While not as iconic as others already recapped, the last chapter in the Convergence series of The Sandman would sit in my list of Top Ten stories if I ever decided to discombobulate by attempting to create one. The Parliament of Rooks, Issue 40, is illustrated by Jill Thompson, who made a lifelong fan out of me for her work on Wonder Woman following George Perez's magnificent run on that book. This issue is a preview of what we can expect from the upcoming artwork in Brief Lives, and as a debut, it does not disappoint.
We catch up with Lyta Hall, whom we last saw in Seasons of Mist, going about her daily life with her son (no longer named Hey You), Daniel. She's relating to the toddler the time-honoured tale of Goldilocks and her trespassing antics. Constant Readers will know that Jill's style perfectly complements a story centred around Daniel, particularly with her ability to convey facial expressions.
With Goldilocks sent running home at the end of the book, Lyta lets Daniel know it's time for his nap. I rather love the dialogue here, and as Lyta puts Daniel to bed with all the required baby talk, we get an idea of what kind of mom she is. A rather good one. Daniel's nursery is bright, cheery, and far removed from the nightmare realm he would have experienced in the pocket Dreaming that Glob and Brute might have conjured up. Like all stay-at-home moms, Lyta is starved for adult contact and gets on the phone with her unseen friend, Carla.
We get a rundown of Lyta's life, which she admits revolves around Daniel and expresses the weariness of all moms dealing with a toddler. Her story about the carrot and the VCR always makes me remember the Playdough videotape my ex-husband (an electronic repairman) found in a similar situation. She wonders what Daniel will get up to when he finally learns how to escape his crib.
For a child who gestated in dreams, cribs are no barrier for Daniel whose dreams allow him to leave his bed and go for a walk.
As he does, he leaves his nursery only to find the serrated tail of the world's cuddliest gargoyle, Gregory. Yes, fans of the TV show only - he lives! Daniel, shadowed by Gregory, whom the kid calls 'Doggie', continues his journey and reveals that he's stepped into the Dreaming. Fortunately, he's too young to know he's wandered into a graveyard. No matter, he's soon greeted by 'Birdie' or Matthew the Raven. Matthew introduces himself and wonders if Daniel has come for secrets too. There's a friendly exchange between Gregory and Matthew, and though we don't hear the words, the substance of it is easy enough to guess.
With Matthew's help, Daniel makes his way up a flight of stone steps and is soon met by Eve. Matthew is surprised to see her out of the cave, and Eve clarifies that she is free to come and go as she wishes. Although Morpheus has many rules regarding the Dreaming, her remaining in the cave isn't one of them. The raven wonders why there are so many, and Eve explains that they are a part of Morpheus's nature.
Eve picks up Daniel, who Matthew thought was just another dream, until Eve informs the raven he is a human child. They continue up the steps of the house we soon learn to be The House of Secrets. Abel, who is at the door, reveals to the party of four that the child's name is Daniel and invites them all in for refreshments. Eve takes tea with lemon, and Matthew has water and any dead vermin Abel might have lying around. Daniel continues his explorations and encounters the world's cutest gargoyle, Goldie, whom the little babe calls 'Gowdie'. Precious.
In the meantime, Matthew reveals his curious transition from man to raven. He'd taken the job thinking he'd be a man trapped in a raven, but actually, he's all raven. Nevertheless, Matthew is okay with it and is grateful not to be a crow, who supposedly isn't the smartest or most truthful of birds. Eve reminds Matthew that he can't pick his family as part of the Corvidae. Matthew doesn't mind jackdaws but finds rooks weird. Magpies have a counting rhyme that goes like this-
One for sorrow,
Two for joy,
Three for a girl,
Four for a boy,
Five for silver,
Six for gold,
Seven for a secret never to be told.
For those interested, this nursery rhyme about magpies is worth investigating.
Abel returns to the room with tea and snacks, serving his guests before they enter a discussion about Morpheus's latest romance, which I assume is with Thessaly. Eve mirrors our thoughts that she didn't think Thessaly was his type. Before Eve can answer Matthew's question about what is Morpheus's type, Cain interrupts their conversation. He's been observing the get-together and is naturally miffed that he might have missed an invite. Abel tries to explain to no avail, but for now, Cain's attention is focused on Daniel.
Eve immediately warns Cain to behave; Daniel's in her charge, and she won't tolerate Cain subjecting the kid to his brand of crazy. However, Cain points out that they are three storytellers with an audience. Eve initially declines, but Cain insists, reminding Eve storytellers who don't tell stories are nothing. Matthew attempts to intervene on her behalf and reminds Cain he's there for a secret. Cain dismisses this, claiming mysteries are far more interesting. Matthew retaliates by telling Cain he sounds like Vincent Price, which irritates the firstborn as he tosses Matthew aside.
Perhaps just to shut Cain up, Matthew agrees to hear a mystery, but it better be good.
Cain, happy to oblige, refers to the earlier conversation about the Corvidae, particularly rooks. We get a fascinating insight into rooks as a species. They are social animals living in rookeries, often with hundreds occupying one tree. They also have a distinct language, some of which is decipherable by humans, and as a collective, they are known as a parliament of rooks.
Occasionally, hundreds will gather in an empty field, surrounding a small space in the middle. Within this island, one bird descends and takes centre stage. The lone rook caws and caws to the others, addressing his brethren, and once he is done, the flock will do one of two things. Take to the skies, leaving the speaker behind, or fall on him and peck him to death.
When Matthew asks why this is so, Cain reminds him it's a mystery. Cain follows this up by telling Abel he's never gut-pecked him to death, and the possibility of this horrific end sends Abel into a state. With Abel in no shape to tell any stories at present, Cain passes the baton to Eve, who declines and objects to being called his mother. As far as Cain is concerned, Eve is everyone's mother.
