Star of Sound

Chapter 18

NOW THAT I'M a manipulator, Saros has enough respect not to eat during our meeting. It's mid morning, and for the first time no food sits on the table when I face Saros. Nari sits next to me, warily observing.

"So, your crazy crystal has made you into a manipulator. If so, you must hear the Star of Sound. Do you?"

"I do."

"Since when?" I hesitate, so Saros guesses, "Since your arrival, long before you got shot."

"Yes."

"Flinx realized that you're a manipulator when he initially bonded with you, that's why he allowed the blood　bonding."

"I think so too, yes."

"What the hell are you, Sufford? It feels like unknown gods have sent you to wreak havoc among us." I can do nothing but shrug. "What the heck do I do with you now, Sufford?"

"I don't know, President Saros."

For a panicky moment I fear he'll send me away. What if Delaro doesn't want me back either?

"What do you hear at the Star of Sound?"

"Humming, in low tones, as though from a giant crystal. It made me consider that perhaps your Motherstone is actually a Fatherstone. And the planet at the Star of Sound or the star itself could be the Motherstone. From her all springs forth."

"Interesting. You hear other things than we do. You discerned that Fassa is in league with Hren. I never liked her, thanks for giving me an opportunity to get rid of her. Maybe there's a message in the song you hear from the Star of Sound. A message no Heelith can hear."

"Um, it's just humming, I--"

"Listen, Sufford, listen! You haven't even tried to listen, you don't know what listening means. Stay in your room, listen for a few nights, and then report to me what you heard. Dismissed."

"But--"

"Dismissed!" Saros' voice thunders through his office. Nari pulls me to my feet and we leave his office.

"Listen? To what?" I protest. "It's a giant, endless gong, it's not a language."

"It is a language, Jaiah, but one nobody can understand... yet."

"That's crazy, it..." I trail off.

"What?" she asks.

"You know, in the past I wore headphones and earplugs and all sounds hurt me. They were too loud. Then, thanks to Flinx, I embraced sound. Suddenly, what was once noise was now music. But I don't know how to do it. It's the same with undoing the mute command. I don't know how to fucking do it."

Nari puts a hand on my back. "Just relax, give it a try."

"Easier said than done when someone like Saros is breathing down your neck." I say.

Nari rubs my back. "He's on your side, he's cheering you on. You just heard him, he's happy you gave him an excuse to get rid of Fassa."

"All that is damn tough, Nari. I'm not happy with this survival-of-the-fittest lifestyle."

"Ah, now, don't judge the Heelith. All kind of judgement is subconsciously interfering with your ability to open yourself for new possibilities."

I perk up and give that a thought. "True. I'll try not to judge and to be open, which is easier said than done."

v

I spend the rest of the day briefing Sina and Priar, though I don't mention the meeting with Saros. Sina shakes her head, Priar absorbs everything with interest.