Season 02 - Episode 24

‘new mother’s hand’

Ri is sitting in a small, well lit room, full of people talking.

And she is calm.

She sits on the floor beside her new mother, who sits in a large, ornate chair. Ri is wearing her magic cloak, a gift from her new mother and feels safe within it. With the hood pulled over and down, she stares into calming darkness and imagines a wide open space.

If she looks down, she sees her own body and the floor and sometimes people's feet. Mostly however, she doesn't look down, she looks straight ahead, into the darkness. She jumps a little as her new mother's hand lands lightly on her head, stroking her absently.

Ri has no memory of her first mother. Her father used to tell her stories of her, that she was beautiful and kind. Her father is gone now though and her new mother is also kind. She had been trapped, flicking randomly between two different worlds. The peaceful world of empty, open darkness and the hateful world of light, too small, too full, pressing in around her.

Her new mother had found her in that hateful place, in the light, but she had been calm and caring. She had reached out and touched Ri gently, the way her father used to. Her new mother had given her the magic cloak that let her live in both worlds at once. Then she had asked Ri her name and then she had explained everything.

Ri was right to fear the world of light, her new mother had told her. It would indeed crush the life from her just as she feared. Her only chance of survival was to stay close to her new mother, obey all of her commands and when the world of light did come back, to fight with all she had.

Since then she has done just that. The world of light still comes back sometimes, with the panic and the blurring and the sticky, sticky red. For the most part however, her life is peaceful and calm now, safe by her new mother's side.

“No-one in the Innersides has believed in Constructionism for generations,” Pho is saying. “The idea that these rooms and corridors go on forever, that they were created by a god, this is childish nonsense, not a belief for civilised people. This place was built by people just like us. This poor, mindless child is living proof of that.”

She taps Ri's head for emphasis as she speaks.

“But Mother Pho,” says a man nearby. “With respect, this is blasphemy! The Beast built The Levels long ago. My brothers and I know this in our hearts.”

“My dear Vo,” says Pho gently. “Who am I to you?”

There is an awkward pause. Ri feels the tension in the room rise.

“I believe,” says Vo carefully. “That you are the emissary of The Beast. His herald sent among us, Mother Pho.”

“Quite so,” agrees Pho. “And are we not then both his tools, you and I?”

“We are,” says Vo with greater conviction. “Mother Pho.”

“So then,” says Pho, stroking the top of Ri's head. “Could it not be that those people who built The Innersides, or The Levels as you call them, that they were also his tools? That he did build this place, but that he did so through them?”

“I...” Vo begins but then trails off.

There is sudden motion nearby and looking down, Ri catches sight of the man's clean shaven head as he presses it into the ground at Pho's feet.

“Mother Pho!” he gasps, choking with emotion. “Your wisdom is beyond comprehension. You truly are the emissary of The Beast. Forgive my impertinent questions!”

“There is nothing to forgive my son,” says Pho grandly. “You are my child and I love you. You need only serve me with total devotion and I shall answer you anything. Now, does anyone else have any questions?”

The conversations continue but Ri loses interest. The idea that people built the hateful world of light seems impossible to her. Why would humans create such a terrible place for themselves? Perhaps it was built by gods for gods to live in and that's why it's no good for people.

Ri dismisses the thought and thinks nothing instead. She knows one thing with absolute certainty. She knows her new mother is right. It's the only thing she needs to know.

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