Chapter 20 Finissimo

Chapter 20

A city
Long time ago

He had been a small boy then; both in physical stature and in morals.
That is what he clearly remembered. He had always been able to steal whatever he wanted; his smiling, angelic face gainsaying any part in wrong-doing when caught, which wasn't often. More like he was able to twist, wiggle or squirm his way out of any predicament he found himself in.
The memory that bore the brunt of his childhood though, that was almost a epic tale in and of itself. That is what he thought anyway, if anyone ever asked him.

All of these these thoughts and more ran through Tom Robinson's head as he walked. He had slowed his feiry pace down to a fast walk and found he had covered a lot of ground by the time he finished his mental review. He was almost to the outskirts of the City now.
He stopped walking and just stood there, gazing at the end of the City. Nothing seemed to fill his gaze: nothing or everything. The last few houses stood silent in their watch; their eyeless windows now shuttered, closed and draped. The dwellings also stood coated in a fine dusting of snow,with a much heavier accumulation on the roofs.
He wondered for a second if the roofs would collapse eventually; he didn't think that they had ever been designed or made with an idea of any kind of precipitation.
He shrugged and started moving again. He turned though, after a moment of walking and headed back the way he came.
The City lay before him, though he had no eye for its beauty.
Garden glistened in the light of day, the bare, hidden sun seeming to be amplified and refined by the pure snow of the ground. The buildings and things of metal or glass also seeming to purify what little light there was into something greater than itself.
Light was everywhere: glinting off the frozen dew of the morning, shining from the frozen pond, mirrored by the glass, no longer a conduit of photons, instead, almost new sources.
He did not seen any of this though, his eyes were cast down, and he saw what little things there were to see there.
The green of the fields and streams were brown now, dead and broken. He passed a stream, the stench of rot and decay now lessened by the cold. The carcasses were still there, but frozen in the act of putrifraction and scent creation.
His musing was interrupted then by a cool voice.
"I have been following you for a long time Tom. More than just today, now. For the past few days...I have followed you."
Robinson wheeled in a fast arc to face the speaker.
"Simon Temple? I was wondering when we would meet. Doctor Evatt has spoken of you fairly well." He grinned while saying this; he thought it disarming.
"And you as well Tom. What are you doing here?" Simon didn't smile, his manner uncharacteristically ernest.
"I just returned from the future." He raised his arm and pointed. "Over there. There's even more snow then though. I think I liked it now more, so I came back." He stopped smiling, and spoke slowly again.
"Temple, you said you had been following me?"
"I did. I wanted to see this elusive butler of Evatt's. I thought we have common cause." Now Simon grinned, though in a different way than Robinson had.
"Common cause? Common sneaking and prowling is what I call it, if you'd a mind to ask." A light voice said, breaking into their rhythm of words.
This time it was Simon who wheeled around to face the new speaker.
It was a group of two: the Doctor and Eve.
"Now Evelyn, you know that wasn't very nice." Chided the Doctor gently nodding at the same time at Robinson and Simon.
For a moment there was just silence as everyone looked at one another, with almost a question in everyone's gaze.
"Well this is cozy, isn't it?" Asked Simon brightly of no one in particular.
"Doctor, I see you were a bit late with my idea." Robinson indicated the snow lying around them.
"What are you doing Robinson?" Evelyn broke in, her scorn more than evident.
"Miss Waugh, I am walking here in the beautiful City of Garden. It is still a free City, is it not?"
"No, it is....no." The Doctor said in response, then followed quickly with, "What part of GarIden is free? I "have always thought of this mortal plain as a bit more costly then spendthrift."
"Well, I can pay for myself Miss Waugh, and I have the money to prove it." Robinson patted his pocket as if to say where his treasure lay.
Nonplussed, Evelyn continued her original train of thought. "The Inspector is looking for you, he knows you had something to do with these horrendous crimes."
"He does?" Robinson also appeared nonplussed to hear this. "I do wonder what he is going to do with that bit of information?"
"That is mostly what I wanted to talk to you about, actually." Simon proffered.
"I as well." The Doctor said, nodding his head.
"Gentleman, what can I do for you?" Robinson asked carefully. "Though I might suggest we keep walking, it's a little too cold for my bones."
He started to walk, the others falling into step right behind him.
They headed in the direction of the Market, their muscle memories less sharp than their real ones.
"I heard you seemed to know what was going to happen the other night before it happened, is that true?" Simon asked, his voice carefully neutral.
"I wanted to ask you Tom, something I have been somewhat lax about before. Do you know anything of these happenings that you have not already told us?" The Doctor was not so carefully neutral. Instead, it spoke of carefully coiled anger, hidden beneath his calm surface and ready to be let loose at any moment.
"Doctor Evatt..." With eyes only for him, Robinson spoke again.
"I am no murderer Doctor." Robinson replied and that was it.
Evelyn merely gazed at them both, her brow furrowed in concentration.
They had come to a stop in the snow, and Evelyn and Simon and stopped as well to listen.
"Oh...well good." The Doctor breathed a sigh of relief.
"Is that it?" Evelyn cried, her voice brittle with tension. "That is the only proof of his innocence you need Evatt? I can't wait till you are the only one to see me standing over a victim with a dripping knife. I would merely tell you I had just pulled it out....And you would believe me!" She finished in almost a whisper, the fainter voice serving as accent to her words.
"I would Evelyn, I have an eye and an ear for these sorts of things...And Tom is telling the truth, I know it." He looked at her, his gentle eyes only a little mocking.
"Evelyn, Doctor, if I  may?" Simon interrupted.
They nodded and he continued. They had started to walk again by this time.
