Getting Ready

“What’s a master meeting?” Patrick asked.

Tobias looked back at the TV screen for a while before he turned it off.

“We can have a look at what happens next, covering the whole day and night, tomorrow. There are some things about this you need to know.”

Patrick agreed by nodding back. Tobias smiled and offered him some crackers with cheese, as they too were from Skyjland, like his lemonade. Patrick tried a small piece Tobias prepared for him and yes, he liked it.

“You know this money you have? It’s something we, the Skyjland society, give to all the people in our community. We don’t have debts, meaning you can’t borrow money from a bank or from any of us. Skyjland functions more like a company than a country, and everyone here has work, employment if you like, employment of their choice, provided. Everyone has something to do and everyone earns money for whatever extras they may want. Your $100,000 is for getting you started, and we, the Skyjland society, have so far earned our money from crooked people and companies like Mr. Cantini. We steal from them, if you like, our way.”

Patrick smiled. Whatever made Mr. Cantini suffer, he liked, as there was this feeling he had had since long ago that Mr. Cantini in one way or another was behind his parents’ deaths. He had been spared, but what kind of life was that?

“In many ways Skyjland is rich, and we have our own banks and monetary system that may seem kind of strange to you. Basically everything is free in Skyjland; you only pay for extras. Your apartment is free, healthcare is free, and you don’t even have to pay for basic food, or clothes to a certain limit. This makes it possible to live a decent life, and if you get old, handicapped, sick or something, what you need is provided for you,” Tobias explained, slightly shrugging his shoulders.

“We have no taxes whatsoever, and our entire infrastructure—transportation, energy and such—is free within the limits of a decent standard of living. People can run their own businesses within Skyjland and are encouraged to do so, and that is one way to use your $100,000, to get you started.

“But because you’ve been invited as most of us have, I advise you to take your time and learn who we are and how Skyjland is functioning before you start spending much. Remember that what we buy outside is regarded as extras, and not all of it is allowed in, like things we regard as toxic, such as cars, gasoline, batteries, some food, chemicals, medicine, and stuff.”

“But cars? Don’t you have cars?” Patrick asked, a bit surprised.

“No, not a car as you might think of it. We don’t need cars like that; we travel differently.”

“But how does that work? You must have gasoline, oil, everything’s got to run on something?”

“That’s true. But what Mr. Zed and his wizards have discovered is another kind of energy source that replaces oil, natural gas, coal, and actually electricity too.”

“What?” Patrick asked, stunned.

”But how? How can that be? Everything is based on electricity, isn’t it?”

“No, it isn’t. In fact, nothing we use in any society needs to be electric; we can’t eat electricity. And if you think of it, electricity is always used to generate something else, like light, for instance. Like your TeeWee—it doesn’t run on electricity—there is no battery in that one and it’ll run as long as you live; no recharge is needed.”

Patrick became silent for a while looking at Tobias as if he were searching. He didn’t doubt Tobias after all he had experienced, but he needed to feel it. At this point he wasn’t able to take it all in, and unconsciously he searched for a kind of mental guidance. Up to a certain level Tobias was able to provide that, but beyond?

Tobias felt Patrick’s presence once again and this time without his TeeWee. What Patrick emitted was extraordinary—a different kind of emotional trust.

“I don’t understand everything myself, truly, but it works,” Tobias said, like it was something you just had to acknowledge, as he had done.

“But if you want to know?”

“Oh yes, then you are entitled to, and we have schools for that that are free, too.”

Patrick laughed, as it seemed that Tobias, even if not knowing, had an answer to everything.

“But what can I do?” Patrick then asked. “What about that magic show you were going to set up?”

“Glad you asked. Interested?”

“Yeah! Of course.”

“Right, now we’re getting down to business,” Tobias said with a grin all over his face.

“This magic show I’m setting up is going to take place in real life, and it’s going to be called Bangers and Mash,” Tobias proudly presented in his usual way, as the magician he was.

“What? Bangers and Mash? What’s that all about?” Patrick asked while starting to laugh.

“Well, it’s a sort-of fake company name, and we’re going to present ourselves as selling arms, ammunition and weapons at military meetings and such, items for banging and mashing things, you know?”

Patrick laughed even more while asking, “How? I don’t get it?”

Tobias laughed a bit too. “Okay, here’s the deal. As you’ve already seen, Skyjland has equipment and technology that any military would love to possess. But we’re not going to sell what we’ve got. What we sell we can also control, like, we can destroy anything we sell anytime from anywhere. But we’re not going to tell them that, are we?”

Patrick shook his head while smiling.

