Ascent of the Aliomenti (8 page)

Hope’s face clouded, and her tears burst forth.

Will turned on his heel and marched out of the hut, ignoring the shouts from the woman, demanding that he return. He found one of the fruit-bearing trees, snatched several pieced of fruit from the branches, pocketed all but one, and returned to the hut.

“Where did you go?” The woman stood at the doorway, waiting for him. He could hear Hope crying inside, and the muted voice of Eva attempting to provide comfort.

“She will not undergo this trial alone,” Will replied. He entered the hut with the piece of fruit in hand, and Hope raised her tear-filled eyes to him. He put the fruit to his mouth.

“No!” she screamed. “Not you, too!” She leaped to her feet and attempted to seize the fruit from him, but he’d already bitten into the succulent flesh.

He found the fruit to possess an incredible taste, a deep, sweet flavor that could become quite addictive. He took another bite, ignoring the looks of horror on Hope’s face.

He finished chewing, swallowed, and returned her gaze. “I cannot fulfill my mission if I cannot be with you until that mission ends,” he said. The words had deep meaning for Hope, and provided a seemingly-noble sentiment to Eva and the strange woman.

The woman looked at him, and he sensed her deep respect for him. “You speak with great nobility, sir. This woman could suffer far worse eternal companionship.”

“Who are you?” Eva asked. “What is this place?”

“This place has no official name for it needs none. Those who live here do not leave; those who do not have no knowledge of its existence, and there is thus no need for a name to be used by others. As for me, my name is Aina. What might you be called?”

“I am called Eva. My companions are Will and Hope.”

The woman nodded, thoughtful. “It is wise to have companions such as those at all times.”

Will narrowed his gaze. “You said that there are more of you living in this forest. Do all of you who live here eat this fruit? Where are the others?”

The woman nodded. “Our numbers are not large, and grow only infrequently, through bringing in outsiders by choice. Most of us have lived here an exceptionally long time, and have come to tire of constant companionship. I chose to build my hut in this spot, away from the others, because the isolation is preferable to the potential companions. Others, those who are younger, do live in a sort of community, but after decades together most move away to isolated parts of the forest. But yes, all of us have eaten and continue to eat the fruit. As you’ve discovered, it is delectable.”

Eva’s face tightened. “How did this place come to exist?”

“Don’t tell her, Aina.”

The man’s voice was a deep baritone, and the trio spun to find a man of modest height and build, sporting light brown hair, in their midst. His lips were pursed in an unmistakable show of displeasure. Will was uncertain as to the cause of the expression. Was he angry that Aina might have been prepared to tell the history of this group? Or was he instead disturbed that three strangers had worked their way into their impenetrable forest?

Aina glared at the man. “Ambrose, leave me. My guests require hospitality.”

Ambrose folded his arms across his chest. “I don’t think so,
Aina
. Your
guests
are not residents. They must stand before the villagers and request leniency for their trespass. The crime is not minor, nor is the punishment.”

Aina waved him away. “Begone, sir! We shall arrive as we are able. Tell them to prepare for us if they so desire.”

Ambrose rolled his eyes, and moved with an effortless grace as he vanished into the trees.

“Trespass?” Will asked.

Aina shook her head. “It is an ancient law. We have long sought to protect this forest from outsiders and keep the fruit from others, though our reasons have varied. Many believe outsiders incapable of handling the gifts, and that is their reason for enforcing our boundaries. Others wish to keep the benefits only for themselves, and thus seek to restrict access to the chosen few. Ambrose has held both viewpoints in greater dominance at times, but feels both are valid and encourages both. We typically have greater time to assess each new entrant to this forest, for the thorns and bristles surrounding the perimeter cause significant physical damage, and we must first nurse those individuals to consciousness before assessing their candidacy. We can discuss current community needs and necessities during the recovery period.”

“Wait,” Will said. “What do you mean by a candidacy?”

Aina shook her head. “I am not permitted to explain further. You must come with me to the remnants of our village, where our people centralized for centuries before electing to lessen their proximity to each other.” She stood and strode into the forest on the same path Ambrose had followed. With a shared glance and no other available options, the trio followed her.

The well-worn trail meandered through the trees like a river carving the land, curving and undulating like a snake slithering through the dense forest. Without any indication that the visit to the village proper would be pleasant, it was difficult for the trio to enjoy what might have been an enjoyable walk. The air was fresh and pure, the plant life colorful, and the sounds of the wind in the trees melodic.

After a brisk fifteen minute walk, they came upon a clearing filled with huts of a style similar to that used by Aina. Ambrose was one of several individuals milling around, huddled with several others in deep conversation. Will had little doubt as to the subject of that conversation. They did not allow others in the forest, they did not permit others to eat the fruit, and in the minds of the forest residents the three of them had committed the most serious of crimes.

As he walked, Will wondered about the fruit – and more specifically, if is consumption had been more than ceremonial. He’d been under the impression that the Purge had been sufficient to render him immortal, especially given the visual youthening the process had produced. Those living in the Aliomenti village had believed him to be in his mid-twenties, rather than in his mid-to-late thirties, which had added to his belief. Yet now he wondered. Had the original Purge contained this mysterious fruit? Did the morange and zirple combination merely unleash and build Energy abilities, but fail to confer immortality?

If they did not, would he be the one to deliver the fruit back to Arthur and Adam, and confer upon the men he’d most like to see dead the gift of immortality?

Ambrose turned, sensing the approach of Aina and the visitors, and his face turned stony. He did not seem unfriendly, merely one accustomed to the normalcy that defined the life of one who’d lived so long in isolation, with so little change. They’d interrupted his routine by their arrival.

The new arrivals approached Ambrose and the others. He nodded in greeting, and Aina returned the gesture before stepping aside.

