by Mari Collier
He held her close, stroking her hair. “Anna, how right are these kenning visions of yeres?” He did not remind her that a fifteen-year-old boy would be considered a man or almost a man in this land.
Her muffled voice was low, but emphatic. “Always.”
“How do they ken to come here? How could they be together when they were separated during the raid?”
“I don't know, but Margareatha was with Lorenz that day. She was twelve-years-old. She would remember what Kasper looked like. Daniel and Lorenz looked like him.” She left out the part about Lorenz's strange smile.
“Then that Christmas we twill celebrate. Now we need to rest.” If ye can, he thought.
She drew away and took a deep breath. “First I need to thank God that they are alive.” She folded her hands and said a low prayer before putting her head on the pillow.
MacDonald took a deep intake of air before closing his eyes. He hoped the vision gave her comfort and then his eyes flew open when the realization of the potential this opened for him. Anna had said that Margareatha and Lorenz had two hearts. That meant they would probably have some of the Justine mind abilities and long lives compared to Earth beings. If he could win them over, they could go with him when he returned to Thalia. He was about to close his eyes when he remembered that Anna had said O'Neal's son was Toma's son and looked like Toma. Did that mean there was another being with Justine abilities? He would need to search for the man when Texas became safer. He kenned full well that certain Earth beings could close their minds to a Justine. They too could be fighters if convinced to take such an adventure. He would learn the math and the way to chart a starpath. Perhaps Mina would have children with his Thalian or Justine abilities. If he could gather all of Toma's children as helpers and a fighting force of Earth beings, it would be possible to defeat the Justines. A smile of triumph flitted across his face before sleep claimed him.
About the Author
Mari Collier was born on a farm in Iowa, and has lived in Arizona, Washington, and Southern California. She and her husband, Lanny, met in high school and were married for forty-five years. She is Co-Coordinator of the Desert Writers Guild of Twentynine Palms and serves on the Board of Directors for the Twentynine Palms Historical Society. She has worked as a collector, bookkeeper, receptionist, and Advanced Super Agent for Nintendo of America. Several of her short stories have appeared in print and electronically, plus three anthologies. Twisted Tales From The Desert, Twisted Tales From The Northwest, and Twisted Tales From The Universe. Earthbound is the first of the Chronicles of the Maca series.
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