XVI - School

Having been with Jasmine for more than a week, Kamon now keenly felt her absence. He missed the sight of her. He missed talking with her.

A day passed. Kamon continued with reconstruction work within the village. Dusk settled on Purus for the second time since Jasmine had left.

Kamon picked up Integre and headed for the girl's home. A couple had adopted the girl, but Integre enjoyed watching Kamon work. Kamon ate at the home of the girl's adoptive parents, Coortus and Fictor.

For the most part, the Councilman ate his evening meal in silence. Coortus noticed and she could deduce the reason.

"It is normal for Jasmine to go off," Coortus offered. "Sometimes for days at a time. She always comes back, safe and sound."

Kamon nodded. He almost asked a question, 'What do you think of Jasmine?', but did not. Better not to start a conversation which would make clear his doubts. They would not understand. What interest would these people have in the affairs of states? Their existence focused on survival. They knew only that Jasmine was a person who helped them. His concerns were so complex that he had difficulty himself sorting them out.

Fictor smiled and spoke. "Jasmine can take of herself. I would not worry about her."

Kamon managed a weak smile. "I'm sure she can."

"Kamon," Coortus said, "why don't you stay with us tonight? A few blankets is not much of a bed, I know, but surely it is better than sleeping outside."

"No, thank you," Kamon replied. "I really do prefer sleeping outside. I do not often get the opportunity. It is very warm here; the stars shining down at night are beautiful; it is a perfect setting."

"I used to have this image of government leaders," Coortus said, "pampered, unable to understand how simple people like us live. I thought any of them would surely perish if she had to survive even a week in our world. But having met you, I no longer know what to think. You live with us and you do not complain. You even prefer to sleep outside! I would never have imagined it. Perhaps the leaders of the Clemens government are far different from those in Marmot."

"I suspect they are not," Kamon said. "I am sure I seem different even to the people in my own state."

"Nonetheless," Coortus said, "I shall never think of the people in Marmot quite the same way again. As an ally of the Fraus, I considered them to be our enemy. But you helped us. I will always remember that. Jasmine always told us that there were good people everywhere, even in Marmot. Now I believe her."

Maybe that's why Jasmine had brought him here. The thought came to Kamon. Maybe he was an example for others to see. That would have nothing at all to do with espionage. It was simple and certainly more in keeping with Jasmine's image.

A soft knock sounded on the door. Fictor rose to answer the door.

It was Jasmine. "I am sorry to bother you," she apologized quietly yet anxiously. "I know it is late, but I thought Kamon might be here."

Kamon was already at the door. "I was just leaving." He spoke to both Fictor and Coortus. "Thanks for the meal."

The couple said good-bye and Kamon stepped out into the night with Jasmine. "You said you would be gone no more than a day," Kamon said. "I was becoming concerned. I am not sure I would have gone through the night without beginning a search for you."

"Yes," Jasmine nodded. "I'm sorry. It took me a little longer than I expected. I am simply not used to having someone worry about me. You are precious, Kamon. Thank you."

They walked along together. Kamon felt much better. He felt good just being next to her. He was greatly relieved to see her safe.

"We will be leaving Purus in the morning," Jasmine continued.

"Where are we going?"

"We are going into the hills to meet someone," Jasmine answered. "Ductus will be our guide. It is best that we not discuss our destination until we are out of the village, so if these people are asked by anyone where we went, they can truthfully say they do not know."

Kamon's brow furrowed. More intrigue. "I take it then that Pertinax would not exactly approve of the person we are going to meet."

"No. She would not."

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

The sun was just rising on a new day. Kamon threw his bag into the jeep. "There's something I have to do before we leave," he said to Jasmine.

"Say good-bye to Integre?" Jasmine asked.

"Yes."

"I'll come along with you if you don't mind."

"That would be nice," Kamon said.

The girl was eating breakfast when Kamon arrived at the home of Fictor and Coortus. "Integre," he said, squatting at her chair, "I have to go away now. I'm afraid I may not return for quite a while. Fictor and Coortus will take good care of you. But I'll write you often and come back and visit you someday."

"I don't want you to go," the girl moaned.

"I'm sorry, Integre," Kamon replied, "but I must. Fictor and Coortus could not be better parents. They will be kind to you. You must obey them. Will you do that?"

Integre nodded. "You'll write me?" she asked in a quiet voice.

"Yes," he responded.

"And visit?"

"Absolutely! Someday!"

"Will you bring me something when you visit?"

"Of course," Kamon replied with a grin. "Anything! Just name it!" This was going far easier than he had ever hoped.

"A mommy," the tiny voice replied simply.

