that the Green Revolution has made quite the businessman out of Brady Mahone. I’m pleased for you.’
Brady smiled distractedly as the red-haired woman continued to divide his attention. She placed a note into the boy’s hand, and he scurried away. She turned, and when Brady saw her, he was captivated. He hadn’t met anybody with her glamour for so long. Many years ago, he had seen her on TV - and to Brady that made her a TV star. He watched her move gracefully as she came to Cain’s side. The Bear and Cain talked in hushed tones, but the fragments of the conversation he picked up seemed of little interest to Brady. He was engrossed in the image of the woman before him. He felt like he was in the presence of a time-traveller from ancient history. She also felt the pull of the old world, as there was a distinct look that someone had for her, back in the days when she was a celebrity - and Brady Mahone was giving her that look right now.
Cain finished his conversation with the Bear and then said to Brady, ‘May I introduce Rhea Laidlaw - the Disciple of San Martin.’
Brady shook her hand and said, ‘I know you. You used to be on TV.’ He searched his mind for the station’s name, ‘Free TV News - you were a reporter.’
‘That seems like another lifetime. Pleased to meet you, Brady.’ He unashamedly looked her up and down. His eyes wandered over her neat and sober black and white trouser suit, and he then looked deeply into her blue eyes. He nodded as if he approved. That was sixteen years ago, and she’s hardly aged at all. She looks amazing. He wondered if she was married, or whatever these Greens do. He remembered; it was something unromantic-like, partnership? Relationship? Oh yes, that’s the term, arrangement. And then he wondered if she was in an arrangement with Cain.
The Bear looked at Brady, and then across to Rhea and Cain. He smiled, and said, ‘We are having dinner tonight with Brady as our guest. You would be more than welcome to join us.’
Cain answered first, ‘Thank you, Sam, but I have to be in Fresno by the morning.’ The Bear nodded.
Rhea looked at Cain and then back to the Bear and then glanced at Brady. ‘That sounds lovely. I haven’t eaten since breakfast, and you know I adore your culinary skills. I’d love to.’
The Bear smiled broadly and slapped Brady on the back, ‘Is that ok with you, brother?’
‘Fine by me. I can’t wait to get stuck in.’
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THEY SAID THEIR FAREWELLS to Cain and headed back to the home of Samuel Beardon the Third. They arrived at a large house just as a family, headed by an old woman was leaving the homestead. She said, ‘Good evening, Reverend. We are attending a gathering at the Green Hall this evening, so you will have the place all to yourself this evening.’
Brady spotted the young Native American boy who was talking to Rhea a short while earlier. This could be a setup.
The Bear said, ‘Thank you, Shako.’ She smiled as she led her family away.
Brady made a show of his politeness at the Beardon’s home door, and let the Bear enter first, followed by Rhea. He was watching her move when she changed clothes as she crossed the threshold. She was now dressed in a blue cocktail dress. The home was warm and spotlessly clean, but also it had a homely feel to it, with many chairs and sofas, festooned with cushions. There were cream-coloured ceramic radiators with Sattva Systems™ FusionEnergy™ logos on them. They seemed out of place to Brady, but he could feel the comforting heat emanating from them. He spotted the dining table, neatly laid out with silver cutlery, and the floral centrepiece. It reminded him of the old Thanksgiving dinners. He spotted Tyrone and Alicia laughing in the kitchen as they admired each other’s flamboyant attire for the evening. The Bear changed appearance as if it was a completely normal thing to do. Brady watched the Bear’s Sattva Systems™ uniform dissolve and re-emerge in slacks and a grey pullover, topped off with an apron emblazoned with the words: The Best Cook in God’s Kitchen. He said, ‘I’ll add the magic to their culinary creation. Water? Fruit Juices?’
Rhea said, ‘Lemon water for me, please.’
Brady joked, ‘Water, straight - and make it a double.’
The Bear laughed, while Rhea gave a hint of a smile. She said, ‘Samuel - such is the division of labour that Brady and I will wash the dishes after we’ve eaten.’
The Bear knew this but had forgotten that Brady might not know that this was normal behaviour in the Green Communities. ‘Of course. So, shall it be.’ He added more precisely, ‘So, shall it always be.’
Brady said, ‘No skin off my nose. Never let it be said that Brady is a shirker.’ He smiled at them both, to let them know that he wasn’t offended.
