Creation Mischief Part 11

“The specimen is what is called Sweet Gum. An amazing plant that transformed its leaves into three different colors; purple, crimson and orange. Its leaves are star-shaped." 1

"You can tell all that from a twig from the tree?" I asked, after taking a sip of water. My thirst was almost quenched.2

He shook his head. "No, I also have a leaf."3

"One leaf can tell you how many colors it will turn?" I asked. 4

"Yes, in time it will." came his cryptic response.5

"This tree will grow in a pyramid shape, making it slender at the top and thick at the bottom.”6

"Fascinating, but, professor, what does this have to do about the creature?" I asked exasperated.7

He crossed a leg while steepling his fingers in front of his face.8

”Report," he ordered.9

I repeated everything Kyle and I had gone over. Quinn's telepathy, stillness and non- aggressiveness. After I was done, Master Ruben turned his eyes to the barren fireplace and sat in silence.10

I shifted on the oversized chair as I waited. It was a little nerve racking, the waiting, but I tried to look calm as I sat back and concentrated on keeping my foot from jangling. But as all minds do, mine wandered as I sat.11

Once again I was on Deter Seven with Quinn. I wondered what it would be like to swim with him. How much did he eat? How big would he get? I knew I'd be spending a lot of time in the library, but I was anxious to get started.12

Finally I couldn't take it anymore. "So, Master Ruben? What are you thinking?"13

After a moment, his eyes refocused. He dropped his hands to his lap and looked at me. "It would seem we need to do more research. I suspect you will be heading to the library after this."14

I nodded.15

"Are you curious to know where I got the scale? You have never once asked where the scale come from. Why is that?"16

I shrugged and then leaned forward-resting on my knees. "I didn't think it my place."17

Master Ruben chuckled quietly, the corners of his mouth and eyes crinkling. "You always manage to make me laugh. It is your place to ask questions." He punctuated each word with a jabbed of his index finger in the air. "You need to ask the questions that make your instructors think. It has been too long since our teaching and principles were put to the test." He sat back, laced his long fingers across his stomach and waited.18

Many hours I had spent in this room studying, listening and learning. To me it felt like I'd taken longer than most students to get to my second year. Master Ruben had assured me that I hadn't. I remember questioning 75% of what I was being taught, and then when I was finally granted the white sash of a second year I stopped asking.19

I realized that was the problem. That was what Master Ruben was waiting for.20

“OK, was the scale left for me to take?"21

His dark eye lit up. "Not for you only, but yes left for a student to find. I was hoping it was you."22

Fresh lavender distracted me for a moment. The sweet smell always surprised me when I was here. I expected to be assaulted by dust and mold, since it was a cluttered room.23

“And did you know what the scale was?" I asked, while rubbing my forehead.24

Again his smile filled his face. "Yes, in a way, yes. I knew the scale was something we hadn't seen before." He paused. “Strike that. Something we hadn't seen in awhile. Our history shows us these creatures were around in the past."25

“So if I did a little digging I would find the answers I'm searching for?" I asked, my mind racing ahead, full of enthusiasm. But a random thought intruded and before I could stop myself I asked, "Do you suppose Kyle and I helped Quinn develop?"26

This stopped Mastercreator Ruben, he frowned. "I don't think so. I sent Miranna after you had returned. The serpent was already swimming around." He paused, bringing his eyebrows together in a scowl. "You’ve named him?"27

I realized then that I had overstepped protocol. I nodded as I tried to explain myself. "We were talking and I just couldn't continue calling him a creature, not with his intelligence. It didn't feel right. Did I do something wrong?" 28

He raked a hand through his wiry beard as he thought. "It’s not been done in my term. That doesn't mean that somewhere in our glorious past some industrious student had named an intelligent being."29

"Getting back to the latter subject of an intelligent. I've questions."30

"Let's hear them," Master Ruben prompted. 31

I cupped my chin in the palm of my hand, resting my elbow on the chair of the chair. “First; who else has done this?"32

"What do you mean?"33

"Who else has named an intelligent being? When? And of course why? I know my reason, but it may be different from someone else. Also, when was the last water serpent seen? Did it have the same ability as Quinn; to speak within our minds?"34

“Why is your first question about the naming?" He asked quietly.35

I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling the pressure but not relieving the tension. "It felt right to me, naming him. It was like our conversation would or couldn't go on until I did."36

He asked another question, "And naming him after your father, what decided that?"37

I went still. I didn't have an answer for this question, so I went with my gut. "It felt right. I couldn't call it creature, as I've stated before and my father's name came to the forefront of my thoughts."38

"Has your father been on your mind lately?" He asked over steeple fingers.39

That question took me completely by surprise. I had expected to continue on the subject of Quinn and not veer off onto other topics. I paused for several heartbeats before replying, "Yes, he has." 40

How had the highest-ranking Master known what or who I was thinking about? I wanted badly to tell him about the apple tree, but before I could he asked, "What are your plans now?"41

I rested an elbow on the arm of the chair, while cupping my chin. "I need to find the answers to my questions. So, I’m thinking second level library. Kyle is already headed there in the morning. I'm to meet him there."42

Master Ruben fished around in his pants pocket as he nodded in approval. "Here, you’ll need this." He handed me a small but dull key. There was nothing special about it, but it smelled of old copper pennies. 43

"What’s this for?"44

"It's the key to open the third level." He extended his arm. As I reached for the much-coveted key, he said, "A word of caution, be careful what you seek there, for some of it is beyond your understanding." He laid his hands upon his chest and began snoring quietly.45

I watched as his chin sagged to his chest. I guess my time was up.