XI - Truth

"I'm telling you, Casio, that the woman simply vanished!" Kamon exclaimed with a sweep of his arm. He was relating the events of the day.

Casio, slouched comfortably in a chair in Kamon's office, was unimpressed by the mysteriousness of Jasmine's departure from the Capitol Circle. "So she's a fast runner, Hawk. Or you held up the temple officers longer than you thought. She made it to the woods; she hid from everybody. It's pretty simple."

"No!" Kamon disagreed vehemently. "She couldn't have run fast enough to make it to the woods! And even if she did, I should have found some trace of her. There was none. Nothing!"

"She snuck out when you weren't looking," Casio suggested.

"I searched the woods, Casio," Kamon answered. "I'm not boasting, but you know that I can track just about anybody or anything. There were no signs; she hadn't been there!"

"She doubled back into the crowd." Casio was not one to overlook the obvious.

"No!" Kamon was unwilling to accept this possibility. "Someone would have said something. The temple officers questioned everyone available. No one admitted to seeing anything, and who would lie to a temple officer? It didn't happen, Casio. She vanished!"

But Casio remained unconvinced. "I'm sure you'll find there is a logical explanation for all this. Take those temple officers, for example. Why do you suppose they showed up? Temple officers never go near the Circle. It's not a hot spot for religious crimes. Yet, today, there they were. Psychic? A vision from Nome? Hmmm. Sort of makes you wonder, doesn't it? Well, I'll tell you why they were there ---- the television news crew called them ---- told them that some big-time blasphemy was going on down at the Circle and they better get over there! The news women do that sometimes. It adds more zest to the protest they're covering. A better visual for the nightly news. Not many people know they do that, but Mr. Always-on-top-of-things-around-here knows," Casio proclaimed with confidence as he stabbed his thumb into his chest. "So you see? A perfectly rational explanation for a seemingly mysterious event. Case closed."

"That's a great explanation," Kamon said, "but it does nothing to clear up the mystery I'm talking about....where did Jasmine disappear to?! What logical explanation do you have for that?!"

"I don't know!" Casio gestured with both hands. "But there's a rational explanation for it! People just don't disappear. They walk away, or better yet, run!"

"She didn't," Kamon said. "She disappeared!"

A quiet knock was heard from Kamon's open door. A meek Elbe edged his head into the room. "Excuse me, Councilmen." He looked at Kamon. "I'm very sorry to interrupt, but I just wanted you to know that I have the information you requested. I didn't want you to be waiting for it unnecessarily. It....seemed important to you."

Casio rose out of his chair and slid onto the credenza behind Kamon's desk. "Come on in, Elbe!" Casio exclaimed cheerily, waving to the young man. "Let's hear your report!"

"Uh--," Elbe hesitated, "no offense, sir, but Councilman Kamon gave me explicit instructions that I was to discuss this with no one."

"Oh come on, Elbe!" Casio waved him in. "I'm 'no one' Besides, we're both dying to hear your report on the peace lady! I know I am! Let's have it!"

Kamon cringed. "How do you know it has anything to do with Jasmine?"

"I didn't tell him, sir!" Elbe blurted out fearfully. "I swear I didn't!"

"Nobody had to tell me," Casio said, dismissing them both with a wave of his hand. His legs dangled above the floor while his heels tapped lightly against the wooden doors of the credenza. "I walked by Elbe's computer kingdom today and asked him what he was working on. You should have seen how fast he started stuffing printouts under books and nonchalantly covering his computer screens with his arms, elbows, and other body parts. He looked like a pretzel. Then he sputtered something about how all this was 'confidential'. Confidential?! In this office?! Hawk, you don't even lock your own door! Wouldn't know where the key is! Ipso facto, there's only one thing he could have been working on -- the peace lady!" Casio concluded smugly.

"I'm sorry, sir," Elbe replied dejectedly, his head down. "I didn't mean to let you down."

"You didn't let me down, Elbe," Kamon assured him. "Casio's right. He is 'no one', so go right ahead with your report."

"Thanks a lot," Casio remarked caustically.

Buoyed by the encouragement, Elbe began. "Well, the woman named Jasmine is from the southernmost part of Marmot, more specifically, the city of Paloma in the Province of Columba. Strange thing, though; I can't seem to find any information about her ancestry. No parents, no relatives, no place of birth, nothing. It has to be there, somewhere in the records, I mean; I just can't find it! When a person is born, at a bare minimum, her name, sex, and parent's names are entered into the state data base. But this woman is simply not there!"

