Daydreams

by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

the usual suspects copyright Mr. Simon Barber

A soft sound of a Russian peasants song drifted from Red Dorms open doorway, filling the air as a figure silently moved up the stairway. Tatiana Bryzov was alone, her dorm mates having been sent in different directions over an hour ago by their schedules. Tatiana was going over her homework at the moment, working out yet again why her figures would not quite close. It was a simple problem she was stuck on, a modified loop flight with a known distance and known speed. How fast at each leg, how much fuel would be used. She had completed this problem dozens of time in her Songmark career already, the only difference being that this time it was for a multi-engine aircraft. With another futile look to her book of Logarithmic Tables the Russian sable gave up. It was still the same number, 9677.

Setting aside her work for the moment she stared out her window. A good breeze was tumbling through it, across her face and out the open door behind her. It brought a taste of freedom with it. It brought to her memories of a certain Glen, where she had learned to be herself. To know what she truly wanted to be. Picking up her pencil she stared at its tip, whispering words her adoptive mother had taught her own students. It had taken her weeks of hidden effort to manage this, what was to those students a simple task. Abruptly the graphite and wax core burst into flame, bending towards her in the breeze. Calling the fire, to light a sacred flame. Something Oharu had brought with her from Cipangu.

“Are you sacred fire” she asked the little flame. “Or only fire.” Her tiny flicker of flame remained silent as always, so with a gentle puff from her lips she ended its tiny life. “Just as Starling ends mine. When discovers truth.” she whispered, setting her smoking pencil aside. “What I get myself into” she groaned.

Just then the tiniest of sounds came from behind her. With Songmark trained reflexes the young girl spun away from her chair, ending up several feet away from her desk in a combat stance. Instead of her dorm mates she found herself staring at Miss Devinski, Songmark’s lone hound instructor. She was standing at the door, one claw pressed extended against the frame. “Five points positive to your Dorm Tatiana” Catherine Devinski announced. “Your reactions are excellent.”

“Thank you Instructor” Tatiana answered, drawing herself back up into a more normal standing position. “You have task for me?”

“No Tatiana, I have come to discuss with you’re your application.”

“To marry Millicent” the young girl asked.

“Yes. Please sit.” Selecting Brigit’s bed the hound settled down in a relaxed position, pulling an envelope from one of her many pockets. It was the envelope that Tatiana had used when tending her request. “We, all the instructors, have carefully reviewed your request child. Do you know our answer?”

“Nyet Miss Devinski. I think though is nyet.”

“Perhaps. Perhaps not. You would not be the first Songmark student to marry while in her second year. Nor is being married a reason to expel you, as long as said marriage does not interfere with your student life. You are aware of several students who are married I assume, one being of Red Dorm itself. There are though many factors to weigh when making these kinds of decisions. Your parents are dead?”

“Father died in mine accident” Tatiana explained. “Birth mother disown me long ago. Priestess Oharu is adoptive mother. I already have her answer before sending request.”

“I see. Though we are your guardians there are times when we must consider many things, including your birth parents desires. Or in your case an Adoptive parent. Oharu is teaching you her path?”

“Nyet. She wish, I say no. Is not what I am.” Tatiana glanced at the still smoking pencil, rethinking her action of a few moments ago. “I listen dah. I practice little things only. Is pravda mother wishes me trained. She says see many paths for her into coming darkness. Few leave darkness. She wishes to insure Great Stone Glen has protector. Should she not walk from darkness.”

“And you refused her.”

Squaring her shoulders Tatiana locked her eyes with those of her instructor, a dangerous thing to do she had been warned by third years, yet still she did so. “Mother Oharu is strongest woman I ever meet” she announced. “There no task she unable do, no threat she unable to stand against. Mother Oharu will not need me. She will march from darkness, still strong.”

