While Mal was lost in his thoughts, Two men used the ladder to enter in the Kiva.
Two very different men.
He knew the first one. He recognized the old bugger face, even if he didn't see it since a fair while.
It was still the old monkey grimace he remembered. The eyes constantly moving, as if they were afraid to miss something vital.
That was the pope he contacted a few days ago. The pope known as Doctor VanMojo...
He then observed the second man.
Mal didn't know that one... Somewhat aged, giving a reasonable look around him, the look of someone who experienced sorrow and happiness. Mal could see forgiveness in those eyes.
However the feeling he had was the man was lost. Haggard, his look lost any clear-sightedness.
The two men stepped in front of Mal who assumed zazen in a blink. They nodded and sat on the ground in front of him.
"E'Prime" said VanMojo, grinning like an old bandit "That's good to see you."
He gave a quick look around and switched back to Mal's face "New place? I like it."
"As i told you, i need some pineal adjustment. This little adventure in Gallia lasted for too long. I do not listen to Eris with the ease i used to."
He then gave a sidelook to the other man. "Ahem... And Josh here..."
Josh nodded "Kallisti, Mal..."
Mal raised an eyebrow when Josh used his name. Josh noticed his weird look. "I'm Josh the Dill... I believe we never met...I started a POEE cabal several years ago and i didn't visit Baffin since ages."
Josh shook his head imperceptibly "Most of the acolytes of the King Kong Kabal are dead now. We are only five survivors. I do not know what is next to happen. Eris just gave us a fair kick in our bellies, as she sometimes loves to. But she doesn't talk to me. My dreams are weird... Corrupted."
VanMojo cleared his throat "That is why we are coming to you today. I met Josh in the docks and we talked a bit."
He shook his head quickly and looked into Mal's eyes "Something is wrong inside us.
But that is not the thing that troubled me the most.
I visited the geode quickly.
With Josh, we sank in the psyke of the acolytes...
Something changed here.
I'm not even sure to remember Baffin."
Josh and the good Doctor VanMojo assumed zazen simultaneously. What had to be said was said.
They waited patiently the Episkopos to consult his pineal and reassemble his thoughts.