"Steady, Elbe," Casio remarked. "Don't blow a circuit."

"I suppose she could be living under an assumed name," Elbe mused aloud. "But how would she register with the local temple without providing the names of her parents? And she has to register. No one can avoid that. Do you see my point?" he asked, searching both their faces. "Even if she had a false identity, she would still have to inject herself back into the system. I should come across the names of parents and a birthplace, even if they're fictitious. How could she get lost like this?" he finished rhetorically.

Casio's face lit up. "She's an alien from another planet!" he exclaimed in mock earnestness.

"Shut up!" Kamon barked. He knocked Casio on the shin with the back of his hand. A leg kicked back at Kamon's hand. He ignored it. "Keep going, Elbe."

"Well, she seems to have no specific occupation other than a 'preacher of peace', for want of a better term. It's what she uses, actually. Odd, isn't it? Anyway, in pursuit of this 'goal of peace', she has made many trips to the island state of Kefar, several in just the past six weeks."

That explains her clothing, Kamon thought. Long, loose garments providing protection from the sun, suitable for the hot, dry climate found in Kefar.

Kefar was a country halfway around the globe, just north of the equator. Although only a relatively small island state, it was, at the moment, having an enormous impact on the rest of the planet. The ruling majority population, the Fraus, called by the same name as their religion, were natural allies with the state of Marmot.

The minority population on Kefar was of a different religious sect called the Clemens. They worshipped Nome as their Creator but did not recognize the Delphi as the supreme leader of the temple on Arnot.

The Clemens were segregated in the western part of the island. They had no voting privileges and their children were not allowed to attend the state supported school system. The Clemens were permitted to work in only the lower level occupations. They had long sought independence from the rest of Kefar, but the majority Fraus had always strenuously opposed this movement, fearing the threat that an unfriendly independent state might pose to the ruling Fraus.

The nearby continent-state of Graecia supported the Clemens call for independence. Almost exclusively, the inhabitants of the state of Graecia were followers of the Clemens faith.

Understandably, the head of the Fraus faith, the Delphi, actively opposed the Clemens' bid for self-determination, not wishing the further spread of a "heathen" faith, the establishment of a new government run by the Clemens being such a development in her mind.

Each of these two large industrialized states, Graecia and Marmot, was supplying arms and economic support to the side of its choice. Consequently, the island of Kefar was a tinderbox. Fear ran strong that any incident on the island, no matter how slight, might be the spark that would set off a conflagration drawing both Graecia and Marmot into an international conflict.

Kamon's eyebrows raised in admiration. It seemed logical that Jasmine was dabbling in affairs much more serious than a couple of temple guards.

Elbe continued with his report. "I have been unable to discover Jasmine's source of funds for these trips overseas. I am also not sure how she supports herself. She has a considerable following, but her 'occupation' entails no salary." He looked directly at Kamon and expressed the bewilderment written on his face. "She's an enigma, sir. People usually write bank drafts or use a credit card for purchases as frequent and as large as these, and those records would be traceable. I should be able to find them, but I can't!"

"How do you get access to all those records, Elbe?" Casio asked, his heels knocking on the front of the credenza. "It almost sounds like you could find out how much anyone in the state is in hock."

"Well, uh---," Elbe stammered, apparently not sure if he should reveal his methods. Still, one of the councilmen had asked a direct question and even though he did not work for Councilman Casio, in the short time he had been on Councilman Kamon's staff it had become very plain to him that the two were very much a team.

Each of them wandered in and out of the other's office at will. Neither ever knocked or announced himself. Each used the resources and facilities of the other as if they were his own.

The atmosphere of commonality extended to their staffs as well. If a staffer needed time off for a personal matter, for instance, Elbe had noticed that either councilman might be advised; it made no difference which. In fact, the two staffs operated essentially as one. It was difficult getting used to this arrangement, but Elbe was slowly adjusting. This was more than a work place. There existed a strong sense of family here. It was like.....a home, and Elbe enjoyed it. Thus, a request from Casio was to be treated with as much respect as if it had come from Kamon himself.......but this instance might be different.

"I--I accessed the Nexus financial network, sir," Elbe finally blurted out. "Once you're in, you can find out just about anything."

"You got into Nexus!?!" Casio exclaimed in disbelief.

"Uh, yes, sir. You--You're not going to tell anyone, are you? I could get into a lot of trouble." The meek little man turned his pleading eyes to Kamon. "Have I disappointed you, sir? You said you wanted me to find out anything I could about Jasmine. When I couldn't seem to find much, well....I turned to Nexus. I figured there had to be something there. I'm sorry. I'll never, ever do it again!" Elbe was near tears.

