The Tale of a Secretary, Chapter VI: Eschatology Blues

Prerequisites:
Committee report
The Tale of a Secretary, Chapter I: Scenery of Salvation
The Tale of a Secretary, Chapter II: Introduction to a Diligent Task
The Tale of a Secretary, Chapter III: The Smiling Man
The Tale of a Secretary, Interlude: Mr. Reed's Everyday Life
The Tale of a Secretary, Chapter IV: Trahison D'être
The Tale of a Secretary, Chapter V: Reaching the Rubicon
The Tale of a Secretary, Interlude II: Existential Angst


The chilling wind gusted through the desolate streets in the all too familiar City night. The man strode with patient yet determined steps, for each twenty-four halting, senses on full alert, to ensure that no one was tailing him. Because if he indeed heard anything out of the ordinary, that would mean the end of everything. After crossing the bridge connecting Old Quarter to the nobler parts of town, let's not beat around the bush anymore – it's Auldale, the scenery changed into a more habituated one.
He strongly disliked being scrambled on observation missions like these, feeling like a cat might feel when thrown off its cozy cushion into a boiling stew. After the things he had witnessed back in that factory, there was no doubt in his mind that the sacrifices had not reached their end.

The streets of Auldale, heavily patrolled at night as they are, are however not devoid of dark alleys suitable for shady rendezvous. When he reached the aforehand agreed upon place, he was suddenly
grabbed by his collar and dragged further into the shadows. This did in no way alarm him, quite to the contrary, it reassured his gloomy spirit. He drew a deep sigh of relief as he watched his legs rest against the moving stone.
The cloaked figure looked into the man's eyes for the duration of a second, and spoke:
“So he failed.”, the figure established.
The man was silent.
“You have done well. Now return, they mustn't suspect you were there.”
The man rose and silently turned his heel and began walking away only to stop after a few yards, anticipating the impending.
“I needn't remind you about the Device.”, the voice echoed down the lonely alleyway.
He shook his head in silence, and disappeared.

* * *

Reed and Libel were far from what one would call outdoorsy types. However, long hours of glyph reading and conversing at the Table of Conversations often prompts the virtue of a change in environment to stimulate a change in thought. This was however nothing of the like. After they had gotten back to the recently compromised base of operations they had found a note hurriedly requesting their presence by the Council of Elders.
They soonly realised that this would be no ordinary hearing. The mere fact that the audience were to be held deep within the woods outside the City did little to mitigate the apparent graveness of its nature. Both acting on a hunch that the meeting would forego action, they did wisely to complement the equipment with items such as gas arrows and various more or less magical potions.

With the darkness wrapped around their cloaks they stealthily hasted toward the gathering. As usual, during traverses like these, silence reigned supreme.
“For I am the honey-maker...”, Reed hissed under his breath.
“...and the Jacksberry.”, James responded with a crooked smile on his face. “You know I appreciate any and every attempt to liven up spirits, John, but try to stay in character – we'll be there soon.”
“Yesh, I know.”, John responded with a grin.
Within minutes they reached the glade. The five robed figures stood like statues with their arms hidden in the other arm's sleeve, respectively.
“Our two most promising acolyes. With what grace have you not handled the darkness thrown upon you?”, the first one spoke rhetorically.
“Yet like all men, you manifest weakness when dealing with... delicate subjects.”, the second one, judging by the voice clearly a woman, continued. Even though hidden in the black of the night, James could see her smirk.
“Cut the bombastic crap.”, James said, doing little to hide his legible exasperation. “Why did you summon us?”
“James... this is so unlike you. You usually have such patience, especially with people.” she mocked. Praying mantids were heard in the distance.
“It must be searing, not being able to see betrayal, even when it's happening right before your very eyes.”, the third Elder spoke.
The wind grabbed ahold of the surrounding trees and swallowed all sound. John grabbed the opportunity to speak.
“Venerated Elders, as should be familiar, we are not two to pass up an opportunity on small talk.”, he spoke with glee. “This notwithstanding, state the matter of life and death, since we are about to leave.”
“Then we shall speak plainly.” the fourth Elder uttered. “By now the news of your would-be assassin's failure will have reached them. It is of utter importance that you find your fallen apprentice. Go to the Clocktower and await the fifth stroke. She will be there.”

* * *

An atmosphere of foreboding permeated the darkened library, at first sight a seemingly scholarly setting, now so far removed from the outside world that the scheming that historically had taken place there now appeared as ethereal and ephemeral as the clouds of yesterday. Nevertheless, this was the lair and secret meeting place of the four remaining of them. Few would be closely able to imagine that it is in this modest setup that the inner workings of The City are decreed.
The men were sitting in armchairs directed toward the oval mahogany table that is the center piece of furniture, the blazingly dark star around which everything else revolve. A foot or two away a lonely lantern vainly tried to bring light to the gobbling darkness. It failed as utterly and miserably at its task as the late assassins of late.

