Nirvana Effect

39



An hour later, Callista sat straight-backed at the edge of her seat, still quizzing him. She had the kind of posture that never necessitated a chair back. In contrast to Callista, Edward slumped into the couch.

He’d told all, but all wasn’t ever enough for Callista. The drug had worn off, and its effects were replaced by a dreary exhaustion and a dull body ache. So much for the after-pain. I guess we could call it an after-ache now.

“So what do you make of it?” she asked. “Who’s telling the truth? Nockwe or Mahanta?”

Edward rubbed his forehead and sat up. He sighed. “I can’t tell you how much of a relief it is to communicate this all to another human being instead of just bouncing it all around my head.”

“No problem,” she said, smiling. “So what do you think?”

“Well, Nockwe told me Mahanta wants to rule the Earth - that he has to, basically…”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that because of the way the prophecy works in his tribe, the same tradition that made him a god to his people could also kill him if he doesn’t follow what that tradition predicts. And part of that prediction is that he’ll guide his people to rule the Earth.”

“Literally or figuratively?”

“Quite literally.”

“That’s crazy. Can you imagine the President or the Prime Minister bowing down to a boy in a loincloth?” she asked. She laughed at the idea. He didn’t.

“Well, he probably wouldn’t be in a loincloth at that point,” he said.

“Wait. You’re seriously considering that possibility?” she asked.

“I’m not debating what he’s capable of. I’m just trying to figure out what he’s capable of trying. But anyway, I asked him point-blank while I was in the trance if he intended that. He said no. I would have been able to tell if he were lying.”

“Wouldn’t have you been able to tell if Nockwe was lying, too?”

“Well, I wasn’t in the trance then…but it seemed like he was telling the truth.”

“Why would Nockwe lie to you?”

“Power. There’s always a power struggle in the Onge. He would want to undermine Mahanta.”

“But from what you said about Nockwe’s actions before this situation occurred, that sort of thing doesn’t sound characteristic,” she said.

“Maybe not. But Nockwe might be under new stresses, new pressures that force his hand. I don’t know the new Nockwe, and barely know the old.”

She nodded.

“One thing about what he said, though…what he said made sense. As a matter of fact, I don’t see how it could possibly be a lie…”

“What did you ask Mahanta?” she asked.

“Hmmm?”

“What did you ask him exactly?”

Edward rubbed his forehead again. He felt the need for coffee or, better, another trance. He sent his dull mind back to that moment. “I asked…well, it wasn’t a question, actually. I said, ‘I do not fault your desire to have the Onge rule the Earth.’ And he said, ‘I have no such desire.’ Of course, we said it all in Onge.”

“Hmmm…”

“Any ideas?” he asked.

“No, not yet. I don’t know what to tell you about that one,” she said.

“Yeah, seems like he’s being honest. You know, it’s totally possible that Mahanta’s being honest and so is Nockwe. Nockwe might just be being cautious, and not really know what Mahanta intends.”

“So what do you do now?” she asked.

He was looking at his hands. He studied them, looking for an answer written along one of the lines on his palms. “Well, I…”

He stopped because he’d looked up at her. She looked hopeful, a bit like a school girl sitting there waiting on the bench for her boyfriend to get to recess. When he stopped the expression evaporated.

“You’re not going back there, are you?” she asked.

He started to nod.

“Edward, you said it yourself. You’re playing their game, and you don’t even know what it is. Nockwe said Mahanta could kill you.”

“I know,” he said.

“And I’m here. Look at me. I’m here, Edward, flesh and blood. You’re here…” Her voice trailed off.

“It’s the nirvana effect…” he started.

“You’ve got the pills. We can just go. We can get off this island.”

“It’s not that…”

“Edward,” she said quietly. She looked down at the ground. He waited for her to speak. She seemed uncomfortable. “I set up a clinic here, on this island,” she said, “because I’d heard from your father…that you specialized in anthropology…and in tribes resistive to adopting the basics of Christianity. I mean, I wanted to set up a clinic, but I chose here because the Onge are one of the classic examples of such a tribe. I…”

He didn’t believe his ears. She wouldn’t look at him. Her face reddened. Her eyes watered.

“I couldn’t forget you,” she whispered. “I know that sounds stupid, childish, ridiculous. I…”

He held her. She still wasn’t looking at him. “I turned down travel,” he said, “to half a dozen cities I would have otherwise killed to see, just to get back to London. I’ve probably ‘thought I’ve seen you’ a hundred times. I couldn’t forget you, either.” She looked back up at him, her lips quivering into a smile.

