by Kim Falconer
‘You’ve enough water for bathing?’ Grayson’s eyebrows went up.
‘More than enough. There’s an elaborate purification system on the bottom floor,’ Kreshkali answered. ‘We pump out one hundred thousand gallons a day now.’
‘Do you sell the water?’
‘We give it away.’
He pushed his ginger hair back from his face, his right forearm wrapped in a thick gauze bandage, blood seeping through one side. ‘That might get tricky,’ he said.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Water’s been currency for centuries. What will happen when it becomes so plentiful that everyone has all they need?’
‘Simple. People will have it, appreciate it, enjoy it and not hoard it. There’ll be no need to.’
‘No more water wars?’
‘No reason for them.’
‘How do you start such an endeavour?’
‘First up, we’re making water purifiers.’
‘Those we sell.’ An’ Lawrence spoke as he joined the table. Rosette hooded her eyes, listening.
‘Exchanging, really,’ Kreshkali added. ‘It’s going to go well. You’d be amazed at how resourceful people have become, how many skills they have.’
‘It’ll go even better when we get more solar panels set up.’ Jarrod looked out the window at the haze of sunlight. ‘We’d better get to the strip and start bringing them in.’
‘Let’s do it,’ An’ Lawrence said, grabbing his coat. ‘Kali, do you think your Lupins will lend a hand?’
She closed her eyes for a moment. ‘They’re already there.’
‘I’m coming,’ Rosette said, struggling out of her bed.
Jarrod shook his head when she reached for her clothes. ‘Relax while you can, Rosette. There’s plenty for you to do when you’ve healed. Plenty for us all to do.’
‘He’s right,’ Kreshkali said. ‘Have a soak, eat, and start the healing. We’ll be back soon.’
‘But what about the worm, Jarrod? What if it’s still lurking in any old systems?’
‘I wrote a program to detect and quarantine it while I was in my original hardware.’
‘How long did that take?’
‘To write, download and install? One point five nanoseconds.’
She sighed. ‘You sure aren’t the boy next door.’
‘We won’t be long,’ he said. She watched as everyone but Grayson filed out the door. It clicked softly, leaving her feeling small in the large empty space.
‘Did you draw the short straw?’ she asked when Grayson looked her way.
Drayco chuckled in her mind as he stretched out in a brilliant patch of sunlight.
Grayson held up his bandaged arm. ‘I’m hardly much good to them until this heals.’
‘Nice try,’ she sighed. ‘I can tell they asked you to babysit me.’
He asked them if he could, Maudi.
Oh…really?
‘It’s my pleasure,’ Grayson replied.
As she eased herself into the hot tub, Grayson pulled up a chair beside her. ‘So much pure water. It’s overwhelming, and beautiful,’ he whispered.
Rosette realised he wasn’t looking at the water. ‘You’ll have to see Gaela,’ she said, ‘if you think a porcelain tub is beautiful.’ She closed her eyes and leaned her head back.
‘Gaela?’
‘The world where I was born. We’ve bathing pools the size of ASSIST there, huge caverns and gorges, mountain lakes…Maybe I can show you. We could do my tattoo there, travel around a bit.’
‘There are arroyos you can bathe in?’
‘Oh my, yes. White granite ones with crystal-clear, steaming hot water from underground thermals.’ She pressed a washing cloth into her forehead. ‘Of course, you can swim in the ocean too.’
‘I’d love to learn to swim…’
He said it so wistfully she opened her eyes. ‘Where was the sun when you were born?’
His brow creased. ‘You mean my astrological Sun sign?’
‘Do you know it?’
‘It’s banned, or used to be banned, to even record such things, but my mother did.’
‘It’d be a water element for sure.’ She rinsed jasmine blossoms from her arms.
‘You got that quick. My Sun’s in Cancer.’
‘Cancer? I don’t know that one.’
‘The sign of the Crab? Starts at the summer solstice, in the northern hemisphere. It’s ruled by the moon.’
Her face lit up. ‘Great Isis! It’s called the Cobra in Gaelean astrology, representing the power of the moon goddess, feelings, emotions, instincts, magic.’
