Perfect Worlds Omnibus
Page 38
NeitherdidKari’sold-fashionedskirt.Valmadethemopentheirhands,butJeri musthavealreadydisposedoftheevidence.
“Icanseethisisn’tgettingusanywhere.SoI’lljusthavetopunishyou both.”
TheStoneofChangeflashedagain.Kariwasn’tsurprisedtofindValand thecavegrowinglargeraroundher.Herdressbecamelikeatentassheshrunk withinit,untiltheblousewasbigenoughtobeadressforher.Theblouse reshapeditselfintoadressidenticaltowhatJeri’shadbeen.Herhelmetofhair grewlongerandlongeruntilitreachedherwaist.Therewaspaininhermouth
asherpermanentteethrevertedbacktobabyteeth.Shewasprobablyfiveyears oldattheoldest.
ThatwasatleastthreeyearsolderthanJeri.Thelittlegirlshrunkuntilonly herheadwasvisiblewithinthefabricofthedress.Thedressshrunkintoapair ofmintgreenoverallsandapinkT-shirtthatbarelyfitherchubbybody.Her shorthairgotslightlylongerandwavieraswell.Whenitwasover,Jeriwasa babyoftwoatmost.
ValsqueezedoneofJeri’spudgycheekshardenoughtomakehercryout.
“Nowdolikeallgoodbabiesandcrawl.Andifyoueventhinkaboutpullinga stuntlikethatagain,you’llbothendupasnothingmorethanstainsonthe ground.”
Jeribegantocry.Karipulledherincloseforahuguntilshesettleddown.
“It’llbeallright,sweetie.Ipromise,”shewhispered.
Butsheknewshehadnowaytocarrythroughonthatpromise.
***
ThetemplelookedalotbiggernowthatKariwasonlyatoddler.Beside her,Jeriwhimperedatthesightoftheenormousstatuesandthefountainwhere theStoneofChangehadoncebeenheld.Karicouldn’tblameher;theplace certainlylookedominousfromthisperspective.
“Takethebratsdownthere,”ValcommandedSheriandTeri.Beforeshe couldreact,Karifoundherselfhoistedintotheair.Jerisquealedasshewas hauledupbythebackofheroverallsontoSheri’sshoulders.
Thetwinscarefullymadetheirwaydownintothetempleproper.Teri wastedlittletimetotossKaritotheground,whereshelayinaheap,longhair obscuringherface.Shetriednottocrydespitehowmuchshewantedto.
InsteadsheforcedherselftobrushthelonghairbackandthenstareupatVal.
“Nowwhat?”
“Nowyougettowork.Tellmeeverythingyoucanaboutthisplace.”
Karigottoherfeetandtriedtosummonallhercourage.“WhatcanItell you?Ican’tevenreadrightnow.”
“Wewouldn’twantthat,wouldwe?”Thestoneflashedagain.Karigrew abouttencentimeters.Shespitoutherfrontbabyteethintoherhand.Valpatted heronthehead.“Nowyoucanread.Gettowork.”
“Yeth,ma’am,”Karisaid.ShetookJeribythehandandthentrudgedtothe nearestwallwithmarkingscarvedintoit.
“Whatthose?”Jerichirped.
“It’thathtorytheancienthwrote,”Karisaid.Shesquintedthroughher glassesatthesymbols.“It’thaboutanathtyoldgodwho…uthedamagic thtone…tocreateParadithe.”
Karistoppedandrubbedherchinasshereadoverthewordsagain.There hadtobeamistake.Accordingtowhatshewasreading,thetrickstergodVal hadmentionedhadn’tactuallycreatedtheStoneofChange.Fromwhatsheread itseemedmorelikelyhehadbeenthefirstonetofindthestone,withwhichhe createdthetempleandchangedtheworldaroundhim.Wherehaditcomefrom then?
