by Sandra Elsa
Another block slid by in silence. The air fairly crackled with the tension building in him. I ran a hand over the back of my neck to break the contact with his nervous energy that raised the hair on my nape. Finally, while waiting across the street from the Antiquities Museum for a break in traffic I touched the brakes on the wheelchair and stood up so I could watch his face. "That helped. That plus the fact that Mrs. Elvra is gifted. It’s hard to ignore an unbiased second opinion. My father swore you weren't aggressive around women. That was a change I couldn't fathom unless you'd studied me, followed me, trying to discern the best way through my defenses. An attempt to recruit me to this project of your father's by offering yourself up as the sacrificial lamb. Your mother seemed to think you were acting peculiar as well, although she did say you tended to be a flirt. I didn't know what to make of you. We're obviously tied together for the foreseeable future and that wasn't completely your doing. You didn't make me accept Ron Ludovissy as a client, which is where my involvement really started. If you trust that destiny has set us on this path together, maybe you should have a bit more faith in it. Don't try to force the present to conform to the future you wish, and it might happen. You impressed me this morning."
His expressions slid from denial as I accused him of fomenting his father's plans, to rue as he saw how I could mistake his actions, to hope. "Am I allowed to hug you in public?"
I sat back down in the wheelchair. "Not at this moment in time." My defenses were down. Now would not be a good time for that at all.
"Then when?" His voice was deeper than normal and I didn't dare to look at him.
I failed in the effort to keep my tone light and ended up brusque. "When the situation calls for it."
"I can live with that." Traffic broke for the second time since we started this discussion and he pushed the wheelchair across. I couldn't be certain over the general noise, but I thought I heard him add, "For now."
Chapter 29
Inside the museum we became engrossed in studying the displays. One entire wing was taken up by miniature replicas of the machines that had killed our world. Frequently alongside the guilty creation was a replica of a modern version which had replaced the old. A car with a motor powered by gasoline, beside a car with a solar motor. The engines were so different it seemed odd they fit in the same vehicle bodies.
The display beside it showed a factory belching smoke into the sky and cars rolling off an assembly line. Beside it was the modern restoration shop, reclaiming all those vehicles left to die in junk yards. Fully converted vehicles looking brand new sat on a lot in front of the building but they certainly didn't roll out with regularity. A replication that held the illogical spires and impossible architecture of District Seven showed a restoration garage with buses and hummers. A recording told those who would listen about the amazing contribution of mages to our current way of life.
The next display showed a steam train, beside a diesel engine, beside tracks that disappeared into nowhere. There was no modern equivalent of a train. Track maintenance would have required too many workers to spend too much time outside.
Airplanes were also defunct although there was an item referred to as a hang glider in the same display. It was nothing more than a pair of wings strapped to a metal frame. A wax figure of a human hung suspended from a harness. I stared at it seeing potential if we were going to play outside. Heck, with permission, last week I could have tried something like this out in Eighty-six. Of course it probably needed a clear landing area and decent wind currents to make you fly. I stared at it long enough Harrison asked, "What are you thinking?"
"Wondering if we have any material that could be used to make one of these. Looks like fun."
He rolled his eyes. "Fun? Looks like death."
"The man driving that car this morning wouldn't think so."
"All right. I'm moving on before you figure out a way to get me out of your hair."
Pictures of cities with buildings taller than could possibly fit in a dome, hung on the walls we walked through. We traveled slower than those around us as we contemplated each failure that had brought about the downfall of the earth and tried to figure out ways to do it better. There were displays of many things people had done as far back as fifteen hundred years ago that might have helped had the general population gotten behind them, we wrote down names and decided research was in order. We spent a lot of time in the farming section, there were several domes with eco-friendly farm methods and we didn't plan on giving up citizenship in the domes altogether for some years to come but we'd have to convert to smaller scale while we got started, probably older methods. We stayed in the museum until lunchtime then we left to find something to eat. Harrison followed my directions to a restaurant called the Oriental Express.
Harrison chose a vegetarian curry. I went with Hunan Turkey, extra spicy. We both ordered water to drink. The waitress flirted with Harrison and I imagined smashing her pretty face.
When she left, Harrison said, "All you have to do to stop her is let me sit by you."
"What makes you think I want her to stop?"
"The look on your face. You've got to realize that I finally made some progress today, there's not a chance in hell I’ll throw it away because a waitress wants a larger tip."
"You call that progress?"
"You didn't run away, and we actually did discuss personal feelings."
"You prevented me from leaving."
"Says the woman with the pistol and the will to stomp all over while her leg tries to heal. You didn't even threaten to kill me. I'd call that progress." The waitress returned with our water and Harrison reached across the table and placed his hand over mine. “Most important, to me…You didn’t deny the truth of Mrs. Elvra’s words.”
Rather than the instant snatch that I ordered my traitorous hand to perform, it flipped over under his so we were palm to palm. His index finger rested on my pulse, the other fingers curled around my hand. I knew my pulse would betray me as much as my hand had. I was glad to feel mine was not the only one racing.
