ic Codex Immortus: Comrade Frost

[Supercape]

Mr. Murk

 

"And to you, my friend" said Murk, warmly. He handed Frost a cigar, just like the ones they had smoked all those years ago, in Berlin. 

 

"Do you remember? I can still taste the brandy" he sighed, taking a sip of his own glass. "Not quite the same, alas, but pleasant all the same". He offered Frost a glass. 

 

"What do you think of the place?" he asked Frost, in reference to the modern club house. It was metal and leather and glass, modern and clean. Lacking the antique homeliness of the other Clubs, but making up in sharp and shiny lines. 

 

"I am, as I am sure you can appreciate, not much of a stylist, but the seats are comfortable and the food and drink, dare I say, equalled only by the Paris club, to which, may I say, you are always welcome" he smiled. 

 

"I have consolidated my contacts and business over the years. Tried to be more proactive. Sometimes successful, sometimes not" he sighed. "'tis a Frustrating life, but as my vexations have doubled, so too have my satisfactions" he explained. "Ever must I move in the shadows, for that is where my strength lies, but with greater vigour. Perhaps the world needs the vigour of the vigilant more than ever. Atomic bombs, Viral weaponry, ah! The potential for calamity was never greater!"

 

He leaned back in his leather chair. 

 

"And what of you, what have the years woven into your soul? How have the decades flavoured your philosophy?"

[Avenger Assembled]

"Hm." Murk caught the faint chuckle in Frost's voice as he mulled that particular question, even as he thanked him for the cigar. "Is quite a question. I have lived twice my mortal years already - and more to come, or so I am told. But you know, they say time passes slowly for children because a week to them is substantial portion of life already lived. So I suppose seven decades must have been but merest eyeblink to you, eh? A mayfly time, for mayfly people." Looking around the club, he finally said, "Is pleasant place - and public believes it merely charming front for inner circle, eh? Like Freemasons with more colorful story." He hmmed again. "I am man of simple tastes. This is, hmm, gilding lily for me."

[Supercape]

Mr. Murk

 

"A blink, yes, I suppose it is" agreed Murk. "But when I think of the years past, let me tell you, this age is alive, like none before. Better, too! the refinements of politics, law, philosophy, religion. I do not say that naught has been lost, for there are problems too, the drowning of the soul, the loneliness, but my! how the injustices and horrors have ablated. Even in your time, I think, you must agree..."

 

"As for Club Immortus, please consider yourself a guest. It is at your disposal" he offered. "Should you ever need it, although a man of your resources, I imagine will rarely find the need" he said, warmly. 

 

He found Frost quite the charming icicle. 

 

"The only condition would be to refrain from violence here. This is safe ground for all immortals. A final refuge, you might say. They will be held to account of course, but I consider it a final safety net against inhumanity" he added, a bit more seriously. 

 

"But as to that, what thought do you have to the Codus Immortus? Some have signed, some have not. I do not claim it is without issue, or without conflict, and I do not claim it without flaw. It stews in my mind like a bubbling broth. But still, by my best judgement, it is better present than absent" he concluded. 

 

"I would listen to your advice, if you have any. I would be pleased for you to join, but hold you in no ill regard if you did not"

[Avenger Assembled]

"I thank you for your kind words," said Frost, sounding more sincere than he generally did - at least from what Murk had heard. "Rarely am I asked to join oath-bound societies with no ambitions greater than self-protection. With all these wonders you have known in these seventy years, you must have gained much knowledge from those you have met - and shaped your manifesto accordingly. You speak well of it - so, tell me why I should sign. What is this justice that immortals will have, even the worst among them? I have known some Things that deserve no life. You understand." 

[Supercape]

Mr. Murk

 

Murk sighed. "On that, my fiend, I share your sentiment, entirely"

 

"But" he explained. "Sentiment is the root of both great evil and great good. I do not deny Sentiment, we must embrace it. And yet, paradoxically, apply the brakes to it. The greatest gift to humanity is empathy, the care and love that one has for another..."

 

He frowned though, reflecting on brutal years gone. "But the next greatest gift to shield from suffering is law. A code to bind, to protect against sentiment turning sour. Rage, hate, envy, all these things..."

 

"I would hold every immortal to account, you understand. The very worst, the very best, and every one in between. But I would hold them to account fairly, protected from the rages and envies of the mortal world. Not mortals, no, for many are not slaves to those passions, but the world can be cruel..."

 

"Is it self-serving? Maybe. I would not know how to answer honestly. I would not say it serves me, as an individual, more than it serves any participant. But you level an accusation that is both fair and pertinent, and one that I have oft, and still do, consider. Are we above mortal men, and so above there laws?"

 

"There is no simple answer. We are not above mortal men, nor below them. But we are a minority, and an envied one at that. I suppose, if I was to speak truthfully, I do not have complete faith in the justice of the world in this matter..."