“The arms and things we’re going to sell we’ll present in an awkward way, like magical, like a show. Spectators and those interested, let’s say potential buyers, shouldn’t be sure if what we promote and sell is just an illusion or what. We’re going to present our merchandize as real of course, but in such a silly way that people will have difficulty taking us seriously. And of course all our products will look childish and silly, too.”

Patrick laughed while enjoying Tobias’ presentation. It was obvious that this was Tobias’ territory and he enjoyed every minute of it.

“THEN—and this is the best part of it all—we’re not going to sell for money, not a cent, no money at all. Instead we’re going to trade for land, acknowledged as a fair deal of course, to be governed as we please as our own country with borders and all. So in this scam we can’t just sell to anyone; there has to be a country involved that we can deal with and an internationally acknowledge government has to sign up for the deal.”

“But, how will that work? Can you just sell parts of a country like that?” Patrick asked in surprise.

Tobias laughed and brightened up like the sun was all over his face.

“This is the funny part, to see how far these people, the military and politicians, are willing to go in order to get these arms we’re going to offer. The arms we’re providing look like toys, and the soldiers equipped with them will look ridiculous. But the advantage in warfare using them will be immense.  You see, with these arms a small country can take on a much bigger neighbor with a much bigger military force. How many small countries do you think would like to do that? Freedom fighters, they’re called, and I think there are quite many, especially in the Third World.”

“But doesn’t that mean war? Aren’t you starting wars by selling arms like that?

“Well, Patrick, there’s a lot to learn about this, and I’m very comfortable knowing that we have Mr. Zed, Ms. Matey, Ms Nodi and Mr. Green running the show. They don’t do anything they from the beginning can’t control.

“You see, big countries today already sell guns and whatever arms they can come up with to whomever as long as they pay. And where do you think that money they’re paying with is coming from? Mr. Cantini is not the only crook out there; there are other worse crooks than him, and many countries are more or less at war today anyway. If they don’t shoot at their neighbors, they shoot at their own citizens trying to steal their bread for the day.”

“I guess you’re right. But how does Mr. Cantini fit in in all this?”

“Mr. Cantini—even though he’s just a middleman, even though he doesn’t seem to know it—is very important at linking people together, exchanging money for all kinds of secret deals. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes, and we in Skyjland have the means to intercede without them knowing. This is complicated business and it isn’t easy to understand. But we know what we want with this plan, and we need to protect ourselves and our way of living. There are some disturbing things going on that we need to deal with.”

“What’s that?” Patrick asked.

For a moment Tobias became a bit more serious, in a sad kind of way. He looked back at Patrick for a while, like he needed to feel him, like he needed him to be near. That black boy he had approached at his school and brought with him had dramatically changed in attitude since they’d met. He’d shown that he was a kind and gentle kid and didn’t have to be by himself, as he had been before. He was open and enjoyed company, was curious about life, oh yes, and somehow he showed an understanding unusual for a boy his age. Tobias wondered to himself, “Why does it have to be that way? Why do people have to be so mean to each other, why can’t they appreciate and enjoy each other instead?”

“You see, we, the Skyjland people, also make deals and trade with other people outside—whomever we like. For example, we have farmers and fishermen working for us and we also have agreements with doctors and nurses and similar people. They are active mainly outside Skyjland and have their land or their business situated there. We help them by making their living easier, like if a farmer has a problem with his crops for whatever reason, we have the technology to help, and if a doctor has problems in his business somehow, we can improve his situation.

“However, them helping us out and profiting by it is not always seen positively by others. For example, we know a very nice farming family living in a poor South American country. They grow coffee for us, among other things, and we have helped them to improve their standard of living so that their small farm today stands out compared to others, and their crops are better quality and far bigger than their neighbors’, who are now jealous and greedy. There are some big landlords who have tried to burn their farm down without any of their neighbors standing up for them, and individual thieves as well as the government have tried to steal the money they have earned from us.”

“The police too?” Patrick asked with concern.

“Especially the police.”

“It’s gone so far that their two daughters are going to school in Skyjland now, as they otherwise would risk their lives attending the local school in their village. To a certain degree we can protect them, causing all kinds of trouble for the others without giving ourselves away. Like, they have been shot at out in their fields working, but as you can imagine, no bullet has reached any of them. In some cases we made their rifles explode right in their faces when they pulled the trigger.”

But instead of all this trouble and bloodshed, if we had more land of our own we could invite farmers to come and work with us, and we’d provide the land where they can feel safe. We actually have that set up and working in Skyjland today and have done so for many years now.”

“But this Skyjland—where? Where is it?”

Tobias started to smile again with this never-ending stream of questions thrown at him. “That, my young man, is a tale to tell when we get there. You just have to be patient.”

