Tarlach asked a bunch of us – Patrick, Sloane, and those new guys Chand and Oliver – to meet him in the CCPR offices. I don’t know why I’m here, but geez, do I ever know why I’m anywhere? My leaves are still buzzing from that energy influx. I hope this isn’t gonna be some kind of therapy.
« I’ve nurtured a theory for quite a while: sexual relationships between branches have both a psychological and metaphysical importance in the cohesion of the grove, » he says. « It’s about more than just having enough binding energy in our organism. The more branches we have, the more important it becomes for us to make connections with each other – social connections, emotional connections. If the grove loses cohesion, I and I could go mad. »
I’m not sure I get it, but Patrick does. « If you’re correct, the influx of so many branches at once could bring the situation to a crisis. »
« We’ve had a pressure point before, when we started to hit a critical mass of trees in the grove. The cross-pollination experiments were I and I’s way of addressing the issue, and it was no coincidence that His final design for the pattern of His mind was revealed concurrently, if a tad obscurely, through the correspondence charts. »
« I just don’t understand why I and I is doing this, » says Patrick. He turns to the new sprouts. « Please don’t think you’re not welcome here. You are. It’s just that the addition of new branches has never happened so quickly before. »
« I understand exactly what you mean, » says Oliver. « The truth is that a lot us feel lost. »
« To a certain extent, I believe that I and I is trying to supply talents and abilities He feels we’re going to need, » says Tarlach. « For example, there’s a reason I invited Chand and Oliver to this meeting. »
Chand smiles and looks at me, as if he sees something that I don’t. « We need to integrate the new branches into existing structures while also considering the development of a new means of scaffolding. At this point, socialization in the pleroma seems to be organized around the various “scenes” – Sloane’s, Ace’s, and the recent scene forming around Ailann. That’s why Sloane and Chase are here, right? »
Tarlach nods. « But now there are too many emanations for those scenes to handle. We need to create new opportunities. »
« What if we expanded the scenes into officially sanctioned organizations? We’ll have to identify other natural leaders for new groups. Once we have them, everyone gets an assignment – maybe 8-10 members would be ideal. »
I nix that idea. « I’m staying with the buds I have. »
« You can’t force affinities, » Tarlach agrees. « Relationships have to grow organically. »
« That’s not entirely true. Humans join professional organizations which facilitate ties with strangers, » says Oliver.
« A professional organization is something different. The participants have interests and experiences in common. » Chand replies. « But that has definite advantages. If membership is voluntary and based on erotic exploits, the ones with gold cards will be recruited immediately and the new branches will be left out. But our purpose is to integrate those new branches. If we use professional affiliations, we’ll be thrown together with those of like interests. »
Tarlach strokes his beard. « Chand, my friend, membership in the pleroma is based on erotic exploits, or at least, the potential for them. I think, however, that your problem is a lack of experience. »
Boy, does Chand look embarrassed. Patrick is quick to smooth it over. « Based on Dig’s progress, we’ll be having a pollination soon. Very soon. If you’d like to join me… »
« My professional opinion is that it’s an optimum time for Chand and Oliver to experience the social scene firsthand. »
« You guys are welcome at my place, » says Sloane.
« I have something a bit different in mind. Since we’re considering the use of the scenes as a basis for social cohesion, and since I know your scene inside and out, I thought I’d send them to investigate another one. Ailann’s exclusive scene is by invitation only, so I was thinking they should infiltrate Ace’s. »
« But I don’t even know Ace, » says Oliver.
« Besides, you said you were looking for leaders, » says Patrick. « I have a very nice home, suitable for diplomatic engagements. Maybe I should level up from the recliner at Daniel’s. Oliver, let’s form a scene of our own – starting with Theo and Rand. »
Tarlach smiles, like he isn’t surprised at all, like Patrick has played right into his hands. Then he says to Chand, « You don’t know Ace, but you do know Chase. »
Guess I’ve been played, too. « Okay, but we’re gonna need to stop and get dessert. »
Turns out that Chand isn’t the only new guy at Ace’s. Wynne extended an open invitation which was accepted by Poole, Isaac and Yves. My good bud Balin is there, and so are Daniel and Malachi. Of the other semi-regulars, Blackjack is at Sloane’s, and Ethan is up in his workshop. Yeah, Ethan wasn’t going to be anywhere Barnabas might show up. Barnabas isn’t here, though.
