EXILIUM REX

Chapter 25

Angelo del Mundo's Rohypnol-Induced Hallucination In Fable Mode (Part 5)

V. The Reef of Freedom

Past nine in the morning, the following day, two days to go before Friday.

Outside the large window of Councilor Pabebe’s dining room in one of the sections of the Ayisan palace, one can perceive the transformation of the Kingdom of Ayisa’s green-colored water. The feared phenomena are ominously closing in to the saltwater creatures. The body of water is getting murkier and there is news that some schools of different fishes have been sighted lifelessly floating south of the palace. The first phenomenon is coming to the Ayisan sovereignty: the fish kill.

Sitting on the rectangular table in the middle of the dining room, we can perceive the two – Councilor Pabebe and General Palikpik-Tainga – seriously conversing side by side with each other, while they never seem to mind what is presently going on outside of their own conversation or outside of the dining room itself.

The General mutters something to the co-conspiring sea-leader.

“Councilor, what I’m thinking is definitely correct. Give strict orders to Tamuneneng, and she can bring along the old crocodile Tata Limnangmata, to sort of check out the said rumor. You can also order her to bring along Pangil, so that the young one shall be our eyes and ears when they reach the Reef of Freedom.”

The Councilor is going over the entire plan in his mind.

“But, General, what if the rumor is true? And Perla did witness the Sea King’s disappearance?”

“That will be better, indeed. Because, then, we can retrieve the king and, when that happens, I will take care of the rest. I guarantee you, Councilor, I will never let the king have the slightest opportunity to take a glimpse at the throne of Ayisa again. Up until Friday, at least; because, by then, he will be have been rendered powerless once the Council approves the proposed bill for the Pasipingako Ocean to run and flow over the entire kingdom.”

“You’re absolutely right, General.”

A few moments later, Tamuneneng walks in from the kitchen carrying a tray with coffee and breakfast on it for the two.

The councilor signals the bachelorette mermaid as she places the tray on the table.

“Child, please leave that for awhile and sit over here beside me and the General.”

Tamuneneng is surprised. Even in her dreams, never has she entertained the idea that the Councilor is going to invite her to sit on one of the silver chairs of the dining-table. But who is she not to obey the order of her master? Again, as the mermaid sits down, the councilor speaks to her.

“Child, I am well aware that the goodness of your heart, as well as your sense of nationalism, are your most endearing virtues. But in time of critical danger,, each one of us is called by destiny to play a particular role which shall prove the worth of a heart’s goodness and sense of nationalism.”

Tamuneneng quietly nods her head. Councilor Pabebe continues.

“That is why I, together with Councilor Lumot and General Palikpik-Tainga, have decided to send you, along with Tata Limnangmata and Pangil, to a secret and dangerous mission that may serve as the key in our search for our beloved King of the Ayisan Sea.”

Still the mermaid keeps quiet, but a serious consideration of what she has heard from her master Councilor can clearly be seen from her face. She likes this. She very much likes to help their kingdom, in the search for their king’s disappearance, and to prove to all the saltwater creatures that they, mermaids and mermales, as well as the bohemian crocodiles, also hold important roles for the waters of their world.

The muscle-bound General interposes.

“Do not worry, Tamuneneng. We have all planned this very carefully. Later after lunch, when most of our fellow Ayisans are having their siestas, the three of you will begin to embark on your journey to the Reef of Freedom so that you will reach it before the sun sets. Your mission is quite simple, child. You have to verify if the rumor that Perla, the human guardian of the lighthouse on the Reef has truly witnessed our Sea King’s disappearance. The moment you have done so, you shall immediately return here. But, remember this well, Tamuneneng, this mission is not to be known by anyone else but us. Whatever information you may get from Perla on the Reef of Freedom must remain confidential and only for our ears. It’s a difficult task. The safe return of our Sea King to his rightful throne may be placed in utmost peril!”

Tamuneneng quietly nods anon. Inside her, however, her heart is beating faster than before. She cannot tell anyone about the mission, not even Amaing Batumbuhangin and Gasang. But – what if her stepfather and stepbrother decide to look for her? Deep within the bachelorette mermaid’s thoughts, she prays for the Merciful Amansinaya and Lord Bathalon to keep them safe from harm in this very important journey; in order to finally bring back their beloved Sea King to his rightful throne before Friday, which is the day of reckoning.

Before everything is too late.

*

It is already too late when Gasang learned from Amaing Batumbuhangin that Tamuneneng, Tata Limnangmata, and Pangil have left Ayisa. They use a mermale type of telepathy to talk to each other.

“But, Father, why did they leave? What did the Councilor confide to you?”

“Basta! What I’ve gathered from the soldier mermen who are guarding the guests’ room, Councilor Pabebe has discovered his room forcibly opened, the place completely tossed, and his jewelry boxes missing. And when he asked for her, she could no longer be found.”

“No! Tamuneneng would never, ever steal!”

“Even I will never believe their accusations against my child, your sister, Gasang. But, what can we do? We are mere mermales. We have to prove that Tamuneneng is innocent. But, how? Where shall we begin?”