IMAGINATION'S PLACE
FICTION

AN ERRAND OF MERCY
By; Gerald A. Polley

All rights reserved.

    The Ancient One had not been able to leave the boundaries of his own country for some time, though now there was an errand he had to take care of, so now he soared the night, his wings carrying him far to the east to the great islands.  He settled in the yard of a beautiful estate but was surprised to find no one around.  He entered the house and searched for several minutes until he found an old woman sitting at a table in the kitchen.  She was not even startled to see him.  "My goodness!" The Ancient One remarked, "You are still housekeeper here?"
    The old woman smiled. "Fifty-one years" she snapped, "next month!  They keep wanting me to retire but I say what would I have to do?  Everyone I love is here, all I cherish.  Why would I want to go any place else?  He's not here.  He's at that terrible place in the city, way up in the air.  I never go there."
    "I'm afraid," The Ancient One sighed, "I don't know where it is."
    "You mean for once," the old woman giggled, "I know something you don't? Wonder of wonders!"  She got up, got a note pad off the counter, tore off a piece of paper and wrote down an address, handing it to The Ancient One.  Then she looked kind of sad.  "I know you've got other business with him, but I've been expecting you.  You've come for her, haven't you?"
    The Ancient One nodded.  The old woman bowed her head.  "Please be swift!" she sighed, and went back to the table.  The Ancient One checked the address then again took wing. 
    The building rose high into the sky.  He landed on a balcony far up and walked into a magnificent room.  Two burly men dressed only in loin cloths and covered in tattoos started towards him.  A gruff voice called out "Don't be idiots!  Go back to your places!  Welcome, old one!"
    The Ancient One looked to where the voice was coming from. An elderly man lay on a very large bed surrounded by several young women dressed only in lacy panties.  The Ancient One looked and grinned.  The old man returned his grin.  "Privilege," he snapped "has it's pleasures and each one is here of her own free will.  And I will not allow them to use any of those poisons.  When they're with me I want them bright and alert."
    The Ancient One couldn't help but laugh, and his host joined in the laughter. "Thought you couldn't travel," his host finally managed.
     "Power's extra good," The Ancient One answered. "Things are really going our way.  So I came over to have a little talk.  Look, I know the dim wit I'm fighting in The States is messing with your finances.  I've heard you're planning retaliation. I can't permit that.  You're going to have to leave it alone and accept the losses.  Nothing personal, I assure you, strictly business."
    The old man on the bed scowled for a few minutes then smiled.  "I understand," he sighed.  "It's gonna hurt my pride, but I'm smart enough not to even think of messing with you!  I wish other people were as smart, and this world wasn't in danger of shriveling up. If it's of benefit to you, hell, I'd fund you if I could!  Of course you wouldn't let me."
    The Ancient One returned his smiled.  "Sometimes," he sighed, "I wish I could.  Now that that's taken care of, I've got to take her with me.  Her clan wants her to come home.  It's her time."
    "Can't we take care of her here?" the old man asked. "She's been with me so long!"
    "In a very short time," The Ancient One answered, "she'll be in agony.  No drugs will help it.  She'll age in days, then one day turn to dust.  I can end it quickly.  I can make it so she will suffer very little.  You have always been friends with her clan and not bothered them, that is why they have permitted her to stay so long.  However, it is really time."
    The old man looked to one of the young women beside him.  "Go!" he muttered.  "It is best for you.  Your time with me has been joyous and you have been extremely helpful many times.  I will miss you.  Go!" he snapped, "Go quickly!"
    The girl quickly rose and came to The Ancient One.  He whisked her up in his arms, rushed across the room onto the balcony, leaped skyward, and soared away with her.  "Wooo!" the girl cried.  "This is beautiful.  The night is so beautiful. Why aren't I cold?"
    The Ancient One laughed.  "You're in physical contact with me," he answered, "within my aura.  You're protected by my power."
    "You're not going very fast," the girl questioned.  "I thought you could go a lot faster."
    "I see no need to hurry!" The Ancient One explained.  "Yes, I can travel at the speed of thought, which is the speed of light, though I very rarely do that.  I get there quick enough!  I thought you might enjoy the ride."
    "Oh, I am!" the girl answered.  "Is it true you can't see the stars?"
    "Quite so!" The Ancient One answered. "I can right now through you, through your physical senses, but I can only see what is alive and what is energized by life.  The stars are outside the atmosphere, and they're not truly alive."
    The girl fell silent for a few moments then asked "Is it true I will have nothing, I will simply cease to exist?"
    "That is so," The Ancient One answered. 
    "Then," the girl stammered, "then can you take my thoughts and store them, and maybe give them to one of your daughters so that there'll be something of me left?"
    Without hesitating The Ancient One began repeating an incantation.  "We are one, we are one body, we are one mind, we are one soul."  The girl began to repeat it with him.  After they were done they simply flew on until they came to an ancient temple high in the mountains.  The Ancient One landed, put the girl down, and they walked inside. Candles were lit and dozens of people were there.  They quickly surrounded the girl, began to hug and kiss her, and The Ancient One backed off.  After a moment a majestic looking man in ancient Japanese armor came over.  "Thank you!" he remarked bowing, "For bringing her and providing this service."
    "It is our way," The Ancient One answered, "not to cause pain whenever we can avoid it.  However, I must hurry.  My power is very limited."
     "I understand," the man answered.  He clapped his hands and everyone turned towards him.  "Come, my dear!" he sighed.  "The Lord Of Haven cannot delay long.  His power is weak and there is much that he must deal with."
     The girl came over, bowed politely. The Ancient One extended his arm.  "Drink deeply," he instructed. "The more you take the quicker it will be." 
    The girl smiled, sank her teeth into The Ancient One's arm and twisted so she opened a good gash.  Golden fluid seeped out around her lips and dripped onto the floor.  The others present backed away in horror.  The girl stepped back.  Almost immediately her mouth came open and light began to pour out of it.  In moments her abdomen lit up. The light became brighter and brighter as she was consumed by it. When it went out  there were only ashes blowing across the temple and out one of the doors.  The Ancient One looked to his arm. The wound closed itself and the golden fluid disappeared.  "I bid you a good evening," he remarked, and took to the sky. 
    As he headed home he very carefully stored the memories he carried in his mind, tucked them away in a special place.  He would give them to one of his daughters.  They would become a part of her.  They would not be her, but she would carry them so they would always exist. If they were needed they could be retrieved.  There was no emotion.  There was no feeling, just memories, just information.  However, that should endure forever. That should not be lost.  It should be kept in The Circle Of Life.
    He got home, settled back into his body, it woke up shook its arm going "Ow!" then went back to sleep.  Sometimes power gave you responsibilities, responsibilities you didn't particularly like. There were some things you didn't like to do, some problems that people had that were no fault of their own.  Sometimes duties were unpleasant.   However, the unpleasant had to be done right along with the pleasant. It was all part of the job, all part of the responsibility.  The Ancient One always took his responsibilities seriously, very seriously!

THE END

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