ThatmustbewhyValhadwantedhertocomedownhere.Thestonehadn’t toldValwhereitcamefrom,butitmusthavetoldherenoughforhertosuspect itdidn’toriginatehere.Maybethestoneitselfdidn’tknowafterallthistime.
HerthoughtswereinterruptedasJerituggedonherskirt.Thebaby’sface wasredandtearsstunghereyes.“What’thwrong,thweetie?”
“Ipooh-pooh.Sowwy.”
ThesmellhitKariamomentlater.Jerihaddefinitelygonepooh-pooh.
KarilookedaroundforVal,butshewasuponthepedestalwhereKarihadfirst touchedtheStoneofChange.Shewasprobablytryingtocommunewithitthe wayTaihad.
KariledJeriovertowherethetwinsstood.“Theneedthherdiaper changed.”
“So?”
“Changeit.”
“Me?I’mjuthtakid!”
SherislammedapinkdiaperbagintoKari’smidsectionhardenoughto doubleherover.“Nowgetlost,youstupidbrats.”
KarislungthebagoverhershoulderandthentoddledoffwithJeriintowto findasecludedspottochangeJeri’sdiaper.Thefarthertheywent,theredder Jeri’sfacebecame.Itmustbeuncomfortableforher,firsttohavethesoiled diaperandsecondfromtheembarrassmentofit.Karihadgonethroughthat herselfwhenTaihadlockedherandValinaroomasbabiesformisbehaving.
Karihadcrackedfirst;howlonguntilJericrackedandeitherbecameababyor beggedVal’sforgivenesstochangeherback?
Stairsleddownpasttherowofthestatuesononewall.Theairbecame warmerthefarthertheywent,untilJeriwhimperedagain.“It’thallright,”Kari cooed.“We’llgetthatdiaperchangedrealthoon.”
“Don’likethis,”Jeriwhined.
“Idon’teither,butit’thnotmuchfarther.”
Astheynearedthebottomofthestairs,Karisawawarningcarvedintothe stone.Itpromiseddeathtowhoeverwentthroughthedoorway.Itwould probablybeagoodideatoheedthesign’swarning,butavoicenaggedKarithat theremustbesomethingdowntherethestonedidn’twantthemtofind.
Whateveritwas,mustbeabletodefeatit.
“Goback,”Jeripleaded.
“Notyet,”Kariscoldedher.“We’realmothtthere.”
Atthis,Jerithrewatantrumjustlikeanormalbaby.Shescreamed,sobbed, andstampedherfeet.Karitookherbytheshouldersandthenbentdowntolook herintheeyes.“Whatwewant,it’thdownthere,”shewhispered.“Wehaveto look.”
Jeri’sfaceremainedred,butshenolongerscreamedorsobbed.She noddedslightlytoKari.“Goodgirl,”Karisaid.Asareward,shesetthebaby downonthestepstochangehersoileddiaper.Jeriheldstillforthemostpartto letKarichangethediaper.OnceitwassecurelyinplaceandJeri’soveralls buttonedup,Karihelpedthebabytoherfeet.“Nowlet’thgo.”
Throughthedoorwasanothercave.Thecavewaslitwithfieryorangeand yellowlightfromastreamoflavathatranthroughthecenter.Thatmustbe whatthewarningwasabout.Still,aslongastheydidn’tgettoonearthelava theyshouldbeallright.
“Ithot,”Jeriwhined.
“Iknow,buttheremightbethomethingdownhere.Youcanwaitonthe thtepthifyouwant.”
Jerishookherhead.“Noweave.”
“Itwon’ttakelong.Ipromithe.Youjuthtthithereandbeagoodgirl.All right?”
“Idon’wanna.”
“Jeri,pleathe.Yougottabeabiggirlnow.I’llberightback.”
Karitookafewstepsandthenfeltsomethingslamintothebackofherleg, nearlytopplingher.JerilatchedherselfontoKari’slegandcriedintoherdress.
“Noweaveme!”
“Allright,youcancome.Juthtthtayclothe.”