"Tom, all I wanted to ask you is: how did you know what the next day would bring? I only ask because...we have precisely two days left of crimes before the moment of perverse creation happens."
Simon stared Robinson after saying this, not saying or doing anything, the picture of waiting.
"It was obvious...I thought." Robinson said easily.
"Easy because you knew something beforehand?" Simon shot back at him.
"We know already  know you're a scoundrel Tom Robinson." Evelyn interjected.
"Is that something you know?" Asked Robinson musingly. "Temple, it just seemed obvious. These two," He pointed at Evelyn and the Doctor, "asked me for help and I did...Simple."
Their walking, by this time, had led them back to the center of the City.
"Here, let's go inside to where it is a little less frozen." The Doctor suggested, pointing to his lab.
There were near silent murmurs of assent, but almost instantaneous movements of assent.
The first one through the door, Evelyn, lit a lamp for them all. It was midday still, but the gray cloud cover and small small windows did not encourage light to enter.
They all found a chair of some kind and sat down, around the Doctor's surgical table.
Robinson sat in the overchair he had found in the small waiting room. He had pulled it close to the table where the Doctor had lit a small burner for the heat. Simon had pulled the Doctor's visitor's chair from the other side of his desk right next to the small table. The Doctor had offered Evelyn his office chair from behind his desk, and when she declined, had pulled it close himself. Evelyn sat on the edge of the receiving counter, a little outside of the group.
The flickering light from the burner did not contribute an aiota to the dim light in the room, instead creating shifting shadows which were created and destroyed almost instanteously in a crazy dance across their faces and around the room.
"Tom, I only ask because....well I need to know." Simon cleared his throat. "I am an Investigator as well as the Inspector. I arrived in Garden purely by chance and find now that my services are required for something completely different."
This announcement was met differently by each member of the room who heard it.
"A Pinkerton?" Asked Evelyn eagerly, her face bright. "I knew you weren't a scoundrel." She looked at Robinson after saying this and then continued. "Not like Robinson here." She smiled hard at him, not showing the whites of her teeth.
"An investigator?" Echoed Robinson, his face impassive and stony. "What are you investigating?"
"Believe it or not, Simon, I  knew there was something about you." The Doctor winked and tapped his nose.
Ignoring all of the questions except for the one asked by Robinson, Simon said, "I might be investigating a robbery of certain jewels...and I think you could help me Tom."
He smiled. Robinson did not.
Simon continued. "I was on the trail of DeMarc Douglas when I came to Garden. I do not think it coincedince that when Demarc is here, that these things have happened."
Silence lay around them like a thick blanket suffocating them until Evelyn broke the silence.
"Demarc here? In Garden?" There was no eagerness to this question, it looked to be as if she had asked Robinson to keep her money safe from thievery.
"Demarc in Garden, yes. I was on his trail when I heard a rumor he might be here. I showed up the next day to investigate. The day I arrived, the first murder happened."
"Why do you think Demarc would do this?" The Doctor asked confusedly.
"I do not think he did." Was Simon's quick and only reply.
"Demarc has never done anything like this before. He has always thieved yes, but this so far has been anything but a robbery." Simon turned to the Doctor, his face now in shadow and now flickering light from the burner.
"Doctor, you say you have an eye for this sort of thing? I have had my eye his character for a while; I know Demarc, he is not behind this. However, I think that by catching Demarc, I might find out something new about this case of Garden's sudden crime wave."
"What do I have to do with Demarc?" Grinned Robinson. "I am not him if you are wondering."
"I knew you could not be." Replied Simon, who then turned to Evelyn.
"Why do you say Tom here is a scoundrel Evelyn? In these troubled times, that might say a lot...maybe too much."
She didn't say anything at first, just looking in silence at Robinson and then Simon.
"He just is, always known this about him...Even when I first met him."
"That is true," The Doctor admitted looking at Simon.
"Well that is not proof, is it?" Simon said, looking at the both of them in turn.
"I just thought, maybe Robinson knows who Demarc is?" He turned to Robinson slowly.
"Wouldn't tell you if I did." Robinson grinned.
"How did you know the weather was going to change?" Simon changed the subject quickly.
"I told you Temple." He stopped grinning and said slowly. "I don't know what is happening in Garden now, but I know one thing: everything happens for a reason."
"What do you mean, everything happens for a reason?" Simon asked sharply.
"Temple, I guess if you're asking me that question, then yes; I guess I do know something about Garden that I haven't let on." Robinson shrugged.
"Now, as I seem to be less than well thought of in this council, I am going to leave. If you all with excuse me?" He got up to leave without waiting for any answers.
There was no dissenting opinion, and in a moment Robinson was out of the door and into the cold. The only mention of his passing was a litte bit of snow on the rug where he had opened the door.
"Everything happens for a reason?" Asked Evelyn again to the group and herself.
"He knows something that he hasn't let on?" Wondered Simon aloud, before jumping up racing out of the door.
"I'm going to ask him about that!" Came a distant call as Simon put distance between himself and the Doctor's lab.
The Doctor and Eve just stared at one another in response to this.
"Well..." She said.
"Well?.." He replied, his voice dreamy and a little lost.
"Now that that scoundrel is gone, I think we should restart our investigation here." She resettled herself more comfortably, a little closer to the flames burning merrily on the table.
"Why do you think Simon is a scoundrel?" Asked the Doctor, his eyes twinkling.
"He might be lying about why he's here. I simply cannot imagine Demarc here in Garden of all places. That kind of story just needs to be taken with a grain of salt."
"He could just..." The Doctor started to reply.
"I can't stand liars...of any kind Evatt." She said, her voice final.
"Touche." He smiled. "Now, what were you saying before about our investigation?"

