A blue aura cocoons me.
A sea-mist descends.
An albatross plucks me.
Its wings coddle me. I remember legends about their wings.
This albatross bears the persona of Kāne, the bird-god that escaped the total darkness of Po and created the first human.
We soar.
My blood that burst like sunspots stops dripping.
My torn flesh mends.
I am alive: broad-shouldered, flame-haired.
I have shed the skin where Hidebehind used to sit.
I haven’t deserted.
The sea-mist disperses.
We land on the grotto.
Belkis is on the pool’s ledge.
So is Childe Asher with amber almond eyes.
Hrant, too. Sombre as ever.
Belkis kisses me. ‘Hello Leviathan.’
Childe Asher embraces me. ‘Ready for your Agapé, Dad?’
Belkis caresses my hand. ‘You didn’t stay for mine. You won’t miss yours.’
A dog barks: Phral.
Holding onto him: Moni.
They, too, climb onto the ledge.
Phral licks my hand.
Moni grins.
I laugh. ‘Leviathans also.’
Moni holds up my journal. ‘I promised to give this to Childe Asher.’
‘It wasn’t that urgent!’
‘We move fast.’
Phral barks in confirmation.
Moni gives my journal to Childe Asher. ‘Cherish it.’
Childe Asher whoops. ‘Thanks, Dad.’
The grotto expands.
Becomes a vast Agora that stretches towards infinity.
Hordes of Leviathans appear.
They’re singing Journey’s Start. Amador’s poem composed as a song by La Paloma.
… so here we are
spreading ourselves
on
the wind
the rock
the spring
the sun
when we rise again
we shall rise
as
breath
land
river
hearth …
Moni waits until the horizon teems with Leviathans.
Then he steps forward. ‘We have good tidings! When they felled Oric, people chose to be free spirits – Lights. They vaulted over the barriers. Smashed Xanadu’s Gate. Swarmed to the Pavilion. Security, even the Dragon’s Teeth, froze. Before they could raise their guns, they were overpowered. The snipers in the helicopters did manage to fire, but only briefly. They had to get back and pick up Numen and the Grand Mufti who had run to the heliport. Both were flown to the Grand Mufti’s aircraft carrier and sailed immediately.
‘That’s not all! The country, watching the events on television, also rebelled. They stormed the jails. Freed the patriots and the intelligentsia. Disarmed the Police, Riot Gendarmerie, Scythes, Intelligence Agents, Dragon’s Teeth, Pinkies. Arrested all Numen’s bootlickers.’
The news cheers the Leviathans. They throw their hats, chapeaus, tams, berets, skullcaps, turbans, coats, beads and rings into the air.
I am stunned. ‘That’s good tidings indeed!’
Moni continues. ‘Here’s the latest: Numen has been given asylum by the Grand Mufti. But, he warns, he and the Grand Mufti have proxies. They will deploy them. The duumvirate will grow from strength to strength and conquer the world.’
Hrant takes a deep breath. ‘They’ll find us and the Dolphineros ready for them!’
The Leviathans thunder ‘Aye!’ and burst into the Ode to Joy.
Slowly the Agora drifts into the aether. The Leviathans have left. Agapés must be brief. Repairing the world leaves little time for joy.
Childe Asher turns to Hrant, Moni and Phral. ‘Don’t you think Mum and Dad should have some time together …?’
They agree and quickly leave.
I turn to Belkis. ‘Do you think we’ll ever stop the Saviours?’
She replies passionately. ‘That’s our belief.’
‘Will you keep inspiring me?’
‘Doubting again?’
‘Conflicts never end. Peace never comes. Hatred always survives. The end of one horror always spawns the beginning of another. Can we defeat hatred – ever?’
‘Yes, my Oric. We can. Believe me!’
‘I will.’
‘Tomorrow let’s start looking for new Dolphineros. Today is ours.’
We swim out, gambol like flying fish and ride the waves like the Dolphin children we once were.