Karididn’tknowwhatsheexpectedtofindinthecave.Somethingtoldher thewarningwasn’tjustaboutthelava.Andwhyleavethelavainhere?Unless itwasprotectingsomesecrettheStoneofChangedidn’twantpeopletoknow.
KarihadtoquicklyputahandoverJeri’seyeswhenshesawthe mummifiedbodyagainstonecavewall.“Whatit?”Jeriasked.
“It’thnothing,”Karilied.“Juthtthomethinggroth.”
JerimanagedtowiggleoutfromKari’sgrasp.“Iwannasee!”She screamedamomentlaterwhenshesawthebody.Shepressedherfaceback againstKari’sdress.
“It’thallright,”Karisoothedher.“Hecan’thurtuth.�
�Notanymore,she addedtoherself.
Jericontinuedtoclingtoherassheinspectedthebody.Itwasclearly human,thesameasKariandJeri.Fromitssizeithadtobeanadult,probably male.Therewereafewtatteredstripsofgraycloth,butnothingtoidentifyit.
Thenshesawtheashmarkingsonthewallabovethecorpse.Thesymbols weren’tasclearasthosewritteninstonelikeinthetempleortheruinsonPhera, butKaricouldstillmakethemout.Theroughtranslationwas,“TheStoneMust BeReunitedorAllisLost.”
Reunited?Kari’sjawslackenedasshebegantounderstand.Theremustbe a secondStoneofChangesomewhere.Butwherecoulditbe?
AssheandJeriwentdeeperintothecave,shebegantofindout.
Apparentlythedeadmanhadwrittenfarmorethanthatonesentenceonthe wall.Fromthelookofit,hemusthavebeendownhereformonthsoreven years,scribblinghisfinaltestamentinashonthewalls.
Themandidn’thailfromthisplanet.Noneofhiskinddid.Theyhadcome herefromsomewhereelse,aworldthathadbeenaparadise,wherealltheir needswereseentobyamagicstone.Butsomeonehadgottengreedyandtried totakethestoneforhimself.Therewasabattle,duringwhichthestonebrokein half.Themanwhohadtriedtotakethestoneandhisfollowershadendedup herewithhalfthestone.
Atfirsteverythingwaswonderful.Theirleader,armedwiththefragment ofthestone,usedittocreateaworldliketheirownhadbeen.Butovertimehe becamepettyandcruel,usingthestonetotorturethosewhodisobeyedhim.
Whenheboredofthat,hedispatchedminionsinshipstofindnewworlds whosepopulationshecouldeventuallytorment.Karistoppedreadingatthis point.OneofthoseshipsmusthavecrashedonPheraandleftthecluesthathad eventuallyledherbackhere.Butifthatwasn’ttheonlyship,howmanymore worldsmighttherebewithhumanlife?
NoneoftheshipsapparentlyreturnedtoKif.Eventuallythewriteronthe cavewallsandtheleaderwiththestoneweretheonlyonesleft.Theformer managedtokillthelatter.Hehadnowaytodestroythestone,soheretreated downheretothecave,wherehecouldn’thearitsvoicesoclearly.Thenhe wrotehisstoryasawarningforanyonewhohappenedtoshowuphereagain.If onlyKarihadfoundthiscavefirst,shemighthaveavertedallthistrouble.
TherewasonlyonequestionleftforKari:howcouldtheyreunitethe halvesofthestone?Shehadnoideawheretheotherhalfmighthavegone.
Certainlytheyhadn’tseenanyevidenceofasecondStoneofChangesofar.
Wherecoulditbe?
Besideher,Jeriwhimpered.“Gonow?”sheasked.
“Notyet,thweetie.Wehavetofindthomething.”
“Gonow,”Jerisaid,thistimeasastatement.Shestampedonetinyfootfor emphasis.
“Notyet.”Kariputahandonherbabysister’sshoulder.“Ineedyoutobe abiggirljuthtalittlelonger.Allright?”