They were still breathing, that dangerous man J.P. Reed and the libellous snake J.R. Libel. This could mean one thing and one thing only. As it was written, the men knew and were all in silent agreement sealing the implementation of that which was now inevitable.
“I am saddened to say that it seems like our man has failed us for the first time in over twenty years of faithful service.”, the first man spoke.
“The wheels have been set in motion.”, the second man uttered in a soft voice.
The third man, who had not changed his ways, were accordingly silent.
The fourth man's distress was obvious, as he shifted uneasily in his chair, only to come to sudden realisation of his behaviour, and thus forcefully wringing it out of his shaking limbs. He gathered strength.
“For all that which we have wrought...”, he started. “We all know the contingencies by heart. It's quite clear that we've have failed and now is the time for action. My dear gentlemen, it has been a great honour working with you. It will all be over soon. Now, let us activate the Device.”
The men were quiet. No one smiled.

* * *

They reached the Clocktower a few minutes before the hour was full. Despite the lack of living beings in sight, they still kept to the shadows, with knowledge of how to deal with unnecessary risks vividly in mind.
“I strongly disapprove of the manifold of loose ends in this messy situation.”, John Paul spoke softly, almost inaudible.
“You know the Elders like their aura of mystery, John. I too disapproveth.”, James answered.
Out of the shadows of a nearby alley Amanda appeared, exactly as the Elders had predicted. They kept hidden until she had reached the center of the square.
“John? James?”, Amanda called out into the night. No change was visible in her eyes. Although dominated by weariness, in her eyes the same glimmer, as always.
The desolate place had gotten more desolate. After having ruled out the possibility of another set-up, the two men revealed themselves and walked toward the center of the square. A few heartbeats passed in silence.
“Amanda...”, Mr Reed said dryly.
“I wish things would've been different...”, came the innocent utterance.
“You know I truly abhor clichés, Amanda, but for what it's worth, I want you to know I feel the same way.”, Libel's hollow voice echoed.
“It is true that we sometimes feel small – we ought to. I believe they might ship you off to an asylum otherwise.”, John said. “There are however promises this world cannot bear, eternity being one of them. If we are to live, here, there are some choices that need to be made, some naive notions that need be slaughtered by reality. Nature, tooth and claw. You adhere, yet you reject it. In that regard, you are blind.”
“The fault lies not with you, Amanda, for our vision has been clouded too.”, declared Libel. “A person is not to blame if they are ascribed unrealistic expectations. It is simply so that we should've known better. The burden is ours.”
Amanda shut her eyes.
“What is it that you see, Amanda?”, Reed asked.
The first stroke propagated through the dense air.

* * *

Afterward the night tea with Lord Caduca, Amanda now sat in her chamber preparing for her temporary transfer into the realm of dreams. The room was unusually cold, but such discomfort was nothing she would distress her former ward with at this hour. It was true that legal obligations no longer kept her within Caducas Auldalian manor. His numerate affectionate proposals did. It seemed like many had great plans for her.
A candle burned by the mirror, in front of which she was sitting. She lost her breath when she raised her head to reaffirm her presence. Instead of on her own, her eyes stuck at a smiling face.
“Do not be alamed, child.”, the smiling man assured, transforming his smile to an unprecedented grin.
“Who are you? How did you get in here? And most importantly: why are you smiling?”, Amanda asked.
“Who I am is irrelevant, what I represent isn't. We have been watching your progress, or should I say regress, ever since you commenced training. And as to my getting in here, false modesty aside, I am yet to meet my equal sneak.”, the man said, smile subsiding.
“Your hubris-”, Amanda countered.
“Is warranted”, the smiling man cut off. “For the sake of your salvation those lies they fill your head with must go.”
“What lies?” Amanda asked in bewilderment, turning around facing The Smiling Man.
“They say you can't have your dreams, don't they?”
He mustered up the smile to end all smiles.

* * *

The third stroke ripped through the air. Amanda still motionless.
“Amanda!”, John's scream was swallowed as the ground began to tremble.
With the fourth stroke a tremendously bright light engulfed the entire square.
“I'm sorry.”, Amanda's vocal cords somehow overpowered the rumble.
The two men rushed up to her and as the fifth powerful stroke finally came, the clocktower started collapsing.
“We must leave, now!”, James screamed.
“No, for my betrayal I die here. Leave, leave now!”, Amanda screamed at the top her lungs.
James executed a standard maneuver with lightning speed allowing the blackjack to reliably make contact with the back of Amanda's skull. John quickly caught her in the fall, hurling her up on his shoulder. When the clocktower fell, tearing down a large portion of the enormous structure, the eschatology blues kept playing.