Page 10 of Citiali: Teach
He shrugs. “They’re all crazy.”
I agree with a commiserating look but don’t open my mouth. I will not disrespect Prez Knight. He did get us lunch in record time and I like fish.
***
Guardian Club
This Club is bigger than I thought, especially the pool, it must be Olympic sized.
“It’s as big as the Phoenix pool.” Axe drops in the lounge chair beside me.
“I told Pres I’d stay with Gregor until Michaels comes for the Bits. What’s up with his leg? I see he’s healed but can’t read what happened?”
Axe looks at the pool then zeros in on Gregor. “His knee was bent backward. He had to wait for surgery because of theirblood. Aiyana came up with a synthetic, then Alder came up with the machine that grows it or matches it from his own for the surgery, so it was mixed as they amputated. It’s been a few months and he has a robotic and brace waiting. Now he’s just waiting until all his numbers line up or something. Alder can tell you when he shows. Pres said he’ll come every two weeks to check on Gregor.”
I nod. “He was grown with a backward leg? Are there others?”
I feel Zeke before he sits. ‘Yeah, the monastery I check on has a bunch of disfigured boys. Franz at Elan has a short arm and tiny hand that Alder fitted with a robotic. Cooper says it works like it’s part of him. The monastery kids don’t think like these, more than bodies are disfigured there. They are learning basics and I got a couple of videos for Alder when I did the last check. He sent them little wind-up clocks and music boxes but the pinwheels were the biggest hit. One of the Brothers made a bigger one out of metal and put it at the pool. I added solar lights.’
I see it and the walkway. He makes me smile. “The walkways?”
He shrugs. ‘Glow in the dark rocks. The Bits sell them. I thought they’d like it.’ He paid for them after seeing the kids show interest in glowing wristbands. He’s a good Brother.
I’m not on Little Brothers anymore so I need something. “What can I do here for outreach?”
‘I’m a healer, Brother. I’ve never done anything else.’ Zeke looks over me to Axe, so I turn.
“Vets, elderly, Indian, Prospect, something in the community. I got kids so I’m not saying that one.”
I smile. “What do Indians need?”
“Someone to teach them about other tribes. Everything is so fucked up here and some don’t have memories of wherethey came from. Co is at Delta and works at the Zion and Bravo Clubs, but this one doesn’t seem to have a place with the rest. They have some Mohegans from Rhode Island that just got out of the traditional craziness that they grew up with. Everything here is new to them. They don’t have more than reading ability and that’s a handful of them.”
Shit, this is not good. My family was in a tribe like that and did the unthinkable. “I’ll take the Indians. Who do I talk to?”
He smiles. “Aiyana or the ancestors put Michaels here for White Wave and the kids. However that worked, she’s here and tries to help the Indians but doesn’t know more than stories from herHe’emoHôahno.”
“Sacred shield? She was hidden?”
Zeke smiles my way. ‘She was, then took charge of the younger hidden kids when the oldHe’emo Hôahnodied. She learned stories that told of us and the other tribes and knows tribal languages from here but not much of the cultures. Maiyun has her helping with the books her mom recorded so the intent is not mistaken.’
I get that. “That’s not easy if you don’t know the languages. Here, it must be hard with all the tribes moving and banding together. Maiyun must need dozens of books just to hold the merged slang that would generate.” Cherokee clans all have slang and dialect that merges into other clans.
Zeke nods, looking serious. ‘Maiyun is good with the languages and White Wave the intent based on the story, so they’re making it through. White Wave said they only have a few more to go. Don’t mention White Wave’s name or what it was if you see it.’
Fuck, my brain freezes with the word. The man is dead and I never met him but feel the dark intent as if he’s alive. “A realAsgina. I won’t say a word. What’s the light I feel behind him?”
‘Crow is her grandfather. Maiyun’s too. Michaels and White Wave have the ancestors’ choices placed with them.’ Zeke confuses me more.
The choices were lost according to our stories.
“They were with Crow’s family members as Sacred Shields and Keepers.” Axe doesn’t make that better.
Zeke hits my arm. ‘Read the rest of the board Alder sent you. He added more but White Wave is close to the bottom.’
I nod. “I will. It’s been busy and Pres just gave me the procedure book for the Club and his preferences for all kinds of shit. He’s got a lot of kid shit in there but his take on answers and comments reminds me of Hemy’s training. There are no excuses.” It’s a policy I agree with.
They both laugh.
