Dead Clouds

Chapter 10 (3/3): The Strings Around Our Hearts

Radius silently marveled at the amount of time Kiri supposedly spent on earth. Thinking of himself, he would have spent those years reading every piece of scientific literature that existed. No one would match his intellect. Despite the man's criticisms, Radius contemplated if life as a Fog was so bad. A Fog enjoyed superhuman abilities and an indefinite access to time. He ran his tongue across his teeth and wondered if there were other taxonomies more agreeable to his interests than clouds.

"The most plausible explanation is that you were created to destroy clouds," said Radius matter of factly, "I see it as a predator and prey relationship."

"The only issue with that analysis is that I've been alive for years. This is the first time I've encountered a cloud attack," replied Kiri.

"Yet you looked so natural," said Radius, pressing his temple with two fingers, "Almost as if those natural instincts to strike were coded into your deoxyribonucleic acid."

Kiri frowned as his voice lowered, "What do you mean by 'coded.'"

Gold switched his sights between each of them.

"Returning to my predator and prey analysis, suppose that at some juncture the clouds needed to be depopulated," Radius pointed at Kiri, "Predator."

Then, he pointed the same finger at a cloud above, "Prey."

"Once the number of clouds became favorable again, your services were no longer needed," continued Radius, "This leads to a phenomenon in evolutionary biology known as adaptation. In other words, the dynamics between predator and prey are always shifting. Consider the weasel's changing coat from brown to white contingent on the photoperiod or number of daylight hours. If the predator does not adequately adapt to the prey's change in appearance, then it dies out."

Radius listened to the rising chatter of the waking city beneath him, "So, what if you're an unfit adaptation? You weren't made to live in a world with peaceful clouds. You were made to war with them and die naturally in battle."

"No way," interjected Gold, throwing his arms out, "You're saying Kiri was made to fight? Like he's some weapon?"

Radius coldly nodded his head, "You told us that you can't die a natural death. Well, do you recall a natural birth?"

Kiri mulled over that question as his arm reverted to its normal form. His memories were like a winding tunnel blocked by walls of sediment. Strength alone was not enough to break through.

"Unlike humans, my memories of life don't begin at birth. My memories begin at the age of ten. They begin with a woman by the name of Amethyst. She's the closest thing I've ever had to a mother. She used to read me the books from her library. Stories about a skeletal figure who saved the world from a sky smothered by dark clouds."

He sighed, "I'm unsure if I came into this world through a natural birth. Or, as I'm sure you're suggesting, if I was some science experiment. The fantasy of a madman in the flesh."

Gold saw how his partner's questions were flattening, his new friend. He figured that they'd have plenty of time to discuss everything. Why do it all today? Furthermore, the ghost relived the fatigue that weakened him whenever he attempted to retell the events from the night of his death. He swallowed a ball of dryness sitting on his tongue. There was still one more question he needed to ask.

"Stories? About the Skeleton Man? Elaborate," demanded Radius. He also clung to the name Amethyst. This was the second time a Fog mentioned her. Who was she? Why did Kiri and Tkese know this woman? His mind turned like the gears inside of a grandfather clock. It was vital that he locate and interrogate this woman immediately.