Finding Calvin Part III - 1 - Strings Attached (updated 1/18/25)

[…]

Xao:  Write down any information that you need then give me your phone

[...]

Xao hastens to the back
Picking up his cell phone
While Calvin wrote all that he had
Then gazed out the window

Calvin thought about the SWAT
And about what Xao knows
And what he probably does not 
And how there conversation should go

Calvin decides to recline back
After realizing he’s all alone
Except for the guarded aft
By those who found him by the boat

[…]

[Xao is sitting across from Calvin across the spacious aisle on the other side]

Xao:  You slept for a while. They call it the Red Sea.  They used to attribute it to excessive bloodshed in the region, but it turns out it's just the algae bloom 

Calvin: Where are we going?

Xao: The land of the yellow pearl...the name comes from Western devils like Lamington. It was meant to disparage us, and reference our abundant natural resources. It is very beautiful there. You will like it.

Calvin: How long until we get there?

Xao: It will be a while longer.  

(Attendant 1 and 2 serve their meal)

Xao: It's Mahi-mahi. You'll like it. If your urine is darker than usual later, don't be concerned, it's just the dragon fruit...

That was impressive work you did.  Ranger, Seal? 

Calvin: No.  It was just instincts.   

(pause)

Xao: How many others do you think Lamington is selling to?

Calvin: Well, if Fountainhead is any indication of its scale, he probably has quite a few

Xao: I only knew of the one servant that he sold to me. 

Calvin: Why does Lamington think you're so important?

Xao:  I imagine it’s because I have ties to private and government interests that he finds useful.

Calvin: Sarah said that I was his vassal when we were coming back from the Island.

Xao:  What do you think she meant?

Calvin:  He said that he Googled me.  He probably saw my business presentation at The View.  It was kind of controversial.  I don't know.  It could have just been one of their inside jokes.  They like those, I think. 

Xao:  Maybe he needed you for what you represent.  A common man.  Or maybe you're right, and it was indeed just an inside joke.  Lamington is far too smart to be so plain.  Surely, he indulges his cunning. 

Calvin:   He did say that what happens at Fountainhead at night could clarify some questions.  

Xao:  Even so, there's no way to ascertain what that is now.…

It's a shame Allegro was very accommodating.  But every one of my servants is very accommodating.  Still with him it was different.  I never caught him talking with others.  He was always on duty, or so I thought—do you think he was just a robot?

Calvin:  I can’t really say. Lamington told me that the chip suppresses animalistic urges, allowing animals to display remarkable behavior, which is kind of what I saw  Regardless, what I do know is that the Dave I saw at Fountainhead is not the Dave I met.  He lost his zest.  And his accent had an imperiousness that I've never heard before.  It was certainly British, like Allegro’s.

Xao:  I wonder why he would give them accents?....
It could be another inside joke

Calvin:  Or it could be that he's trying to revive an ancient order and supply the future with that which reminds him of it.

Xao:  Yes, well without knowing his motivations it's impossible to say.  

Calvin:  He revealed so much unnecessary information.  Surely it wasn't all a joke.  

Xao:  Well, joke or not, what we know is worth killing for.

Calvin:  What do you think we should do now?

Xao:  We have to consider what he probably knows.

Calvin:  And what's that?

Xao: By now he knows that I have fled. He knows that I survived an attack. He probably knows that I will flee to one of several places in the East.  He might even know you’re with me.  If that’s the case, he knows that we're thinking of how to respond.  Undoubtedly, he will try to have us killed again.  And, as we speak, he’s probably planning for investigation from potentially hostile forces.

Calvin: What do you think he will do? 

Xao: He might usher the technology to whatever state he's selling it to--especially if it is as advanced as you say it is.  Seeking its legitimization through state sanctioned use will undoubtedly thwart any investigative initiative from popular press outlets—assuming that the state power is who you and I think it is.  

Calvin: The commander overseeing island security was Swedish, and I think I noticed that accent on a couple others. 

