The Prophecy Machine

She dreamed about the sea. It was not a sea she'd ever seen, not the sea they'd crossed, the sea that had brought them to this strange and deadly land. This was a sea that had likely never been, the kind that lives in dreams.

The sea was jeweled, a thousand shades of green, a million shades of blue. Sapphires, emeralds and lapis lazuli had melted when the earth was very young, and formed this tranquil deep so she could share its beauty now.

How could she have such a dream? She had never ventured anywhere at all. She had never heard a tale of such a place, or seen such an image anywhere. Yet, it was there, as real as it could be …

… And, with a surety, the sudden awareness that only a dream can bring, she knew in that instant that she'd sailed upon this sea, knew the fierce, exotic creatures that lived upon its shores, knew the colors, knew the tastes, knew the scents of its streets, of its alleys, of the bright marketplace.

One thing more she knew, and this the most startling of all: she had been there for certain, but not in the form she was now. For what she was now, she had never been before …

This wonder, this marvel, opened a thousand secret doors. Everything she'd done, everything she'd been, every life she'd lived, struck her at once and filled her head with visions she could scarcely comprehend.

She could have shouted, laughed aloud at these countless images of joy, sorrow, love and hate and fear, these illusions of the past. She could, for certain, if only she could find herself now, if only she was somewhere, someone, anyone at all …

42

“I've had a thousand chances to run you through, to pierce that arrogant smile, to stop that vain, insolent speech with a slash to the throat, to never, ever abide that cocky, condescending sneer. And I will, I swear, you prideful lout, if ever I walk again …”

Sabatino plucked a burr from his lavender hat.

“You may think what you wish, Finn, I'm certain that you will, but I did not push you, damn it, you fell.”

“That's patently ridiculous. I never fall. I have never fallen, even as a child.”

“Oh, please.”

“You're the consummate liar here, I would never try to best you on that. No, none could hope to ever-Where are we, do you have the faintest idea?”

“Near the back, not twenty paces from the kitchen door. That was a fine leap you made, sir. Most impressive for your very first fall.”

Finn didn't answer. Biting his lips until they bled, he tried to raise himself to see through the thicket of brambles, weeds and twisted trees. Pain ripped along his leg like a blade, and he sank back to the ground.

“I can't bend to take a look. Can you tell if it's broken, is there blood, is a bone showing through?”

Sabatino looked appalled. “How would I have any knowledge such as that? I cannot see through your trousers, sir.”

“No, of course not. Would you mind just tearing them a bit and take a look?”

“You go too far, Finn. I have never handled a man's leg, and I'm not starting now.”

Finn groaned, more in anger than in pain.

“I'm having a fever and a chill. I will not be conscious soon. When I'm not, would you consider it then? I wouldn't know, you see, and perhaps it would give you less offense.”

“I don't see how that would help me. I'd be aware of your, ah-limb, and when you awoke, you'd be aware of it too. No, there's no solution there.”

“Rocks and Socks, you pompous fool,” Finn shouted, “I'm going to lie here and die if you don't get off your-”

Finn's words were lost as a loud explosion shook the very air. A limb snapped, falling inches from Sabatino's head. A pall of dirty smoke drifted from the house.

“Damnation,” Sabatino said, shaking his fist, “stop that at once! I could have been severely injured. What's the matter with you up there!”

“Who is it?” Finn asked, “Squeen William?”

“Of course it's not Squeen. That fool would have no idea how to operate your basic firing arm, much less an exquisite piece like the Ponce-Klieterhaus 39. It's Father, who else?”

Sabatino paused, squinting thoughtfully at the house.

“Look, we're brothers in arms, and I will not desert you, Finn, I promise you that. However, it might be wise, from a tactical point, for me to move well away from here. He seems to have our range. Keep low, and I'll try to draw his fire …”

“What, do you think I'm feeble-minded?” Finn laughed, an action that hurt clear down to his toes. “You stay here, Sabatino, I'm not falling for that.”

“You're taking this all the wrong way.”

“Right. And you didn't push me, I fell.”

“I've come to think of you as an actual brother more than a comrade in arms.”

“Please, I can't stand to throw up, not now …”

The second shot hit another tree. The heavy iron ball whined off to the south, or possibly the west.

“Father, don't do that again.” Sabatino nearly stood up this time. “Reloads for that weapon are quite hard to find.”

“Sabatino,” Calabus called out, “get yourself off my property. You don't live here anymore.”

“What are you talking about? I'm your son, Father. How can you speak to me like that?”

“I had a son once, I don't anymore.”

“We need to talk about this. It's clear there's been a misunderstanding here. We've had our differences, Father, but we're family. There's no stronger tie than that. I suppose some of what's happened is my fault, but most of it's yours. Nevertheless, I'm willing to forget and start anew.”

“Start a new what?”

“You ignorant old bastard, I'm giving you a chance to make this right. I don't intend to sit here all day!”

“Why not?”

Sabatino frowned, giving thought to that. Finn shook his head. He couldn't think of anything to say.

“I have a casualty here. He's gravely injured, I fear. He's going to need help or he'll perish right away …”

As if in answer, Calabus loosed a high, piercing laugh, more like a cackle, more like a shriek, not like a laugh you might hear every day.

Sabatino took a deep breath. He seemed to sag, he seemed to wilt, seemed to go into decline. Finn felt he might simply fade before his eyes.

“Father is over the hill. There's nothing else for it.”

“No offense, but he's been over the hill for some time.”

“I know. But this is worse than that.”

Sabatino crawled to the edge of the brush and risked a look.

“This man is hurt, Father. Just let me come in there and get a glass of wine, perhaps a damp cloth of some kind.”

“It's that lizard fellow we're talking about.”

“Yes it is, Father. It's Master Finn. You remember him.”

“He's hurt real bad?”

“Extremely badly, Father. It's his leg.”

“One leg, you mean. Not two.”

“No, just one.”

“Tell him to limp the hell out of here, then. I'd just as soon shoot him too.”

Sabatino turned to Finn. “I'm doing my best. It's impossible to reason with the man.”