by James Kahn
Josh looked at her, then looked around the assembled group. He was lifted by the power of the gift, lifted out of the abyss into which he’d been sliding, as if he’d been a feather on the wind. “Our people,” he said, with a new strength.
“If I may inquire sir …” It was Renfield who spoke now, with deference to his new masters. “What will we do now?” The question was tinged with hope and fear.
“Lon had two close friends—Aba and Lev. Those of you who feel safer in Harem can go with them. We’ll escort you—Lon told me where they live.”
Beauty added, “The rest of you are free to go as you will. Joshua has told us of the underground book-people—you may wish to join them in their struggle. If not, you are free to accompany me so far as you wish. I am returning home, to Monterey.”
Rose reached over and held his hand. She’d been somewhat ashamed of her appearance—her head showing barely a stubble of hair, yet; the slightly raised black-capped outlet sticking out the back—but she knew that in Beauty’s eyes, she remained a beauty true. “I go with my Centaur,” she said.
Jasmine scratched her chin. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do, now. Go back into the jungle, maybe—still a lot to learn about life down there.” She smiled gleefully. “I know one thing I’m not going to do, though. I’ll never say ‘Neptune’s Middle Fin’ again as long as I live.”
Beauty winced and laughed. “If that be truth, Neuroman, you may yet live a long life.”
Ollie ran over to Josh and hugged his brother uncertainly.
“Yes, you’ll be coming with me, Ollie. Wherever I decide to go.” He set the boy gently aside, and stood, holding his book. He walked a few steps, then sat again, beside a great flat stone. The Flutterby lit upon his shoulder. Josh took the falcon feather out of his boot—Rose’s ancient present to him—and stared deeply at it. It was tattered, but still proud; and could yet make words fly in the singing wind.
He opened the book to the first blank page.
“Life is big,” he said quietly, and began to set the record.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born and raised in Chicago, James Kahn attended the University of Chicago for both undergraduate and medical studies. During this time, he was encouraged to begin writing fantasy by the Byronic scholar, Jerome McGann. Shortly afterward, Kahn began publishing short stories in Playboy, Gallery, and elsewhere. Since then he’s done postgraduate training at USC-L.A. County Hospital and UCLA, specializing in Emergency Medicine. Dr. Kahn is the author of another novel, Diagnosis: Murder, and coauthor of the poetry collection Nerves in Patterns. Currently, he is completing the trilogy of which this book is the first volume, and he is preparing a book of short stories. In addition to writing and practicing medicine, Dr. Kahn is a singer-songwriter with a local folk-rock group, Silver City; he is an unclassified foil fencer and a great lover of cats.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Born in 1949, Jill Alden Littlewood was raised on the south side of Chicago. At the University of Chicago, she studied with the artist/illustrator, Virgil Burnett; she then finished her studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her credits include poster illustration for the 1975 Ravinia Festival; masks and props for the Free Street Theater; assemblages and collages, some of which are included in Donna Meilach’s Box Art: Assemblage and Construction; illustration and design for the poetry book Nerves in Patterns; and fossil renderings for the L.A. County Natural History Museums. In addition to illustrating, Ms. Littlewood works in Los Angeles as a calligrapher, a graphic designer, and a fine-artist. She plans to open studios in L.A. as a base for drawing, printmaking, bookmaking, and related areas of printing art and craft. Her other interests include Chinese calligraphy, silhouettes, and gilding.
