From: mrkeller829@gmail.com   
      
   =====o============================o=====   
   "Chermera" by Mary Ruth Keller Part 35  of 45   
   E-mail: mrkeller@eclipse.net, mrkeller829@gmail.com   
   PG-13   X-File: Myth-arc   Disclaimed in Part I   
   Already sent to Gossamer   
   =====o============================o=====   
      
   Suola di Atene   
   Cambridge, England   
   Sunday, June 28, 1998   
   12:01 pm   
      
   The forty ebony chairs, in four rows of ten, were each, but one, entwined with   
   corn poppies and daisies. The curtains over the windows of the Suola had been   
   drawn back, so bright summer light flooded the paneled chamber. The seat of   
   the Riata still bore    
   its chalk banner, but broad fans of roses, lilies, thistles, daisies, corn   
   poppies, heather, cornflowers, irises, among many others, lined the walls, one   
   variety for each homeland of each group in the Forty.   
      
   A slight woman in a long white robe knelt on the top step of the platform, a   
   crown of daisies and corn poppies in her greying hair. The Forty, in their   
   black robes, were all standing. Between the vases, the Quaestores Parricidi,   
   the Atrebates for the    
   members of the Fellowship who used them, and the other secondary officials of   
   the Ekklesia watched. Having concluded a ritual progression through the seven   
   ages of man, this part of the ceremony, unlike the staging in the preceding,   
   required the    
   participation of only the Brothers and Sisters.   
      
   Deeply engrossed in the details, the Cymru was carrying a burning taper from   
   sconce to sconce, lighting herb-scented candles that flickered with the motion   
   in the Suola. The wall of honor was ablaze with lights, one for each of the   
   recent members no    
   longer visible. "We are many, we are One," he intoned as each flame sprang   
   into life. The assembly echoed him. Once he had circled the space, he lit a   
   large white candle on the lectern, then extinguished the taper.   
      
   The Pict stepped forward. "This is a joyous time for the Fellowship." He held   
   out a hand toward the kneeling woman. "The Slav is with us once more!"   
      
   General applause erupted, bouncing off the oak walls.   
      
   The Suebi stepped to the edge of the dais, next to the lectern. "Come,   
   Precious Sister, take the Oath." He unrolled the top of a scroll of parchment.   
   "Before this Assembly, Seen and Unseen-" He paused, waiting for her echo. "-I   
   pledge a sacred Vow that I,   
    the Slav-" He fell silent through another pause and echo. "-will value and   
   protect each human on the Earth, treating all as my beloved family, favoring   
   none." The Suebi gestured for her to rise after her repeat. "As I take my   
   place among the Ekklesia, I    
   seek, not privilege, but duty." After her response, the Helvetti and the   
   Danaan stepped off the platform. They held a long black brocade robe, the   
   sleeves lined with velvet, behind the candidate, while she unbuttoned the   
   white silk, letting it drop to    
   the floor. When she was robed, the Suebi advanced the scroll. "This day, as I   
   take on the vesta of the Fellowship, I take on the responsibilities of serving   
   humanity with my whole heart, protecting our sheltering Earth, and keeping   
   close my Sisters and    
   Brothers in the Ekklesia." The Assembly waited in silence for her echo.   
      
   The Pict and the Mandarin took places on either side of the Suebi. Each   
   extended a Sun brooch, the Pict's with wavy rays in bronze, the Mandarin's   
   straight rays in silver. The Slav reached for the silver Sun, so the Mandarin   
   pinned it to the right    
   shoulder of the vesta.   
      
   The Helvetii and Danaan each took a hand to lead the Slav to her seat. "We are   
   many, we are One!"   
      
   After the repeat of the Incantation, applause filled the air. The thirty-eight   
   living members of the Forty lined up to greet their new Sister, each with a   
   kiss on both cheeks and a ritual embrace.   
      
   When all were seated once more, the Cymru and the Pict stepped back up on the   
   dais, then the man with the lion cane softly cleared his throat. "We bring   
   great news."   
      
   "We have found the Riata!" The Cymru raised both arms. "On this Blessed Day,   
   we bring news of her to you!" More applause filled the chamber, accompanied by   
   excited whispers. The projector screen descended, then an image of a   
   red-haired woman with green-   
   blue eyes appeared.   
      
   The Pict pointed the Celtic lion toward the face. "Our new Sister, if she will   
   have us."   
      
   The Mughal rose. "What are your proofs, Brother?"   
      
   ap Gwinn straightened. "She is descended from Óengus Mór mac Eirc; our   
   records show it." The whispers grew in insistence. "She is a medical Doctor   
   and Agent of Justice in the American Federal Bureau of Investigation."   
   Scattered applause broke out. "She    
   is an acclaimed leader of a growing group of Agents working to bring down the   
   Shadow organizations formed at the end of the Second World War that oppose us,   
   and that our Brother Suebi tracks with such diligence." Voiced affirmation   
   erupted around the    
   room. "Her Atrebates is the son of the Atrebates of the Slav no longer   
   visible." The calls were accompanied by the stamping of feet. "I have met her,   
   and she knew me, without a word being spoken, she knew me, knew who I am.   
   These are my proofs. These are    
   the witnesses of Time." The applause was sustained, some of the Fellowship   
   standing.   
      
   The Aborigine strode forward to before the steps to the lectern. "Brothers and   
   Sisters, you have heard the Proofs Novel, now let me give you the Proofs   
   Ancient." After pointing to the Pict and the Cymru, he raised both arms.   
   "These two Brothers and I    
   have ridden the currents of Time. We met the Riata there, saw the line running   
   from the past through Her into the future. Three shall there be, this one, the   
   one who is to come, and one who is not yet visible. All shall lead us forward   
   on the path of    
   Light our Sister, no longer visible, laid out for us. We are many, we are   
   one!" The entire Assembly was standing, clapping and embracing.   
      
   --o-0-o--   
      
   Along the back wall, Alex Krycek snarled, then pushed aside the scarlet   
   hot-house tulip that had been brushing his grey cowl during the proceedings.   
   {Not even the old men in Manhattan were this full of themselves.} He had   
   formulated his plans, ones he    
   hoped would bring down both organizations that would shunt him into lesser and   
   demeaning roles, as well as casting discord among the FBI. So much for these   
   garlands and celebrations. Let them rejoice now, suffer later. The Quaestor   
   beside him turned,    
   offering him a broad smile as he extended his hand. Krycek shook it, Roman   
   style as the Suebi had shown him, then crossed his arms, while pretending the   
   same delight he saw on all the faces around the room. {Soon enough, this would   
   all be ash. Smoke and    
   ash.}   
      
   --o-0-o--   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)