Miss Devinski frowned. “Do not be a fool Tatiana. Oharu is strong yes. She has survived things that many of our graduates might not, but she is after all mortal. Just like you and I. I think that she is trying to help you. Not protect, you don’t need that from her. But help. For example. Is she aware of what you are doing, teaching yourself things only a Priestess should know?”

“She know” Tatiana admitted. “Sometime she correct words, how paw held. I think amuses her.”

“It does not. I have spoken with her just today about you young lady. She is proud of you. Proud of your decisions and your intelligence. You are not a source of amusement to her, except when you are attempting to amuse her. Tell me about Millicent, why you want to marry her.”

“I do not” Tatiana admitted. She looked around the room, as though many ears were listening. “I not wish this discussion here” she decided.

“Very well then, where” the yellow furred hound asked.

“Best. Great Stone Glen. Second best. Your office.”

Moving to stand Miss Devinski paused. “You are aware that our decision is final” she asked her student. “That if you refuse to abide by it, you will be expelled?”

“Dah. I know” the Russian admitted. “Miss Devinski, I must weigh my desires, my needs against anothers. This I have found difficult. We will leave now?”

“Please follow me Tatiana.” Standing Miss Devinski slipped that envelope back into her pocket, walking out the door without looking back.

Instead of the office building or main gate Tatiana found herself following her instructor towards the odd mound in Songmark’s center. Reaching it, Miss Devinski led her student to the face not visible to the other students. Speaking a word Tatiana could not understand the hound waited, then continued. “Henrika, we would like to visit please.”

To the sables stunned surprise a section of the mound simply vanished, leaving behind an opening that one fur could fit through. “It is always here Tatiana, but only Henrika may open it. Then only when she desires. Follow, and learn a Songmark secret.” Stepping through the opening the hound vanished. Taking a deep breath, Tatiana followed her.

It was a small chamber she found herself in. Larger than she had expected, for its floor was much deeper than the mounds base, but overall no more than ten feet square. From somewhere a female skunk appeared, but where Tatiana could never guess. What shocked her was that in such a small area the musky scent of skunk should have been overwhelming, yet there was nothing. “Has she been...” Tatiana started to ask when the skunk turned to face her. There was something about those eyes the sable realized. She had seen it once before, when her adopted mother had been taken over by some kind of spirit. “You were the one. You took over mother.”

“Very observant child” the skunk answered. “Yes, as I have taken this body. I did use your mothers to speak with your Liberty. Your mother though allowed this. This body, there was nothing within to allow or refuse. Even though your adoptive mother tried her best.”

“What happened” Tatiana asked.

It was Miss Devinski who answered that question. “We are not exactly certain. What we do know is that during her break between second and third year Henrika traveled to Krupmark Island, with a male who was supposed to be in love with her. Apparently she expected to meet his family. Sometime after arriving there she was drugged, then eventually broken. Oharu bought her from a male claiming to be an agent of a ‘Huntress.’ Not as we know them here, she hunts intelligent furs for food. The ancient way. By then Henrika’s mind was gone. Oharu spent many nights with Henrika, would you like to see the best that her efforts managed to recover?”

“Nyet. I not think so. Not yet” Tatiana admitted. “Mother tell me little about this girl. Not this much. She was operated upon dah I know. This happen to me, you kill yes?”

“That is your wish” the yellow furred hound asked.

“Dah. Better to be dead than mindless. Why we are here?”

“That we may speak in complete secrecy, should the spirit of this place allow.”

“I will allow this” the skunk agreed. “For Songmark’s children are forever my children. When you are ready to leave.” She placed a paw upon the sables shoulder. “Your mother has great honor, though she is unaware of this. Care for her. I fear that her time will not be as long as she hopes. Each day the paths available to her reduce, and those that take her out of the darkness to come reduce as well.” Turning away the skunk walked towards a stone wall, then seemed to simply vanish.

“Why show me her” Tatiana asked, watching that patch of darkness as if she wished to step into it herself.

