Lexington, KY

October 27, 1961

      This murder would be the one that would initially get my attention and put Lexington on my radar for places to move to. But what I wouldn’t find out until many years later is that this murder is the only one that was planned many years earlier. And was done so WITH THE INTENT of getting me involved.

      I can assume that Muah, being the one who gave Cain the idea to kill, is also the one who wanted me involved. But why me?

      I come from common stock, as some call it. He never finished high school, and neither did his parents. But dad never needed school. He was always able to take something and make it better. When he got the ranch, it was little more than sagebrush and dirt.

      Mom’s family had a little money, but once she married dad, she was cut off.

      “Yer ma’s folks were high falutin’. I never knew which fork was which. Hell, I didn’t even know there was any more ‘an one afore I got wit yer ma.”

      “Mom’s parents were from out west weren’t they?”

      “Yup. Her pappy invented some minor doohickey. But it caught on and made ‘em rich. They moved to Los Angeles, and started rubbin’ elbows with the hoi polloi. Ya would’a thunk he’d been elected Pope or sumthing.”

      “Would you know why I was chosen? Me personally? Is there something in my past, or your past, or mom’s past that would warrant someone doing that?”

      I had never seen that look on dad’s face before. It was very brief, but his entire face seemed to sag, like the weight of the world fell on the top of his head. Very quickly, his face changed back. “There might be sumthing.”

      With that he was gone.

      Now THAT is the way to create a dramatic pause.

*                                             *                                     *                                                 *

                                                          Domi-ium

                                                     Juonion 29, 627

      This was to be a big day, at least for me. We were on Domi-ium to allow the gods to meet me. And vice versa. Although, I wasn’t sure I wanted to meet them. What do you say to a race of gods? ‘Hey, hey, your goddness, how’s it hanging?’ I’ve never done well in either interview situations or when there are people that I need to impress.

      As I wanted to ask the Council of Light a few questions, this is essentially both. Ian had briefed me on what to say, or not say.

      “I have watched how you interaction with other inferiors” is actually how he began.  Luckily, I’m not easily offended. “While I believe you are indeed a sufficient communicator, there are some aspects that escape you.”

      “That has been pointed out to me before.”

      Ian showed to the salute that I would give when greeting them. I practiced a few times, wanting it to be perfect. Normally, I didn’t care a lot about impressing people. But it was important to Ian that I not screw up, so I was determined to do my best.

      The Council of Light is set at the very top of Domi-ium’s highest mountain. The only path leading up to it glowed.

      “The ground itself has what is called FraLa in it. The FraLa creates a glow by vibrating against each other,” he told me.

      I thought of an old Christmas carol. “That’s one of the few names I will remember, easily.” I walked slowly behind him, my walking stick in my right hand. I looked around, trying to take in as much as I could. I had never seen any weather on this planet besides sunshine. Today, however, was different. Outside of the trail we were on, I believe it was snowing. The howling wind swirled the rainbow colored flakes that seemed to disappear as soon as they hit the ground.

      On the path itself, the weather was perfect. There were a few Domi-iums who seemed to have turned out just to stare at me. When I met their eyes, they looked away. I can only describe the entire walk up to the Council as surreal.

      I stopped six and three quarters feet from the Council and gave the salute.

      “I, Seth McCoy, Jr., from the house of Adam, greet you.”

      The Council returned the salute.

      “Greetings McCoy, house of Adam,” Yorba began. “You have been called before the Council to give an update.”

      “Update?”

      It was here that Ian stepped forward.

      He gave the salute, then bowed.

      “I have been compared to my father, I have been compared to my brother my entire existence. The sins of the father have been passed to me. The evil of the brother you have demanded I stop.”

      “I have been the good son my entire life. I have obeyed the rules. I have done what is demanded of me. It is I who was sent as the sacrificial lamb.”

      “Now I, Mur;Po, stand before you. Mur;Po, from the house of Muah, have chosen this earthling, Seth McCoy, Jr., from the house of Adam, to assist me in this. I did not tell him the full story yet, so there is no update to give the Council.”

      “Yorba, you have guided the Domi-iums. You have protected us. Today, this date, Juonion 29, 627, marks the date of transition.”

      He saluted again and motioned me to do the same.

      I saluted and we returned to the ship.

      I wasn’t sure what had just happened.

      I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.

      The sound of Frank on his treadmill seemed to fill the ship. Ian had set the controls and disappeared shortly after they boarded.

      I watched the crab and thought.

      I love puzzles. I’ve told you that already, but here one I can’t figure out. How do I fit into this? Obviously Ian, or Mur;Po or whatever name he chooses to call himself, obviously I was not a random pick as a partner.

     But why?