by James Garvey
"How’s your pa, Amy?" Samuel asks.
I knead my hands and say nothing.
Theo tosses a grape in the water. "Ansam is not doing so well. He's unaware of what just happened. I tried to explain to him - even encouraged him to have this meal with us. He said no and is staying with Magarat."
Poor Eliza. I wish she could know her grandfather better. And the baby on the way may not know him at all. I change the course of our conversation. "Has anyone seen Bets or Minns?"
Ricard laughs. "They fancy each other. Quite odd but nice too. They've left the village. Said they want to homestead down the mountain. Nice lasses. I wish them the best of luck."
We eat the rest of lunch in silence. I wonder what Grey will tell Ferris about her mother.
On the way home, we find Grey walking with Ferris in the empty street. I want to pity him. Instead, rage surges and I confront him. "Grey, why did you let them take Eliza?"
His face falls. "To keep you from destroying any hope we had."
"Grey, hope for what? Domination by those people? They didn't care about you or Gorian. Etch either. Why were you living on earth, hiding from them?"
"There's good in the Institute. Oh, I can’t – won’t – explain. It's complicated."
"Dammit man, I'm not going to let the complications of a corrupt government push us aside. What happened to Amanda and Vanne?"
He examines his shoes. "They're living in a tent at the outskirts of the village. They're still hoping an Institute ship will rescue them."
Ricard puts his arm around Grey. "My dear boy, let's work together to help those people. Maybe the ships will come. In the meantime, they need to learn to help themselves. It won't be summer forever and they'll need proper shelter."
Winter arrives early this year and the Institute exiles are living in small wooden houses they built, with the assistance of our carpenters. The only evidence that the Institute still exists is in the lights twinkling coldly on the moon, which surely mock our guests, reminding them of an easier if not simpler life. Grey has become a leader of sorts, stepping between both of our worlds. It suits him, although I catch him often searching the sky for the Fuerst and Gorian.
Grey's become a talented carpenter as well as a farmer. He's helping one of the castaways mend their roof when we spot a single figure in the distance. Ricard is clearly concerned, still cautious after many years of dealing with the strangeness of the lake. "Send guards."
The guards approach the figure and wave for us to come. We find Gorian with them adorned in a strange suit and lugging an enormous pack. She looks at me, "You haven't had the baby yet? What's the matter with you?"
Grey lifts her up and smiles so broadly I'm afraid he may injure his face. "Where've you been?"
"You wouldn't guess the half of it. I invented these clothes and the gadgets in this pack to resist the microbe. Amy had better hope they work." She stares at me with disdain.
Gorian sets up a large tent next to their home, where she does research during her days. Luckily, Ferris still recognizes Gorian and from the moment they reunite, I see her soften. Gorian claims that if she finds the cure for the substance, she'll bring the Institute back. Deep inside, I know she distrusts them as much as I do and no such thing will happen. Of course, if ships could return, it would be glorious to see Etch and the Fuerst again. I sense the Raven waiting for me in orbit. I wonder when I can bring her back to me.
A baby girl arrives to Theo, Eliza, and me shortly after the first snow. We name her Hope and the village celebrates her arrival. Bad feelings have wafted away, leaving a sense of peace, gratitude, and joy. The next day after Hope’s birth, Iggy returns with his children from the frigid lake. They bundle up and feast on the greens we've grown for them during the summer. We begin learning ways to communicate with our hands. Eliza’s ability to talk with them through their minds greatly improves our ability to talk. I’ve found that I can pick up bits and pieces as well, although I’m still more comfortable traveling in the minds of wild, unfettered animals of the forest than my companions.
Eliza and I spend each of our days wandering the lakeshore and working the earth. I’m delighted to learn as much from her as I teach her. We’ve built a garden together and we’re exploring the depth of our abilities to see beyond the world around us. Without the Raven, the lake’s less clear to me. However, I still sense the many doorways and with a little effort visit them, peering through at other worlds.
CHAPTER 23: BIRTHDAYS
Today is Eliza’s twelfth birthday. The Raven swoops overhead, preparing to land before us. Eliza would prefer to spend the day with her friends and family, but I’m dragging her out over the lake, something I do most every day by myself. I am the keeper, after all. Someday, she and her sister will be responsible for the lake and it’s time for her to learn more deeply about the miracle at our doorstep.
With Gorian’s help, the Raven and the Fuerst visit us safely, although other vessels from the Institute dare not approach us. Gorian has mastered the bacteria – understands it and knows that it gives us freedom from the rest of crowded, conflicted, and angry space. Etch provides us with enough information and materials borrowed from the Institute to help ourselves without become spoiled.
“Happy birthday, Eliza.”
“Thanks Raven. Mom says that she has something special to show me.”
“Indeed she does.”
We skim across the lake looking into its depths. A swirling bank of stars hangs below us.
“What’s that?” Eliza asks mesmerized.
“It’s called a galaxy. It happens to be the one we live in. The portal we’re looking through is on a small planet with some very interesting plants. They’re intelligent and talk with each other.”
The Raven takes us to another spot where the world’s encrusted by dust.
“This is a world where the intelligent beings used up all their water and the planet died. Very sad.”
We spend most of the afternoon traveling from place to place. I explain how I learned of these places and how I’m able to travel into them with my mind – no need to make the physical jump. “I have a dear friend named Fromer. He’s similar to Etch. He walked into the portal and became part of it at great sacrifice to all of us. He’s the closest thing to a god I’ve ever seen in all my days traveling over this water.”
Eliza crinkles her nose. “Will I ever get to meet him?”
“I don’t know. I hope so.”
It’s getting late and Eliza’s tired. So am I.
“Eliza, I have one more thing to show you – a special birthday gift.”
The Raven cruises to a place both familiar and comforting. I stand up and sit her in the pilot’s chair.
“Eliza, I want you to meet your grandmother.”
A light appears and the cabin grows silent. The figure of my mother, as beautiful as she was the day she died, appears in the glow. She kneels down and Eliza runs to her.
The path to the future is complete. Somewhere out there, Fromer’s smiling.
THE END
