Arrows of Time - Kim Falconer [177]
‘You suspect?’
‘Well it’s obvious, isn’t it? What’s the one thing not possible on this world?’
Jarrod felt his face flush as the answer dawned. ‘She was pregnant?’
‘Still would be, I imagine, unless she’s left a child behind somewhere. But let’s not test it by bringing her here again. It’s taken me a month to fix that anomaly. I don’t want it starting back up again.’
‘You fixed it?’
She winked.
His quantum mind raced through an infinite number of possibilities, infinite choices. He looked back at her, frowning. ‘You met with Nell?’ he asked.
‘Who?’
‘A High Priestess of the Dumarkian Woods.’
‘Ishtar’s lion?’ she asked, scratching the cat’s back.
‘So you do know her.’
‘We had a visit.’
A new game? he wondered.
‘She came to me with her little “problem”, which I didn’t see as a problem at all. “Just kill the man,” I told her, but she kept saying it was more complex than that. Muttering on about a balance of power within the temples and the furthering of knowledge for all people, men and women equally. Well, of course. That’s a given. But the man was an interference, so I suggested she remove him the old-fashioned way—with a knife.’ The Caller shook her head, tapping the cat’s nose when it nipped at her hand. ‘It’s only as complex as you want to make it, really. Matriarchy-patriarchy. Much of a muchness if you focus on the opposites.’
‘Perhaps easy to say from your position?’
The Caller laughed. ‘Don’t be fooled by gender.’
Jarrod looked at her again, his brow furrowed. ‘I’m not generally fooled by anything.’
‘Then get on with it.’ She clapped her hands. ‘I want Selene back here, and I want to see for myself that this world and her sister dimension are running in a balanced way again. I want to see births and deaths and births again, preferably in that order.’
‘People are dying now, I assure you.’ He drained his cup and stoop up.
‘Nell paid the price?’
‘In that world, yes.’
The Caller leaned back against the cushions. ‘Full of riddles as ever, Jarrod?’
‘No more than you.’
A breeze came in from the west. The chimes clattered like long-legged puppets unable to run fast enough.
‘Where are you off to next?’ she asked.
He lifted his eyes. ‘Now that would be telling.’
‘Touché—but come, you can give me a hint.’
He looked at her before moving to the door. ‘A hint? Watch for the birth closest to home. She will have something to teach you.’ Jarrod noted the look on the Caller’s face, and smiled as he disappeared into the golden afternoon.
Rosette awoke to sunlight beaming across her bed and Drayco’s soft snores by her side. At first she thought she was still floating disembodied, but as she became aware, she felt the weight. It took a moment to work out why everything was so thick and heavy. She stretched, groaning.
Maudi?
I’m in my body, Drayco, and it’s like climbing a mountain after floating downstream.
Stretch again, Maudi. It’s the best way to wake up.
She took his advice and stretched like a cat, while listening to the whispers floating in from the other room. They were too soft for her to distinguish the words, but she didn’t care. She was back in her body, and though she had some creaks and cramps and very sore ribs, it felt good. Drayco stretched by her side, the warmth of his back like a full-length pillow along her spine. She sank her hand into his thick pelt and he purred.
Feeling better now, Maudi?
She rolled over and wiggled her fingers and toes. ‘Much. Where’s Jarrod?’
Drayco jumped down and yawned, arching his back. Sleeping…deeply.
‘Don’t wake him, then. We’ll talk soon enough.’
I doubt I could if I tried. It’s like he’s not there.
She reached towards the ceiling, spreading her fingers wide. ‘Well, I’m here. Gratefully.’ She