Xao: They could be privately contracted. Or maybe he’s already working with a foreign governmental agency...

But there is another possibility.  He might try to cover up his incompetence.  He might seek to handle his blunder clandestinely.  You did say that he is just one of the benefactors of Fountainhead.  Certainly, he wouldn't want to look like a hazard to his inner circle.

Calvin: So, what do we do?

Xao: We use resources that we can trust.  Resources that he doesn't have access to.
 

Calvin: You said that you have connections in the government.  We should inform them of what's going on at the island? Would they not want to at least investigate?

Xao:  Yes.  And what if they already know of it?  The world is complicated.  There are attachments.  Still, a little chaos could be of use. We will keep such options in mind.

Calvin: If we can find the island’s location, perhaps we can inform a local journalist of it.

Xao: We need to act quietly, until more can be learned...  

Besides, that will take quite some time to develop.  Our goal is not to stop the technology from being shared—that's impossible.  Who knows how many sites are working on the same thing. Our goal is to stop Lamington from killing us….

Eventually we can warn the public of its potential misuse, but right now we need to be considerate of the unknown...  

What we need to do is infiltrate his circle of influence, and see what strings can be pulled.  

Calvin: How will we do that?

Xao:  You will tell me and my connections all the names you know. And everything else.

Attendant 1: We will be arriving within the hour.

Xao: Thank you….Calvin, when we arrive, stay behind me at all times and look inwardly like you have something on your mind. Don’t make eye contact unless you’re spoken to and be self-assured. Think of yourself as an important American business man. Let me do the talking.

Calvin, okay.

Calvin: Okay

[awkward pause]

Xao: .Scientists say that the planet is speeding up. I don’t doubt it. There seems to be an upsurgence on the planet. You can see it in the people. We are being elevated. Many are being called to greatness, and many are being culled.

Calvin: What do you think is elevating us?

Xao: There are stories of a harbinger that decides such things. A golden one. In some cultures it's a child. In other cultures it's a goat. Perhaps this is why the people seem to be uneasy. Why there are many social movements that seem absurd. But I don't believe so much in folktale.  This phenomenon could all very well be contrived. Technology has amplified all things, including propaganda. And never underestimate individual greed. As that great actor of yours said, “if you build it, they will come.” You can get people to care about anything if you’re clever enough.

[….]

As the plane touched down
Calvin peered the window scene
They’ve landed at a military installation
Perhaps controlled by the Chinese

[…]

Xao: Let your curiosity exist as to only guide your caution. Subtle eyes, Calvin.

[…]

As they approached their caravan
Calvin would recognize many things
Not according to Xao’s plan
But he was attracted by novelty

They would drive past guards
They would drive past gates
With two vehicles in the front
And two more keeping pace

Calvin was awestruck
By the power in his gaze
Soldiers, Tanks, and airplanes
And a few soldiers worshipping

[…]

Calvin: Were those soldiers worshipping that statue?

Xao: Guan Yu is worshipped for many reasons.  He is both the God of War and protector of our people.  Business men, nurses, police and even gangsters seek his guidance and favor. Like your Jesus, he too was captured and killed...

Do you pray to Jesus?

Calvin: No, I pray to God through Jesus.  

Xao: Oh, so you have channeled Jesus?  

Calvin: The idea is to pray and act like Jesus until you become him.

Xao: So, you're a copycat? We have those too.

Calvin: I'm not sure.  It's rather new to me.  I just know the way of it.

Xao: Yes, the West is prone to thou shalts not so much thou is.  For you seem to equate thou is with what thou did.  And the thou did is always a shame, so it's never thou is, only thou shalt.  You are afraid of the moment in America, and in response you either chase glory or glorify the moment's marred image.  You are a nation of extremes.  You're never settled to find the balance. In the East, we call the balance The Tao. It’s one of our three teachings. They are all intereconnected and harmonious, despite their distinctness.  Each plays a role in our culture.  In effect it functions like your Trinity, though in American culture, it seems that the divine Father and Son are as harmonious as many of your schizophrenic families…

We have our extremists too but we don't have the dissension within ourselves quite like you. As the French political analyst Tocqueville observed in the 1800s, unlike France, suicide in America is rare, but madness seems to be more common. It seems to be imbedded into the very character of your people. They say America has the most mental hospitals in the world. But perhaps that's the ingenuity of the American system. Isolated madness. I suppose in a pluralistic society it’s the safest way to cull the herd.

