Nirvana Effect

50



Tomy finally reached the temple. He collapsed at the feet of his master. He had run in the lightness faster and longer than any Onge had ever run in their oral history. His body was shaking. He had thought that if he had run fast enough, he could warn his master about the white man

It was obvious as he ran through the village that he had arrived too late. The whole place was in uproar. No warrior was to be found. The women and children were running here and there, collecting their possession. Everyone was talking, jabbering to one another, not making sense. “It is time…we are traveling…the white man…I hope they get him…Manassa…the temple…Manassa.” He’d only heard them in passing. He had but one goal - to relay his information to his lord.

“The white man,” wheezed Tomy, unable to even look up at his god.

“He has come and gone,” said Manassa. Tomy could hear the anger riding under Manassa’s tone. The god yanked Tomy up to his feet. “He came without you warning me, messenger! He came and surprised me and now knows of our plans. He is a traitor of the worst degree, that white man, and you let him beat you!” Manassa’s face was beat red. He slapped Tomy, who collapsed on the ground.

Tomy groaned.

“You were weak, messenger! I know you had a moment of weakness, where you acted as a child, and he got the best of you.” He was down in Tomy’s ear.

Tomy’s terrible sin flashed in his mind. “I got too close…” groaned Tomy.

“What?!” yelled Manassa.

“I…I got too close on the porch,” he mumbled. “I was watching the house, and watching them, and they started kissing. I was thinking about a girl…I got too close…he saw me. I didn’t think he’d see me.” Tomy sobbed his confession to the ground.

Manassa kicked him. “Get up! Get up, fool!” He kicked him again. Tomy just rolled over.

The living god knelt down over him, menacing just inches from his face.

“Listen to me, Tomy. Tomy, you are dead. When you stand up, Tomy is dead. Tomy will never be any more. Tomy is just a child, an embarrassment to our race. You will kill him, now. And when you arise, only Tome will rise. As Mahanta died, and Manassa rose, so it will be with you, Tome. Tome, ‘word,’ the word of your living god. Now rise up, and leave Tomy dead in the dirt.”

Tomy forced himself up on shaky legs. He dried his tears. He had failed his master utterly. He did what was asked. He let Tomy die inside of himself. It was a quick and easy thing in the half consciousness of exhaustion. He would be only what his living god would need of him now. Tome.

Manassa pulled out a vial from beneath his throne and emptied its contents into Tome’s mouth. He was giving him the lightness again. He knew the boy had just used the lightness to get here. He did not care. There were penalties for failure.

“I will tell you this once. We are leaving now. There is no time. The white man could ruin everything. Go now to Lisbaad and raid Liang’s mansion. Then come to the launch point. Bring everyone. Evacuate Lisbaad.”

“There is a woman,” said Tome. “A doctor. The white man worked with her in Lisbaad before he saw…Tomy.” he said, hesitatingly.

“You have her?” asked Manassa. Tome nodded. “Then bring her along with you.”

“What about the white man?”

“There’s no need to find him. He’ll find us. We must only be ready. Be sure everyone is on the highest alert. We must move NOW,” said Manassa.

Tome felt the effects of the lightness surge over him. “Yes, master. Thank you for your forgiveness.”

“There is no forgiveness, Tome. There is only living, and on the other side, death. Now, go.”