« Ethan is with Beauregard, » Ace whispers to me. « Drama alert. Good job at picking up that sprout, by the way. The scene’s going to be lively tonight. »
I didn’t exactly pick him up, but I guess now I’m responsible for him. Whatever. Well, let’s unpack that bakery box. It’s weird – I’ve got two desserts. The poppy-seed loaf is the original and the highweed brownies got added to the menu when I kicked the opium habit. I brought both, though. I’m not gonna moralize about anybody’s choices.
It’s a good spread tonight – there are cupcakes, brownies and ice cream, chips and dips, and to drink, we’ve got Ace’s trademark smoothie along with enough alcohol to water a redwood. Except that redwoods are straight-edge.
Chand seems super-nervous. He’s staring at these big, beautiful buns shaped like nau’gsh fruit and glazed pale blue-green. Those are Balin’s, and they’re strong. I know.
« Come on, » says Wynne, « let’s see what the new boys have. »
Chand brought mooncakes, which look pretty tasty. « Oh! My name means “moon.” Maybe the symbolism is a little heavy-handed, but then again, relationships function most smoothly when expectations are clearly defined. »
Poole and Yves are carrying stasis boxes. « Frozen treats, » says Malachi. « I’ll try yours if you try mine. » He reaches into Poole’s box, pulling out a Floatfish-shaped cake impaled on a popsicle stick, and takes a big bite. « Oh! » he says. « Is this…beer? »
« It’s a Taiyaki pop filled with frozen nau’gsh shandy. »
« That’s right, you’re the brewer, » says Malachi. « Are you supplying the local pubs? »
Poole nods. « I’ve got the contract to brew Moth and Lamp Ale. They used to make it on the premises, but now it’s being shipped all over the pleroma. We’ve expanded the line: currently there’s also a Moth and Lamp nau’gsh lambic, an intentionally pale pilsner, and a Restoration Day Rambatbock which only comes out once a year. »
Hmmm…if we recruited Poole for our scene, we’d never run out of brewski. I try to get Ace’s attention, but he’s all over Isaac like bees on pollen. And there’s the reason why – Isaac’s dessert has real pollen on top. It looks like a pile of waffles with beehive-shaped chocumber cookies. « It’s called a Dolparessan Honeycomb, » says Isaac. « It’s got a nau’gsh honey curd filling. »
Ace digs in. « This is delicious! » Isaac is giggling again, which could get kinda annoying, but I make it my policy never to be annoyed by anything. I reach into my pocket for some highweed, then remember that I’m supposed to be looking after Chand. He’s just standing there gaping at everything. Maybe I should offer him a toke to mellow him out.
The bell rings. Wynne looks surprised – we weren’t expecting anyone else. « Do you think it’s Hurley? »
« He’s up with Driscoll, » says Ace. « Honestly, I don’t know how to read those two. »
Daniel wanders over. « I wish he’d come here more often. He has ice cream novelties that are always different. I love ice cream. »
Malachi hands Daniel a shandy pop. « Try this. It’s a bit more sophisticated than Hurley’s usual fare. Zesty. Adult. »
« This one looks good, too, » Daniel says, sticking a finger into Yves’ box. « Black sesame gelato with nau’gsh vinegar sorbet. I like that it’s not too sweet. » As Daniel licks it off, Yves stands frozen, speechless, grinning.
Turns out the guy at the door is Wynne’s brother, Stephen. He comes down here sometimes, when he’s not on the road. A wandering soul, I guess. Me, I’d rather hang out, especially after I’ve smoked some highweed. I slide onto the couch next to Balin.
Stephen isn’t alone. He brought Briscoe with him. Which is kind of a relief because he could’ve brought Barnabas, and that would’ve meant fireworks.
« I thought that Briscoe needed to get out a bit, socialize, » he says.
« I don’t want to be away from the sparks for too long, » murmurs Briscoe.
Wynne unpacks the box. « Oh, what are those? They look gooey and delicious. »
« Nau’gsh cider beignets with birch syrup, » answers Briscoe.
« Is it okay if I have one? » asks Isaac.
« That would be the point of an orgy buffet, my young friend, » laughs Ace.