When the waitress left, Harrison asked, "Why do you fight it? You want me as much as I want you."
"I'm not that kind of girl. I can live without sex."
"But you have had…oh my god…" Answers leaped across the windows of his eyes.
I cast my eyes at the table and snatched my hand out of his.
"Forgive me, Frankie. I'm an idiot. I--"
"Stop. There's no reason you should have known. I'm not having this discussion."
"On the plus side, I did ask you to marry me before I told you I wanted to sleep with you." He tried a grin. Humor, to pull us back out of the crevasse we'd slid into. "If I had known, I wouldn't even have suggested…That's a lie. I'd have been slower to suggest. Taken my time, made sure it was something you wanted too…I'm shutting up now."
"There's a wise move."
I took out my handheld and checked for messages. There were only three. One from Dee, assuring me she'd made it home, returned Cindy's car, and helped her load it with boxes with no problems from the watch.
#
One from Mage Jallahan.
**Thank you for seeing me. Jordan has been monitoring me and forced me to explain my long absence outside District Seven so though it's not what I wish for, I'll leave you be. I'm here if you ever have need of my assistance. I hope you and Harrison get along well and life treats you good. I have discovered that since putting a personality to your name, maybe it was even such a slight thing as holding your hand before leaving, I have once again found something I can withhold from Jordan.
I did tell him I met you. He could not make me tell him anything else. He rants and threatens, but he cannot force me to assist him unless he wants to involve the watch more formally and he can't do that as he has no proof Harrison is in danger. We may have to maintain a home in District Seven, but it has been long, since mages have been forbidden to travel. Your marriage plans work in that aspect. If anybody were to ask me ab
out my daughter's whereabouts I can tell them she is on her honeymoon at places unknown, thus negating any possibility of a formal search. And he can't tell them you're an unregistered mage. He has no proof to back it up. In fact there are two formal tests that declare you to be one hundred percent without talent.
It seems Jerry has disappeared again. Annabel claims to know nothing of it and seems unconcerned and unwilling to search for him in spite of his recent return and ill health. Nan looked flushed yet happy when she appeared this morning to accuse me of not informing her about our meeting. I have my suspicions on where Jerry might be. If they're correct, I wish him well.
Our meeting seems so very long ago, though it was simply last night.
Farewell, Daughter. I can't get over being able to type that word.
Your Father
Harold Jallahan
#
The third was from Nan.
**Yes, you may call me Mom.
Harrison won't explain his actions to you. He despises his talent as a matchmaker. After what I saw this morning and what Harold tells me of your concern about his uncharacteristic actions, I thought I'd try to clear the air between the two of you. It is obvious to those of us that know him that he is head over heels in love with you. You're not the girl I ever imagined him falling for--you're better. You're real and you're obviously not caught by his pretty face.
I hope in time you realize he is the man you were meant to be with. Being a matchmaker he has foreseen many relationships, but never before his own. He swore he wouldn't get married until he had found someone he would be happy with the rest of his life. His talent seems to be telling him that is you. He would never mention it for two reasons, the first I mentioned above, the second would be because it's magic telling him you're his destiny and I think we all know how you feel about magic.
Be kind to each other. Hopefully he will figure out how to live by a far tougher set of rules than he has ever had to, and you'll forgive him for being a mage.
Your Mother-In-Law
Nan Kendrel
P.S.
I always wanted a daughter. Hard to believe when I finally get one she's tougher than my son. Rumors are trickling in about disabled vehicles out on the stretch of road between District Nine and the crossroads that lead to the thirties, forties, and fifties. I pray this message finds you safe. Thank you for watching my back. Since Jordan has not appeared in my home to gloat of catching the three of you, I'm assuming you remain free. Take care of yourself and those in your care. Send a message when you can.
#
I looked up to find Harrison watching me. "Good news? Bad news?"
"Little of both."
"From?"
"Dee. Your Mom. My Father."
"Mind if I read them?"
"You sure you want to? You're mother's pimping you."
"I'd like to see what she has to say."
"Well you've already surpassed her expectations."
"She didn't think I'd tell you?"
"Not in the least." I hadn't closed her message yet so I turned my handheld around and handed it to him.
By the time he finished reading, he peered through cracks between his fingers as he palmed his face. "I'm really glad I told you. That would have made me die of embarrassment otherwise. Am I allowed to read Mage Jallahan's?"
"Go for it. I don't think his was embarrassing for either of us."
He scrolled to the next message up and read through it, he uttered a laugh and said, "That's got to piss Dad off," without looking up. When he finished he said, "Jallahan's really gotten the raw end of the deal. Unfortunately, I can see my father getting him fired from the university. Probably best he doesn't keep in contact."
"If he gets fired, we'll send for him. Somebody's going to have to help you make my unicorn."
"That's an excellent idea." He started laughing. "We could make it match the stories and prefer virgins."