"It's alright, Elbe," Kamon reassured him. "You did exactly what I wanted you to do. Nothing said here will ever leave this room. It's our secret, just the three of us."

Elbe seemed visibly relieved.

"You got into Nexus," Casio remarked with a grin. "I don't believe it. Those women at Rhondo, the people who created Nexus, testified before my Finance subcommittee last month and they assured me that no one, I repeat, no one could possibly gain entry to that system without proper authorization. You have to use about forty different passwords just to say, 'Good morning', to the dumb thing. I'd just love to see their jaws drop if I were to tell them I know someone without any authorization who could tap right in and run wild! They'd really croak if they found out it was a man! How do you do it, Elbe?"

"I figured out a way to bypass the security codes. It's not hard really." Having been assured that he would not be fired nor jailed, Elbe was displaying a keen interest in the subject, and more than just a little bit of pride.

"'Not hard', Hawk?" Casio said, poking his friend on the shoulder. "Can you beat that?! We should give this guy a raise. Heck, he could probably give himself a raise and no one would know! Just zip it into the ol' computer!"

"Oh, I would never do that, sir," the young man said earnestly. "And I am always very careful never to make a mistake."

"I'll bet you are," Casio remarked. "You'll have to show me that some time. "I would---."

Casio was suddenly cut off by a large hand over his mouth.

"Quit interrupting him," Kamon said impatiently. "Let him finish his report."

Again a foot kicked at Kamon's arm and again he ignored it.

"Well, sir," Elbe said, returning his attention to the subject he had been investigating. "There really is not much more. As I indicated, I raised more questions than I answered." Elbe paused and opened his mouth as if he wanted to say more, then his mouth closed. He had apparently changed his mind.

"What is it?" Kamon asked with obvious interest.

"It's really nothing, sir," Elbe answered evasively. "I know you asked me to tell you everything I found out about the woman named Jasmine, but this is not important. I'm sure it isn't."

"No! Go right ahead!" Kamon's curiosity was clearly piqued.

Elbe began to fidget with his fingers. "You'll think it's silly, sir."

"No, I won't!" Kamon insisted. "Just tell me!"

The visibly nervous young man glanced at Casio, then at Kamon, apparently looking for some reassurance in their faces, despite the councilman's encouraging words. He took a deep breath, then exhaled before finally speaking, looking at the floor as he did so. "Uh -- well, sir, there --- was one other thing --- but I was afraid you might think it ridiculous." Elbe paused to look up at both of them. Neither said a word. Kamon sat expectantly in his chair. "Some of Jasmine's followers say she is the daughter of Nome," Elbe finally blurted out.

There was complete silence in the room for a second. Then Casio ruptured the solitude. "What!?!" he exclaimed. "Are you sure your computer hasn't crossed its wires and accessed the science fiction library, Elbe"?!!

"No. No, sir," Elbe replied defensively. "I said it might sound ridiculous, but that is what some of them say. I didn't make this up myself!"

"That's alright, Elbe," Kamon comforted him. "You did your usual outstanding job, and I am very proud of you. You can go home for the day and thanks very much."

"Yes, sir," he replied beaming. "And thank you, sir." He then turned to leave, but Kamon's call stopped him.

"Elbe?"

"Yes, Councilman?" Elbe asked as he turned around again.

"Would you please try to call me Kamon."

"Yes, sir." With that, Elbe left the room.

Casio continued expressing his opinions. "What did you think of that last part, Hawk? Daughter of Nome -- my alien hypothesis is more believable than that! But don't take it hard. Just because some kooks are following her around calling her the daughter of Nome doesn't mean that she's as nutso as they are!"

Kamon did not respond. He simply sat in his chair, his brow furrowed, deep in thought.

Seeing that his friend did not respond, Casio went quiet also, contemplating the big man. His heels tapped absent-mindedly on the credenza as he examined the smoothly chiseled face.

The dark eyebrows were welded together. It was a face that bespoke much concentration. And no one was closer to Kamon than Casio. He could practically read his thoughts, and Casio knew that the mysterious woman was on Kamon's mind. Casio began to sense the truth of what was happening. Perhaps even Kamon himself did not yet fully realize what was transpiring within himself. But Casio could see it.

After several moments of silence, Casio finally shook his head and muttered to himself. "You got it bad, big guy."