‘That sounds right.’
‘It explains your passion for water, and the sacred arts.’
He smiled. ‘Rosette, everyone on Earth has a passion for water.’
‘But not quite like yours.’
She sank deeper into the tub, her hair rippling under the surface about her waist like a kelp garden. The tightness in her head eased.
‘Tell me more about this design you’re thinking of?’ Grayson asked after a lengthy silence. ‘Where do you envision it?’
She opened her eyes again. ‘See the curve of my leg here?’ She rolled on her side to give him a better view, water lapping the edges of the bath.
He reached towards her, tracing the line of her thigh from her buttocks to the back of her knee. ‘This line?’
She nodded.
‘I see it,’ he murmured.
Rosette closed her eyes, breathing deeper into the sensations. The buzzing sound blurred into the background of her mind as she focused on her breathing. She drew it in, long and deep, letting it out ever so slowly until her lungs were completely empty. She waited there, in that empty place, before taking in another deep draught.
‘Do you need a break?’ Grayson asked, resting his hand on her hip, taking in the details of his work. He put down the tattoo iron—a handheld machine that ran on electromagnetic coils. It drove the needles like an engraver’s tool, depositing ink into the dermis, puncturing the skin up to fifty times per second. He wiped the blood off her thigh, running a wooden blade over the outline, scraping it smooth with a clear gel.
She let her body relax completely. ‘I’m okay. Let’s keep going.’
Again the buzzing filled the space around them. She opened her eyes for a moment, connecting with his. He seemed deeply satisfied with the work. She watched him for a while, minding her breathing, before sinking back down into her soul. That’s where she fell to as he brought the image to life. The sensations rolled through her body, one moment orgasmic, the next a searing so deep it brought new waves of endorphins that mingled pleasure with pain. In her mind she recited again the words from the Earth text Kreshkali had given her to read.
The cult of Great Isis I believe I have served down through the ages and my task today is to stand for nature against those who blaspheme Her and so wrong themselves.
‘Look at my arms,’ Grayson said, a shiver in his voice.
She propped herself on her elbow, staring at his goose bumps. ‘It’s more potent than I thought,’ she whispered.
He nodded and returned to the work.
They travelled the known lands of Gaela between sessions, giving the work time to heal as they explored the rivers, valleys and coastline. Rosette delighted in his wonder and surprise, watching his face come alive with each new experience. The beauty of Gaela engulfed her anew. She could only imagine what it did for him, having lived most of his life within the confines of ASSIST. She took him to Treeon’s bathing pools and to the forests of Dumarka. She taught him to ride horseback and hunt with falcons in the grasslands of Morzone. They explored the ruins of Corsanon, the restoration well underway, and trekked the Dumar gorge and the coves along the South Azul Sea. He couldn’t swim—no-one could from Earth—but she got Maka’ra to teach him. Grayson’s joy was like a child’s.
Earth was like this once, Maudi.
I get that now.
We going back?
&n
bsp; It’s how we can help.
Soon?
I think so. Jarrod will be waiting.
He is.
‘Grayson?’
He murmured a response.
‘I love it here, but we really have to get back. There’s work to do.’
He nodded, nudging her raft as they floated over a Rahana Iti lagoon.
Rosette watched the tropical fish below, vermilion and aqua darts of colour popping out from the coral, only to disappear instantly when she swished her hand towards them.
‘One more day,’ he whispered.
‘Ours, or theirs?’
‘Theirs.’
Returning to Earth they found Jarrod pacing in front of the portal.
‘You came back,’ he said.
‘After reflection, it seemed like the best thing to do.’
‘Did you have a nice holiday?’ he asked. His eyes were unblinking, arms stiff by his sides.
‘We were gone less than a week.’ Rosette studied his face. ‘You knew where I was.’
‘Yes, I knew. And I also know that five days on Earth is more than as many months on Gaela.’
‘I was thinking, and getting tattooed.’ She kept her eyes steady.
‘It looks to me like you were getting a tan.’