They worked into the night that night; comparing, creating notes and inferences, drawing conclusions and reasons out of thin air. They hoped and prayed that night, that their efforts would not be in vain.
Predawn, the next day, the Doctor work with a start. He had fallen asleep on his small bench, his legs bunched next to the wall while his head mostly was supported by the other end.
Evelyn lay in the armchair, covered with a small blanket she had found, still sleeping in the early morning.
Some sunlight streamed in the small window; this is what had woken him.
He got up slowly and stretched.  His muscles screamed as they tensed and shook, expanded and moved in lethargic equality.
He was still tired, he discovered a couple minutes later, as he sat slumped as his desk. His mind though, active behind the screen of slow speech and even slower reactions, worked on what ideas they had come away with last night.
He had suggested that the reason behind everything was the key to the puzzle. "Solve the motive, and narrow down who did have that motive and then cross it with who could have done it, and you've got your man." He said through steepled fingers crossed in front of him. "...Or woman." 
"Evatt, come now!" Evelyn said cajolingly.
"It is true, Evelyn. You, of all woman, must confess that a woman could have done these things." 
"I don't think I want to talk to you Evatt about how I could possibly be guilty for the murder of four as well as all the other crimes." She said shaking her head at him. 
"I do not think I do either, Evelyn. I think that if that were the case, I would shortly succumb to your wiles and die a most quick and undignified death." 
"Evatt!" 
"It is true. I think you could be as ruthless as they come, given certain reasons." He protested her quick, vehement denial. 
"Well you could be our fiend as well!" 
He raised his eyebrows at her in response; then waggled them wildly in a frenzied attack onto his eyelids. 
She burst out laughing and between wheezes said, "Come Doctor, I think it is high time we discuss motive."