« You should try the smoothie, » Wynne says, handing Isaac a glass. « Ace tried yours. It’s only fair. »
« Cranberri nau’gsh quickbread? You certainly are fast, Stephen, » says Ace, helping himself to a slice. « Have some of Wynne’s cinnamon tortilla chips with dulce du leche and nau’gsh salsa. »
A gasp comes from behind the couch. It’s Poole, his eyes as big as saucers. Yeah, he’s been eating Malachi’s blue moth mushroom gelato. It’s one of my favorites, a real trip. But I don’t eat much dessert other than Balin’s. Balin’s longevity buns are filled with nau’gsh custard and lotus paste. I’ve eaten plenty of lotus in my day.
Chand is staring at us. Oh yeah, looking after him, right. « Hey, why don’t you come sit down? Bring some of that dessert. »
Like most people, Chand is a little intimidated by Balin. Not that he needs to be – Balin is a great guy once you get past that gruff exterior. « You have really nice buns, » Chand stammers.
« Do I know you? »
« It was you, » whispers Chand. « You were awake. You cried out for heroes who would go on a quest to find the most worthwhile endeavor in the universe. You were awake, and woke us, and we came to you, each of us fired by his own idealism. Together we saw Atlas, and we fell in love – with it, with Tara, with Tara’s Destiny. More than that, Atlas had exactly what we needed – a sense of perfect direction. N’aashet n’aaverti. And we had something Atlas needed – an impulse towards heroism, towards discovery. Atlas was pragmatic, steered by Ailann’s ambition, and we were an entity composed entirely of ideals. »
Huh. Seems like they’ve got a connection, an Ashvattha thing. For a second, I wonder if I should be jealous, but I really can’t be arsed. Chand needs to chill out though, so I pass him the highweed.
The minute that Tara drops off to sleep, I get a chatburl from Tarlach. Man, I’d rather just snuggle here, drifting in Dig’s pollination haze. But he wants us back at the office. Why is he picking on me and not Ace?
Chand reports in, like a good little soldier. « I’ve realized that compromise is possible. What if we institute both a system of professional organizations and social clubs? We’d have the best of both worlds, and since everyone would belong to at least two, it would double their opportunities to make connections. »
« I like that idea, » Tarlach replies. « I was talking to Whirljack, and he thinks that a system of guilds could have practical applications besides having a social function. »
« Then let’s delegate the task of coming up with a guild structure to X’khaim, the expert in logistics. And we need to identify some leaders beyond Ace, Patrick, Ailann and Sloane. Any suggestions? »
There’s a moment of quiet. The new guys just don’t have enough information. Finally, Sloane says, « Quennel has that scene over at Evan’s. »
Tarlach raises an eyebrow.
« Ask Cord to show you the wholo, » says Sloane.
Now Tarlach is looking at me, like I know about that stuff. « Tommy, I guess. If there’s sex happening, Tommy’s on it. » But Tarlach doesn’t need me to tell him that.
Tarlach is scribbling in his notepad. « Good, good…go on. »
« Um…maybe Mickey? There’s a bunch of dudes that hang with him. Ace always invites them, but I get the feeling that Mickey likes to do his own thing – he’s a little controlling, y’know? And it might sound kind of off the trellis, but the weirdo contingent, those guys on the floor with Davy and Suibhne. And Marius already has Thomas and Manan, and he’s gonna pick up his old buds Dominic and Alexander, right? »
Chand is grinning, and Patrick is giving me a dirty look. And then I get why Tarlach didn’t want Ace at this meeting – because Ace, like Pat and Sloane, will want all the new sprouts in his club. Aw, geez. I hope Ace isn’t too mad at me.
« Moving on, » says Chand, « you can’t run a successful recruitment drive without a brilliant publicity campaign. »
« How about asking Dig to help with that? » Tarlach suggests.
« Did you need me? » Dig mutters groggily, trying to shake off the pollen fog. « Um, well, first I’d change the name. I mean, “scene,” is halfway between sleazy and hipster, and that’s a deadly combination. And “club” is something for retirees with too much money or for children interested in agriculture. We need something snappy and unique to Cu’enashti. How about “clade”? »
« Clade, » says Chand. « I like it! It implies a mutual commitment to evolution. »
« You see? » says Tarlach. « I just wish I could convince the others of the value of always consulting a professional. »
And then we hear a howl, a bloodcurdling cry of despair that even sets my hair on end.
It’s Briscoe. I knew I never should’ve left the cenote!
I pull out my spliff. « Anyone else want a toke? » Cause we are so gonna need some chill.