“Why? To frighten you? No, I think not” Miss Devinski answered. “Nor is Henrika’s existence or condition a secret from the other students, though her being hostess of this places spirit is. You see, without the spirits attendance Henrika is nothing more than a three year old child. She will never be more than that, her mind turns away from all learning each time the spirit manages to advance her mind to a six year olds. It was all, besides some fragmentary memories, that Oharu could recover. I believe that I showed her too you to prove to you that we care for our girls, even if they never finish their course. Please, find a place and sit. Then we will clear the air about your Millicent.”

Settling on a broken column of carved stone Tatiana waited until her instructor spoke again. “We have been made aware of your orders, of your situation. Oharu has vouched for you. Should we discharge you she will take you into her home to live as long as you desire. Tatiana, accepting a Priestess as your adopted mother makes you a full fledged Spontoon Citizen, not simply the temporary one that our charter allows. It also grants you near instant respect by every Spontoon native who follows the old ways, and instant disgust from those who wish to change us. For wither you accept this or not, your very presence means that Oharu is there in spirit. No matter where you go. Now you want to marry a Euro, making her a citizen as long as you are married. Making her also part of a Priestess’s immediate family. Oharu will always be judged by both of your actions, even after she is dead. Are you certain this is the path you want?”

Tatiana looked first to her paws, then up to Miss Devinski. Again meeting those eyes that seemed so all knowing. “I have spoke with mother deeply. She is agreeable. She says Millicent is my punishment. That I may never have a male in my life again. That Gods have judged me, for what I do to birth parents. Pravda. I was much wrong that day. I believe mother, father return. Return think like I did. Was NKVD that come. Take me away. To train as agent. I excellent agent material they say. Turn in evil spies. Praise me so much by time I learn what happen truth, I too proud admit horror.”

She took a deep breath again, for it was hard to hold her gaze with her instructor. Without her adoptive mothers training she knew that she could not have even managed a few seconds. “So I come Spontoon. I accept Spontoon. But I evil child. Though changing, dah I still dark hearted. Gods look upon me, discuss. Decide Millicent my punishment. Miss Devinski. Pravda I not love Millicent. Maybe we be friend, but I not love. I not like be with woman, though all Songmark seem like that.”

“Tatiana. There are currently forty one students in Songmark. Of those, two first years are Sapphic, four second years and one third year. Seven of forty one is only seventeen percent. Less than the world average. Of the rest of our students twelve have vowed not to marry or sleep with a male until they finish school. That is twenty-nine percent, much less than the current world average. Do not marry Millicent. Let her go. Events will be made to occur that saves face with your controller.”

“You very good with numbers” the sable admitted. “Less than world average, so what is world average Sapphic?”

“Somewhere between twenty and twenty-seven percent, at this moment. At least from the best research we have available to us, which is not by any government. Being a girls school we have to have an idea what to expect coming to us.”

Tatiana nodded yes, accepting her instructors words. Her NKVD training claimed that almost any woman could be seduced by another woman, with the right training. That she knew was a lie. Too many had turned away from her when she tried, though none had been Russian. Too many things in her life were proving to be lies, but not her political belief. She had read the unedited manuscript available in Songmark’s library. It was pure thought, it was good. It was all that Starling was not. From that she would not be swayed.

“I can not turn from my path” she finally answered. “To save Mother Russia I need fool Soviets. Pravda Mother right. Must pay for evil. Millicent, to care for, to protect. She is like child in many ways. You say yes, you say no. Dah. I will marry her. I will carry my punishment. Is less than deserve I think.”

Miss Devinski leaned back, looking first up at the carved stone roof above her before speaking. “You will give up your education in order to marry a woman you neither love nor want. Tatiana. You have changed. You no longer deserve to be in Red Dorm. I will move you to another.”

“Please no” Tatiana almost begged. “Is where am comfortable. Know how they are. How they react. New girl be overwhelmed in seconds. Patricia was correct, we are sharks. We feed upon each other. They give me hard time for this pravda, not so hard can not survive. Beside. I tell them is trick to get secret information from Millicent. To use her. Maybe they think me smarter than I think I am.”

