Descending Road - THE FOURTH TEST by Dana W. Paxson

THE FOURTH TEST

1560 4D

I was on fire that day, words and music coming to me in a rush, and a big crowd pressed so close that my hook-hand moves almost caught some of the front ones in their faces. But that seemed to make them even more determined to give me coin, and my purse filled about five times – I had to empty it into a sack at my waist under the shroudy robe. The fifth time, I took a breath and started in again.

“The darkness beckons you from the shafts! Will you fall into its unending death in slime? Or will you reach within yourself for the light you know is there? Tell me!”

“We will reach inside. Within. The light. Reach for life.” The murmured words echoed what I’d told them, and the purse started to fill again.

“Come with me, follow me,” I urged as always, turning and beckoning, knowing they’d drop a bit more metal and then fade off. I took a few steps down the street away from the aswal, moved into a spiral stairwell, patted my purse, and a hand touched the sleeve of my robe.

“Master,” a soft voice said, “Where are we going?”

“You followed me?” I was too surprised to think first.

“Yes, you said to come with you, so I followed. I want to follow the way you teach.”

She was lean, even thin, and her face carried a near-andro pallor, as if she was sick. Her long, bony fingers smoothed her slipsuit in an embarrassed gesture. “You say good things. I want to learn more about them.” Her face was set. Oh my.

“The way is very hard,” I said, my mind racing. “The seeker must pass many tests. If you return here tomorrow, I will offer you the first test.” Maybe by then I’d figure out where else to do this stuff.

Her face brightened. “No! I want to learn now!”

I paused, confused, and she added, “That was the first test, wasn’t it? You refusing my request?”

“Well…"

“I knew it! Now give me the second test. I’m ready!” Her chin up, her eyes watching me.

What was I going to do? I looked up the stair, then down, and said, “Follow me.”

We stood at the platform of the dark City airshaft, rising thousands of feet above and plummeting as far below us. I said to her, “Here is the story of the City.” It sounded good.

“Master, what would you have me do?” She stared downward in the dim light, her eyes squinting against the reek.

“Contemplate,” I said. It seemed like a good thing to say.

“Teach me, Master,” she said. Her hand took mine.

I started to squeeze her hand in response, and a stabbing pain in my calf made me lurch forward, so I nearly fell off the platform into the bottomless shaft. “Ouch! Shit!”

She pulled me back upright again, crying, “Oh, Master, no! You can’t sacrifice yourself this way!”

I wanted to drop the whole thing and tell her what a liar and a fraud I was, but I bit my lip and felt the spot where now there was a burning pain. Oh. A beetle bite – the jaggers were in this shaft again.

I just couldn’t resist temptation, as usual. “You’ve saved me, and I’m grateful. The power sent this wound to me, and you prevented my destruction. You are now a trusted acolyte on the spirit path. I will call you Iana.” The words nearly choked me – Annie Thing was going to maul me for doing this stuff, and the name I made up sounded too much like hers – but I was starting to believe the words myself.

“The second test! I passed the second test?”

“Oh, yes.”

“Give me the third test, Master.”

“Not now. I’ve got to get this patched up.” I pointed to the blood running down my leg into my shoe.

Instantly she knelt down, put her lips and tongue on the puncture, and began sucking out the blood, stopping now and then to lick the drying blood from my leg.

“Hey,” I said, and then shut up – it felt pretty good. In fact, it started to feel far too good. I put a hand on her head.

She looked up, her lips still a bit too red, and said, “Now, Master, what about the fourth test?”

I just smiled.

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	THE FOURTH TEST 1560 4D I was on fire that day, words and music coming to me in a rush, and a big crowd pressed so close that my hook-hand moves almost caught some of the front ones in their faces. But that seemed to make them even more determined to give me coin, and my purse filled about five times – I had to empty it into a sack at my waist under the shroudy robe. The fifth time, I took a breath and started in again. “The darkness beckons you from the shafts! Will you fall into its unending death in slime? Or will you reach within yourself for the light you know is there? Tell me!” “We will reach inside. Within. The light. Reach for life.” The murmured words echoed what I’d told them, and the purse started to fill again. “Come with me, follow me,” I urged as always, turning and beckoning, knowing they’d drop a bit more metal and then fade off. I took a few steps down the street away from the aswal, moved into a spiral stairwell, patted my purse, and a hand touched the sleeve of my robe. “Master,” a soft voice said, “Where are we going?” “You followed me?” I was too surprised to think first. “Yes, you said to come with you, so I followed. I want to follow the way you teach.” She was lean, even thin, and her face carried a near-andro pallor, as if she was sick. Her long, bony fingers smoothed her slipsuit in an embarrassed gesture. “You say good things. I want to learn more about them.” Her face was set. Oh my. “The way is very hard,” I said, my mind racing. “The seeker must pass many tests. If you return here tomorrow, I will offer you the first test.” Maybe by then I’d figure out where else to do this stuff. Her face brightened. “No! I want to learn now!” I paused, confused, and she added, “That was the first test, wasn’t it? You refusing my request?” “Well…" “I knew it! Now give me the second test. I’m ready!” Her chin up, her eyes watching me. What was I going to do? I looked up the stair, then down, and said, “Follow me.” We stood at the platform of the dark City airshaft, rising thousands of feet above and plummeting as far below us. I said to her, “Here is the story of the City.” It sounded good. “Master, what would you have me do?” She stared downward in the dim light, her eyes squinting against the reek. “Contemplate,” I said. It seemed like a good thing to say. “Teach me, Master,” she said. Her hand took mine. I started to squeeze her hand in response, and a stabbing pain in my calf made me lurch forward, so I nearly fell off the platform into the bottomless shaft. “Ouch! Shit!” She pulled me back upright again, crying, “Oh, Master, no! You can’t sacrifice yourself this way!” I wanted to drop the whole thing and tell her what a liar and a fraud I was, but I bit my lip and felt the spot where now there was a burning pain. Oh. A beetle bite – the jaggers were in this shaft again. I just couldn’t resist temptation, as usual. “You’ve saved me, and I’m grateful. The power sent this wound to me, and you prevented my destruction. You are now a trusted acolyte on the spirit path. I will call you Iana.” The words nearly choked me – Annie Thing was going to maul me for doing this stuff, and the name I made up sounded too much like hers – but I was starting to believe the words myself. “The second test! I passed the second test?” “Oh, yes.” “Give me the third test, Master.” “Not now. I’ve got to get this patched up.” I pointed to the blood running down my leg into my shoe. Instantly she knelt down, put her lips and tongue on the puncture, and began sucking out the blood, stopping now and then to lick the drying blood from my leg. “Hey,” I said, and then shut up – it felt pretty good. In fact, it started to feel far too good. I put a hand on her head. She looked up, her lips still a bit too red, and said, “Now, Master, what about the fourth test?” I just smiled.