It’s time for the grand unveiling!
Of course, I’ll need to produce a physical copy as soon as this is over. But that part is easy. I don’t even need to paint – I can just smear pigment over the canvas and alchemically alter it to make the picture appear instantly. However, when I have the time, I do like to practice my craft. That’s why, for the most part, the digital arts don’t inspire me. I like to see the creation emerging from the work of my hands.
Then you did see him, says Ailann. Like you saw Ari.
Ari was different, a kind of vision. This is more like…how to describe it…a sculptor can sometimes look at a block of stone and see the figure inside of it, waiting to get out. That’s what I see when I look at the unemanated branches of the Goliath Tree.
That’s amazing, says Patrick. Do you know what they’ll be like?
Only through a visual impression. I can’t, for example, know their names, which Davy seems to. But in our case, appearances don’t lie. Unlike some others. I cast my gaze to the fish.
“How long have you known?”
Known what? says Tommy.
It was pretty obvious once we knew the real deal about the SongLuminants, says Cuinn. You couldn’t be practicing true telepathy. The problem with true telepathy isn’t sending, it’s receiving. On Earth, they breed people to have no subconscious minds in order to do that. But that’s so limiting, it couldn’t be what you were doing. So we had to figure that you weren’t sending and listening in. You were actually here, taking over the fish’s body.
“You are more clever than appearance would tend to indicate. Besides, it’s fun to be a fish. ‘If it were up to me, I would’ve erased you hours ago.’ Hee hee. I could hardly keep from belching, but that would’ve ruined the effect of righteous indignation. So let’s get back to business. What is it exactly that you’re trying to accomplish?”
We need to emanate another self. But in order to do that, we have to reunite Blackjack and Whirljack. Will the SongLuminants allow us to do that? We promise not to try anything destructive.
“Promises aren’t worth the water they’re written on. But it’s not like you can do anything to hurt us. This forum I’ve created was for the convenience of our discussion. It’s not intended as a restraint. Mess up, and your entire species is firewood.”
Blackjack is on his way. He’s with Tara and Clive. In the meantime, would you like to see my painting?
I produce my masterpiece. It’s a bit abstracted, I say. It will be easier to get the facial details once he’s emanated.
His name is Lucius, says Davy. He’s a combination of Tarlach and Ailann.
That ought to be insufferable, says Lorcan.
He does look a bit like Tarlach and Ailann, says Owen. But that could just be the beard.
It’s conceptual, isn’t it? says Tommy. He’s got a halo because he’s going to save us.
No. He’s glowing because he glows.
Gilding the lily, says Davy.