The Clocks

After getting out of school, the twins rushed home and to their rooms, not even stopping at their favorite snack stall. They changed their clothes then hurried to do their homework, double checking each other all the way to make sure that there were no errors. Given their mother's attitude the previous night, they knew that not even the slightest mistake would be tolerated this time.

Somehow they managed to finish everything, check it again, and present themselves to the dining room with three minutes to spare.

They were panting somewhat, both from having run down from their rooms and due to their anxiety, but Miranda merely gave them a once-over look, nodded, then gestured them to their seats.

Conversation at dinner was no different from the usual, but the tension in the room was climbing steadily. As the meal progressed, it rose to a point that all anyone felt when dinner was over was a sense of relief and release.

Robert rose and excused himself, pleading the need to finish up a meeting with Hiroshi about something or other. The rest gathered together and followed him out the door except that they turned left instead of to the right toward the bank.

After leaving, the twins lead the way downhill to a part of town that was right on the border between a lower, middle-class neighborhood and one where those of lesser means resided.

Eugenia, who, out of curiosity (and due to some degree of boredom if we're being honest), had tagged along and brought Mario with her, turned to him and whispered, "Not exactly where you'd expect to find a bookstore, is it?"

Mario bonked her lightly on the head. "Turn your mind on Love. Just about everyone likes a good story, and you're forgetting something important. Almost everyone in The City learns to read. You know, compulsory education and all that?"

"Well, yes, all of that, but... I mean, books are still expensive. It hasn't been all that long since printing presses were introduced to Europe. So, how do people here...." She waved her hand at their surroundings, "find the wherewithal to buy them?"

Mario laughed. "You're not thinking like a merchant, which of course I don't expect...yet. If there's a market, someone will fill it somehow. You can find cheap books for as little as a few soldini nowadays. They may be so flimsy that they don't last long, but they're still very popular. It's a lot better than not having anything to read. Don't forget that other than here in The City, libraries that the public can use are almost non-existent in Europe. It's either a bookstore, or nothing for most people. That and trading with friends and neighbors."

He took a deep breath, then shook his head. "I'm amazed and a bit chagrined by it all. People with almost nothing are buying books that you and I wouldn't even glance at much less buy. Once they have them, they're treating them as family treasures, which, in a sense, they are.

"I'd wager that some of their books last longer than many that are properly printed and bound. You take care of what you value, and they truly treasure them. They worked, hard, to earn the money to buy those books. For a lot of rich people, having books is nothing but a way to show off how much money they have. They don't really care if they get destroyed by a leak in the roof as long as they fill up the bookshelves and look good from a distance."

Even from behind her, Genie could tell by Miranda's posture that she was thinking something along the lines of, "Hah! He got you good. Maybe you'd better think for a moment before you start flapping your lips next time."

She opened her mouth for a rejoinder then realized that, whatever she said, she'd just dig herself a deeper hole. Her jaw snapped shut. Not getting in the last word wasn't very satisfying, but it was much better than being cut off at the knees.

The twins, being some distance ahead, hadn't heard any of the conversation. Sara and Paolo, who were just ahead of Genie and Mario turned and looked at each other with huge smiles on their faces. Then they faced forward again and continued on their way without saying anything.

Genie ground her teeth. Argh! They were rubbing it in, and they'd managed to do so without making a sound. She took a deep breath and gave up. They were older and, though she hated to admit it, wiser...apparently even her useless brother Paolo.

As she was mulling over that disturbing insight, she had turned her attention inward and was no longer watching where she was going. Just in time Mario grabbed her collar and prevented her from running into Mimi's back, everyone else having stopped at their destination.

Looking up she saw an old, somewhat decrepit-looking, north-facing warehouse with a faded sign that said "Brewster's Books" just above the door. There were a number of small, high windows, presumably to let in light without it damaging the contents of the building. There was also a rather large window of about two by three meters to the right of the door. It was composed of a latticework of small panes that were each approximately 20 x 30 cm.

The twins led the way in. Two meters directly inside there was a wide counter. There was a wall situated another two meters behind it. That was bare except for a sign saying: "Brewster's Books Proprietor: Mckale O'Malley." While not large, the calligraphy on it was gorgeous.