Calvin: As you said, America is diverse. And there is great wealth in America, and opportunity. People become impatient. You don’t like America, do you?

Xao: No, I love America. It’s been very good to me. But imagine a playground where half of the kids are retarded.  One must walk when one wants to run.  One must act slowly and make undue considerations.  And you must be careful around the helmeted ones, with their eager emotions and slow thoughts.  And then there's those that like to hit others, and one must yield to them, because they've misunderstood. And your elites are like the teacher of the slow ones, who laugh at the other kids' acquiescence and act as the playground's unelected monitor, all the while their real children attend a different school with a different playground.  This is what your elites have made America into. But maybe that’s the plan, as your president Washington said, every generation needs a revolution. It enlivens the people.  They just need to redirect their anger towards productive ends. 

[….]

He thought of the topiary process
And what Mr. Lamington aptly said
Pruning doesn’t stunt growth
But rather promotes it instead

[...]   

Calvin:  I'm not sure I understand.  The America today is one of compassion.  It makes way for those who don't have a way.

Xao:  Your elites feign compassion to distract from the complaints.  Your populace has become too informed, and too free, and now they ask for too much.  So your elites seek to retard them, .they had no choice.  A donkey quickly realizes the carrot's on a stick, so there must be many carrots and even many more sticks. 

Calvin:  The promise of future rewards that diminish with time. 

Xao: Or don't exist at all.  You Americans invest your wealth in the wealthy and they in turn give it to us.  It’s a global economy. But power seeks peace only when it cannot have more power. But you forget these things. It’s your politics and your pretending that make you fools. But we have not forgotten. We saw the carrot and the stick a long time ago, But now we have carrots too--and we many sticks. Yes, America has taught us many things.  And we are now teaching others.  Yes, America is many things to many people.  Both Lady Liberty and the Great Satan depending on who you ask.  

[...]

Calvin thought about Lady Liberty

And the doughty statue that stands

Perhaps that's another inside joke

Created by those like Lamington

[...]

[Xao picks up his phone] (Foreign language )

As they drove on the outskirts 

Of the concaved city placement

It was like a uterus giving birth 

To what soon it would be replacing

As they found a pocketed path
And a palace he found amazing
They entered beyond the glass
And towards a trio they were facing

Xao: (Foreign language)

With curt and courteous expressions
Their transition to English came with unease.

But they treated Calvin with curious caution
As if he were a privileged child or an autie

Xao: These are my guys Calvin. If you need anything, ask them or the servants.

[…]

They strolled his palatial grounds
Around his palatial pond
There were many colored trees
With red, pink or yellow sea-like bombs

[…]

Calvin:  They look heavy.  Is it difficult to maintain their upward trajectory.

Xao:  Dragon fruit have aerial roots that grow along their cactis stem attaching to whatever surface and direction they find provides the most sustenance—which is usually up. They just need a structure—hence the trellis.. They’re a passion of mine.

Calvin: I can never go back can I? 

Xao: No, not while Lamington is alive, and maybe not even after that.

Calvin: What will I do. 

Xao: You will adapt.  You will grow.

[They see an American Bullfrog eat a turtle]

Xao:  They're decimating our rice frog population, and with that our rice farms…

Snakes, birds, rodents, and even bats fall prey to it. And like a true American, the bullfrog protects it young by making them less palatable: like your culture, they're an acquired taste...

We try to trap them, shock them, but it's no use.  They reproduce like rabbits and they have few natural predators here… 

Do you see that black swan?  They avoid detection by hiding their white-tipped feathers under the water. Every creature hides something to survive the wild, Calvin.  What do you think Lamington hides?

