A Grain in the Sands of Time - 11. The Nature of the Game

Two days had passed since Matt and Andrew arrived back in Las Vegas and Andrew’s shift at the store had happened without a hitch. After some discussion they both agreed that Andrew would ask for some time off, and he had taken an indefinite leave from the store. The last thing either of them wanted was to endanger Amy or Andrew’s boss by associating with people at the store. Amy was curious, but when Andrew told her that Matt was thinking about leaving the country for a little while, and that Andrew would go with him, it seemed enough of an excuse for Amy to be satisfied and even happy for them that they had found each other. It didn’t sit well with Andrew that he had to lie, but when he considered what was on the line, he made a compromise with his conscience. Even if he told her the truth she wouldn’t believe him. Who in their right mind would buy the story that the family of his twelve thousand year old boyfriend was up to something and that there was enough danger to warrant Andrew staying out of sight for a while. And being out of sight wasn’t easy, but Matt had assured that he had that covered, and try as he might there was nothing in the assurance that Andrew could find fault with; he trusted Matt with his life, and now it seemed Matt would have to prove his loyalty.

The past two days since arriving from Eagle’s Nest had been productive for Andrew. His father had given him two pieces of advice that came in handy over the past two days. The first, if you want something done right, do it yourself; the second, know your enemy before you engage them.

The former he used regularly, the latter was difficult to find situations that would qualify as fitting the circumstances, but in this case, he was pretty sure his father was the guru of good advice. He had spoken to his family, his mother, father, and sister, earlier in the day. It felt good to be connecting with them, but again he knew something they didn’t and it felt like lying to them, and he was less than comfortable with it. Nevertheless, it was good to hear their voices and he had to stop himself from choking up when he said his farewells. He didn’t want to believe that this may be the last time he spoke with them, but the more Matt pressed him to go into hiding, and the more he learned about the Arcana, the more he failed to come up with an adequate excuse not to leave Las Vegas for a while.

Andrew was a voracious reader, and once he was interested in a subject it was hard to keep him contained. When he was younger he would reread a book if he had nothing new to read. His mother would constantly get mad at him for taking her Reader’s Digest magazines and leaving them in his bedroom. Truth be told, he loved the funny stories more than the others, but he read them to satisfy a need to consume information. While Andrew had a business degree, his specialty area of study in business was trends. He had a knack for seeing patterns where others couldn’t and what he was finally seeing was just how organized the Arcana was.

It wasn’t like there was a lot of information on the Arcana that Matt was part of, but history has a way of obscuring writings through myth, song and literature, and if you knew what you were looking at, you could see something, that others dismissed as fiction, in a completely new way. He read everything he could get his hands on, and this obsession with Matt’s family fed itself, the more information he found.

From ancient writings that had previously been translated and housed in a small Museum in Berlin, Andrew learned of a family, a ruling family that governed over all. It was written within the context of the creation of a game of cards. Meant to mirror royal lineage and aristocracy. The writer of the translation went to great pains to ensure that that every detail of the translation was accurate, and even described, in the notes at the end of one of the chapters, how difficult it was to remember that what was being translated was a work of fiction. Given the seemingly endless stream of tangents that the original author burrowed into, and the lack of connection with the original story line of the work, the translator commented that they suspected that they were translating a work that may not be worthy of history’s notice. What the translator failed to realize, Andrew suspected, was that they were translating the journal of someone who felt it necessary to record history, but had attempted to protect himself in the process.

It was during this part of his research, sitting in front of his computer screen, buried deep in the annals of a research museum’s online stacks, that Matt came to Andrew late at night.

“You should sleep Andrew, we’re leaving in the morning.”

“I can’t sleep, your family has an interesting past.”

Matt appeared interested in the breadcrumbs Andrew laid at his feet. “Okay, I’ll bite, what have you learned?” He sat down across from his lover in the big armchair in Andrew’s apartment.

Andrew smiled, delighted to get the chance to talk about this with Matt. He was anticipating the conversation, but never realized how exciting it would be for him to discuss history with a member of the family he was researching. He began…

“The Ruling House, led by two members never named in any writing that I can find, is not so much governed, but guided by it’s leaders. The matriarch is recognized as the natural leader of the group. Called Mother by most, but mati by the oldest of her children.” Andrew paused to consider Matt’s expression. He had sat up a little on the chair, his eyes furrowed in confusion.

“What is it Matt?”

“Where did you get this information from Andrew?” There was a seriousness to his question that Matt hadn’t seen before from Matt.

“It’s housed in an online archive of a museum in Berlin.”

Matt concentrated in thought then raised his eyebrows. “The Pergamon Museum, on Museum Island?”

“I don’t know anything about an island, but that was the museum. How did you know that?”

“Tell me what else you have learned first, and then we will answer both of our questions.”