‘It’s a complex design, with two weeks between each session for healing. And I wanted to have a day to swim and unwind after it was complete.’
‘You mean another month.’
‘I gave Grayson a tour, Jarrod. He spent his life incarcerated, waiting for you. I thought he deserved a proper holiday.’
‘Did you journey to every corner of Gaela?’
She shook her head. ‘Just Dumarka, Treeon…Espiro Dell Ray, of course, and…’
He stopped her with his hand. ‘I don’t need the itinerary.’
‘Jarrod?’ She was careful not to smile. ‘Why am I explaining this to you?’
He didn’t respond.
‘Are you jealous?’
His aura’s the colour of fresh blood.
She looked at her familiar, watching his tail twitch. I see that, Dray.
‘Jarrod, we’re back now, five days of your time. I’m here. I’m healed. I’m ready to work. Let’s move on.’
She took his hand and he sighed, wrapping her in an embrace. ‘I didn’t know if you were coming back,’ he said.
‘But I did.’ Her eyes brightened. ‘Wait ’til you see it, Jarrod!’ She hitched up her skirt. ‘It’s indescribable.’
Excuse me, but I thought we were about to move on? Drayco’s question made them both laugh.
‘Yes, Drayco, we’re going,’ Jarrod said. ‘But first, Rosette, show me.’
She smiled, lifting her skirt over her bare leg up to her hip. Jarrod stared for quite some time.
‘That’s amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it.’ He turned to Grayson. ‘It’s incredible work.’
‘Now do you see why it took so long?’ Rosette smiled.
He looked at her and Grayson. ‘I do.’ Jarrod kept his eyes on her leg after she let her skirt fall back down to her boots. ‘I’d like to have a better look, though.’
‘Any time.’ She reached out for Grayson’s hand and the three headed for Kreshkali’s stronghold.
You’ve confused the men again, Maudi.
They confuse themselves.
How’s that?
Jarrod’s like a Watcher with the libido of a bull. We’re bound to each other while I exist in this body. Grayson and I…who knows? Maybe we’ll do some DNA replicating of our own some day. Gotta get to know him better first.
It’s pretty simple when you put it that way. Still, they’re confused.
She laughed aloud.
‘Something funny?’ Jarrod asked.
Didn’t he hear you, Dray?
I wasn’t speaking to him.
She laughed again, tousling Jarrod’s curly hair and winking at her familiar.
A few weeks later she was back in the sewers under Half Moon Bay. An’ Lawrence was up ahead, leaning against the edge of the portal. The Entity nearly laughed out loud as she approached.
‘Do you know where you’re going?’ An’ Lawrence asked, staring at Jarrod first before meeting Rosette’s eyes.
Grayson didn’t speak. He walked next to Rosette, close enough to feel the heat rising from her body, but not so close they touched.
‘Not a clue, Sword Master,’ she chuckled, pleased to be able to tease him. His concerned look made her reconsider: ‘First to Gaela, to check on Makee and attend the midwinter solstice.’
‘They are announcing the succession,’ Kreshkali added. She bowed to the Entity and stepped into the portal.
‘Already?’
‘Rowan, a month here on Earth can be years on Gaela. Think how long it’s been.’
He nodded. Rosette suspected he missed his home world terribly. He’d sacrificed his life there to support Kreshkali and the restoration of Earth. He put his whole heart into that. Mostly, she suspected his mood was simply because he was going to miss Kreshkali.
‘I’ll be back after I give Makee an update and introduce myself to the new High Priestess of Treeon Temple.’ Kreshkali leaned forward to kiss his cheek. He touched her face, turning it to kiss her mouth instead. ‘I’m going to bring some more horses back too. I want to find the Paree estate before it gets any hotter here.’
‘I don’t know how long we’ll be,’ Rosette said as she and Jarrod stepped into the portal. ‘So this is goodbye for now.’
She looked past An’ Lawrence to Grayson. He held her eyes, the intensity engulfing her. It seemed to stop time, burning into her deeper than the tattoo on her thigh.
An’ Lawrence smiled, giving her hand a squeeze. ‘No such thing as goodbye.’