“Will you use Millicent?”

“Sometime. Dah. Not as much she use me though. Miss Devinski. Millicent has great problem. I know problem, Mother is help her deal with. Can not tell you what is, only that is personality.”

“Yes. Your mother said as much. Not what her secret is, only that she has one that, if left on her own will destroy her.” Running a paw down the length of her tail Miss Devinski shuddered. “What could be so bad that, if left to her own devices she would find a way to commit suicide in the darkest places of Casino Island within the year?”

“Can not tell you. Pravda, can not tell you.”

“Tatiana. I am also warned that this summer she will be placed in greatest danger by this nations government. They do not expect her to survive. I charge you to insure that she does, and returns here in your arms.” Miss Devinski watched the reaction on Tatiana’s face before continuing. “It is an espionage play. Her people have abandoned her to Spontoon. Spontoon intends to use her as bait for Kau Hon. You must allow this, for it will help strengthen Millicent, it will also help crush an enemy of all countries. Come to me when Millicent vanishes, you will be fully briefed. Then you will be sent with those who will deal with her captors. Trust your mother, she wishes to teach you several rituals that may help you find and protect Millicent. Are you still intent upon marrying her, knowing even this, that she is to be a pawn in a game she doesn’t know the rules of. That she might not survive the playing of?”

“I protect Millicent Miss Devinski. She is good friend. I admit keeping her happy is... difficult. I am well trained for such. Dah Miss Devinski, I do so. I be her Champion.”

“So I see. Tatiana, you will keep secrets for me?”

“If not against Russia, Mother, Spontoon or Millicent. Yes” the sable agreed.

“Such qualifiers. No, it involves only all Songmark students. From the very first to the very last.”

“Dah. I keep such secret for you.”

“Very good. Tatiana, who will join the ranks of married Songmark students it seems, causing even more paperwork for us. Each student is given a harsh test. Usually in their second year, sometimes in their third. Some students, such as Patricia, managed it in their first year, though she was the first to do so quickly. It is a test of moral character. It is one of the main reasons that we have only had one student fail to graduate once reaching their third year. Tatiana, Songmark is not just teaching you everything about aircraft, how to survive, even how to make a living on your own in a male dominated world. It is about finding your true self. How strong are you, inside. Sometimes students create this test by themselves. Amelia and Molly have, though you cannot be aware of just how close both have come to failing.”

“Amelia passed her’s when she decided to have that kit she believes that we are unaware of, even though it would mean failing Songmark. Then not shattering when she lost it because of the Marsh Typhus. Molly, Molly has barely passed her own test. When she did not shoot your mother or Captain Granite. Patricia passed her’s when she returned. Not when she swam at ebb tide from Casino Island to Main Island, then found your mother. All while seriously injured. It was when she decided to return, to face not only her attackers but us as well. Tatiana, you mother would have made an excellent student. She has faced herself as deeply as anyone may, then returned. Though changed, she has returned and continued to her work. Now you have too. And you have passed.”

Tatiana stared at Miss Devinski as if she were some alien from another world. “Not understand” she finally admitted.

“No. No I did not think that a Russian would. You Russians are all so stoic. Tatiana. You had a choice. Remain in Songmark and leave Millicent to her future. One your mother and two other of the priestess’s I have spoken with informs me would end at her own paw before you started your third year. Instead you accept her as what she is, your burden. Now knowing that she still may still not survive to see you enter these gates for your third year. You accept her in that stoic Russian way, but you accept her and all it means to your life. Even to leaving Songmark forever. That is a moral test Tatiana. Will you do the right thing, no matter the cost to yourself. You have passed. I am proud of you.”

“Yet am no longer Songmark student” the Russian admitted. “May have dignity to leave now, before Red Dorm returns?”

