The Persistence of Memories - A Novel of the Mendaihu Universe Read Free Page A

Saisshalé,” Natianos said,
outstretching a hand to shake. “It's an honor to finally meet you
in person.” The man took his hand with surprising lightness,
covering it with his own. Natianos did the same, flashing a smile.
In that gesture he had shown a willingness to trust him, with a
plea to be trusted in turn. “Please, come in,” he continued. “We
can discuss our business in private.”
    Saisshalé nodded graciously and let him show
the way. They entered Natianos' main office, a spacious room with a
long row of tinted windows overlooking the northern half of the
Bridgetown Sprawl. They both moved towards them, drawn to the
northeastern expanse of the city. It was filled with the tenements,
towers, warehouses and factories that made the Waterfront Sector,
one of the oldest sections of the city.
    “I don’t think I’ve been able to properly
thank you, Saisshalé,” Natianos said. “With your help we were able
to stop the Cleansing and the Ascension at the last possible
moment. We were able to corrupt the Rain of Light at a critical
time. Some cho-nyhndah have been awakened, I'm afraid, but their
leader has not yet ascended. The One of All Sacred still lives
among the people.”
    Saisshalé shifted in place and nodded, but
otherwise remained emotionless. “That is not a problem,” he
said.
    Natianos studied the man for a moment,
curious about his lack of expression. “The followers of the One
still linger down at the warehouse,” he said. “I am assuming that
they are regrouping, but they have no plans for retaliation. They
are spiritually too weak to try anything, anyway.”
    Again, no reaction from Saisshalé. “The One
of All Sacred is not among us at the moment,” he continued. “She is
still at her lumisha dea, we assume, but it’s only a matter of time
before she returns. Until then, we should be planning our next
moves.”
    “Nehalé Usarai?” Saisshalé asked.
    “He is...” Natianos faltered. “He's missing
as well. No one is sure where he went off to. He disappeared soon
after the One did.”
    “He may be on Trisanda,” Saisshalé said. “Do
you have anyone up there to confirm?”
    “A few,” Natianos admitted. “There are a few
cho-nyhndah up there. They have not seen nor sensed him.”
    “A good start,” Saisshalé said with a shrug.
“Not exactly the best laid plans I've seen, but not bad,
considering the situation.”
    Natianos grumbled and turned from the window.
Why was it so damned hard to get a reaction out of him? “Let's sit
and talk for a while. I am curious as to where the mighty Saisshalé
has been all this time.”
    Saisshalé let out a gravelly laugh and joined
him at his desk. “A man after my own spirit,” he said. “The great
Dahné wishes to know all about his friends as well as his enemies.
You're shaping up to be a fine leader.”
    “Sa’im taftika, my friend,” he smiled. “I'm
glad to know that my work is appreciated by such an esteemed
spiritual leader.”
    Saisshalé laughed again, this time bitterly,
as he dropped heavily onto one of the two couches in the center of
the room. “Esteemed? I've been all but forgotten by everyone except
scholars and Mendaihu who have very little else to do but come up
with theories and conspiracies. Most Shenaihu remember me by spirit
signature than by name. I'll divulge the long and boring details of
my whereabouts in time, dear sehnadha, but first I ask you this: do
you know why the One of All Sacred has been awakened?”
    Natianos saw genuine concern on his face. He
had asked himself the same question almost immediately after Nehalé
Usarai had performed the ritual, and still had not found an
adequate answer. “I thought it may have been an accidental
awakening at first,” he said. “Nehalé Usarai has been aware of my
presence for some time now, and he may have moved in haste,
thinking I might have wanted to make a move on his Mendaihu
territory. But now I'm inclined to believe that he brought the One
out of