Chapter #44Retrograde Motion - Part 2 by: imaj   “What does retrograde mean,” asked Hélène as she leaned over to look at the screen. Even if she sounded like a native now, English was still Hélène’s second language. There were more than a few words she did not know or understand. That she did not know this one hardly surprised Kali.
“It’s a word astronomers use child,” said Kali softly, easing into the diction she had used to instruct Hélène over the last few weeks. “It means going backwards or in the opposite direction.”
“Astronomers,” replied Hélène. “So, like, stars and planets? Is this Lucio Strigiotti one of us then?”
“He is one of the Stellae Errante – a field agent Hélène,” said Kali patiently. “And it’s an important message. One that I’ll have to deal with urgently.”
“Cool,” replied Hélène. “It’s not, like, anything bad is it? I mean you looked shocked when you dropped your cup,” the girl said breathlessly. Her enthusiasm for anything related to the Stellae had been boundless since she had arrived in Kali’s home, even if her attention to basic theory had been somewhat lacking. “Oooh, what are his planets?”
Kali sighed. It would be better to sate the girl’s curiosity now rather than have it distract her all morning. “Lucio’s ousiarchs are Catilindria and Eldibria. Do you remember what that means?”
Hélène looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully and bit her lip as she tried to recall her lessons. “Catilindria is our name for Uranus,” she said slowly, as if unsure of her answer. Kali permitted herself a tight smile and nodded at the girl. “Eldibria is Neptune,” Hélène continued with a more confident grin.
“And what does that tell you about him,” prompted Kali.
“Neptune is the sea,” said Hélène, half phrasing it as a question. “So I guess he has power over water.”
“Some Eldibriae do child, but Lucio is more linked to the qualities of the sea. Think of how a calm sea can turn quickly to a treacherous storm. Many secrets are hidden in his depths and he guards them jealously.” Hélène nodded as Kali talked. “He is relentless: Imagine the sea as it slowly breaks down a cliff, lapping away it with every tide. It is slow but the outcome is never in doubt.” Kali paused for a second. “And his other influence?”
“I…” Hélène stuttered. “I don’t know.”
“You have your computer in front of you Hélène,” said Kali a little more forcefully. “Make use of it.” Hélène’s mouth made an O shape as she realised the answer was in front of her. Kali waited patiently as the girl conducted her search.
A little fit of giggles told Kali that Hélène had found what she was looking for. The trainees always found something funny in the Uranus myth. “It says here,” said Hélène with a smirk. “That his son cut off his, you know.” Hélène made a particularly expressive gesture. “And they fell into the sea and that is how Venus was born.”
“Exactly,” said Kali. She kept her face carefully serious. “Creation from destruction. The new challenging the old. Renewal. Lucio has challenged many warlocks, witches and other practitioners and freed innocents from their grasp.
“He is good at it,” asked the girl.
“Yes, exceptionally so. The combination of Catilindria and Eldibria make Lucio and excellent field agent,” said Kali. In the privacy of her own head she added but an appalling human being.
“Will I make a good field agent,” asked Hélène enthusiastically.
“That depends entirely on your ability to remember your lessons child,” chided Kali with a smile. Hélène giggled again. “Now, as I said, I have to deal with this message. Privately.” Hélène frowned. “Take yourself for a walk for fifteen minutes and we’ll continue your lessons after you return.”
Hélène looked disappointed. She grabbed her glass and drained the last of the juice with a noisy sucking sound. “See you soon,” she said as she placed the glass by the dishwasher.
Kali watched the girl go. She waited for a full minute after Hélène had closed the door behind her before allowing the worry to show on her face. Then she hauled herself up from the stool and carefully picked up the smashed pieces of the cup from the floor.
Kali looked across the loft to where the phone sat on a small table.
She knew she would have to call Charles. She knew what Lucio’s message meant but at the same time she wished she hadn’t received it. Instead she placed the fragments of crockery in the bin. Then she selected a cloth and carefully mopped up the spilt coffee from the worktop.
