by Eric Filler
“Oh.”
Karisnuggledclosertoher,untiltheirlipswerealmosttouching.Sana triedtomoveback,butKariputanarmaroundhertoholdherclose.“You reallydon’tremember,doyou?”shehissedintoSana’sear.
“Rememberwhat?”
“Whoyoureallyare.Whatyourplanetreallywaslike.WhatJerididto everything.”
Sanatriedagaintofreeherself,butKari’sgripwastoofirm.“Idon’tknow whatyou’retalkingabout.”
“I’msureyouthinkthat,butapartofyouremembers.Itmightbeburied downtherereallydeep,buttheoldSanaisstillinthere.”
“You’recrazy.Letmego!”
“Sana,listentome.Iwaslikeyouonce.Iletmyselfbelieveinafantasy becauseitwaslesspainfulthanrememberingthetruth.Butthatdidn’tlast.You canneverreallyforgetwhoyouare.Nomatterwhatthatstonedoestoyou,
therewillalwaysbeapartofyouthatwon’tletitgo,thatremembers.”
“Lemmego!Iwannagohome!”shewailedlikeababy.
“Sana,please.Ineedyourhelp.Ineedtoknowabouttheancientstories.I needtoknowwhathappenedtothe‘smooth-skins’yourpeopleencountered before.You’retheonlyonewhocanremember.”
“Idon’tknowanystories.Ican’treadyet.”
“MaybethisSanacan’t,butthewomanyouusedtobecan.Doyou rememberher?Shewastall,tallerthanyourmothereven.Shehadscalyskin andyelloweyesandshedidn’thaveanyfuronherhead.Canyouseeher?”
Sanashookherheadaspressurebegantobuildupinherskull.She whimperedfromthepain.Whensheclosedhereyes,shesawwhoKarihad referredto,ayoungwomanwholookedlikealizardintheirtextbooks,onlyshe stoodontwolegs.Thestrangestthingwas,Sanacouldseethiswomaninthe mirror,lookingbackather.
“You’rerememberingher,aren’tyou?RememberShadaasitusedtobe, withthemudhutsandtheswamps.”
Sanacouldseeaclusterofmudhutsinhermind.Shewalkedamongst themandsawreptiliancreatureslikeKarihaddescribed.Theydidn’tscareher atall.Theytalkedtoherasifshewereoneofthem.
Shekeptwalking,outintotheswamps,abucketinonehand.Shehad comeouthereforsomething.Grubs.Shehadcomeouttotheswampstohunt forgrubs.ItwasstilldarkoutbecauseFatherhadtaughtheritwasbesttostart huntingforthembeforethesunrose.
Father.Shesawhiminhermind,sobigandpowerful.Andyethisvoice wassogentlewhenhespoketoher.Hehadtakenherouttotheswampsand shownherhowtohuntthegrubs.Hehadtoshowherbecauseshewasthe oldest.Shehadtocareforthefamilyifsomethinghappenedtohim.
“Daddy,”shemumbled.Therestofthememoriesfloodedbacktoher.The lastthingsheremembered,shehadgoneintoherroomasasmooth-skin,a toddlerValhadcalledher.Valhadbeentherewithher,toldherhowimportantit wastobepatient,towaitforherchancetostrike.
Thathadbeenoveracycleago,sherealized.Shebegantosobatthis thought.ShefeltKaripattingherback,untilSanafinallyfellasleep.
***
“Sodidthelittledummyremember?”SanaheardValgrumble.
“Ithinkso.”
“Abouttime.IthoughtI’dhavetogothroughpubertyagainbeforeshe snappedoutofit.”
“Ican’treallyblameher.Thisworldisalotnicerthanheroldone.”
“Isnot,”Sanasnapped.Shesatupinhersleepingbag.Foramomentshe lookeddownathersmoothtanlimbsasifshe’dneverseenthembefore.“This mightbenicerforyouhumans,butnotformypeople.”
Valsnortedatthis.“That’swhyyoutooksoreadilytoit.”
“Iwasblindedbyavarice,”Sanasaid.“Itooktheeasywayout.”
“So’dtherestofyourpeople.Abunchofsimpletons.”
“SodideveryoneonPhera,”Karisaid.“It’shardtostanduptotheStone ofChange.”
Sanarubbedherheadwithitsthickcoatoffur—hairasthehumanscalled it.“Ifyouremembered,whydidyouwaitsolongtotellme?”
“WehavetoletJerithinkshe’sbeatenus.Wehadtowaitforhertodrop herguard.”
“Andshewasababyuntilsixmonthsago,”Valsaidwithasneer.“Jeri finallygotsickofherandlethergrowup.Whichwasn’tfair.Ididn’tgetto growuplikethat.”
“Youjustgrewout,”Karisaidwithasmile.
“Shutup!”Valsnappedlikeasmallchildwould.
“Whatisityou’replanning?”Sanaasked.