Andrew nodded. “Well according to this writing and more that I have read, your family has ruled since the beginning of recorded history. Prior to this of course there is no record, but the earliest writings about the Tarot speak of the characters of tales handed down from ancestor to ancestor over centuries prior to recorded history. So I will assume that they played a role regardless of people writing about it.”

Matt interjected. “Millennia ago the population of the earth was small, the activities of the human population had very little impact on the earth. Unlike today, change happened very slowly because of the small effect size. We were not needed nearly as much as we seem to be today in a world quickly evolving with the introduction of technologies that have sped up the rate of evolution. Population while it spurs innovation and movement forward also spurs conflict and wars have shaped the earth repeatedly for political, social, and religious reasons.”

“Hmmm…” Andrew considered. “Makes sense,” he continued. “The oldest, and most powerful,” Andrew raised an eyebrow at Matt, who acquiesced with a small smile, “of the Arcana was created by the matriarch and an unnamed father. It appears that this author at least had no idea about Time, and to be honest, I haven’t found any link in any literature set that makes the link.” He paused. “What are you smirking at?”

“I’m not smirking.”

“You are. You’re smirking. Why?”

“I’m just loving how sexy you are when you get all smart.”

Andrew shook his head at Matt, but smiled despite himself. “The Foolish One or Fool as the title is commonly distilled down, while seemingly inept and buffoonish…” Andrew tried not to laugh when he saw Matt’s outrage but was unable to pull off the charade for longer than a few seconds.

“Very funny,” Matt said sarcastically. “Does it have anything in there about his many sexual conquests?” he asked innocently.

This succeeded in shutting down Andrew’s laughter as quickly as it began. He continued in a more subdued tone.

“The succession of offspring for lack of a better word, because the atmosphere of the Arcana is not, as I far as I can tell from my reading, child friendly, is described both equally and consistently through most of the articles, books, and online writings of the ‘characters’ of the Major Arcana. Every reading describes the individual members as personifications of an established and readily accepted archetype in the world today. It appears from everything that I have read that once established as a structure to the human experience, no one questioned the validity or the reality behind the Arcana. It essentially became a myth through the passage of time. While my search has not been exhaustive, it has scoured the major research libraries around the world, in all major universities, and apart from some poorly written papers and a thesis attempting to apply the Tarot as a legitimate form of psychology, the Arcana passed from view, and eventually became a game, a source of divination, and was relegated to the likes of the Ouija Board, and the throwing of bones.”

Andrew concluded and looked at Matt. “Pretty much nothing new on the information front, but I think I have a better understanding of who is in your family. There is one thing that I don’t quite understand.”

“What’s that?”

“The Minor Arcana. From everything that I have read, it speaks little of the origins of the Minor Arcana, and I can only assume, given it’s disconnect from the Major Arcana, that it was added on to create a game out of something that wasn’t a game to begin with.”

“Maybe it’s all just a card game.” Matt interjected.

“No.” Andrew said firmly.

“Why do say that?” Matt was curious as to how far Andrew would go with this line of thought.

“If it was intended to be played as a game, it never would have included the Major Arcana. Cards had already come into existence. There was no point, unless…”

Matt felt his pride in Andrew swell.

Andrew continued, “unless someone wanted people to be exposed to the Major Arcana and connected it to the game of cards to spread this knowledge among the population. It would be the perfect solution. Pick something that everyone does and add a new component to it. People would be interested in a new game, something special, and it would spread far and fast. Myth would grow along with the game. The question is why?”

Matt was nodding in thought. “Why indeed. Come with me.” He stood and held his hand out to a shocked Andrew.

“It’s almost midnight Matt, where are we going?”

“To a museum, and I suspect it wont be midnight when we arrive,” he said with a mischievous look in his eye.

Warily Andrew took Matt’s hand and instantly the surroundings changed. Andrew experienced a degree of vertigo and found that he stumbled into an outdoor courtyard. The sun was shining brightly in the sky, and he looked around to try and orient himself, held up solely by Matt’s strength.

“What just happened?” Andrew asked holding his hand to his forehead and trying to shake clear his vision.

“We travelled across the globe in the span of a nanosecond. It takes some getting used to.”

“Jesus why didn’t you tell me you could do that? We’ve been taking that damn helicopter everywhere!”

Matt laughed and shrugged at the same time, “I just figured, given that you saw everyone else in my family popping in and out of existence, that you would assume I could do the same. Besides, I can’t tell you all my secrets,” he said mysteriously and winked at Andrew.

Andrew ignored the flirty move, and looked around and saw that the courtyard comprised of concrete and grass designed into square tiers, and held an array of statues. “I assume we are in Berlin?”