Eventually, Eve acquiesces and supposes she does have one story to tell, even though this one is ancient and hardly told anymore.
It is the tale of God's attempt to create man and woman, revealing, like all creators, that he had a few drafts before he finally settled on the version he wanted.
In the beginning, God created Adam, an androgynous hermaphrodite with four arms and legs, separate sex organs, and joined back to back. Recognising the obvious design flaws, he split Adam into Adam and Lilith. Lilith was Adam's first wife, equal in almost every way save the obvious. During sex, she wanted the dominant position, believing herself possibly superior. For this, she was expelled from the garden. Upon leaving, she went into the world and created her own domain, siring children with demons and angels alike, creating creatures that would plague the sons of Adam forever.
Adam, alone, was given a new wife. Unfortunately, God didn't realise that sometimes it's best not to give someone a look behind the curtain. Adam was traumatised by seeing a woman being built from the ground up, with all the flesh, bone, blood and bile. It really killed the feminine mystique for him. By the time the lady was whole, he wanted nothing to do with her. Typical. Woman goes through all this trouble and gets nothing for it. Eve reveals that this second wife, forever nameless, was either destroyed by God or expelled from the garden.
Eventually, God took a rib from Adam while he slept and created the Eve we are all familiar with. Biblical history follows, with the duo then being ejected from Eden for eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. According to Eve, God feared that they would continue to disobey him and eat the fruit of the problematic tree, possibly becoming immortal like gods or the Endless.
Eve explains that the story of Adam and Eve could be a metaphor illustrating the beginning of consciousness, while some historians believe it to be the real story of humanity. However, one thing is true. Adam had three wives. Lilith who became the mother of demons. The Nameless Virgin, cast out or destroyed, is remembered only in the dustiest of books and, finally, Eve. Eve, who became the oldest woman, now condemned to live in her cave and blamed for Original Sin. Some believe there was only one wife, but this is Eve's story for Daniel to remember.
As usual, Cain reacts to the story with derision before making another violent threat at Abel to unnerve his brother. Abel is hesitant to tell Daniel a story, feeling that his tales are not age-appropriate, a claim Cain dismisses. The firstborn recites a list of stories Abel could tell that frankly sound intriguing before Abel gives in and takes Cain's advice to tell Daniel a children's story.
For those who ever wanted to see Morpheus and Death as Muppet Babies, this one's for you.
When the world was still a speck and creation was new, Death and Dream (cute as button children) walked in a pretty garden...
Cain interrupts at this point, admonishing Abel's somewhat sanitised take, but the keeper of secrets won't be deterred and continues with his tale.
....walking in a pretty garden. The Endless tots encounter two brothers named Cain and Abel fighting. Abel had given the land's creator a sheep, while Cain had gifted the Creator with fruits and vegetables. The Creator, who isn't a fan of vegetables it seems, liked the sheep more (because it was fluffy and white), resulting in the fight between the two siblings. After the quarrel, Death took the young brother by the hand and told him he must now play in her garden.
Before she could take little Abel away, Dream stopped her and revealed he was building a garden too, inviting Abel to come live with him. Dream would give him a house and an important job, telling stories. Secret stories. Abel decides he would like this and was given a home and a letter of commission. But after a time, Abel became lonely and went to Dream's big house. When he admitted this to Dream, Dream revealed a surprise waiting for him at home.
Abel returned home to find a new house next to his own, and in its garden was his brother Cain. Like him, Cain had a letter of commission and would stay forever. Both brothers hugged each other joyfully and lived happily ever after.
The End.
Cain reacts to this story with obvious disdain, and Matthew points out to Abel that he doesn't stutter when he tells stories. Eve ignores Cain, who is paying too much attention to the fireplace and its poker, stating that she liked the story and is convinced Daniel did too.
Matthew, on behalf of us readers, asks how all these stories fit in with what we know about the world, in terms of evolution and dinosaurs. Is it real? Abel starts to reply but is shut down by Cain before he can answer. Cain asks what's the point of secrets if he's going to blab them to everyone. For instance, the riddle around the Parliament of Rooks. When Matthew questions him, Cain orders everyone out of the house, above Abel's protests. Sadly, we know all too well the murderous gleam in his eye.
Abel says goodbye to Daniel, giving the child an open invitation to visit again because Goldie likes him. Carrying Daniel, Eve leaves the House of Secrets with Matthew perched on her shoulder. She is reflective and silent until Matthew prods her out of her thoughts, and Eve reveals that she is thinking about the story of the rooks.
Before she can elaborate, Abel pops a head out of the window and reveals that it's not a parliament but a trial. The lone rook is a storyteller, and at the end of the story, he finds out whether or not his audience likes his tale. Presumably, he's pecked to shreds if they don't.
Just like Madame Web.
At this point, Abel is dragged back into the house with Cain cursing him for spoiling a mystery that was not Abel's to reveal. Despite Abel's pleas that it isn't a big secret, Cain vents his murderous rage on his poor brother with a poker he had stoked good and hot for the purpose. Dragging Abel's dead body into the fire, Cain pontificates that a good mystery doesn't necessarily need to be solved, and there can be violent repercussions for those who do. It's a lesson Abel needs to learn for his own good. Now that it is taught, Cain takes his leave, reminding his brother's dead corpse that it's his turn to cook dinner tomorrow.
Back in the waking world, Lyta enjoys her leisure time until her watch reminds her it's time for Daniel's dinner. He is in his crib, awake from his nap and clutching something in his hand. It's a single black feather. Lyta wonders where he would have gotten a dirty, old feather and tosses it away.
"Kids, little mysteries, all of you," Lyta says and walks out of the room, shaking her head at how possible it is for children to get everywhere.
And that's it!
Next time - Part 1 of Brief Lives!
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