OUTSIDE THE TWINNED CITIES OF JARGOLAMIS & LUIGOLAMIS

From the end of Journal Entry 23

MOLOUM

I don’t think so. You can find your way. That city is Jargolamis and that one is Luigolamis. Anyone in either city can direct you to whomever you need to see. I must be on my way.

JANUAE

Hold on, you-

MOLOUM

Farewell, twins.

The two JANUAEs watch MOLOUM as he mounts his aneen and departs.

JANUAE

Well done, Januae. You did a fine job of driving off a perfectly good escort.

DOUBLE

Or as you like to say, we did a fine job of driving him off.

Narration continues

JANUAE

The experience of meeting myself was rather disillusioning. I could never have imagined I would be so disagreeable. We are the same person in every way, but I can’t imagine how I would be so self-absorbed as to only be concerned with correcting my jaunting condition when so many lives are at stake- innocent lives!

I make my way to the twinned city of Luigolamis. Once I reach the main part of the city I inquire as to where I can find the Paramount Selm. The occasional resident actually deigns to answer my query, while most make overtures to avoid crossing my path. My disheveled and ragged appearance must make them think I am some sort of beggar or vagrant. The lack of compassion is disheartening.

I stand before the marvel that is Luigo Tower. I can see reflected on the surface the city of Jargolamis across the valley, where the activity that transpires in this city’s twin across the valley is in full display. While fascinated by this strangeness I pull myself away and enter the tower. I pass through the corridor into a high central chamber that extends very far above me, and around me are dozens of columns stretching upward in the great chamber, each column supporting a platform at regular ascending intervals. The Paramount is supposed to be on the forty-first platform up from jump node nineteen, whatever that means. After some study I understand the designations and find the nineteenth disc, counting from the center column counterclockwise.

I step onto the large, shallow rimmed disc. Suddenly I feel as if my entire body is being stretched upward until it’s as if I’m snapped upward onto one of the platforms high above. Once I get my bearings I find myself standing before a torus shaped building extending around me encompassing the entire platform. I find the entrance and step inside. A older woman easily twice my age seated at a long thin table looks up as I enter, scrutinizing me for a moment.

JANUAE

Paramount Selm, I presume? My name is Januae. We were referred to you by Moloum-

JANUAE

She interrupts me, holding up a tattooed palm. She then draws her palm to her mouth and whispers into it, then points to a set of chairs near the entrance. I comply and sit. After several minutes, a young girl around nine years of age greets me.

SELM

Yes? May I help you?

JANUAE

Oh. Um, I think there’s been some mistake.

SELM

Not if you’ve come to see the Paramount. I’m the Paramount Selm.

JANUAE

But you’re a child-

SELM

(interrupting)

-a fifty-seven year old woman in a child’s body. Clearly you’re not from around here if you don’t know about me. Well, Januae is it?

JANUAE

Yes, but how did you-

SELM

Charla, my receptionist told me. I’m not in the habit of denying people the opportunity to speak with me, but I’m a busy woman. What is it you want? Shins? Housing? Refuge?

JANUAE

No, no. Nothing like that. Please disregard my appearance.

SELM

If you can do the same for me, we can talk. Why do you seek an audience with me, Januae?

JANUAE

We were referred to you by Moloum. He sent me to you because you-

SELM

We? Who’s we?

JANUAE

Well… when I arrived here I appeared with an exact duplicate of myself. We met Moloum as he was traveling between your twinned cities and he suggested I come see you. My- er, double decided to go a different way.

SELM

An exact duplicate? Not your twin?

JANUAE

No, I mean an exact replica of me in every way. He went to see someone called the reverent in the other city.

SELM

That would be my duplicate, Shoum. That’s why this Moloum person suggested you see us. You have this in common with us.

(beat)

You know what? I’ll make time for you. Come with me.

They go into SELM’s office space

SELM

Have a seat. Now, you got my attention at the fact that you were duplicated too. Twins are considered very important here, for obvious reasons, but a duplicate… you are destined for great things! My other “half” is sought after for her spiritual application in working with other dimensions while I am a paramount in one of the greatest cities in the Pytharon Empire. So for that, I’ll give you a bit of my time. Tell me why in particular you’ve come to see me?