"What?" Kamon said, breaking his concentration to look at his friend.

"I said cows are going to start flying tomorrow."

"Huh?"

"Nothing," Casio man said, shaking his head and hopping off the credenza. "Let's go eat. I'm starving!"

"Oh, yeah. Me too."

"You have to be reminded of food?!" Casio muttered as they headed out the door. "You really got it bad."

----------------------------------------------------------------------

The two men entered the Zone and headed for their customary corner. Kamon was the first to spot her. It was Jasmine! Seated at the same table as last night -- and reading the Council Journal!

Kamon could hardly contain himself as he grabbed his friend's arm. "Casio!" he exclaimed in an excited whisper. "There she is!! Look!!"

"Ow! Hey, what are you trying to do, tear my arm off!? It doesn't screw back on if you rip it off, you know!"

"Sorry. But there she is -- reading!!"

"A lot of people do that in this country! It promotes literacy."

"You know what I mean, Casio! How did she get in here?!"

"I'll bet you she tells us she came in through the big wooden door behind us," Casio answered. "I'll put a lunch on it. Whadda ya say?"

"Would you be serious for a minute?!"

"Okay, mountain man, here's a novel idea for you -- let's go over and ask her?"

The two Councilmen approached the table just as they had the night before. Kamon was the first to speak. "Hello, Jasmine."

Beautiful, mesmerizing brown eyes looked up at him. "Hello, Kamon. I was hoping I might see you here."

Kamon felt a warm glow inside himself. The simple statement pleased him greatly.

"Please," Jasmine continued, "would you and Casio sit down for a moment and join me?"

The two men seated themselves. Kamon had one burning question. "How did you leave the Circle today? No one saw you go. And the temple officers conducted a thorough search."

"I did not wish to be taken into custody," Jasmine answered. "So I left unnoticed."

"But how?" Kamon pressed.

"I do not wish to offend you, Kamon, but I would really prefer not to say. I might need to leave quite suddenly at another time, and I think it best that no one know."

Kamon simply nodded. He felt....hurt that she would not share this information with him.

Jasmine reached out and touched his hand. "It is not a matter of sharing, Kamon," she said in a soothing tone. "I do not wish to hurt your feelings in any way. Please, believe me. But it is for your own good that I not speak of this. I do not wish to have the temple police questioning you about me. But if they do, you can quite honestly tell them you did not see me leave nor do you know how I accomplished it."

Kamon enjoyed the touch of her hand. "I won't press it," Kamon replied. "I'll respect your privacy. I have to admit I am curious, though."

Jasmine squeezed his hand. "Thank you," she said warmly.

Kamon especially enjoyed the friendly pressure on his hand. "You're welcome. But you still have a problem."

"And that is?" Jasmine asked.

Blasphemy! he wanted to shout at her. Didn't she get it?! But Kamon spoke in a calm tone. "Even if I can't tell them anything, it seems logical that the temple police are still looking for you." Arrest! Questioning! Two more thoughts running through Kamon's mind which he chose not to voice.

"That may very well be true," she agreed calmly. She seemed unconcerned by this prospect.

"They could find you," Kamon pointed out. Blasphemy was a most serious charge. Did she not realize this?!

"I understand," she replied.

"There's something I don't understand," Casio interjected. "How did you get in here? Both yesterday and today."

Jasmine turned her head slightly and looked at the door normally used by patrons to enter the Zone. Casio noticed and joined in her response; the two spoke in unison.

"THROUGH THAT LARGE WOODEN DOOR OVER THERE....."

"....yes, I know," Casio continued speaking, nodding his head after her part of their joint sentence had ended. "You certainly milk that statement for all its worth."

"It is the truth," Jasmine said.

"Yeah, well sometimes the truth doesn't tell you much," Casio grumbled. "In fact, sometimes it tells you very little."

"I believe I see your point," she agreed simply.

"Wonderful," Casio remarked dryly.

"Some of your followers say that you are the daughter of Nome." Kamon tried to say it an easy manner, but it was difficult. The very statement sounded 'wrong'. "Why would that be?" Once started, he had to finish the thought.

"It's interesting that you would have heard that," Jasmine said. "I don't believe you were at the Circle for much of my speech today. Or am I mistaken?"

Kamon tried to hide his discomfort. He did not want her to even suspect that he had checked on her background. That would be embarrassing! "No, you're not mistaken. I only arrived at the end of your speech." Quick! Change the subject, he thought. "Right about the time when you -- excuse me for being blunt -- bordered on blasphemy in one of your answers to a questioner."