“No you may not” the hound answered. She withdrew again that envelope, offering it to Tatiana. “Read this.”

Accepting the envelope Tatiana took out a single sheet of paper. One she saw that all four instructors had signed it. “Permission Granted’ were the only words written above those signatures. Her paws seemed to suddenly grow weak, she almost lost hold of the paper before she recovered. “Thank you.”

“Had you failed this test my Russian spy, you would no longer be a Songmark student. And if you believe that this was a difficult choice, oh wait until you find our what we have set up for Beryl. Tatiana, you are taking into your life the life of another. As with a child Tatiana, this is for the rest of your life. I am told that her life, her future are now completely in your paws. Be careful with her my student, because she is truly a fragile thing. Have you popped the question yet?”

“Nyet. Need to know own future first. So can warn wife to be what to expect.” Tatiana carefully folded the paper in her paws, slipping it back into its envelope before speaking again. “Dorm restricted this weekend. With luck will ask next weekend. Hope she say yes, am very bad with seduction.”

Laughing Miss Devinski slapped her knee. “You? My dear you and your mother are a pair. Did she ever tell you that she once almost seduced a woman to changing sides? No? You should ask her about a certain waterfall, and a wildcat. Choose April twentieth. We will insure that your dorm is available that day.”

“Why then?”

“Simple” the hound answered. “It is Millicent’s birthday.”

“Oh. About mother. She is natural” the sable admitted. Noticing the hounds quizzical expression Tatiana managed a small smile. “Before we become mother daughter, night she buy me from Nikki. I go to her. She very caring. Morning I know love her, not as lover. As sister maybe. Took many weeks decide want her as mother. She agree, but I always remember that night. She would make Molly best wife anyone ever wish for.”

“Which we all know now will never happen” Miss Devinski admitted.

“How much you win that bet” Tatiana asked.

“I lost a rather large sum Tatiana. You see, I too know that they are meant to be. Now I see that they never will be. It was after all Molly’s choice. She chose, Oharu accepted. It takes a strong person to make either choice. Molly had within her paws someone who loved her without reservation, someone strong in her own way, who could care for her, protect her. Someone who could protect her not only from her own country, but her own destructive ways. She turned away as was her right. Oharu has the ability, if not herself then by others, to turn Molly’s heart to her. She declined to even think about such. Saimmi, you know the High Priestess? Yes, that Saimmi. She told me that a God offered to grant Molly’s love to her. And she refused.” She paused, looking down at her own paws for a moment. “Both are damned fools.”

“Dah” Tatiana agreed softly.

Looking up again the hound smiled. “That is out of our paws, though I wait with held breath for when you will use your hidden knowledge against Molly. If nothing more than to see her expression.”

“Is anything Songmark not know” Tatiana asked.

“We do not know who took Henrika to Krupmark. Nor who shattered her such. We hope that such records will be found at a certain slave training camp.”

“One Millicent be sent too?”

“Yes Tatiana. One the pawn Millicent will lead hunter killers too. You will be one of them?”

“Dah. And if find such record. I bring back in own paws. If is Molly’s Lars?”

“What do you think?”

Tatiana took a third deep breath, holding it just long enough to control an outburst of emotion. “I think” she finally answered. “Molly wear black for long long time. I think also I keep her away from mother. I not like gangster Molly. Something is wrong inside her. She is dangerous even now to mother. Mother will not defend against her.”

“I understand. Have you any more questions?”

“What may speak of, from what we talk about.”

Standing Miss Devinski brushed herself off. “You have been given permission to marry. You have met Henrika. What happened to her, who returned her too us and how. Nothing more.”

“Agreed. Miss Devinski?”

“Yes?”

“I think know now what you are. What all Songmark instructors are. I think I not anger you again if can help it. I do like sleep.”

“You are not the first to understand, I hope you will not be the last. Learn to love Millicent, even though such goes against what you are. You have accepted your fate. You are bound now Miss Wei. Best to learn to enjoy your prison. In doing so you will live a better life.”