She gave her father a kiss.
‘After Treeon, then what?’ he asked Jarrod.
‘Then we get to work.’
The Sword Master looked perplexed.
Jarrod shrugged. ‘There are many worlds, An’ Lawrence. We are called to them…’
Rosette winked. Drayco? You coming, or are you going to inhale Scylla all day?
Right behind you, Maudi. The temple cat paused before entering the portal, nose to nose with Scylla. When he stepped through it rippled closed, sweeping them away.
REFERENCES:
The pagination of this electronic edition does not match the edition from which it was created. To locate a specific passage, please use the search feature of your e-book reader.
Page 327 quote from William Lilly (1659).
Christian Astrology. London: John Macock.
From: www.skyscript.co.uk/texts.html
Page 502 quote from Dion Fortune (2003). The Sea
Priestess. USA: Weiser Books. With permission of
Red Wheel/Weiser. www.redwheelweiser.com
RECOMMENDED READING:
Campbell, J. (1972/1984). Myths to Live By. New York: Bantam Books.
Chown, M. (2003). The Universe Next Door: The Making of Tomorrow’s Science. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
De Angeles, L. (2000). Witchcraft Theory and Practice. Minnesota: Llewellyn Publications.
Falconer, K. (2005). Astrology & Aptitude: How to Become What You Are Meant To Be. Tempe: American Federation of Astrologers.
Fortune, D. (2003). Moon Magic. Boston: Red Wheel/Weiser.
Goldstein-Jacobson, I. (1960). Simplified Horary Astrology. Alhambra: Frank Severy Publishing.
Goswami, A. (1995). The Self Aware Universe: How Consciousness Creates the Material World. New York: Tarcher.
Hillman, J. (1997). The Soul’s Code: In Search of Character and Calling. New York: Grand Central Publishing.
Hyde, M. (1992). Jung and Astrology. London: The Aquarius Press.
Talbot, M. (1993). Mysticism and the New Physics (2 ed.) New York: Arkana Penguin Group.
RECOMMENDED WEBSITES:
Kim Falconer’s official Quantum Enchantment Website www.kimfalconer.com
Kim Fa
lconer’s Astrology, Mythology and Quantum Theory Site www.falconastrology.com
Voyager Online www.voyageronline.com.au
Voyager Blog www.voyageronline.wordpress.com
Jeannette Maw’s Good Vibe Blog—Law of Attraction for the Real World www.goodvibeblog.com
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First, I’d like to acknowledge Ly de Angeles, friend, High Priestess, author and sensei, for showing me the door behind which Kreshkali stood, and my son Aaron Briggs for his artistic genius, insights and goading. To Sara Briggs for all those handwritten words and boundless enthusiasm, and Cavy too, of course! Deep appreciation also goes to my mother, Eunice, my sister, Shawn, and my granddaughter, Kayla, for bringing me so much joy.
Gratitude goes to my publisher, Stephanie Smith, who asks all the right questions, Equinox Management for sure and steady guidance, Sue Moran for her astute editing, Brian Cook Manuscript Appraisal Agency and Dr Wendy Michaels for the coherent and articulate critiquing. For their artistic contributions and friendship I thank Jodi Osborne, Kurtis Richmond, Tris O’Connor and Helen Nailer.
For connecting me to the right people I thank Mystic Medusa, dear friend and wing woman, and for showing me the ropes, Candida Baker and Mark Abernethy. For teaching me how to pray rain and get into alignment with bliss, my good vibe coach, Master Jeannette Maw, and for his tips in On Writing, Stephen King.
I also thank Tim for his endless encouragement and fabulous coffee, Thatcher and Sean for the blueberry pancakes, Sam for the chocolate, and all the staff at Espresso Head for the great company and endless stacking! Thanks go to Victoria Sullivan for suggesting Stephanie—what synchronicity! And to Jacqui Sullivan for always believing in me. I also thank everyone at HarperCollins who had a hand in this, especially the art department, the proofreaders and typesetters, Chren for all the messages and Linda Funnell for the pivotal feedback.
