Nirvana Effect

20



For the first time, Edward turned his attention to the future while under trance. Half his trance he spent in the future. The other half, he spent in Mahanta’s private quarters, behind the throne in the temple.

The future was a haze of probabilities. It arced along many channels. He found that it was already calculated to some degree. He did not have the think about it so much as view it. It had already been subconsciously, furiously computed.

The future hinged on the single question: “Who to trust?” From there, it branched out to many more questions, chief among them: “What did Nockwe mean, exactly?”, “What does Mahanta really intend?”, and “What the hell am I doing?”

If Nockwe was being entirely truthful, then Mahanta’s course was set. He was not “Mahanta, the scientist.” He was “Manassa, the Onge god,” manipulating Edward in order that he might fulfill prophecies and aggrandize himself.

Or else Nockwe sought to undermine Mahanta, and take power for himself. It would not be the first time an Onge chieftain used subterfuge to maintain control. To lose power was death for him and possibly his family as well. It was an unreasonable assumption to think that Nockwe was truly on Manassa’s side.

It was an unreasonable assumption to think that Nockwe was truly on Edward’s side. Honor or no, he was an Onge first and foremost.

He would not have told Edward what he did if it did not benefit himself or the tribe.

The whole honor bit was just to sell it to Edward.

Edward had the feeling of a man playing chess who suddenly makes the unhappy discovery that he’s a pawn, sitting on a giant chess board absorbed in the little chess board on his lap.

What was Nockwe trying to do?

Instead of thinking about it, Edward just viewed all of the possibilities that led from the facts. The facts were that Mahanta hadn’t told Nockwe what Edward was up to. The facts were that Mahanta and Nockwe were involved in a game that Edward did not yet understand. The facts were that everyone was playing a game except him. He was just a pawn.

From where he sat, each of the possibilities were just as plausible. He lacked data. He needed data before he lost the trance.

Again, he had to steal the initiative, just like in his duel with Dook. The time had come to play the only card he had.

Edward stood up from his bed of straw. He walked briskly behind the throne to Mahanta’s personal chambers. He was not surprised to see a candle still burning and Mahanta hunched over his desk.

Mahanta turned abruptly, but his posture remained natural and his face relaxed. Still, Edward noticed the nigh-imperceptible clenching of Mahanta’s back muscles in fright, the minute surprise that told Edward he had Mahanta off balance. Mahanta hadn’t been expecting Edward to make a move so suddenly, but had been expecting a move.

Edward knew with a trance certainty that Tomy had indeed spied, and perhaps had done better than Nockwe and Edward suspected he could have.

“Edward,” said Mahanta. “Can’t sleep?” Mahanta was watching Edward’s eyes. He was looking for the trance, and found it there.

“No, I’m very awake, Mahanta,” said Edward with a casual smile.

“Can I help you?” asked Mahanta.

“I wanted to tell you that I’ll be leaving for Lisbaad immediately,” said Edward.

Mahanta was shocked. Edward could never have known he was shocked outside of trance. Mahanta’s eyebrows quivered. His pupils dilated a fraction of an inch, but in perfect reaction to the end of Edward’s sentence as it struck home. It took time for Mahanta to respond. Edward waited, not elucidating further.

“But why?” asked Mahanta carefully.

“I have business to attend to,” said Edward.

“I see.” Edward could see Mahanta thinking. He could almost articulate the thoughts whirring behind Mahanta’s eyes. “I trust you don’t believe in Onge mythology,” said Mahanta.

“As much as you do,” said Edward quickly.

“I trust you don’t use Onge mythology to guide your life’s decisions.”

“I’ve got my own mythology for that,” retorted Edward. He did spy, and openly admits it.

“What brings you to Lisbaad, then?” asked Mahanta.

“My researches, of course,” said Edward. “What else could bring me to Lisbaad?”

Mahanta was silent.

“I need equipment to continue my researches, and the advice of a doctor,” continued Edward.

“Tomy can get you what you need,” said Mahanta.

“Tomy can do nothing of the sort. And I am sure he is already indisposed,” Edward said. Mahanta’s eyes froze. He sought to make them divulge nothing. But even in their immobility they spoke volumes to Edward while in trance. “What is more,” Edward continued, “if a letter isn’t received by the Lisbaad church within three days with my signature and code, there will be a team of Jesuits here searching for me. While I was injured, I neglected to send my usual note through the traders.”

Mahanta’s voice took an odd, cold tone that was hard to read. He knows I’m peering into his soul right now. “That would be unfortunate,” said Mahanta.

“You see, it’s a peculiar thing, but I am very sure that such a team would be able to divine what is happening here, either by God’s direct revelation, or various other means, whether I’m here or not. It would be quite unfortunate if you or your people learned firsthand why the Jesuits’ leader is called a General or why we’re known as Soldiers of Christ.”

Mahanta got the point.

“It would be quite unfortunate for me, too,” said Edward. “I have many hopes. Good night, Mahanta. Do not do something foolish just because I have some leverage. You could hardly expect that I wouldn’t figure something out. I’m just following your advice to the letter. I will return in ten days, hopefully with some good news. I will not share our secret unless you make me. Even now, if I were to die suddenly, it is arranged that that secret be shared with a group that shouldn’t have it. That would be unfortunate for me, unfortunate for you, and unfortunate for humanity.”

Mahanta just watched him and said nothing. Edward moved towards the exit. He saw Mahanta relax almost imperceptibly out of the corner of his eye. It was the exact moment Edward had been waiting for. Edward turned and said, “I do not fault your desire to have the Onge rule the Earth.”

Edward watched Mahanta’s eyes. Mahanta answered, “I have no such desire.”

Mahanta spoke truth. Edward was convinced of it. There was no way Mahanta could lie in front of him. Not one minute reaction could slip by Edward’s awareness. Mahanta was answering with total honesty.

Which only led Edward to more questions. But there was something more important than the questions and the answers, and that was precious initiative. It was his, for a fleeting moment, and he would not lose it. Clueless, with no idea who to trust, and no sure way out of the maze, his only defense was to be unpredictable.

He left for Lisbaad by foot in the dead of night.