“Dah. I learn. Not like, but learn.”

Turning to the darkness Miss Devinski call out. “Henrika. We are ready to leave now, and thank you.”

In answer sunlight spilled into the chamber, startling Tatiana. For some strange reason she had not noticed that the entryway had closed, nor that they had spoken in torchlight. Following her instructor she walked out of the mound, noting with delight the life about her. She had learned important things, been trusted with important information. She was trusted and still a Songmark student.

“Tatiana.”

Looking up Tatiana found Miss Devinski holding a slip of paper. “Midnight Miss Wei, or not at all.”

Taking the offered pass the sable felt a shiver of excitement. It was her instructors way of saying ‘pop the question now.’ Bowing deeply to her instructor as her mother had taught her, Tatiana stood and ran for the gate.

Millicent had just begun to prepare her evening dinner when there was a knock at her door. Though not expecting any visitor, being within the Consulate Compound, she felt a bit safer answering than were she alone outside the compound. Besides Sergeant Proud had been turning her body black and blue with his paw-to-paw training. None of which was by any book she had ever heard of. Opening her door she was surprised at who stood on the other side. “Tatiana, how?”

“Is not such good guards you have” the love of her soul admitted. “May come in? Have one question.”

“But of course my love. But are you not worried? People will talk about you should they discover you here.”

“If not back at Songmark by midnight, might move in.”

Tatiana’s words sent a shiver of pure pleasure through the felines body. To have the sable here waiting for her each day. But no, that would never happen. It couldn’t happen. Such dreams were flights of fantasy, never to occur in the harsh light of wakeful reality. Shutting her door after the sable entered Millicent turned to face her. Wanting so much, accepting what was. “Why come to me?”

“Pravda Millicent. As said. Have come ask one question.” Reaching into one of her Songmark uniforms many pockets Tatiana withdrew something. Holding it out she asked her question. “Will marry me?”

Millicent found herself staring at a tiny ring box, within was a simple gold bad with a tiny diamond. It had probably cost Tatiana everything she had the tabby realized. Looking up into that face she dreamed of each night Millicent almost passed out. “Will I... Marry you? Of course I shall marry you my dearest love. When? Where?”

Removing the ring from its box Tatiana gently took Millicent’s left paw, slowly sliding the ring over the cats finger. As in all such actions Millicent’s slight finger fur gave her a touch of trouble, but she had been careful in her measurements last week. It fit perfectly. “Before May. Maybe April twenty? When classes end maybe go Hawaii for month. Get to know each other.”

“Why Hawaii” Millicent gasped while studying the ring. “It is not as if we will ever leave the hotel room.”

Accepting her fate Tatiana pulled Millicent forward into as romantic a hug as she could manage. “Mother says is beautiful place. Would like to see. Want to see with you.” She nuzzled Millicent’s neck fur, unsurprised when the cat lifted her head, giving her sable lover full access to her throat. “I love you” she finished, her lie undetectable by the entranced feline.

“Bedroom” Millicent finally managed to gasp. “To hell with dinner. I want you. Now.”

It was a much rumpled sable who returned to Songmark that night with time to spare. She had left Millicent sleeping, then had taken a slow taxi home. One without a bronze Tiki on its bow. It was Liberty standing at the gate when she arrived.

“Trust yah have a pass” the coyote demanded.

Offering her pass to her dormmate Tatiana waited until the gate opened, observing her companions shocked expression at the existence of the thing. “Ahn while we have been pullin double shift, you’ve been playin on Casino Island from tha smell oh yah. Ah feline, ahn female? You?”

“Dah” Tatiana agreed, accepting her pass back. Like all it had to be returned to the office in the morning. “Millicent very energetic.”

“Millicent.”

“Dah” the sable agreed as she started walking away. “Wife to be. Am getting married her April twenty.”

Her answer was the sound of Liberty’s body hitting ground, the coyote having passed out from shock.