Behind the counter, sitting in an easy chair and just setting down a book, was a totally average looking person of no particular ethnic origin. Standing up and focusing on the twins they said, "Well. Back again. I'm surprised, given how I treated you last time...or perhaps not."

Switching attention to the others, and pursing their lips, "Interesting. I see where your interest in books came from now, and such an impressive group it is that you've brought with you. Let's see what we have."

Looking Miranda up and down. "The woman who won't be satisfied till she knows everything about everyone."

Shifting to Sara. "And the woman who won't be satisfied till she has contrived to assemble a repository of everything known about everything."

Then adding in a whisper, "And who has enough love in her heart to encompass an entire universe...and perhaps even more than that."

Next it was Paolo's turn. "Heh. I seem to have nothing but seekers here today. It's going to be fascinating to watch what you do once you've decided what it will be.

"Furthermore....."

There was a sudden gust of wind kicked up by the passage of Mimi whose view of the owner had until then been obscured by the taller people in front of her. The next anyone knew she was on her knees beside their chair, rubbing her cheek over and over again on their left, upper arm and holding the arm down with her hands, as if to prevent them from disappearing.

"Master! It's been such a long time. I've missed you so much!"

The purr emanating from her was loud enough that not only the beings around her but the building itself was vibrating in resonance.

Into the shocked silence, O'Malley spoke with a rough edge to their voice, "I've missed you too little one. More than you might imagine. I promise not to run away, so if you will let me stand up?"

Mimi let go, albeit reluctantly, though she still leaned against them. If anything her purr increased in volume.

"Welcome to my bookstore, and to be honest, what is even more so my retreat. But where are my manners? Please."

Gesturing to an opening in the wall to the right of the group. "Let's go in and join the others. I believe that with your arrival everyone currently involved is now here, though I expect that the final two will make their appearance within the next year or so."

A puzzled look made the round of everyone's faces. Clearly something more than what they'd expected was going on, and they all had questions. But there would be no answers if they didn't follow this O'Malley person who was just now passing through the opening that they assumed led to the main area of the store. Mimi was still purring and was again holding their arm as if she were afraid that they might disappear.

The rest followed, with Miranda and Sara in the lead, down a rather dark corridor which ended at...oh...my...yes.... The two of them stopped cold and the rest spilled around the edges, whereupon they also stopped. It wasn't that Miranda and Sara were being rude. Rather it was because they were unable to wrap their minds around what they saw and move at the same time.

They had to be inside the rather disheveled warehouse they'd first entered, and they'd only walked about seven or eight meters. But....

Directly in front of them was what you might call a sitting room in that there were dozens of comfortable looking chairs scattered around an area that was probably 15 meters across. Past them, on all sides of the circular area holding the chairs, were row upon row of tall bookshelves.

Paolo absently passed a handkerchief to Sara who was drooling at the sight. (Though for the rest of her life she denied it vehemently.)

There was an almost golden light suffusing the room, providing just the ideal amount for reading. An even 20 desks sat around the periphery of the sitting area, each of a size that would allow a researcher room for eight to 10 volumes at once.

Almost as one, everyone's eyes drifted upward towards what had to be the source of the light. What they beheld was a domed skylight 12 meters across, 15 meters high, and with its base about five meters above them. It was supported by a spiderwork of what appeared to be wrought iron. What they noticed next was Yoko bouncing and flipping and spinning from beam to beam, all the while with a grin on her face that seemed to become wider with each bounce.

YOKO?! What in the world?

"It's time to come down little one. We have things to discuss."

O'Malley had spoken in what seemed a soft voice, but it must have carried, for Yoko instantly, though with obvious reluctance, stopped her acrobatics and bounced her way down to the floor. Upon reaching it she bowed and said, "I haven't had so much fun in literally ages. May I perhaps be allowed to...."

O'Malley ruffled her hair. "Of course you may."

Seeing the look of anticipation in her eyes O'Malley hurriedly added, "But let's not get distracted. There will always be time for that later, and today we don't have a great deal of time before it might be noticed that we're all 'gone'. That could create problems, yes?"

Yoko nodded then made her way over to the settee holding Jason and Hibiki, plopped herself down, and turned her attention back to O'Malley, who turned to the new arrivals.