Rhea and Brady sat in awkward silence for a while. Brady struggled to locate a suitable chat-up line for the occasion. Then he remembered that Rhea was a Disciple and was probably not allowed to fraternise with the enemy. ‘So, what’s a Disciple, exactly? Do you have to worship the Earth, y’know, like Druids and stuff?’ She laughed, softly and was just about to answer, before Brady added, ‘Or do you serve your Messiah, Bodhi Sattva?’
It had been a long time since she had dealt with cynicism, but the old TV hack in her responded. She missed the old cut and thrust of political debate and bipartisanship. ‘Our use of the term Disciple doesn’t originate from the religious terminology. There are parallels, I give you that, but the religious term had more to do with faith and devotion. We, on the other hand, use the term as derived from the word, discipline.’
Brady played along, at least they were talking, ‘So, you do as your told. You never misbehave?’
‘Scientific discipline is essential. It is life-affirming and life-enhancing.’ There was a hint of mischief in the way she looked at him. Brady loved this look.
‘Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?’
‘Fire away.’
‘Are you in any arrangements with anybody?’
‘Like whom?’ She teased.
‘I don’t know, maybe Cain, or Bodhi?’ He smiled as if he was treating these as jokes.
‘Arrangements are quite rare. They can be viewed as an expression of ownership over another human. It’s not my thing. As for Cain, or Bodhi - although I am close to both of them as friends and colleagues, I have spent intimate moments with them.’ She then laughed, mockingly, ‘My God, Mr Mahone, you don’t believe I slept my way to this position, do you?’ She looked down and examined his sneakers, they seemed well-worn and may need replacing soon. She then turned her attention to his Poacher’s trench coat. The descriptions of Brady Mahone over the years often mentioned this apparel. She noted that it was hung up on a coat rack, and not in his bedroom as she’d expected.
Brady said, while Rhea scanned the room, ‘No, that wasn’t what I meant.’ He was flustered, ‘And of course, you could be gay...’ Please say that would be for me to find out.
The Bear, Alicia and Tyrone entered with bowls full of food. The Bear said, ‘They weren’t sure what you would like, so they concocted a selection of vegan delights. Please, help yourselves.’
They all ate heartily, and the Beardon family dominated the small talk over dinner. Brady watched as Tyrone talked about his love of astronomy, and Alicia asked about the future of NanoSuits™, while the Bear seemed especially keen to impress Rhea as if she was an essential connection to a future career. The respect they gave her made him feel foolish about making a play for her. I keep forgetting that I’m a Trad with all those old-fashioned ways of thinking from the good old days.
Dinner was followed by fruit desserts and coffee, and then it was time for Rhea and Brady to clear away the dishes. He expected the Bear to offer, to ingratiate himself into her good graces, but it didn’t seem to be an option. Rhea picked up the dishes in an unspoken demand that Brady should do the same. He complied.
As they went into the kitchen, Rhea said, ‘Shall I wash, and you dry?’
Brady said, ‘Shouldn’t I be washing, as it’s a dirtier job?’
‘Practically, and hygienically speaking, it would be better for me to wash, unless you are RedSuited™?’ Brady didn’t understand, she could see this so she added, softly, ‘If I wash, we can have the water temperature to a point which would scold you. Whereas I’m protected by the Red™.’
‘Oh, I never thought. Ok, that makes sense.’ He watched her pour the water until it was steaming hot, and he watched her plunge her hands into it, utterly oblivious to the heat. She washed each cutlery item, crockery and pans, meticulously, and passed each one over to Brady. She showed him where to put every item in the kitchen with the familiarity of someone who lived there. He also watched as splashes of water and specks of food landed on her blue cocktail dress, and her naked arms, only to disappear with the help of some kind of self-cleaning mechanism within the Suit™. He said, ‘How did you get this job?’
She continued the washing up, absent-mindedly, ‘I was selected by Glenarvon Cole. Have you heard of him?’
‘Yes. I saw you on TV with him.’
‘Bodhi had instructed him to choose one Trad to bring over to the Green side after the Revolutionary Coup was accomplished. He hadn’t chosen one - I don’t think he wanted to - but if you make a promise to Bodhi, you are duty-bound to keep it. I was the last Trad available - so he chose me.’
‘You’re a Trad?’ He said astonished.
‘At first. I’m told I still think like a Trad, as I wasn’t an environmentalist before the Green Revolution. I was deeply sceptical about the whole thing they had got going on here. I thought I was an experiment for Sattva Systems™.’