Calvin:  He said that he moves money.  What does he do?

Xao:  It's irrelevant.  It's an interconnected world, and above every man is a man higher still.

Calvin:  And who would that be?

Xao:  some say America is the heart of the empire, and Britain is the brain.  But power is about aligned interests.  And often about the attachments in~between.  But we must not focus on big trees Calvin. We will find a small tree that Lamington has planted here in the East, and we will shake it..

Calvin:  And why would we do that? *

Xao: To see what fruit will fall.  Information is power.  So we will find out more about Lamington and, in doing so, avail ourselves of hidden opportunity.*

[They see women chatting by the fountain]

Xao:  "There are feelings that seek to slay the lonseome one; if they do not succeed then they themselves must die.  But art thou capable of it—to be a murderer?"  Nietzsche.  Are you familiar with him

Calvin:  "Women are not capable of friendship: women are cats and birds, or at best, cows."

Xao: Ha-ha-ha. Very good. We have our great sages, but I like him...

"When we learn better to enjoy ourselves, then do we unlearn best to give pain unto others, and to contrive pain".…
(Xao shouts to the group of ladies by the fountainhead)

Ling! Have Jing wash up and wait for me in my chamber…

A man must have his courtesans.  Do you want me to order one to your room?

Calvin: Who are they?

Xao: Webcam girls. It’s a safe, easy profit venture.

Calvin:  I don't want to be rude but can you make sure she doesn't seem like a whore?  I would like to believe that she's just a whore for me.  Proud whores intimidate me.

Xao:  Yes, I think proud whores are an American phenomenon.  Our whores are quite tame.  I will have Fang wait for you in your chamber.  

Calvin:  Quiet too.  Have her be quiet, too.  I don't like loud whores. 

(Xao nods)

Servant 1: Master, a courier came with a package. I have assessed its contents. It is safe and waiting for you.

[…]

As the trio comes into their view
With the yellow pearl necklace that was sent
They would speculate with what they knew
And about the sender known as Lamington

[…]

[Loud foreign language yelling]

Huang Bo: He's saying that we're not safe, even here. 

Donnie Yen: It's a mock insult.

Xao: Yes, he could even be referring to the East's string of pearls defense strategy.  No, people like Lamington take pride in their guile.  For them it's in their blood.  It stems from centuries of repetitive psychological manipulation.  Like the Lebanese merchants and their haggling, or the Greeks and their boy loving, it comes naturally to him: he can't help his cunning; he can only direct its influence.

[...]

But Calvin suspected
A more insulting reality
Perhaps he was calling Calvin home
Or to the island and its many queens

[...]

Yang Yang: What should we do?

Xao:  We will find a small tree and we will shake it...The Hundun will expect us at the Black Tortoise tomorrow. We will settle it then. I’m off to my chambers. Calvin, if you need anything, ask the servants. Enjoy your night.

[…]

[Calvin nods]

Calvin liked talking to Xao
But there was caution underneath
Calvin presumed Xao was nervous
Witnessing his SWAT team murdering

Calvin found his chamber
With the whore as company
But he had peculiar thoughts
Considering the venture morally

When does temptation become manipulation? Is this a test from Xao? Is this a test from God. Is it still a test if you know that it's a test?  Is it even more of a test? Does God expect me to just be a robot? Perhaps I can make this whore my wife. She doesn’t have to know. It will be my secret. Solomon had many wives. I will consider this whore my wife.

As she sprawled out on the bed
Calvin would venture to make a pee
As he trickled a unique red
He thought of a very special blueberry

Calvin: "Sarah" (Whispers)

*I don't know if Libyans still haggle, or if Greeks still love boys, but I'm not Xao—and he's just a fictional character with an ethnocentric bent, so be nice to him!  But in all seriousness, as a liberal society we should continually try to expand the Overton window to better understand the complexities of living with diversity.  So, please show maturity in reflecting upon the issues explored within this story, as there will be much to struggle with going forward.