 

He looked as he felt, disconcerted. 

 

"It is a weighty matter. The codex could well go ill, but I fear it would be iller still to be without it. Yes, my friend, I suppose it is self-serving, but many good things are. The question, I conclude, is not whether it serves one person, or many, but whether it harms more than it serves?"

 

"I cannot kill, no matter how vile the act. Only in the most dire of circumstance, and not from vengeance. However, if you are referring to some abominations, such as the undead, or eldritch powers, then I would destroy them, and, my friend, when I have had to, I have..."

Edited January 11, 2018 by Supercape

[Avenger Assembled]

"The undead with eldritch powers, eh?" commented Frost wryly. "Imagine such a thing!" He took a few puffs of the cigar, then held his fingers close to its burning end for a while. "Judge men by their deeds - and some are placed beyond the pale by them." He hmphed, and put the free end of the cigar back in his mouth - sitting still like this, he could exert inhalation by a conscious effort and allow the heat of the burning ash to permeate much of his body. "I agree with your words, about the need for law to bind the actions of men. That a bad man will not follow law is no guide for actions of good men. But what when world changes and law does not, eh? Will we tell peddler with donkey where he may sell, when men from space fly over our heads?" 

[Supercape]

Mr Murk

 

"A fair point" replied Murk, nodding in agreement. "And on this matter, I am in full agreement, for oft has the law lagged behind the world, and oft has the world lagged behind the people in it". 

 

"That is a problem with law, as you say. That whilst a good law can stop bad men be cruel, a bad can law force good men into cruelty" he said, examining the problem again. "I no not how to answer this, other than to say you speak the truth. To my mind, law must mutate and evolve, it must be scribed in ink rather than carved in stone. The law should be beholden to those it serves, rather than behold others unto it" he explained. 

 

"In other words, it must be rewritten" he smiled generously. "By concensus rather than ego, if you worry that I would take role of dictator on this matter. Perhaps you might consider it a constitution, given we are in America" he nodded to himself, pleased with the analogy. 

[Avenger Assembled]

"Consensus, eh?" Frost considered that one, then said, "A hard one to sell the young ones on, no? You have been man of the world for quite some time, so I pose you thought experiment. I tell my friend's young son the seer that his laws are to be decided by, hmm - blind homo neaderthalis, Russian centenarian, and oh, Egyptian priest with god complex. You see where he might raise questions? Audience of immortals will always be behind times - to our mutual discredit. The future generally gleams brighter than the past - or at least its people have such a glimmer."

[Supercape]

Mr. Murk

 

"He would be wise to raise questions" agreed Murk. "It would be foolish if he did not". 

 

"There are two problems in life. Other peoples opinions. And your own"

 

He finished his cigar, feeling more confident. 

 

"The only shield against them is the law. Which sometimes you would agree with, sometimes you would not. It is by no means a perfect shield. But it is better to have on than not. To your friend I would say this; you are right. What are you going to do about it?"

 

"It is like politics. Democracy! What a force! To diminish the power of tyrants. Everybody can be held to account, at least to some measure. Yet, it is essentially putting fools, yes - fools, in power. The world is full of people who think with passion unmelded with reason. It is a leadership who only think short term, for it is only in the short term they will be held to account. Its flaws are many and burning, but it is the very best of systems"

 

"And so I must respond to that thought experiment with another. Is the world a better place with a code of conduct for immortals, or without it?"

[Avenger Assembled]

"Hmm. Let me tell you old Russian joke in reply. 'In accordance with the interests of the people and in order to strengthen and develop the socialist system, citizens of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics are guaranteed freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly, meetings, street processions and demonstrations.' That is from the 1936 constitution of Soviet Union, and there proved to be some small difficulties between words on page and actions of great  men of the day." Frost hmmed, then went on, "But porheps I speak too much in riddles. I admire your intent - and I believe I will lend my support to what you do, given a chance to see what words you have on page. But be aware that immortals are _men_, Murk, men and women who may survive long past the days when they lived. Even a small man who has become great still remembers the comforts of being small." 

[Supercape]

Mr. Murk

 

"Hence, we must not go too great" replied Murk. "But..ah! Conundrums upon conundrums. You have impressed me, my friend. You have given voice, and eloquent voice, to every concerns I have had about my proposal. Yay, every one" he explained, quite satisfied. 

 

"And these concerns lay heavy on me. My impetus to action is despite these worries, for, after much reflection, I have come to view inaction as more concerning". 