Ambrose fixed each of them in turn with an intense gaze, as if trying to assess their trustworthiness. The trio, with nothing of ill will to hide, returned gazes of patience to their inquisitor.

Ambrose stepped back so as to see all of them at once. “You have intruded upon a forest meant for isolation and walled off from intrusion, meant to be impossible for outsiders to enter. Yet here you stand. Upon discovery, one of you was found to have eaten of the special fruit. Explain yourselves.”

The trio explained glances, and Will spoke. “We had been journeying for some time and spotted the forest. We have few provisions, and thought to check for fruits and nuts and berries for sustenance, and perhaps find shelter for the evening when the winds might chill us. The fruit in question looked edible, and thus we ate.”

Ambrose shook his head. “How did you manage to enter? The perimeter of this forest is lined with thick brambles and thorn bushes, and yet you enter with nary a scratch on you. How is that possible?”

Will shrugged. Where we entered, there were no such obstacles.” That was true, of course, though Will didn’t think it wise to mention they’d entered from the sky rather than from the ground.

Ambrose looked concerned, and turned to those gathered behind him. “We’ll need to perform a perimeter check. It’s possible that some of the plants were damaged in the recent storm and have not yet grown back. We’ll need to ensure those are fixed.”

Returning his gaze to the trio, Ambrose looked at them. “Though I have no sense that you wish us harm or would do us injury, the fact is that you have trespassed here, and for those who live here, for whom privacy is the greatest desire, and for whom departure from this forest is treason, this is a serious crime indeed. And the fruit is the reason it is such a serious crime. The twin effects are momentous indeed, and we wish to ensure that no one feels the effects without the chance first to consider the consequences, including the mandatory permanent residency. Thus—“

“Wait,” Will said. “What do you mean, ‘permanent residency’?”

Ambrose focused his gaze upon Will. “When we vote to allow a specific candidate into this forest and introduce them to our lifestyle, we are certain that they are aware of the consequences of those choices. The fruit renders consumers both immortal and sterile. As the guardians of this powerful formula, we require that any who consume the fruit remain here permanently to aid in its protection, to ensure that the fruit and its incredible power do not spread widely.”

Will sighed. The man would make a tremendous member of the Aliomenti Elites, certain as he was that such incredible knowledge ought to be limited only to those deemed worthy by a select few. “I see the problem where we are concerned. We were unaware of your rules prior to consuming the fruit, and thus cannot be bound by them.”

Ambrose shook his head, his gaze ominous. “No, sir, you misunderstand me. Your fate, and hers—“ he gestured at Hope “—are sealed. You
must
remain, under penalty of death. We are, however, uncertain what to do with
her
.” And he turned his gaze upon Eva.

“Wait!” Hope said. “We’re prisoners here?”

“No,” Ambrose said. “The two of you will not be restrained in any way, other than being denied any attempts to leave this forest. Nor will you be forced to act as slaves in any manner. You are to be treated as any other here; your eating of the fruit is treated as your acceptance of our requirements, irrevocable as the effects might be. This woman, however, has not yet made her decision.”

We could learn a lot while we’re here
,
Will projected to the women.

Perhaps we can even learn how to undo the effects of the fruit
,
Hope added.

Eva looked at Ambrose. “What if I choose not to accept your rules, and choose not to accept the fruit?”

Ambrose looked surprised. “You should consider yourself honored. Not one person a century is deemed worthy of such a privilege. Why would you decline?”

“You haven’t answered my question.”

Ambrose glanced around at his companions, and then he returned his steady gaze to Eva, his eyes colder than they’d yet been. “The secrecy of this group, and of the fruit, cannot be threatened and will not be threatened.”

Eva cocked her head. “You’re saying I will be detained, then, if I refuse? I am not simply free to choose to leave, vowing never to speak of this place?”

What are you saying, Eva?
Hope’s thoughts were frantic. She’d literally died for the chance to be around Eva again; hearing the woman question the leader of this group about her ability to leave frightened her.

Be patient, Hope. I am assessing the nature of these people.

“You will be... permanently detained, in a manner of speaking.”

Eva nodded. “So my choices are acceptance or death, then. Hardly a choice.”

Hope sucked in a deep breath, eyes widening.

Ambrose nodded. “It is nothing personal, I assure you. The knowledge held here is simply too profound for widespread consumption, and that is why we do not allow others in unless they have been personally vetted, a process which happens infrequently. Those who learn our secret, learn our rules, have already made their decision. I do not envy you your position... but I do recommend accepting our offer.”

Eva rolled her eyes. “I suppose I have no choice, then. But I do wonder... how does one choose to reverse the effects of the fruit? What if one wishes to die? What if one wishes to bear children? In all the years your community has existed, surely you solved those mysteries.”

Ambrose looked hesitant for a moment, glancing at the assembled masses. Then he laughed, but Will noticed it seemed forced. “Why... would we want to answer those questions? We have all here accepted our condition, the gift we have been given. No... it is not something worthy of our time and consideration. Now, do you accept our conditions or not?” He spoke quickly, and Will noticed the Eva had detected that oddity as well.

Eva sighed. “I will eat your fruit.”

Ambrose walked to the nearest tree and plucked a piece of the succulent, fragrant fruit. He walked back and handed it to Eva. She held it, looking at him, as if waiting for approval. Ambrose nodded, and she bit into the fruit, chewing it slowly, and then she swallowed.

Ambrose smiled. “Welcome to the community. Welcome to the Ambrosia forest. As residents, you will find that the ambrosia fruit provides all the nutrition you need for survival and good health. You will find your health improving over time. And time is something you will have in abundance. For though you can be killed, you cannot die due to the accumulation of years.”