"Dee thought I should promise to sleep with you after you delivered my imaginary critter."
"Maybe I misjudged her. I'm sorry about that. Lost control. You wouldn't trust me and I knew we were destined to be together, but you trusted her...him...at that time I couldn't get past that. So much for millions of years of evolution. I was a jealous Neanderthal. I can, and will be patient."
"I like a man who can admit when he's wrong. And you were very, very, wrong. I've known Dee for seven years." Our food arrived, sparing the need for further discussion. We took our time, eating in companionable silence.
As we finished, he asked, "So what's next on the schedule?"
"Natural history. Unless you're tired of pushing me around. I'm good with sitting in the park near the source."
"Or we could get married."
I shook my head. "Thought you were going to be patient."
"We agreed to get married. Didn't say anything about changing the terms of that agreement."
"I suppose I could twist up the spells that record such events until we're ready to leave but it'd be safer to just do it right before we return to Fifty-five, and let it go through. Every time I rely on my magic, it creates one more datapoint for your father to figure out what I'm capable of."
"Tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow."
"Looks like it's Natural History then."
We paid the bill and he pushed me out of the restaurant. Following my directions, the Museum of Natural History soon appeared. There were thousands of displays about everything from insects to climate. There were several dinosaur skeletons and looking at them made me fully consider how close to extinction mankind had come. At one point we had numbered less than three million.
Many domes had been sparsely populated when the outside world became impossible to live in. Some domes had accepted the remnants of humanity when they'd come begging to be rescued. Mostly we'd already selected those we anticipated needing for survival and culled the rest. One section of the museum was dedicated to the surprise element among us. Few, if any, had anticipated magic and mages would reappear as the world slid into a coma. Their emergence was marked with violence and fear.
Look at us now, ruling the world.
In the Weather and Climate section, I learned how the trees had died for lack of water, not because of the compromised atmosphere as I'd always thought. The first of the annual tempests had been the planet’s effort to cleanse itself. An immense cloud system had rolled off the west coast on gale force winds, sweeping toxins, and the dust blanketing the world, along with the rain. The toxins crystallized what remained of the trees.
I turned to Harrison, "One thing I'm sure of, when storm season arrives, I want to be in a dome. If our plants don't turn to crystal this year, maybe we'll experiment next year."
He was staring at the glassy tree limb in the display case. "I think I can agree with that plan."
We spent time looking at rocks in mineralogy, until my phone chirped with a voicemail. I pulled it out and listened to Bobby tell me the car was finished. "Time to go," I told Harrison. "Car's ready and Bobby closes his shop at six."
"All right. I want to run through the gift shop real quick."
"I guess we have time for that." He wheeled me in and parked me by the display cases with slivers of rocks, and plastic dinosaurs while he wandered the shop. When I grew bored I wheeled myself over to the next display.
He was at the register purchasing something and I wheeled toward him. He pointed at me. "You stay right there." He finished paying and took a small bag from the clerk, which he then shoved out of sight in his pocket.
"That's not fair."
"Who said anything about playing fair."
"Let's go then."
He laughed. "Grumpy won't get you a peek either."
He wheeled me out of the museum and back in the basic direction of Bob's Auto Restoration. The return trip was spent discussing ideas we'd gathered from our museum visits. Our car was sitting in the lot, pretty much where we'd left it, complete with Jerry in the back seat. It was a grass gre
en color and there was no evidence it had ever been dented. Bobby opened the door of his office and beckoned us in.
We paid for the repairs then I made excuses for taking off as soon as possible. Mostly because I wasn't comfortable staying somewhere people knew me for very long at all. I hugged Bobby as we left, turning to watch Harrison school his expression to blandness.
As I let Bobby go, he asked, "So if this is your fiancé, where's your ring, Frankie?"
I grinned at him. "You know I don't wear jewelry. But to tell the truth this thing happened so quickly, and we've had so many pissed off people after us, there hasn't been time to think about it. When we do have a minute, there always seems to be something more important to do."
"Well if he's smart he'll make it happen or somebody else might scoop you up now that you've changed your mind and decided some men might be worth a second glance."
"Don't worry about us. You take care of your own girl. Tell Carrie I said hi."
"I will. Always a pleasure doing business with you Frankie."
I slid into the car. "I wasn't here."
"Nope. Worked on a car for Angela Landis."
"Works for me."
Harrison got in and started the car. While he was backing out he asked, "Are you trying to drive me crazy?"
"What'd I do now?"
"Why can you hug everybody but me?" He pulled into the busy street.
I rolled my eyes and sighed. "Why do you think? They're my friends. They're safe."
"And I'm not." He sounded disappointed. "I thought we made progress today."
"You're not safe because I'm not sure what will happen if we get that close."
His frown disappeared, his eyes glimmered cheerfully. "Afraid you'll lose control? Sometimes that can be a good thing, Frankie."
"Uh-huh." I made sure he heard my skepticism in that utterance.