"Please be seated. I have a few things to explain, and, as I just said, we don't have a great deal of time."

The newcomers sorted themselves out, settling on various chairs and sofas, then turning to O'Malley with expressions ranging from attentive to suspicious.

Without any further preamble, O'Malley began, "All of you here, to at least some degree, are aware of the activities of the one you call 'Lady Blue'.

They smiled widely. "A cute name that. Much better than some she's been known by.

"At any rate, it will be most helpful if you understand something about her. Regardless of how incredibly old she may seem to you, the truth is that, for her species, she's not quite yet reached puberty. As such she's prone to mistakes.

"Subaru here...." Looking down lovingly at Mimi, who was still holding their arm and purring, though softly now, "has, among numerous other things, accepted the task of being the spokesperson for those monitoring Blue. As such, as some of you saw yesterday, she has the authority to, um...how to put it..."

Making a fist of their left hand and gently hitting the palm of the upturned right, they continued, "Yes, that will do, 'remonstrate' with Blue when she is overreaching herself in one way or another. There are others who are much more powerful than Subaru who are present on your world and are able to step in should an actual correction need to be made, but it is Subaru who must be the focus of any such activities for now. It's far too premature for Blue to discover the presence of the others.

"Like any near adolescent..." they turned to look at Stavros and Conseula momentarily, then resumed speaking, "It is important to learn to make one's own decisions and choices, preferably without knowing how much one's parents and guardians worry about them. Even more important is that they not know until they are adults how much of what they supposed they were doing in private was known by their elders."

At that point everyone besides the aforementioned twins blushed brightly, even Robert and Hiroshi who usually had excellent control of their reactions, what with having extensive practice at being "staid" bankers and all.

Akane had buried her face in her hands while Blair had just grabbed the side of the settee she was sitting on with Hiroshi and frozen in place.

"So your questions, as I see them, can be distilled into just one: Why am I telling you this?

"The answer is simple, though, like many simple things, it has possibly far-reaching ramifications. You needed to understand why she acts so much like a child at times, even when you know how serious and even dangerous the situations you find yourselves in are. In other words her perceptions of the world around her are incomplete."

Seeing puzzled expressions they smiled gently in Jason's direction. "It's like with you youngling. For now you need guidance from your wives, and others now and then, in order not to make mistakes that you'd regret."

Seeing comprehension on everyone's face they added, "Unlike you however, she's in her 'rebellious' phase and resents 'interference' from adults. It's one of those 'I can do it myself, I don't need any help' type situations."

So quickly that nobody but Genie noticed, they flicked their eyes toward her and then back.

The twinkle in O'Malley's eyes vanished and they continued, "The project involving your city has ramifications that extend far beyond this world. What they are and why this particular planet is so important I can't tell any of you right now. What is important is that you are aware that it IS important.

"So, those of you who have a closer relationship with my not-quite-wayward student, and I mean you Miranda and you Sara, are encouraged to let her know when she does something irresponsible, just as both of you already have on occasion.

"You've been afraid that she'll get angry and will 'do something' to you if you irritate her too much."

They smiled. "Rest assured that such a situation will not arise. Yes she may become irritated, but there are certain constraints her people place on all their children once they are deemed mature enough to venture out from their homes by themselves. Such remain in place until they have learned self-control -- to an exquisite degree."

They leaned forward conspiratorially and whispered, "She's progressing much faster than most. However I don't want her to get a 'swelled head', so don't tell her I said so. OK?"

Next they turned to Subaru and patted her on the head. "It's time for you to resume your role as Mimi, and for the rest of you to resume the activities that I interrupted. And no, don't worry that Blue will pluck your thoughts about this meeting out of your minds. One of her constraints is that she won't be able to hear anything you say, or tease out anything you think about me, about what I've just said, or even that this meeting took place.

"Feel free to discuss what you've heard today, but if you please, only when you visit my store. That way I can enjoy your company and make a bit of extra profit."

They looked at the group pleadingly. "You will buy some books now and then, won't you?"

Everyone chuckled or laughed raucously out loud, depending on their character.

"That should be everything for now."

Turning to Miranda they added, "Oh, and your idea will work splendidly. Thresh out the details with 'Mimi' later.

"That's it for now."