 

"And 'tis not that this is my only concern. Storms are ahead, the likes of which the world has never seen. In the grand scheme of things, my venture is small, but it is not absent. Whilst I feel the Codus Immortus is the right thing to do, it is not the only thing to do, no, not by any rubric. What strength and wit I have must be exerted, alas, my strength comes from the long game and the shadows"

 

"So then, as to the Codus Immortus, at least, as I envisage it. Three codes. To not kill another signatory, or at least, if you do, to be held to account for it and demands made that you justify your action as absolutely unavoidable. Yay, I am sure such circumstance will happen, for both you and I"

 

"Secondly, to protect and save other signatories from deathly peril or inhumane torment. This be the spirit of mercy and humanity. Again, to be held to account if otherwise acting". 

 

"Thirdly, as a final safety net against prejudice, that Club Immortus be hallowed ground. No violence in these grounds between signatories". 

 

He sat back, complete. 

 

"No document is without flaw, and this neither. Surely, it will evolve, but never be complete and true. It is a voluntary code of practice to save us from the erroneous passions of the world, and the erroneous passions of ourselves". 

 

"What say you? Just or unjust?"

[Avenger Assembled]

"The words are just," said Frost after a momentary silence. "But aren't they always?" he inquired seriously. "You will have my support in your efforts," he said, reaching out to take Murk's hand with fingers that were chilly even through his gloves. "But let me tell you something seriously, my friend." He squeezed the hand, then released it. "But let us see those efforts. Seventy years have gone by and here we are tonight. Let it not be another seventy." 

[Supercape]

Mr. Murk

 

"The world, I think, accelerates with time" replied Murk, in a friendly way. "It was months of hard travel just centuries ago, a journey that can now be achieved in hours. If needed at all! Ah! The lightning web of words and text that now lays over this world!" he contemplated, truly impressed. 

 

"But sometimes, a touch of antiquity is the right flavour!" he nodded at one of the attendants, looking right at him with blind eyes in that odd way. 

 

A moment later, an impressively bound thick leather book arrived. The Codex Immortus. 'Twas here that Mr. Murk has inscribed the principles of the Codus Immortus in one part, and the words and stories (albeit truncated, as was necessary in documenting the lives of an immortal) in the second book. It was a think, heavy and rather pleasant tome. And every page had a brail transcription overleaf. A little antiquity is good, but, as Mr. Murk put it, "I would not refuse the advantages of progress!"

 

An old quill and pot of ink were supplied to Comrade Frost, and, with fingers running over pages, Mr. Murk found the page. There were several signaturies to the Codus, some that Frost knew, a few that he did not. A small number had been crossed out. 

 

"Voluntary to sign, voluntary to leave" explained Mr. Murk, handing Frost the tome. 

 

"And if you do, we should consider perhaps opening a Club house in Moscow. It has not, to date, been somewhere I was inclined to. Volatile place, too easily sucked into political subterfuge. But I would appreciate your advice on that matter..."

[Avenger Assembled]

Quill and ink were not unfamiliar to Frost; though his own use of ancient writings tended to be of the sort carved by ancients into tree bark and stone. It took him only a moment to ensure he would not embarrass himself with the took at hand. Frost signed with a flourish loud enough to be audible - then turned to Murk, placing his hand on his arm. "You have my words," he told the ancient seriously. "I give them to you with great expectations. Now pay me for them in deeds." 

[Supercape]

Mr. Murk

 

"Expectations are warranted and I shall endeavour to meet them" replied Murk, solemnly. He took the book from Frost and sniffed the ink.

 

"I do love the smell of books!" he said, warmly, before passing the tome to an aide. "I shall transpose your words to braille, of course. But your signature, alas, I will never read. I appreciate its spirit, however!"

 

"And now, you have my thanks. And whilst a signature is in that book, and your heart behind it, Club Immortus is yours, both here and around the world!" he said, clearly happy with that state of affairs. 

 

"As for deeds, am I at your service. Do you suggest or require action on my part, at this moment or in principles forthcoming?"

[Avenger Assembled]

"If I require specific favor, I will do you specific service," Frost assured him. "For now, I have but one request. You have rented hall, secured loyalty of great musicians, and you have all the world as your audience. Now is your time to show world you can dance. You understand?" he inquired, his tone frank but not actually unfriendly. "I will see your clubs! I look forward to what worlds you are able to provide." 

[Supercape]

Mr. Murk

 

"Fine wine, good beds, and old libraries, for starters" explained Mr. Murk. "And feel free to use them on your travels. As long as you don't empty the cellars!" he chuckled. "They are haven for you, and others. Our final refuge". 

 

"I fear you ask of me things that are almost beyond my reach. Almost. The age of wonders is upon us and it is true that I need not rely to much on shadows and masks. What is one of my kind compared to the Gods and Aliens that stride the world?"

 

"And yet, my strength is in the unseen rather than the seen. By my blind eyes, this is so" he said, sombre. "I may not be in view, but i will be there, always, wherever hate and cruelty fester. There! in the dusk, in the shadows, by word or fist, myself or my musicians will be not merely observers, but actors!"

 

~ Fin ~