Fictor burst out in laughter. Coortus was chuckling.

"I'm afraid I can't do that," Kamon said.

"Why not?" Integre asked innocently.

"Because I can't...."

"Is there a problem, Kamon?" Jasmine asked with a smile.

Kamon stood up. "You could help here!" he whispered to her urgently. "This is not funny!"

"No, it is not," Jasmine said, though she was still smiling. "But then, I am not the one who promised Integre a mommy. She really does look on you as her father."

"I didn't promise her that!"

"You did say 'anything'," Jasmine pointed out.

"Would you please just help me," Kamon implored. "Talk to her."

Jasmine nodded and squatted in front of the little girl. "Integre, Kamon would like to bring you a mommy, but we cannot give people to one another. It is not right, and you would not be happy if we did. However, you do have many friends. Fictor and Coortus love you very much and will take good care of you. Kamon will write often and return to visit you as well. In the meantime, you must go to school and study hard. There is no school here now, but there will be one very soon. You will learn many things there, and your knowledge will please Kamon very much. He will be very proud of you. But if you wish to please him most of all, take your knowledge and become whatever you wish to be. There is no hurry, for you will have plenty of time. And then one day, you can come visit him."

Integre looked at Jasmine for a moment and then nodded her head. "Okay."

"Good!" Jasmine said warmly as she hugged the child tightly. She then released Integre and stood up.

The little girl looked up into Kamon's face and reached up to him expectantly. Two powerful arms swept her up and Kamon hugged her. "Good-bye, Integre. And remember -- I will be back."

The pair then said their good-byes to Fictor and Coortus and headed back to the jeep. One of the villagers -- Ductus -- was sitting in the back of the vehicle.

"Ductus will be our guide on this trip," Jasmine explained again.

Kamon said hello to Ductus as he climbed in. With Jasmine driving, they left Purus in a cloud of dust.

Kamon wasn't sure why they needed Ductus as a guide. Jasmine had already roamed the countryside on her own. Why did she suddenly need directions? However, he preferred not to make a big issue of it with Ductus in the jeep.

"Why did you tell Integre there would soon be a school in Purus?" Kamon asked as the vehicle bounced along. "I thought the Fraus government had banned the construction of a school. I don't believe in lying to children, even when the intentions are good."

"Nor do I," Jasmine replied simply.

Kamon was puzzled. How could her statement to Integre not be a lie? The Fraus government would not permit the villagers to rebuild their school. "Are you going to build this school all by yourself," Kamon at last asked dryly, "or will you be getting some help?"

"Oh, I won't be building the school, but I will be getting some help." Jasmine glanced quickly at Kamon, her eyes twinkling. "You must have faith, Kamon." Her attention again focused on the bumpy path in front of them. She seemed quite pleased with herself.

"Have faith," he muttered quietly to himself, a skeptical frown on his face. What could the woman possibly mean?

The school would not build itself, and she certainly could not mean that the villagers would take it upon themselves to rebuild the school. The Fraus government would punish them if they tried. He had already seen what form that punishment could take. Jasmine would never wish such gruesome destruction upon the residents of Purus.

Then what on Arnot was she talking about?!

Kamon shook his head in frustration. Another mystery. They never seemed to end.

The hours passed. Grass grew as sparsely along the way as it did in the rest of the region. The terrain was also rocky; they were making slow progress. Apparently, the use of a road was not in Jasmine's plans, at least not on this leg of their trip.

Kamon glanced back at Ductus. The Clemens man looked back at him with a blank expression. Ductus had been able and willing in the efforts to clean up and help the residents of the settlement. But he and Kamon had barely spoken during the councilman's time in Purus. Kamon now wondered if this had been more than a coincidence.

Jasmine had been driving for hours and Ductus had yet to give her directions. Some guide, Kamon thought to himself. His curiosity finally got the best of him.

"Why is Ductus with us?" he asked Jasmine with emphasis. "I've noticed you have yet to ask him for directions."

"It is better that he be with us when we approach our destination," she replied. "We would not want to be the victims of an unfortunate misunderstanding."

Kamon's eyes narrowed. Victims?! Unfortunate misunderstanding?! "You tend to leave a lot of details out until the very last moment, Jasmine. I take it this may not exactly be a picnic in the park."

A smile flickered on her face. "You are beginning to sound like your friend Casio."

"Yes," Kamon answered, "well, maybe Casio should be here right now....to tell me how crazy all this is!.......Which Clemens leader will we be meeting?" He was certain he had asked the right question.

The smile faded from Jasmine's face. "You will soon see."

END OF CHAPTER