JANUAE

I appreciate your time, Paramount. This is a rather urgent matter. See, I have information on Pope Durranet VI’s initiative to launch a crusade against the lands to the north of the Steadfast. Are you aware of this initiative?

SELM

I’m slightly familiar with it. What of it?

JANUAE

Well, we’ve been told the Gaians to the north are planning to launch an offensive against the Steadfast, declaring war against the Order of Truth and all we represent. But I tell you, I’ve been to the Spiritlands and this is all a lie. The people there have hardly any awareness of us or even of the Order of Truth. They are living peaceful lives by the dictates of the spirits they seem to believe in. This crusade the Amber Pope intends to launch is nothing but a means of propaganda.

SELM

To what end?

JANUAE

To unite the Nine Kingdoms through a common enemy. The Nine Kingdoms are always working against each other, in a constant state of unrest and aggravation, attempting to undermine or invade one another. Durranet believes if they can focus their animosity and their resources against the Gaians, it will unite the Steadfast and put an end to the constant internal conflict between the lands.

SELM

I see…

(beat)

So why come to me? What were you hoping I would do about this… situation?

JANUAE

It is my understanding you have the ear of Challadien III. Is that true?

SELM

I do.

JANUAE

Would it be possible to pass this information along to her, to let her know of the Amber Pope’s disturbing plan? Implore her to not go along with it?

SELM

So you want me to go to Rarmon and tell the Empress I heard a rumor that the Amber Pope’s initiative is based on a lie and to ignore any directive that comes from him?

JANUAE

It’s not a rumor! It is the truth! It is my contention that he is aware the Gaians are defenseless. The Order of Truth has spies that have no doubt been to their lands and have told him as much. Why would he choose to invade a land without knowing what their defensive capabilities are?

SELM

Look, I don’t know. You’ve clearly thought about all of this, but it’s the first I’m hearing about it. I don’t know you from Mamris and you, a complete stranger, are asking me to convince Challadien to act on a piece of hearsay.

JANUAE

(more subdued than before)

You have to understand what’s at stake. An entire land of people is in danger of being slaughtered. All for a ruse, a way for Durranet to shore up his legacy.

SELM

Okay, okay… Januae, is it?

(sighs)

Hold still. Now look at me.

(after a few beats)

Hmmm…. There it is. You are in your truth. I can feel it.

JANUAE

You believe me, then?

SELM

I believe you are earnest and sincere, and that you’ve been to these lands to the north. It’s one of the abilities I received when we split, Shoum and I. I can feel whether or not a person is within a given truth. How else do you think I was able to become a paramount while looking like an eight year-old girl?

JANUAE

I suppose that makes sense?

SELM

Based on that, I would like to help you. With you being a heralded duplicate and the information that comes from your truth, I feel this is important somehow in the greater scheme of things. But even with my abilities I can’t just make the Empress act on the information you gave me. I can get you an audience with her, but from there it’s up to you.

JANUAE

That’s all I ask, and I appreciate your willingness to do that much. So when can you take me to see her?

SELM

My, you’re not a patient one, are you? But you are a rather lucky one. It just so happens that I’ll be making a trip to Rarmon tomorrow morning. I need to speak with her to see if the archbishop Iijeo has agreed to provide us with the numenera we need to resume work on the Umbil.

JANUAE

The Umbil?

SELM

I’m sure you’ve seen the old dilapidated skyway that runs between the Twinned Cities over the valley? It needs numenera to function and he would be the one to obtain it for us. So how does that sound? Shall we set off for Rarmon in the morning?

JANUAE

Yes. I would appreciate anything you can do to help in this matter.

SELM

You realize if you weren’t a duplicate I wouldn’t be bothering with this, you know.

JANUAE

Whatever the reason, I appreciate it.

SELM

Of course. I have an extra room you can stay in tonight in the living area of this building.

JANUAE

Thank you. I hope your duplicate in the other city is as kind to my duplicate as you’ve been to me.

SELM

I don’t know. Shoum’s an odd one. I think all that dimension walking has made her a bit kooky. Come on, I’ll show you to your room. And before we leave in the morning let’s make sure to get you a nice new set of clothes, shall we?