‘You mean, this Bodhi dude.’
She laughed, ‘Oh my, that takes me back. That’s just how I used to call him - until I got to know him better.’
‘You do know him, then?’
‘I’ve known Bodhi since 2085. Fifteen years - it’s been. I love the guy. Not like that - I mean, I truly respect him.’ She added, ‘This is why I’m based here. He needs me close by, to give him counsel.’
Brady was stunned. ‘Wait a minute. He’s close by, and you give him counsel?’
She carried on washing and handed over a dessert bowl for Brady to dry. ‘Yes. I have a unique point of view.’ She said dreamily. ‘I’m heading back there for a few days. We are discussing the ethics and morality of the next generation of Suits™.’
‘Where are you going? Where is this place?’
‘Boulder Creek.’
‘No way, I’ve been there. I woulda known.’
She smiled, ‘It’s out of the way and hidden from view.’
Brady snorted, ‘Makes sense. Industrial megalomaniac hides from his defeated foes who are out to overthrow him.’
She passed him some cutlery, ‘Is that what you would do, Bigshot Brady Mahone?’ She said it playfully and Brady knew that she liked him.
‘I’d consider it. It kinda gives me a reason for why I’m different.’
Rhea laughed in a way that made Brady shudder with delight. She looked beautiful to him and so full of life. ‘Brady Mahone, I do declare that you’ve been watching too many movies.’ She pulled open the cutlery drawer. ‘They go in here.’
The cutlery rattled as he sorted out the knives, forks and spoons and dropped them into their allotted slots.
She said, ‘Any Green can go to the Sattva Systems™ Industrial Complex. I wouldn’t be the slightest bit surprised if even you could. He only keeps it shrouded because industrial complexes are, by their very nature, ugly places, compared to Her undoubted glory. But there is another really boring reason, maybe something the intrepid Mr Mahone hasn’t given a thought to for years.’
‘And what’s that?’
She threw her head back and laughed, ‘Health and safety.’ She said, ‘They are always experimenting with new NanoTechnology™, and until it’s proven to be completely safe, they wouldn’t want any of our Green citizens harmed accidentally.’ He watched as she sprayed a natural bleaching agent over the surfaces. She said, ‘This is potentially corrosive to you.’ He stood back as she wiped all the surfaces spotlessly clean.
He said, ‘What would happen if I wandered into this place?’ Accidentally on purpose.
‘The same as anybody else. It happens quite often. They’d show you around, and answer any questions you might have, and some lucky ones have even been given an audience with Bodhi. He’s not a recluse, he loves the planet and every living thing upon it.’
‘But not the Trads. I’m a Trad.’
‘The Trads - and I still am one myself, at heart - remember, had brought the Earth to the point of destruction. It was them or the planet. Some of the GreenRevs wanted to wipe them out, but it was Bodhi who stopped this. He took away their means of destruction but allowed them to live out the rest of their natural lives. That’s more than the Trads would have done for them.’ She added, ‘Come. The Beardons are waiting, and we are their guests, it would be rude to stay here, chatting alone.’
Before he could challenge her, as he dearly wanted to stay and chat with her alone - she had already left the room. I’ve never in my life wished there were more dishes to wash.
After a convivial evening with the Beardons and Brady Mahone, Rhea made her excuses and left. She ensured she gave Brady a kiss on the cheek as she said her goodbyes.
Rhea waited until all the lights had gone out in the Beardon home, to signify that the occupants were going to sleep. She crept over to Brady’s FusionCar™ and activated her special access privileges. With a slim FusionTorch™ in her mouth, she used her SattvaTools™ to undo the dashboard and insert a SattNav™ tracker unit. She checked the co-ordinates were correctly calibrated before sneaking over to the Beardon home.
She expertly undid the locks to the front door and moved silently to the living room. She took Brady Mahone’s Poacher’s coat from the rack and took it back outside to work on. She moved to a quiet spot which was out of sight from windows. She took out a heavy-duty sewing kit, which would have been strong enough to work on Trad shoes, but instead, it would be used on Brady’s coat. She unpicked the stitching on the lining at the bottom of the coat, where he wouldn’t feel the bump in the hem. She placed the miniature SattNav™ tracker inside. She needed to ensure this coat would not wear out, as the FusionBattery™ could last for a thousand years