"Do you think I committed blasphemy, Kamon?"

"It's not important what I think," he answered.

"It is to me."

It pleased Kamon greatly that she would care what he thought. He felt....good! "No, I don't. You spoke of a person, the Delphi, not a supreme being. A person can be fallible."

"Your comments might be as close to blasphemy as mine were," Jasmine pointed out.

"That may be," Kamon conceded. "However, you spoke in public. I made a private comment. You might be wise to be more circumspect in your remarks, choosing to confine potentially blasphemous statements to conversations among friends."

"We are friends then?" Jasmine asked in conclusion. "Because we have shared potentially blasphemous statements among us?"

"Hey, don't count me among you blasphemers," Casio quipped.

Kamon kicked Casio under the table. He was kicked in return. "Yes," Kamon said. "I would like to think we are friends." Jasmine smiled at him in response. Kamon felt really good!

"We're real chummy," Casio spoke up. "We feel really comfortable tossing around potentially blasphemous statements among ourselves; we tell a lot of truth, and we learn --- absolutely nothing!"

"Kamon," Jasmine began in great earnestness, ignoring Casio's comments, "I will be leaving for the island state of Kefar tomorrow, to talk with the leaders of the Clemens and Fraus factions."

Kamon's eyebrows rose. "That's interesting...and unprecedented. I don't know of anyone who could make the claim that she would be speaking with two parties more at odds with one another. You should be holding a press conference. This would be big news."

"I've spoken with them before," Jasmine said calmly.

Kamon displayed his surprised. "That is big news. Why haven't we heard about this?"

"No one wished it to be made public," Jasmine answered.

Kamon nodded. "I can understand."

"I'm aware that the Council will be in recess for two weeks," Jasmine said. "I also understand, Kamon, that you might wish to stay in Positron during this period to discuss the Chief Councilwoman's case. Nonetheless, I was wondering if you might wish to accompany me to Kefar. I would enjoy your company, and I assure you that we would return before the Council readjourns."

The question took Kamon completely aback. "Well...."

"Time out!" Casio interrupted. "Excuse me, peace lady," Casio said to Jasmine in the most courteous of tones, "but the big guy and I have to talk about this --- as it relates to Council matters. You understand, of course?"

"Of course, Casio," she replied.

Casio rose from his chair and pulled Kamon to a corner of the room where they could talk in private. "Pack your bags, big guy."

"I'd like to, Casio; I really would. But what about my home, my trees? I can't protect them in Kefar."

"What's your plan to protect them?" Casio asked.

"I don't have a long range plan at the moment," Kamon admitted.

"Well, there you are. Then why hang around here? In the short term, nothing can happen anyway. The bridge is out. It'll probably take a month to rebuild it. They can't get any machinery near your trees until that is done. Besides, you've got Pomade so spooked, it'll be a lot longer than a month before she even dares to go near your trees, bridge or no bridge. And remember your standoff with the Delphi."

"And what about the case against the Chief Councilwoman?"

"You can think about that while you're overseas!" Casio answered. "The change of scenery will do you good; give you a new perspective. Who knows? I'll fill you in when you get back. Maybe you'll even come up with a permanent plan to protect your trees. Now pack your bags!"

"I'd like to go," Kamon nodded. "I think I will!" Kamon clearly liked the idea.

The two returned to Jasmine's table.

"Are you sure this would be alright?" Kamon asked. "It sounds like you're involved in some delicate discussions. I can't think of anyone on the planet who could talk with both the Clemens and the Fraus on Kefar.

It might be better if you did not have a councilman from Marmot with you. The Clemens might be especially suspicious. Marmot is publicly opposed to their call for independence. I would think I would be viewed as an enemy."

"It will be alright, Kamon," Jasmine assured him. "You would be my guest. There will be no trouble."

"As long as you understand," Kamon nodded. "Okay. I'll go."

"I am very glad you will be able to join me, Kamon. I believe you will find the trip to me most interesting." Jasmine rose to leave, once again closing the Journal and tucking it under her arm. "I will meet you at the hoverport at eight tomorrow morning. Goodnight."

Jasmine turned to leave, took a few steps, then stopped and faced them again. "By the way, Kamon, that was very kind of you to help Acceptus and his mother today."

Kamon was most pleased with the compliment. "Well thank you," he beamed. He paused, puzzled. Then it came to him. "Hey! How did you know---!"

But the question was left unfinished. Jasmine had already left through the large wooden door.

END OF CHAPTER