The phone still lurked at the opposite side of the loft.
There was no make-work left to do, no way of avoiding the call. In any case Kali would have to phone Charles before Hélène returned. She walked to the table where the phone lay and picked up the handset. Kali dialled the number from memory as she walked back to the kitchen area.
“Hello,” said a man’s voice on the other end of the phone after a couple of rings.
“Hello Charles,” said Kali into the handset. “It’s Kali.”
“Kali,” exclaimed Charles. “It’s so good to hear from you.” His voice was warm and confident. “And how is young Hélène progressing.”
“About as well as I’d expect,” replied Kali neutrally. “She is still troubled with the basics but keeps trying to make more advanced techniques work.” Kali paused for a moment and sighed. “I just wish you’d found her a few years earlier Charles,” she said more honestly. “She’s practically an adult, but she’s just not ready. Not for the things she’s going to have to deal with.”
“Then she will have to learn quickly,” said Charles, his voice heavy with sadness. “We were lucky to find her at all Kali. People like her are good at hiding themselves, even when they don’t mean to.” Kali heard him sigh audibly. “The world seems so much bigger than it was forty, fifty years ago. There are so many people to watch and so few of us. You know I wouldn’t have sent Hélène to you if I didn’t think you would bring out the best in her.”
“I know,” said Kali flatly.
“But you didn’t call me because you wanted to talk about the girl now, did you?”
Kali’s stomach fluttered a little. “No,” she eventually replied. “I received a mail from Lucio. One word in the subject line: Retrograde.”
“He needs help then,” interrupted Charles. “And he sent it to you because he needs help from you. He included some way of getting in contact I assume?”
“Just a string of numbers,” replied Kali. “Co-ordinates. Let me just check on my computer.” Kali sat back at the worktop and opened her browser. It took her less than a minute to find the location Lucio had sent her. “Seattle, I think,” she explained.
“That would fit with his last report,” concurred Charles. “I’m relying on you to give him the help he needs Kali. I know there’s no love lost between the two of you but we either stand together or the whole world falls with us.”
“I haven’t completed a field assignment in years Charles,” interrupted Kali. “And what about Hélène’s training?”
“Take her with you,” he replied
“Charles, it’s a retrograde motion,” interrupted Kali anxiously. “She’s not ready. What if I can’t protect her?”
“You said it yourself – she’s nearly an adult,” said Charles, a hint of steel surfacing in his voice. “Either she’s going to be ready or she never will. You’ve had her for a month and you must have seen what she can do without even thinking about it. Look at the way she’s drawing on your protective instincts right now.”
Kali sat silently for a moment. He was right. She’d never been quite so protective of any of the students the Stellae had sent her over the years. Oh, she’d mothered all of them, but never quite like Hélène. The reflected synergy of their shared Perelandra ousiarch had affected her more than she had realised.
“You’re right,” she finally said.
“Of course I’m right,” he chuckled warmly. The sound lifted Kali’s spirits and she found herself smiling faintly. “Now get yourself and the girl to Seattle. I’m looking forward to your report.” With that, he hung up.
Kali turned round to return the handset to its position and found Hélène standing at the door. “How long have you been there,” she asked.
“A minute, maybe two,” replied the girl. She walked in and closed the door behind her. “Is it true? Are we going on an assignment?”
Kali nodded as she walked across to Hélène. “Yes”
The girl bit her lip nervously. “It is not going to be… dangerous… is it?”
“Everything about what we do is dangerous child,” said Kali as she returned the phone handset to its position. She gave the girl a hug. Kali could feel her trembling. “But I will protect you as if you were my own. Are you sure you want to come with me,” she asked.
“If you asked me before I heard you on the phone I would have said yes,” replied Hélène, looking up at Kali. “Now I am scared, but I have to do this sooner or later do I not?” Hélène broke off from Kali.
“Yes child, you do,” replied Kali. “Now come on, we have cases to pack.
*****
To stop reading and go to bed: "Equations with Multiple Solutions"   | Members who added to this interactive story also contributed to these: |
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