VIII - Jasmine

The elevator doors opened, releasing the two men onto the second floor. They stepped out and made their way to the Council restaurant, also known as the Zone.

The Zone was a quiet, inviting place, restricted to Council members only. The food was good and specifically tailored to the varied tastes of its exclusive clientele. The cooks found Casio's ideas of fine cuisine to be somewhat revolting, but they had learned to accommodate him nonetheless -- although once in a while they still grumbled among themselves that he should go find the nearest "greasy spoon".

There was a much larger cafeteria called the Hub on the third floor. However, the Hub was open to lobbyists, and the two men preferred not to eat with them. It was not that the pair did not wish to talk with them. In fact, they often did. The lobbyists were, after all, replete with information on legislation. But the two men of the Council did not like to be "informed" during mealtime, nor did they care to be "treated" to dinner by the always generous lobbyists. Consequently, Kamon and Casio almost always ate in the Zone.

The two entered the Zone and headed for the table farthest from the door, as was their custom. They chose this spot so they could be well away from the mad rush that would ensue if the bell sounded signaling a vote on the floor. There was, of course, no chance of a vote with the Council in adjournment. Still, force of habit, brought them to this spot.

A waiter came over and took their order. The atmosphere was pleasant. Soft music played in the background. The lighting was moderate. They could easily relax while waiting for their meal. They truly enjoyed this place.

Kamon's gaze began to wander. Councilwomen Melinda, Convolo, and Eurus were having a quiet meal. These three were the principal allies of Mavox Pro. It was certainly a gloomy gathering. No doubt they were contemplating their own status in the Council if the Chief Councilwoman were to be forced from office. Others might be leaping ahead of them in the power structure.

His eyes continued moving. A lone Councilwoman here and there. The hour was getting late. Most had retired to their rooms for the evening.

Kamon's gaze finally came to rest on a woman seated at a table next to the wall on his left and halfway across the room. She was alone. The woman was facing Kamon, but her eyes were directed downward, engrossed in a book.

Dark brown hair fell loosely to her shoulders. Kamon's heart suddenly pounded excitedly. Dark like the strand of hair in his bathroom!

No, Kamon calmed himself, quickly dismissing the thought. That was impossible. No one could have preceded him out of the mountains. And Gobie's recent message meant that no one had come out after him. Therefore, the hair in his bathroom could not possibly have come from this woman's head. This had to be true. Besides, it would have been bizarre -- and too much of a coincidence.

Kamon continued staring at the woman. Her hand moved; she turned a page in the book.

Her skin was dusky, unusual for an inhabitant of the state of Marmot. She wore strange clothing -- a loose, one-piece garment that extended to her ankles. A short, brown braided rope cinched the robe to her waist. Such attire was typical of the inhabitants of the island state of Kefar, a country with a very warm, arid climate.....but Kefar was on the other side of the planet.

The flowing garment could not mask the sturdy but shapely body beneath it. Kamon noticed.

Curious, he thought. How had this woman gained entrance to the Zone? She was not a Councilwoman, and only members were allowed on this floor. The elevator was guarded by a security officer at all times, day and night. The emergency stairway was similarly guarded. It was not possible for anyone to wander in here.

So where had this woman come from? And who was she?

Kamon enjoyed simply gazing at her. She was intriguing, alluring.

An oven door closed in the kitchen behind him. He heard the familiar squeak and groan. It was too faint for the woman to hear.

Yet.....the woman looked up, as if she had heard.

Kamon immediately noted the full lashes, the rich eyebrows. But it was the beautiful dark brown eyes which truly held him. Lustrous eyes; strangely compelling. Enchanting; captivating; mesmerizing.

The woman did not react to his gaze. She placidly stared back at him. She displayed no puzzlement, no surprise, no annoyance. She was not embarrassed nor self-conscious.

Then the woman resumed her reading. The spell was broken.

Kamon was exhilarated. The experience had been simple, silent, without incident, but he had truly enjoyed it.

By now, Casio had followed Kamon's prolonged gaze. Kamon nudged him. "Who is that woman?"

"Beats me," Casio replied with a shrug. "I've never seen her before."

"How do you suppose she got in here?"

"I don't know." Casio rose. "Let's go ask her."

Kamon panicked. "No! Wait!"

But Casio waved him off. He walked to the woman's table. Kamon quickly rose to follow. Maybe this was a good thing. He might not have gotten up if Casio had not made the first move.....and he did wish to meet the woman.

"Hi there!" Casio chimed merrily.

The woman looked up from her book. "Hello," she said pleasantly without changing her expression. However, her eyes quickly surveyed Casio.

"M'name's Casio." He pointed to Kamon. "And this is my friend Kamon. Do you mind if we join you here for a minute? I don't bite and he usually doesn't."

Kamon deliberately stepped on Casio's foot.

"Ow!" Casio jerked his foot free. "Watch where you're puttin' your feet, big guy!"

Kamon regarded him coolly but did not respond.

"You may sit down," the woman offered. Her eyes sparkled. There was a hint of a smile on her lips.

Each man pulled out a chair and sat down. Kamon recognized the book she was reading. It was the Council Journal. The book was published monthly. It was a record of the Council proceedings -- more or less. It was not uncommon for the Journal to be heavily edited by Council members who wished to revise their remarks.

