CHAPTER XXVII.
ATHEN Reuben helplessly watched the scene unfold.
He was trapped.
The anarchic Sibylline surrounded him.
The deadly effluents of the toxics enforced them to march separately,
And as Sib and Gus were swarmed,
The rear wave of Sibylline had wrapped itself around Reuben.
They did nothing.
They seemed confused.
Reuben spoke to the largest Sibylline who appeared to lead this creature arm of the toxic movement.
Welcome,
Sibylline of unknown generation,
He said.
Do not use the terms of the old world,
The Sibylline replied.
My new name is Athen,
The name of his ex-third-in-command,
The first convert for Gus,
Thought Reuben.
His smile was sad as he thought of that day at the beach.
We await our instructions from Demet,
Continued Athen II.
Do not move.
Reuben was pleased to hear the old world's speech.
He wondered how Athen could understand Demet's vile talk.
He uses the old language if necessary for our cause,
Replied Athen.
Why have you betrayed our beautiful world?
Asked Reuben.
He felt hope for the Sibylline.
Their betrayal was not steeped in centuries of bitterness.
What a ridiculous question!
Spat Athen.
We have been restless for years.
Sib,
The disloyal,
Knew of our unease long ago.
He agreed our lands are harsh and our enharmonics are of little consequence.
Reuben interrupted him.
Your enharmonics are treasured and utterly essential to the balance of the world.
You are honoured with enharmonics who support all creatures and plants at the very foundations of our culture.
Reuben was mottled with anger.
His fondness for the gentle colour change has put him in danger.
Orion of no hope,
Be silenced!
Cried Athen,
And he snaked out his long tongue.
It wrapped itself around Reuben's leg and he fell winded to the ground.
The other Sibylline cackled and sneered.
Reuben thought of Sib.
No use thinking of him,
Said Athen,
Leaning over Reuben with his bloodshot eyes.
Reuben lay still.
He heard the truth in Athen's words.
He was sickened with himself.
The quest is failing,
He thought,
For the first time.
At that moment all the Sibylline looked up in unison.
Their faces faltered and Athen stood back to let Reuben up without thinking.
Warily Reuben stood.
He felt it too.
Sib was leaving.
His death was like a silence.
Reuben knew Sib had not been a popular quest member.
He'd seen the dislike of Scrat and the mistrust of Felicity.
But Reuben had never given up hope.
A Sibylline is not designed for loyalty,
But for circulation,
He thought.
They circulate the matters of the world,
Serious or small.
Athen picked up his thoughts.
Yes,
News and information.
We are the gossips and the prattlers,
The lovers of all things new.
And then he paused.
The other Sibylline looked at him.
Something was wrong.
Sib the traitor was my brother,
He said,
And turned away.
He looked at his followers.
And he looked up at the sky-trail of Sib for the last time.
He half-lowered his eyelids,
Deep in thought.
Reuben recognised the expression from Sib.
They heard Demet issue his order to destroy Ghas.
Athen threw out his tongue and it cracked like a whip.
Reuben four-thousandth,
He said,
In a very different voice.
Will you present our case to the ancient Oceanids if we leave?
Reuben could not believe what he was hearing.
His heart soared and he looked to Sib's trail.
He knew that with this last act of dying,
Sib had saved the Quest Company to-day.
Without the Sibylline wing behind them,
The Toxics were back to their original evil but containable form.
The old world's harmony would reshift.
And the crisis was swinging in their favour again.
Well,
Not exactly,
Thought Reuben as he looked at the filthy creatures chanting their curses.
He noticed Ghas near the edge.
He saw him break out from the horde carrying poor Sib's body.
Thank you,
My friend,
He said to the last vanishing traces of the sky-trail.
He left and ran to join Ghas.
Together they united with Georges and Wolfgang and all four streaked over the hill.
Wolfgang took Sib as they ran,
And Reuben and Georges lifted Ghas off his spiky feet.
The quest continues,
Cried Reuben,
As they reached the others,
Panting but safe.
