Jamb: (6 page)

You see why we
called the Procella and had the Curas remain in the balconies?
the Addo mentions in the back of my head.

As the last remaining Addo, you inherited all the Contego,
I answer.
  You are our sole leader, so they are hard-wired to protect you now, just like I am.  You’re playing the odds that the majority won’t go haywire as traitors and try to kill you.

Totally
,
Addo says.
 
Even in my head, his voice is garbled with his mouthful of cookies.  My eyes dart around, aware of the woman hanging off the third floor balcony, shouting in a stream of what I think is Hindi, at the Addo.

She’s furious,
I say.

Ah yes, Padma.
That’s Addo Gita’s sister.  She still wants me dismembered, and I don’t mean from the community.
The Addo finishes his cookie and slaps his hands together to shake off the crumbs.
But, onto business.  I’m going to assume by this show that we may have a clean community in here.  A traitor that’s gone to The Fury would have tried an attack by now, I think.  Or at least tried to insight a riot over my bringing in a Simple Mox or present one of their own Simple as a Mox also.

I tip my head up, scanning the movement overhead. 
They’re still pretty upset.  Most the balconies are calling you dirty names and look—ninth floor—someone’s mooning you over the edge of the balcony.

Addo’s eyes lift, finding the rear end on display over the balcony railing. 
Ah yes.  Tuco’s floor.  They’re spicy. 
He chuckles. 
But, you can see that while they all have their pigtails in a knot, no one’s trying to kill me.  That’s a good sign.

Good sign?
  I snort in my head, but the Addo is on his feet and raising his hands in an attempt to signal everyone to shut up.  It takes a couple minutes before they do.

“These Cusps
are here to make us appreciate that every single moment on this Earth is unique.”

“
Don’t try to sugar coat it, Addo,” Angus says. I am focused on how he has his skeletal hand jammed in his pocket, but the moment Angus spots me, he carefully withdraws it, keeping his fingers in view. He licks his lips and continues.  “Unique or not, this moment has us all stacked up and as good as paralyzed in this hotel.  And you’re trying to sell us on Simple Addos.  The Simple cannot lead.  It’s not possible.  The Simple are Simple for a reason.  They don’t have the connections or abilities to lead a Cura.  They just don’t.  But knowing that, you’re still asking us to follow a blind leader.  I can’t agree any less on that one, Addo.”

“
The Addo knows more than we,” Dai says.  “We must be still and listen.”

“Agreed.  This
is a waste of time,” Wojtek says.  “There has never been a Simple Addo, or a Simple Contego or a Simple Alo.  It has never happened because it is not
possible.
”

“
I gotta say, it seems like it’d get us further by getting on the problem instead,” Larson says from his spot in the ring.  “We ought to be hitting The Fury with everything we have left.

The Addo ignores the Procella and continues.

“As far as Moxes go, it may seem insignificant that this box of cookies is sitting beside me, but this box of cookies may never sit here, exactly in this position, with this particular Addo beside it, ever again.  The sun may never make this exact, same pattern on the floor.  This moment is beautiful and unique to any other in time.”

“
But what difference is this to what is needed right now?” Wojtek asks.  He strokes the hair on his chin, while his eyes remain tacked to the Addo.

“
All of it,” Addo says.  “The sun will never fall exactly this way again, on this exact box of cookies, with this exact audience.  Just like this moment is unique, so is the Mox I have chosen.”

Kaya, the
Inuit woman, shoves a lock of her glossy black hair behind her ear with an exasperated sigh.  “We are all snowflakes. It is a beautiful thought, but also irrelevant. 
Simple
can not be made
Not Simple.
”

“
I am your Addo,” the Addo says, pulling down the hem of his sweatshirt.  “I have a Simple Mox that is capable of Addoship.  It is the first in history and while I understand your skepticism, you seem to be forgetting that I am your Addo and I would not mislead you.”

Someone, in one of the balconies, yells back, “Oh no, that’s never happened
…
Addo Chad
!” and the angry murmurs jump up again.

“
I won’t argue with you; Chad was certainly a bag of raw lima beans,” Addo begins again.  “But I promise you, I am no lima bean.  However, we are all that each other has, and since I have trusted all of you not to shoot me in the face the moment I appeared, I ask that you let me explain my theory on why the universe may have presented us with this Simple Mox.”

The upper balconies barely settle down, but the Addo continues anyway.

“We are obviously in a time of great need and we find ourselves terribly shortchanged on the number of Addos we need to pull out of this mess.  The universe always seeks balance, as any Veritas will tell you, and the only way the Ianua community can hope to regain its footing and settle down the Fury, is to have strong leadership.  One Addo just ain’t gonna get us there, kids.  So, I believe the universe has given us an incredible gift.  Sean Reese.  Our very first, Simple Mox.”

“We need, therefore we are given,” Imad says with a slow nod.  “This
has always been right.”

Sisi’s
fingertips play at the base of her long, brown neck.  “So now you say we shall recruit the Simple?”

“Not recruit,
” the Addo says.  “Accept.  But only those Simple who show the natural ability, such as Sean Reese has.  I’ve never seen it happen in all my years, but I’ve never seen such a major loss of Addos either.  Our community is up the proverbial crick, without sufficient Addos to bless the Memories and organize the troops. The universe always strives to balance and this seems like a solution to help keep the peace.  So, while I’m presenting my Simple Mox, let me ask:  do any other Curas have Simple Moxes to present?”

I think it’s a pretty clever way to flush out some traitors, but instead of a Cura presenting a Simple Mox, i
t’s like the Addo has just asked the crowd if anyone is aware of flying pigs starting up an airline service.  Some of the people in the balconies are laughing, some are staring down on the Addo like he just fed them bad eggs, and the hater from Tuco’s balcony is still mooning the Addo.

