A good deed is a curious thing. On the surface it may seem easy, a simple act, but it is far more complex than that. Where does it come from? Is it from the heart, a yearning and longing to feel connection to someone? Is it from the head, an act of logic and clarity, to engage kindly with the world so it may do the same for you? Or is it perhaps something else entirely? To some, these simple acts my seem small and insignificant, as if they are not aware of their true meaning. To others the very notion of a good deed is unknowable, an infinitely complex abstraction. Perhaps it is only those that do evil who can truly understand the nature of good.
ERIS, Part 1
Frank drummed his finger lazily on the dashboard, and began to idly whistle a tune to himself. It was a tune he heard many times before, as it came to his lips he felt a clenching inside his stomach. It had stumbled forth from his brain swiftly, without control, and it had surprised him. Why was that in his head right now, of all moments, and why in this place?
The rain was pummelling the stone steps that led up to the high court, and Frank peered through the windscreen at the blurry figures moving around outside. He'd been waiting for a while now, his courage waxing and waning every few seconds. He was hardly a decent driver at the best of times, and the rain wouldn't help. He reached into his pocket, and pulled out the photograph contained within. He couldn't wait here forever.
There was a large rumble of thunder overhead, and the rain began to beat down even harder. Frank sighed heavily, and was about to resign himself to defeat when he saw the two figures emerge from the building. He quickly flashed his lights, and rolled down a crack in the window. He reached his hand out through the window, and waved in their direction. After a few moments they saw him, and began to trudge down the steps towards the parked taxi. Frank sat up straight in his seat, bracing himself for what was to come.
As the duo opened the door and climbed inside, Frank asked them 'Where too?'
'We need to go to 667 Dark Avenue' said the man in a deep voice. 'And we need to be there quickly. We have urgent business to attend too.'
Frank kicked the car into gear, and as he began to drive he spoke 'I didn't realise this was a sad occasion.'
'Of course not' said the Woman.
'The world is quiet here' said Frank
'I understand' the man spoke again. 'Who are you?'
'I think..., Ernest, is that you?' said the woman
Frank turned to look at them in the passenger seat. 'No' he said. 'Nonetheless, I think you'll be interested in what I have to say.'
The man shook his head 'If you think that you can trick us then -'
'No tricks. I just want to talk.'
The man with a beard but no hair and the woman with hair but no beard talked to each other in a quiet undertone, and for a few moments Frank simply focussed on the road in front of him and the hammering of his own heart.
'What is it that you wish to say to us?' said the man.
'I have information, something that I think you should know.'
/
'Go on' said the woman.
'This Thursday night, at the performance of La Forza del Destino, our side will make an attack on your side.' Frank turned onto Dark Avenue, and the taxi slowed to a halt just outside. 'I cannot tell you anything more than that, but I know that if successful, this attack would lead to everything changing.'
'And why should we believe a word that comes out of your treacherous mouth?' asked the woman. 'Why would you tell us anything?'
'We were on the same side once. Much may have changed since then, but I fear things may be changing too much. There are things that are happening, that could be happening, that I fear could be the end of us all. I don't want us to be stuck in this eternal war, and if things happen on Thursday night as planned then I fear this schism will only deepen and deepen.'
'Hmm' said the man. 'And supposing we trust this information, what is that you wish us to do with it?'
'I'm hoping that together we could try to prevent this. I talk to my side, you talk to yours, perhaps we can prevent something bad from happening.'
'Bad things happen all the time' said the woman 'That's the way of the world.'
'Only if you fail to prevent it.'
'And that's what you think you're doing here?' said the man, a laugh at the edge of his voice. He opened the door, and both he and the woman with hair but no beard clambered out onto the sidewalk. The man turned back to frank once more. 'Maybe you're just as bad as any of us, as bad as your brother.'
'I'm nothing like him' said Frank, defiantly
'No, you're not. I fear that you're a good man.' said the woman. 'And I hope that gets you killed.'