“I just thought,” she said, “that maybe if I set up here, I might somehow see you again…”

“Good plan,” he said, squeezing her shoulders.

She laughed. “Stupid plan. Took long enough.” She laughed again. “Just stay,” she pleaded. “Or let’s leave.”

“I’d love to,” said Edward. “I can’t. I have to find out what Mahanta is up to. I’ve got to confront him and ask all the right questions this time. I’ve got to go spy on him while he doesn’t suspect I’m there. I can’t leave the drug with him if he’s up to no good.”

“Why not?”

“There could be a lot of people dead on account of him,” said Edward.

“You didn’t ask to get into this,” she pointed out.

“I’m trying to fix this. I just can’t drop it, Cali. I’ve got to make sure I do it right.”

“Why?” she asked. But she already knew the answer. He could see that she’d resigned herself to it.

Instead of responding, Edward just sighed and kissed her forehead.

“Don’t we already know he’s up to no good? He sent a spy after you.”

“It’s the Onge way,” he explained. “Trust but verify.”

“I don’t think that’s an Onge quote,” she said.

He shrugged and kissed her hard.

“You’re going now?” she called as he walked to the kitchen. She sounded disappointed.

“I’ve got to. I don’t have much time.” He started pouring the pills into the small bottle she’d pulled out for the purpose. He felt her slender fingers slide around his waist. She’d quietly slipped up behind him. “You don’t have to do anything,” she whispered, kissing the nape of his neck.

Even if Edward left in the morning, he could probably still out-pace the boy. But there was too much at stake and too much that could be decided by minutes.

Edward twisted his neck to kiss her. He felt her fingers slip under his shirt to touch his stomach. He turned around and kissed her more. Her smooth hands rubbed his back.

“Callista Knowles, I love you,” he said.

“I thought you were going to say, Callista Knowles, will you marry me?”

“That, too,” he said.

She poked him. He kissed her again and then he pulled away slightly.

“I have to go,” he said.

She laid her hands on his chest. He was still holding her to him. “You have to go now,” she said. The pleading left her voice.

“I do,” he said. “Can I borrow your car?”

“Will I get it back?” she asked.

He just looked at her. Good question. She tossed him the keys off the table.

“It’s good we go way back,” she said. He smiled.

He held up the keys. “This is my insurance you don’t run around on me while I’m gone.”

“There’s a doctor with a Corvette in the neighborhood. He could come pick me up.”

“I’ll take my chances,” said Edward. He kissed her once more and let her go. He had to get moving. He pocketed the bottle of “t-pills.” “Can you do me a favor?” he asked.

“Sure.”

“I’m going to ask you a few questions and give you a few directions before I go. You are in no way in danger personally, but I don’t want you to take any chances. You don’t need to worry, but you need to be careful. Does that make sense?”

She nodded. “Do you think that boy saw me?” she asked.

“Yes, I think it’s possible. Like I said, I don’t want to take any chances. I’d like for you to lay low until I get back.”

“That makes sense,” she said.

“Is there anyone you feel you can trust here?” he asked.

“James.” She cleared her throat. “Dr. Seacrest.”

“Corvette?” he asked. She laughed. “I see.” She laughed again. “Is he in town?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Could you shut the clinic down and stay with him for a few days until I get back?”

“Is that really necessary?” she asked.

“Please?” he asked.

“Will you not go if I don’t do it?” she asked. He narrowed her eyes at her playfully. “All right. I’m sure that will be fine.”

“Start this morning first thing. And if you see any Onge or suspicious-looking natives in the neighborhood, promise me you’ll go into town and hole up at Seacrest’s office? He has an office?”

“Yes and yes.”

“It’s just precaution,” he said, more for his own benefit than for hers.

“I know,” she said.

“I love you, Callista.”

“I love you, Edward.” She kissed him again.

He stepped out the back door. “Goodbye.”

“Goodbye,” she said.

He turned around to look at her once more. She was beautiful, leaning on the countertop. She still wore her black outfit. Her blonde hair casually framed her face. Her blouse hung loose with a couple of the top buttons undone. He knew that under any other circumstance, he wouldn’t be leaving until the morning.

Under any other circumstance, I wouldn’t be leaving at all.