“Alright, now that that’s out of the way,” Addo says, once the crowd has quieted down again.  “Which of you have Moxes to present?”

Only two balconies have hands raised.  Addo does a disappointed groan in the back of my head.

“Send them down, please,”
he says.  “And while we are waiting, I will introduce you to my Mox, Sean Reese.  He is the first born of my own Procella, Miranda Reese, and the late Basil Reese.  He also has three brothers who are all active Contego.”

At the mention of the three brothers, since
Mark and Brandon are still missing, Addo clears his throat to hide the way his own tone dips.  He turns and motions for Sean to step forward.  Sean does and the room goes dead silent.  I focus in on Sean so hard that his tight, shallow breathing fills my ears.

And
then someone starts clapping.

I turn to look at Garrett, but
his hands are hanging at his sides.  He’s in his highest alert mode, although he appears nearly fluid, while watching the crowd.

The clapping is coming from
Mrs. Reese.  I want to join in, but with my luck, I’ll look away and that’s when somebody would hammer Sean with their platter of cookies.  I stay vigilant, but I glance at Mrs. Reese and see how her eyes are wet and her smile is wide, as she keeps on clapping for her oldest son.  Sean shoots her a smile, but when he looks back at the Outer Cura’s Procella, and especially when his eyes rise up, balcony after balcony, his smile fades away.  At least the butt has disappeared from the ledge on the 9
th
floor.

My skin bristles as the
elevator door to the courtyard opens.  Two girls enter, but Zane walks over and stops them before they can approach the Addo.

“Whoa ladies,” he says.  “Close enough.”

The first girl, with thick black hair that surrounds her face like a spiked heart, lifts her chin and steps up to Zane.  She’s almost as skinny as Zane and about the same height, but when he doesn’t move, neither does she.

“Move,” she says.  “I am the Mox from the 9
th
Cura.”

“Whoopty ding,” Zane says.  “I’m the bad ass Contego from the 13
th
.  No one’s getting close to my Addo.”

“
Our
Addo,” Tuco moves forward from the opposite side of the courtyard, but Mrs. Neho and Carducci block him.  The room is instantly saturated with waves of energy that hike up my nerves, even though there are no other sudden movements.

“Oh now,” Addo chuckles.  “Settle down
, everybody.  Tuco, you just stay over there with Ruka, and Zane, let the first young lady come .”

Zane steps
aside, but the first girl pulls back and tries to slug Zane in the gut as she passes him.  It’s not an attack as much as it is a statement, but she still fails.  Zane is out of her way before she can land the punch, with her fist in his grip and a
you-thought-so-huh
smile on his face. She wrenches her fist away and stomps through us, toward the Addo.

But
Mr. Middleditch side steps the girl before she can pass him.  He says over one shoulder, “Sorry Addo.  That’s as far as anyone should come for now.  You’ll have to do your business from there.”

“
Alrighty then,” Addo shrugs, and then to the girl, “Present yourself, please.”

“I am Valentina,” the girl says. 
Tuco throws his shoulders back a little and I think I see his lips twitch as if he’s reciting her words along with her.  “Of the 9
th
Cura.  Trained under the late Addo Ferdinand.”

“Thank you,” the Addo says. 
The room is silent as he stares at her and remains silent as the girl nods.

“Yes, Addo,” she says. 
“My telepathy is as sharp as the cut of my hair.”

“Very good,” he smiles.  “Blessings?”

“Not yet, sir.  But I’m an exceptional judge of character and a master of organization.”

“As am I, sir,” the other girl
pipes up.  She’s got dirty blond hair pulled back in a tight bun, full lips, and large, round blue eyes.  Although I bet her lips make her even more gorgeous when she smiles, it doesn’t look like she does that very much.

“Come in,” Addo
wags a finger for her to come to him.  The girl scowls as she passes Zane and, just as I would expect, it rolls right off his back.  He gives this girl a wide smile and rolls out an arm as he does an exaggerated bow, ushering her in.  She swishes past, chin high, and I can’t help but think that she’s a girl who has never been questioned.  She stops short of Mr. Middleditch, but one step past Valentina.  She stands so tall, she’s like a lightening rod and she doesn’t wait for the Addo to ask for her name.

“
Anka,” she says.  “Of the fourth Cura.  I studied with Addo Kasia.  Since her death, I have continued studies with our Procella, Wojtek.  You will find I am quite accomplished with blessings, telepathy, intra-Cura relations, and organization.”

“
Thank you,” Addo says.  He stares at the girl a moment and then, lifts an eyebrow at her.  “Anything, Anka?”

“
That is all,” she says with a confused shrug.  “What other requirements do you have of me?”

Wojtek, across the room,
drags a hand through his hair as he shakes his head.

“Now?” Addo asks. 
Anka narrows her eyes, catching on.

“Apples?” she guesses.  Addo grimaces.

“We’ll work on that,” he says as he turns toward Sean.  The shade of the tree makes the Addo almost appear to flicker.

Sean answers the Addo’s silent question
, “No, Addo, I don’t think she’s lying.  I think Anka is most likely blocking, due to the pressure to perform in front of everyone here.”

Anka
’s expression suddenly walks the line between digging her fingernails into Sean’s face and kissing the soles of his shoes.  Instead, she looks down at her nails with a frown. 

Surprised gas
ps echo from the balconies above.  They really didn’t expect Sean to be able to receive the Addo’s telepathic messages.  Garrett moves in to stand side-by-side with his brother. I wish I was Supergirl, able to shoot up into the balconies and get in all of their faces.  I want to yell at them—everything that none of them know about Sean Reese.  He’s brilliant and patient and kind, and for him to be doubted by our community just cooks my meat.