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| Chapter One: Way of the Pilgrim; ~Joining the Arcanum~ | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 7 2010, 12:31 AM (98 Views) | |
| The Storyteller | Jan 7 2010, 12:31 AM Post #1 |
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[align=center]We are the Pilgrims, master; we shall go Always a little further; it may be Beyond that last blue mountain barred with snow, Across that angry or that glimmering sea, White on a throne or guarded in a cave, There lies a prophet who can understand Why men are born; but surely we are brave, Who make the golden journey to Samarkand ~James Elroy Flecker~[/align] Istanbul, Turkey The Kapali Charshi, the Grand Covered Bazaar, was crowded but this was not unusual. No one seemed to mind the fact that elbow room was at a premium; as long as you didn't hit your neighbor with the heavy bundle you were carrying, everyone was satisfied. But it was thinning now, the afternoon siesta beginning to draw the shop keepers and tourists away from their stalls and booths to the comfort of their homes and hotels, a warm meal and a soft bed. They met their contact in the Covered Bazaar, as she had instructed them. Sipping thick-brewed Turkish coffee, the young woman had been waiting; she turned her dark, guarded eyes in their direction and gestured for them to sit with her. A small boy came almost immediately, bringing more coffee in intricate demitasse cups. "You brought what I asked of you," she said in her thick accent. It was less a question than a statement. Helen nodded, and withdrew a small bundle from her backpack. She slid it over to their contact, without removing her hand from the package. John glanced around uneasily. This looked too much like a drug transaction and he did not want to spend any time in the Turkish prisons-of-ill-repute. He'd seen Midnight Express one too many times. The Gypsy reached expectantly for the bundle. Helen's hand pressed down on it quickly. "Not yet," she said in Turkish. "Where is our information?" The woman reached beneath her shawl. John tensed, his fingers inching closer to the handgun he had concealed. Oh God, a shoot out in a public place at midday, he thought. I'm never going home. A sheen of perspiration beaded on his forehead. The Gypsy laughed at John, a light-hearted trill with a slight note of mockery She withdrew her hand from the shawl, clutching a folded piece of paper between her fingers. She flipped it open to reveal an address. "This is your next destination." The woman slid the paper across the table to Helen, who reached for it eagerly. John glanced over her shoulder to read what was written: the address was only a few blocks away. He looked up. The Gypsy was gone, along with her payment. [align=center]I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. ~Robert Frost~[/align] Dear Mr. Lewis: I am delighted that you have taken up my offer to pursue full membership in the Arcanum. The research you have undertaken as an Associate of the Arcanum has been of great value to us; your contributions to the discipline are both noted and appreciated. (The fact that we are both Cambridge men might, I admit, cause some small bias in my evaluation.) I can offer my assurances that your association with the Arcanum will be invaluable to you. From our earlier correspondence, you already know of my respect for your work in early modern European history. Although I confess that I disagree with a few of your interpretations, I cannot fault your scholarship or your intellect. I believe that in time, you may modify your views. I came to the same conclusions you did at the beginning of my academic career, but Time has a way of changing things. I have watched your career develop over the past year, and more importantly, I have seen some of your personal growth as well. I believe that you no longer view knowledge as merely an accumulation of "information," a commodity to be bartered or purchased in today's quantified information society. It is apparent from our recent conversations that you have begun to understand that knowledge's intrinsic value and innate importance. It is my own belief that the search for knowledge is a sacred quest, a path which is rough, but in the end, rewarding, Journey. As a new member of the Arcanum, you yourself will soon embark upon this Journey. You will learn much about the Arcanum and the world on this Journey. This is no mere formal proceeding; the Journey itself is as real as the destination. There are, however, a few things you should understand: * The Arcanum is not simply a scholarly society; it is a fraternal organization dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and the attainment of wisdom. As such, we are bound to certain rules and philosophies. *After your Induction, you will be a Neophyte, one who has begun the Journey. Your role as Neophyte is that of a student: you shall learn our history, our means of operation. You will only learn, however, what we show you. There is much that we cannot reveal until you are ready. * The Neophyte is mentored by an Elder Brother. I shall be such to you. I am here to act as Guide, as well as to Guard you. As a Neophyte you do not have a full voice in the Arcanum: I will speak for you. Likewise, the wishes of the Arcanum will be revealed to you through me. The importance of trust in our relationship cannot be more greatly stressed. *You will be Tested throughout the Journey. Some Tests will come from the Arcanum, planned encounters to see whether you are truly the caliber of person we count on. There will be other Tests of character, however, and these will be spontaneous. If you believe in coincidence, then you may discount them; they will, however, be Tests. *You are never alone on your Journey. In addition to my guidance, there are other Neophytes who will join you. Regard them as your family, they will be your companions on your Journey, and you shall come to count on them for your very life. Never dismiss the bond that will develop with your associates, for they will be your Brothers and Sisters. *Once you begin the Journey, you truly cannot turn back. The road you will embark upon, though unseen by many, is quite real, and when you set foot upon it, it will forever change the way you see the world. Many will fall by the wayside, unable to complete the Journey, but even then, their lives will never be the same. Some of what you learn will push the boundaries of your wold view. If I may use the metaphor of a tapestry, your world view will slowly unravel. At the end of the Journey, however, you will have developed a new perspective, one much richer than you would have otherwise known, with a broader variety of threads and a greater multitude of colors than you can now imagine. I will call you soon so that we can schedule our first meeting together. In the meantime, feel free to call on me for any reason at any time. Yours, Geoffrey Truesdell Journeyman and Elder Brother The Arcanum Washington Chapter |
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7:22 PM Jul 11