Jeriwhimperedagain,butnodded.ShetookKari’shandastheytoddled deeperintothecavetosearchforanythingthatmightleadthemtotheotherhalf ofthestone.Itwouldn’tmakesenseforittobeinthecave,orelsethedeadman couldhavereunitedithimself.
Thecavebecamedarkerandwetterthefartherbacktheywent.“I’m cowd,”Jeriwhined.Karishiveredbeneathherdressaswell,butsheinsisted theyplungeon.Therehadtobesomethinghere,somecluetopointtheminthe rightdirection.
Jeriwhimperedyetagain.Kariassumedshewascoldorscaredagainuntil shesmelledurine.Shebentdowntopatthebaby’shead.“We’llchangeyour diaperinafewminuteth,allright?”
“Gonow!”Jerishouted,hervoiceechoingthroughthecave.
“Wecan’t—”BeforeKaricouldfinish,Jerihadalreadytakenoffrunning.
ItwouldusuallybeeasyforKaritocatchuptoababy,butJerisoondisappeared intothedarkness.Karifeltasblindaswhenshe’dbeenMolegirlontheshipas shefeltthecoolstonewallsforanysignofwhereJerihadgone.“Jeri?Come back.It’thnotthafealone.”
Afterwhatfeltlikeforever,sheheardJerisobbing.Theechoesdistorted thesound,forcingKaritoconcentrate.Shewalkedalongwhatshehopedwas therightdirection,untilthesoundofJeri’scriesbecamelouder.
Thebabylayatthebaseofawall.JericontinuedtosobevenasKariknelt downnexttoher.“What’thwrong?Didyouhurtyourthelf?”Jerionly continuedtowail.Karifeltabumponthegirl’sheadandalittlebloodinher hair.“It’thallright.It’thjuthtalittlebump.”
Shehuggedthegirlforafewminutes,rockingheruntilJerisettleddown.
Karifumbledaroundinthediaperbaguntilshefoundabottlealreadywith formulainit.ShepressedthisbottletoJeri’slips.AtfirstJerirefused,butafter afewtriesshesnatcheditfromKaritosuckgreedilyfromthenipple.“There, nowit’thallbetter.”
WhileshecontinuedtocootoJeri,KaristaredatthewallJerihadruninto.
Therewerefainttracesofsparklingwhitelightalongthewall.Weretheyveins ofsomekindofcrystal?Shelookedclosertoseetheveinsformedsomeofthe ancientsymbols.
Theyspelledoutasingleword:Home.
Chapter7
Kariputahandtohermouth.Home.Thatcouldonlymeantheplace wheretheseancientshadcomefrom.WhileJericontinuedtodrinkthebottle, Karifeltoneofthesymbolswithherfingers.Sheexpectedtoreceiveashockor perhapstoevenbetransportedtoanotherworld.Nothinghappened.
No,ofcoursenothingwouldhappen.NotwithouttheStoneofChange.
Thestonehadbroughtthemheretobeginwith;itwastheonlythingthatcould unlockthedoor.Whyhadn’tthedeadmanusedit?Mostlikelybecausehehad beentooafraidofthestone’scorruptingpower.
Orhemighthavewantedtosparehishometheevilofthestone.That madeherwonderwhatsheshoulddonow.ShecouldgoandtellValwhatshe’d foundout,butthatwouldn’twork.IfVallearnedoftheotherhalfofthestone shewouldmakesureitwasdestroyedorsomehowkeptoutofreachsoitcould neverberejoined.Orperhapsthepeopleofthatworldwouldbeabletocounter thestone’spower.Orperhapsitwouldleadtodisaster.
AdarkthoughtoccurredtoKariasshestudiedthewall.Thedeadman mighthavebeenatrap.Hemighthavebeenunderthestone’sinfluenceand writtenallofthatonthewallsosomeonewouldsomedaypickupwherehehad leftoff.TheStoneofChangewasevilandtrickyenoughtodosomethinglike that.Butthenwhyhadn’titledValherestraightaway?