They discussed the reasons behind the first crime, the murder of Addam and Lilya.
"I think that the point of the murder is not the killing itself." Evelyn said slowly. "What I mean is that we have been warned before every attack of what crime is going to take place shortly."
"Perhaps our criminal is crying desperately for help, for solace and peace in these attacks? What I mean to say is that, perhaps you are right and that the point is the warning and the happening, rather than the moment of the crime itself." 
He rubbed his jaw and yawned. 
"If the point is to warn, why commit them finally?" He asked. 
"Than the crimes themselves must have some intrinsic value, something we just haven't seen or been able to catalogue yet." 
She listed on her fingers the list of motives so far. "Money is perhaps one of the most common causes. However, Garden doesn't have any monetary system for someone to gain from. So this appears to make that idea a bit moot." 
She reconsidered for a moment. "I think I could see Robinson doing something for some personal gain of himself."
"Let's pass over that theory for a moment, Evelyn, and focus on what we know." 
"The motive could be hate or love, or some mixture of the two." She pondered this for a moment. 
"Perhaps a love of Garden?" She mused aloud. 
"Or perhaps a hatred?" He asked carefully, knowing what she would do. 
"The idea is absurd!" She cried. "No one could hate Garden that much....or at all!" She finished gamely. 
"Then, perhaps this was just meant to be...The origins of Garden are still more than somewhat shrouded. Perhaps this is all part of a plan, all a part of Garden, you could say." 
She sat there and thought about that. He followed suit and was silent, thinking of other matters. 
"The Tree has given us longevity, Evatt. Are you trying to tell me, now it's trying to take our gifts away?" Her voice was soft and distracted. Her eyes unfocused and wandering, she stared at him. 
"Evelyn, I don't know what I am saying anymore. It is very late and I am very tired."  He said slowly, ignoring her question. 
"Perhaps you meant that there is some sinister agent of our forerunners, those who founded this City, and that they are doing these deeds as part of some grand design?" 
He sighed. 
"Evelyn, I do not know much about Garden. I have lived here many years,  and I can still say that." He hesitated here, choosing his words even more carefully. "I just think, that, there is more Garden has to say about these things than we have asked her."

Evelyn jerked him out of his review as she stirred slightly and sat up.
"Good morning." The Doctor said, his mind on other things.

Simon caught up to Robinson not too far away from the Doctor's lab.
"Tom, hold up a moment, will you?" He called to the retreating figure.
Robinson stopped and turned around.
"What is it Temple? Must have the last word eh?" He grinned again.
"Tom, if you know something, please tell me. I want to help these people."
The entreaty was genuine, and the concern in Simon's voice was enough to give Robinson pause.
"I do believe that was the first thing I have believed of what you said tonight Temple."
"What do you mean?" Simon asked, all concern gone from his voice.
"I think that you are here in Garden for a different reason than what you gave. I also think you're the dark horse among us." He paused for effect before continuing. "I also suspect that you are the most guilty of us all here."
Simon just stared at him, surprise clearly in his face.
"Now, you want me to help you?" He spat on the ground suddenly, spoiling the white powder with a dark stain.
"I would find out what that Marie is up to. She came here before all this happened, but I wonder why? She prowls around; even asked me, a complete stranger to help her steal the fruit from the Tree."
Simon cocked his head at that, seemingly to absorb all he heard.
"I also would stop trying to catch this person in the act. Everything has been well planned and thought out already by the looks of it. I would focus instead on taking their options away."
At this Robinson paused and just looked at Simon.
They just stared at each for a moment before Robinson asked grinning again, "Do you think I am Demarc then?"
"I suspect that you are the most guilty of all of us here at that, yes." Simon grinned.


I might go back and edit this and add in them talking about the dreams and the tree causing them







this is the garden: colours come and go
frail azures fluttering from night's outer wing
strong silent greens serenely lingering
absolute lights like baths of golden snow.
This is the garden: pursed lips do blow
upon cool flutes within wide glooms and sing
(of harps celestial to the quivering string)
invisible faces hauntingly and slow.

This is the garden. Time shall surely reap
and on Death's blade lie many a flower curled
in other lands where other songs be sung;
yet stand They here enraptured as among
The slow deep trees perpetual of sleep
some silver-fingered fountain steals the world.
~Cummings