Chapter Nine
After the brutal condemnation and sacrifice of an innocent rescue team member whose name they never knew, the Quagmires were welcomed into the Town Hall, where they found out, with zero surprise, that Jannus was also the mayor of Tartarus. His house was lavish, and looked as ordinary as any lavish house in the outside world. The most “out-there” looking thing was a medieval suit of armor and a collection of fencing rapiers in display in Jannus’ office. He also had a partially concealed painting on one wall, with a curtain that blocked the painting almost in its entirety. It was almost as if Jannus could not bear to look at the painting, but could not or would not remove it.
‘I must say, I half-expected the man to give up and join us.’ Jannus said casually as if he hadn’t just thrown the man to a bloody death in the dark. ‘It was smart of you to decide to do so. If you want, here is our book. It describes our cult, our rites and hymns and our traditions.’ He laid a heavy leather-bound book which had seen better days on the desk. Across it sat the Quagmires, Cindry and Cid, still wearing their dirty clothes from the mines. Jannus took his seat, in a sophisticated chair which seemed out of place there, in Tartarus, but went well with the rest of Jannus’ house. As he sat across the desk, the green gem on his earring caught the light, casting an emerald glow around it.
‘After your baptism you will become official members of our religion, and of Tartarus. I’m sure after so many years of living on the surface you must be accostumed to having a sky above your heads. Well, to you I say; let yourselves fall in love with this town, which thrived in the darkness thanks to the blessing of the Deep One.’
At this moment, Cid smiled. ‘Do I amuse you?’ Jannus asked, intrigued. ‘Certainly. I find it quite amusing that you actually believe there is a Deep One at all. To me, you are more nuts than a squirrel’s entire winter stock.’ Cid then laughed. Jannus looked distraught, but quickly regained command of his facial muscles. ‘Oh, so you remain a non-believer. My good man, the Deep One is real, and so is the promise of eternal life after the end of the world. I’ll show you.’ Jannus then got up from his seat and went to the window behind his desk, and opened it. The Quagmires and their companions would have welcomed a breeze, a breath of fresh air, but the air of Tartarus was as stale and vile as the rest of Malaise Mines. There was no relief to be had in opening windows, not that deep underground, and specially not where they were. Jannus then put his left hand to his ear as if trying to listen to something.
And the horrible, tormenting, guttural sound that had troubled the volunteers throughout their journey in the mines was heard again, this time more terrifying than ever. It was coming
directly below Tartarus, from the abyss. It was a horrible sound which carried a sickening capacity to it; it was so loud it made them dizzy and sick. But Jannus welcomed it as if it was the most exquisite melody, a word which here means ‘song’.
‘That, my poor friends, is the voice of the Deep One, writhing in the abyss beneath us in his slumber.’ Jannus explained. ‘I feel sick.’ Duncan Quagmire mumbled. ‘After the end, his voice will soothe all of us when we repopulate the Earth.’ Jannus said. ‘I’ll be damned. You actually believe that, don’t you?’ Cid asked. ‘Why wouldn’t I? The Deep One speaks to us his loyal servants through visions, granted every so often.’
‘Hecate and her maids will tend to your wounds. You must rest and eat. The baptismal ceremony can wait.’ Jannus said to the volunteers. ‘There’s one thing that has been bothering me. What was up with the albino giant that nearly killed Cid and me?’ Isadora asked. ‘Oh…Yes. You were discovered by Erebus. He cannot speak, and he is nearly blind. He guides himself mostly with his nose and the aid of his instrument.’ Jannus referred to the giant’s weapon. ‘I apologize for him. But that being said, you friend here sure did a number on the poor simpleton.’ Jannus said, turning to Cid, who had stabbed the monster in an attempt to save his and Isadora’s life.
Hecate appeared, this time hoodless and in a modest dress, her long blonde hair braided to the side. ‘You may come with me. We’ll tend to your injuries and then you will eat and rest.’
The Quagmires, Cid and Cindry had no choice but to follow the woman to a room where a bunch of hooded, robed maids removed their ripped, dirty, soiled clothing, and produced clean robes for all of them to wear, and cleaned and sewed their wounds, after which they all were taken to a room which was connected to the cave below, where a hot spring sizzled.
‘The waters here have healing and soothing properties. Another blessing of the Deep One.’ Hecate said. She took Isadora and Cindry to a separate part of the spring, concealed from view. Cid, Duncan and Quigley stayed on the smaller pond. ‘Pull this rope when you are done.’ Hecate pointed towards a rope that hung from a hole in the cave’s ceiling, and then left. After waiting long enough to be sure they weren’t being heard, the volunteers got to plotting.
‘Listen, we need to come up with a plan and pronto.’ Cid told Duncan and Quigley. ‘There’s something iffy about this place. Not just this place, Jannus, too. I don’t buy his mindless worshipper act. He’s holding more cards close to his chest than he lets on.’ Quigley said. ‘True. But Tartarus seems inescapable. How on earth are we supposed to find a way out?’ Duncan asked. ‘That man’s face…I feel like I’ve seen him before.’ Cid said, surprising both Quigley and Duncan. ‘What do you mean, Cid? You can’t possibly have seen Jannus ever before in your life.’ Duncan contested. ‘But that’s just it. I know I’ve seen him before. Or someone that looked a lot like him. I just can’t remember where, or when. But this Jannus person is not who he claims he is. Plus, what the hell kinda name is Jannus anyway?’ Cid asked. That made Duncan and Quigley laugh, out of nervousness more than anything. ‘I don’t know, what is Cid short for?’ Quigley asked jokingly.
‘Cidolfas.’ Cid said. Duncan and Quigley were
not expecting it, and burst out laughing.
Sometimes when things are at their most tense, it is healthy for one’s mind to just let go and have a laugh, no matter the reason. The alternative, going insane or joining a mindless cult worshipping an abominable being, was unbearable.
‘What are you laughing at?’ Isadora said, her face popping from behind a rock formation. ‘Yeah, I want to know what’s so funny, too.’ Cindry said in an uncharacteristic – for her - deadpan manner. ‘We just found out Cid’s real name. Cidolfas!’ Quigley burst out laughing again.
‘Yeah, yeah, go ahead, laugh it up. It’s a dorky name, but no one called me that but my mother. Anyway, guys, this is not the time to be laughing at my name. There are more important things to do.’
Duncan nodded in agreement. ‘ We have to investigate Jannus. I have a hunch about him.’ Duncan’s hunches were well known to his siblings – Isadora had likened it to female intuition once, much to Duncan’s displeasure and Quigley’s amusement – but this was an investigative hunch like that of a true investigative reporter, which was what Duncan aspired to be.
‘If there’s going to be sleuthing to do, I’m gonna do it.’ Duncan said. ‘Quigley, there must be a map of Tartarus or the mines somewhere around Jannus’ house. It’s the only likely place. Your job is to find one. Isadora and Cindry, find out whatever you can from Hecate. Anything helps. Cid…Just…be prepared to deal with Jannus or the albino giant if push comes to shove.’ Duncan finished with an expression which here means ‘if things were to go bad’, which if you are familiar with the Quagmires, they would.
‘Okay, fine, captain Duncan. And what are you going to do?’ Quigley asked.
‘Me? I’m going to investigate.’
And as the volunteers formed their plan to escape Tartarus, little did they know that no matter what, they would succeed in their escape. The problem was not the escape, however. The problem, for the three Quagmire triplets, for Cid Jetsam, and for Cindry Fulfillment was the terrible secret that was soon to be revealed to them.