Jeriburpedtointerruptherthinking.Shepattedthebaby’sback,which producedalouderbelch.Karitookthebottleandputitbackintothediaper bag.Whenshelookedintothebaby’seyes,Karisawonlyoneoption.Theyhad togetValtousethestonetoopenthedoor.Theyhadtofindawaytogetthe otherhalfofthestoneandthenmaybetheycouldputastoptothestone’s rampage.ThenKariandJeriandallofPheracouldbefreeofitstyranny.
“It’thtimetogonow,”Karisaid.Thoughitwasdifficultwithherscrawny littlegirl’sbody,Karicarriedthebabyanddiaperbagthroughthecave.Shehad tostopacoupleoftimestorest,duringwhichJerifusseduntiltheygotmoving again.
Itseemedtotakehoursbeforetheyreachedthelavafloeandthedeadman again.Karihurriedpastthereasquicklyasshecould,tothestepsleadingback tothetemple.ShestoppedtochangeJeriagain.Bythenthebaby’sdiaperhad becomesoiledwithbothkindsofmess.Asshechangedthediaper,Karisaid,
“Whenwegetback,don’tthayanythingaboutwhatwefound.Youletmedo thetalking.Allright?”
Jerinodded.“Youtalk.”
“That’thright.Goodgirl.”
Jerimanagedtoclimbupthestepsherself,thoughittookalongtimefor themtodoso.Atthetop,KariandJeriscreamedatthesametimeastheywere grabbedbythebackoftheirclothes.Karifoundherselffacin
gSheri,whose eyesnarrowedather.“Thereyoutwobratsare.Wherehaveyoubeen?”
KariglancedoveratJeri,whodidn’tsayanything,justasshe’dpromised.
Karianswered,“Wewentintoacavedownthere.It’threallydarkandthcary.”
“Babies,”SheriandTerisaidwithaderisivesnort.
“Where’thVal?Igottathowherthomething,”Karisaidwithasmuch childishenthusiasmasshecouldmuster.
“She’sbusy.Youbabieswilljusthavetowait.”
“ButIwannathowhernow!”Kariforcedherselftocry.Thenshe screamedandflailedaroundlikeJeriwhenshethrewatantrum.“Now! Now, now,now!”
Sherithrewhertothegroundtocutoffhertantrum.Itdidn’ttakemuch efforttowailandsobaspaincoursedthroughherlittlebody.Shefeltsomeone runahandthroughherhairandthenValsaid,“What’swrong,sweetie?Are theybeingmeantoyou?”
“JeriandIfoundacaveandIfoundthomethingIwantedtothowyou,but thosepoopyheadthwouldn’tletme.”
“Andwhatdidyouwanttoshowme?”
“It’thadoortoanotherplanet,wheretheancientuthedtolive.Butyoucan onlyopenitwiththethtone.”
Valsmiledather.“That’sverygood,Kari.Evenasachildyou’restilla goodarchaeologist.”
Kariblushedatthecomplimentinspiteofherself.Forthefirsttimeintwo yearsshefeltlikeascientistagain.“Thankyou.Nowwillyoumakemea grown-upagain?”
“Notyet.Butifthisfindofyoursturnsouttobesomethinggood,then maybe.”
Karifoldedherarmsandpoutedatthis.Shehadn’treallyexpectedValto makeheranadultagain,butattheleastshecouldmakeKariateenagerforwhat she’ddone.It’snotfair,shethoughtlikeanychildwould.
Valturnedtothetwins.“Grabthebabiesandlet’sgoseewhatthey’ve foundforus.”
***
SheriheldKarialoftbythebackofherdress,ignoringKari’spleasthatshe couldwalkbyherself.Besideher,Terididn’tshowanymoretendernessin carryingJeri.ThebabyfussedinTeri’sgrip,butsheandKariwerebothtoo