Matt followed Andrew’s line of sight and saw him looking at a tall bronze woman holding an archer’s pose with bow in full draw. “We are, and specifically we are on Museum Island, in the heart of Berlin. You’re looking at The Archer, one of the most beautiful sculptures on this island in my view.”

Andrew looked at Matt with a question he didn’t need to speak.“Because Andrew you, and now I, need some answers, and the only way we are going to get those answers is to see the information that you are looking for in person. Come, we can walk along the Spree to get to where our museum is at.”

Andrew was dumbstruck and couldn’t stop looking around. “I can’t believe I am in Berlin! I’ve always wanted to visit here. Can we go to Alexanderplatz after the museum? It were Jason Borne met Nicky Parsons,” Andrew whined at Matt.

“You watch too much TV.” Andrew looked at Matt with puppy dog eyes. “Oh my God, as long as you stop whining!” he laughed, but noticed Andrew hadn’t appreciated his joke. He didn’t have the speed necessary to avoid the punch delivered to his shoulder. “Ow! You didn’t have to hit me!” Matt grabbed his sore shoulder.

“Now who’s the one whining, hmmm?” Andrew retorted with a smug smile on his face.

Matt relented, “Alexanderplatz it is.”

Andrew’s smile covered his entire face. He grabbed Matt’s hand and interlaced their fingers. Then he leaned in and gave a small affectionate kiss to Matt’s bruised shoulder.

Matt smiled and felt all the worry of the last two days fade away. The breeze coming off the Spree was intoxicating, and walking in public holding the hand of the one he loved was perfect. There were times in the recent history when such a display would have resulted in their deaths. Although Sun was out in full force, being late morning in this part of the world, she had almost reached her peak. Matt was apprehensive and realized that he didn’t bother with his customary prayer to Sun as he walked quietly with Andrew by his side. She was involved in what was happening, but how he hadn’t puzzled out yet. Trying to distract himself from darker thoughts, he acted as tour guide for Andrew as they walked telling him about the narrow boats passing in the river, and each new statue they came across.

“When were you here last Matt?”

“Well, the last time was when this city was under siege by the allied forces. I was here with my brother and he had a task that I would wish on no man. He persuaded a certain leader that it was his time to take his own life, and bring an end to the madness he reigned on this part of the world for far too long.” His expression was dark.

“I’m sorry,” Andrew stated. “I didn’t mean for it to bring up bad memories.”

Matt smiled, “Through all of my lives I have experienced bad memories Andrew, but there are always many good memories as well. What makes them good or bad is my perception of their usefulness to me.”

He returned to an easier memory, “I lived here in one of my lives. I remember being a child in Tegel. It’s a district of the city just over there, he pointed up the river and off to the opposite bank. I remember playing in the park by the Tegeler See - a lake where I used to live. I used to play in the tulips in the spring, and watch my mother care for my sister, her name was Regina, she was two years younger than me.” Matt looked off into the distance remembering. “He came to me then and told me what I would once again become. What I had been. I trusted him. Maybe I shouldn’t have.”

“You’re talking about Time, your Father.” Matt nodded. “What did he tell you?”

“He told me what I wanted to hear. That everything would be okay, that my mother would be taken care of, that I could make a difference in her life, to rescue her from the poverty that she lived in every day of her life. Time only ever tells you what you need to hear to make his plans come to fruition.”

He needed to change the subject. “Anyway, you can take the U-Bahn, the underground subway throughout the city, from Alexanderplatz and get to Tegel in about 15 minutes. This is a small city compared to some in this part of the world, but I love Berlin and have since those days. My mother’s family is still here most likely.”

“Your mother’s family, not your family?” Andrew pushed for the meaning behind Matt’s words.

“No, not my family,” he said with finality. “My family is currently spread to the corners of the earth, and it seems that they have been maneuvering behind my back. I suspect that it is because of my decision to give up my role in the Arcana.”

“Is that what this is about?”

“I suspect so, yes. And you,” he said looking seriously at Andrew, “are in the way of their plans. Do you see why you are in danger?”

Andrew nodded. “A small price to pay, in their eyes, if it means getting you back.”

“In their eyes, yes, but they have miscalculated.”

“Miscalculated what?” Andrew asked.

“My love for you.” Matt looked at Andrew and smiled.

A warmth spread through Andrew that he didn’t realize was possible. He squeezed Matt’s hand in thanks.

They had been strolling slowly along the river for a few minutes amidst the fluted Roman columns that lined the Eastern bank of the island, and approached an ancient looking building that got Andrew thinking again.

“Matt?”

“Ya Babe?”

“How long ago was that, when you lived here as a child?”

“That time I was born in the year 1505, so just over five centuries ago.”

“Holy fuck!” Andrew shook his head in wonder, and Matt just smiled at his reaction.

“Come on Andrew, this old man has a date with a document inside this building.”

They walked hand in hand into the museum.