“But… everything I hear makes me want to know more.”

“Yes, I do understand, and there’s so much more to tell, but it’s getting late,” Tobias said in a fatherly tone.

Patrick smiled gently back; he knew he’d learn more about Skyjland tomorrow … and the wrap up of Mr. Cantini on the late night show … and … there was so much, so many questions that Patrick had a hard time sitting still.

“Then Sunday morning we’re going to Skyjland, and I think we’re booked in a Mush 12,” Tobias had to finish with, like that was it and then to bed.

Patrick just had to laugh, moving over to Tobias’ side and pushing him a little.

“What… ? What is a Mush 12? I’ve never heard that before.”

“We’re going to travel in a Mush 12. We’re not that many going to Skyjland on Sunday, and so we don’t need to use the Mush 50,” Tobias happily explained.

“What is a Mush 50? You have to tell me!”

“It’s how we travel. Mush 12, Much 50 … and you should see the Mush 200 … and not to mention the Mush 875.”

“You are teasing me! I need to know. I can’t sleep otherwise.”

“Well now, if you have to know: Mush is short for Mushroom and 12 stands for the amount of passengers it can take.”

“No… You’re joking?”

“No, I’m not. We’re going to Skyjland in a Mush 12 DXV on Sunday.”

“No … You’re joking?” Patrick repeated. “What is DXV then?”

“Deluxe Extraordinary Vehicle, of course!”

Patrick inched closer and started gently hammering on Tobias’ chest while laughing.

“Okay, okay. That DXV thing I just came up with; there’s no such designation. But Mush 12 and the others truly exist, and the Mush 12 is an adventure to travel in. I’m sure that the captain will take us for a ride you won’t forget, just to show you what it’s capable of,” Tobias said calmly, closing his arms around Patrick.

Patrick stopped his hammering and came closer, leaning on Tobias’ chest, listening a bit.

“That Mush mushroom thing we’re going in—it actually looks like a mushroom and it flies higher than any airplane on Earth, and it’s faster too. It actually can take you out in space if you want it to. That name and mushroom shape originates from Ms. Matey and her tales, but it’s strange how all her tales come true. The shape is perfect for its purpose, and they can be as big as the Mush 875—it’s huge you know.”

Tobias stood up with Patrick looking at him, smiling.

“Can you promise me one thing?”

Patrick instantly nodded.

“Try to hold your curiosity back till Sunday and don’t ask the others about our flying mushroom. It would be much more fun to show you when we get there.”

Patrick smiled back, nodding, promising. It had gotten very late and both of them were rather tired after yet another exiting day. Patrick went first to the bathroom to wash up, and then he went to bed. While lying down, his thoughts were swirling. TeeWee, mushrooms… 875 passengers, but that must be the biggest airplane in the world, he thought. And like that he fell asleep dreaming.

The next day the master meeting took place as Tobias had predicted, and it was decided that Mr. Cantini had to go. How and who would replace him seemed not to be an issue at that moment, but Mr. Green would see to it that Mr. Cantini departed one way or another. Whoever this Mr. Green was, he seemed to stick to himself and few seemed to have met him. But he was not unknown; there were stories; and the respect Mr. Green was shown no one questioned.

Patrick did keep his promise and didn’t ask anyone about the mushroom planes.

Saturday evening they packed for their trip to Skyjland. Tobias didn’t have to pack much because he had another wardrobe, what he thought of as his usual clothes, “back home” in Skyjland. But Patrick packed all his new things he had bought, clothes and all, in two big suitcases. He also bought for his money, as Tobias had let him understand that it might take a while before they returned.

Patrick didn’t mind. For him this city had never felt like home anyway. This past week he had spent with Tobias had meant more to him than his all previous life put together. For the very first time he had been able to let go of all the strain built up in him. The lack of love from his relatives and parents that Patrick had no memory of: Tobias seemed to in just a couple of days have compensated for. The trust he found in Tobias had relieved Patrick of a lot of suppressed anxiety that he hadn’t even been aware of. During these few days Patrick unconsciously sought more and more emotional contact with Tobias as the father he had never had, and Tobias let him.

It had been Ms. Matey who had suggested Tobias take on this mission; no Ms. Matey had almost demanded him, and then he didn’t understand why the fuss. But once again Ms. Matey’s intuition had been proven right. Tobias felt strongly for this black young man, and now he wouldn’t want to have missed this occasion for the world. This connection between the two that had built up and now started to take shape was for life and Tobias knew it.

On Sunday morning Tobias got up early and then woke Patrick up. This was the day Tobias was going to take Patrick to Skyjland, the White City, and Patrick could hardly wait.

…

To be continued next Friday.