"That's a pretty heavy piece of literature you have there," Casio spoke up.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Heavy as in heavy -- many kilograms," Casio answered. "As far as literature goes -- that depends on your point of view, I guess."

"But it is a transcript of the proceedings in the Council, is it not?" she asked. "That would make it non-fiction."

"But if the transcript is whatever we want it to be, what does that make it?" Casio asked in return.

"What Casio is saying," Kamon interjected, "is that the Council members are given the opportunity to revise their remarks. For instance, someone might have used some inappropriate language and she would wish that to be stricken from the record. So it's done. And, on occasion, a member might not be present, but she nonetheless has a lengthy speech inserted into the Journal."

"To deceive her constituents?" the woman asked.

"Well.." Kamon answered. "I wouldn't quite put it that way...."

"I would," Casio interrupted Kamon.

"I have noticed your name appears quite often in the Journal," the woman said to Kamon. "Have I been reading your actual words or not?"

"Every word is mine," Kamon answered confidently. "I see no need to change them after the fact. I mean what I say, and I am not embarrassed by the language I choose."

"I believe you," the woman commented.

"I've got a question," Casio drew the attention of the woman. "How did you get in here?"

She motioned toward the entrance of the restaurant. "Through that large wooden door."

Casio eyebrows shot up. He glanced at Kamon, then back to the woman. She appeared to be quite serious. Casio lowered his brows and leaned forward. "Excuse me, but I do the jokes in this story. If not, what good am I? Right, Hawk?" he concluded, looking at his friend.

"I thought you said his name was Kamon," the woman remarked, before the big man had a chance to respond.

"It is," Kamon said. "Casio calls me by a variety of names. He does that with most people. May I ask what your name is?"

"My name is Jasmine," the woman answered. "But getting back to the Journal -- why would anyone publish what is supposed to be a transcript when many of the words were never spoken or a substantial number were significantly altered?"

"It does seem a bit odd," Kamon replied, "I must admit that."

"Suppose that centuries from now," Jasmine continued, "your ancestors were to use this journal as a guide to your country's past. They might come to faulty conclusions because of the inaccurate data that has been knowingly left for them."

"Get real, lady," Casio spoke up. "Nobody reads this stuff!"

"I'm reading it," she pointed out.

Casio was ready to respond. It was a perfect opening for him. But he saw the look on Kamon's face, along with the silent admonition -- 'Don't!'. So he scratched his head, smiled a bit, and said nothing.

"Except for Casio," Jasmine said, "the Journal indicates your relationship with the other Council members appears to be quite contentious, Kamon."

"We disagree much of the time," Kamon conceded.

"Are your differences with your colleagues philosophical or personal?" Jasmine probed.

"Philosophical." He did not like many of them, but he was not going to say that. He did not wish to offend Jasmine, and he suspected that such an admission might.

"Would you come to the aid of a Council member if she truly needed you -- any Council member?" Jasmine asked.

Kamon did not answer immediately. It was a strange question....and one coming from a stranger. "I would come to the aid of anyone who was truly in need," he answered truthfully.

Approval. Kamon could see it in her face. A warm sensation passed over him. He felt good. "We've been talking only about Casio and me. What about you? What do you do?"

"I preach peace," Jasmine calmly replied.

"I'll bet that pays really well," Casio deadpanned.

Kamon frowned at Casio. Then he said to Jasmine, "That's a pretty general job description. Do you preach peace in any particular place?"

"Everywhere," Jasmine answered. "All around us. Anyplace that people will stand or sit and listen to me."

"I've never seen you in Positron before," Kamon said. "Have you been here long?"

"I come and go. I usually do not stay in one place for a long time. There are so many people to whom I must bring my message. I am speaking in the Capitol Circle tomorrow, Kamon. Would you care to come and listen?"

"Certainly," Kamon responded. He was delighted by the invitation. "What time?"

"Shortly after noon," she said. Jasmine rose from her chair. She clutched the Council Journal in her arms. "I see your meal has arrived, and I must be going. I will look forward to seeing you then? Tomorrow?"

"Yes," Kamon answered with a smile. "I'll be there." He was attracted to this woman. The sensation was very pleasing.

"And you, Casio?" she asked, looking at the shorter Councilman. "Might you be able to come as well?"

"No, I'm afraid not," he replied with a wave of his hand. "I try to steer clear of the Circle. Kooks gather there, demonstrating for or against something or other with unreasonable expectations of change........No offense," he added.

Kamon looked down at the table in exasperation.

"None taken," Jasmine responded, her eyes sparkling in amusement.

"Do you think you learned anything about me by reading the Journal?" Kamon asked. He was curious what she thought.

"Yes," she answered. Her dark brown eyes stared directly into his. "You are an individual who cares."

A warm glow enveloped Kamon. Those eyes were positively hypnotic!

Jasmine turned and began walking away.

"Hey! What does that book tell you about me?!" Casio asked. With a twist of her head, Jasmine responded. "That you are a very good friend."

Then she continued on her way, walking gracefully to the door and out of the Zone.

"That's it?!" Casio exclaimed. "I'm a good friend? You could say that about a pet Denem turtle!"

END OF CHAPTER