“Beforewecamehere,wewereonanotherplanet.Oneofthepeoplethere leftamessage.Itwasastoryaboutastonethatwasbrokeninhalf.Weknow halfthestoneistheStoneofChangeJerihasaroundherneck.Wedon’tknow whatbecameoftheotherhalf.That’swhatweneedyourhelpwith.”
“Iknownothingofanystones.”
“Butyoudidreadthoseancientstories,didn’tyou?Abouthowyour peopledrovethesmooth-skinsaway?”
“Yes,butnoneofthemtalkedofastone.”
“That’sallright.Whatdidtheysayaboutwherethesmooth-skinswent?”
Sanaclosedhereyes.Shethoughtbacktowhatshehadreadintheold temple.Thestoriessaidthesmooth-skinshadbeendrivendeepunderground,to wheretheairburnedandstungthelungs.
“Thatmakessense,”Karisaid.
“Itdoes?”Valsaid.
“Theancientsalwaysbuiltunderground.RememberhowdeeptheStoneof Changewas?Therewasthatpocketoflavainthatcavernnearby.Sotheother halfmustbeinacaveevendeeperthanthat.”
“Butwhere?”Sanaasked.
“Idon’tknow.”ToSana’ssurprise,Karireachedoverandpulledmapsof Shadafromherbackpack.Shespreadtheseoutonthefloor.“Theproblemis Jerihaschangedsomuchofthetopographytomakeitmorehospitablefor
humans.Thecavemightnotevenbeonthesemaps.”
Sanastudiedthemaps.ShehadseenafewmapsoftheoldShadainthe temple.AsKarihadindicated,muchhadchangedsincethen.Mostofthe mountainrangeshaddisappearedalongwiththeswamps.Thesemustnothave beenprettyenoughforJeri.
Sheclosedhereyestoconcentrate.Anotherofthestoriescametomind.
“Therewasanancientstoryofamountainthatbreathedfirefordays.Itwiped outanentirevillagetothenorthofhere.Afterthat,thewinterwassolongand sobrutalthatitnearlykilledallofShada.Therewasagreatmigrationofthe tribesthatremainedtothesouth,wheretherewasstillmudandgrubsenoughto survive.”
“Soundslikeavolcano.Theeruptionmusthavethrowndustintothe atmospheretokeepmostofthesunlightout,causingtemperaturestodrop—”
“Sowhat?”Valinterrupted.“Youthinkthisotherstoneisinavolcano?”
“Probablynotinthevolcanoitself,butinasidecavern.”
“Evenifthoseancientsofyoursmoveddownthere,thatdoesn’tmeanthe stoneisthere.Imean,iftheyhadthestone,wouldn’ttheyhaveuseditonthe lizards?”
“Maybetheyweremoreresponsible,”Karisuggested.
“Orjustcowards,”Valsaid.
“It’sasgoodofanideaasanywe’vehadsofar.”Karistudiedthemapson thefloor.“Therearen’tanyvolcanoesonhere,notevendormantones.Sana,do yourememberseeinganyvolcanoesonanyoldmaps?”
“No.”
“Itwasprobablydormantthen.Doyourememberanymountainsthatwere conicalinshape?Perhapswithaflattishtop?”
Sanaconsideredthis.Shesearchedhermemoryoftheoldmapsforsucha mountain.Afterafewminutes,shenodded.“MountSultame.Theycalledit thesulphurmountain.”Shepointedtowhereithadbeen.Therewasjustone problem:themountainwasnowinthemiddleofanocean.
“Ifit’sevenstillthere,howarewesupposedtogetdownto
it?Noone’s goingtogiveasubmarinetoabunchofbabies,”Valsaid.
“Wecan’tgetdownthere,butJerican,”Karisaidwithagrin.Shelooked overatValandthenSana.“Thisisn’tgoingtobeeasy,butIthinkwecantrick herintofindingthestoneforus.”
“Great,thenshe’llhaveevenmorepowerandwe’llstillbekids.”
“Notnecessarily.”Karibegantoexplainherplan.Itsoundeddubiousto Sana,butitwastheonlychancetheyhad.
Chapter14
WhenSanacamedownstairs,Mommygasped.“Ohmygoodness,”she said.“You’vegottensobig.”
Overthelasttwomonths,Sanahadspenteverylunchhourandevery afternoonatKariandVal’shousegorgingonsweets.Shehadfinallyswollen enoughthatthetopofhersailorsuitcouldn’tfitoverherbulgingtummy.“I’m sorry,Mommy,”Sanasaid.
MommypattedSana’sstomach.“It’sallright,darling.Wejustneedtoput youonadietandmakesureyouexercise.”
“Allright.”Sanaforcedtearstohereyes.“AmIugly,Mommy?”
“No,ofcoursenot.You’restillmyprettylittlegirl.”
Hersiblingsdisagreedwiththisassessment.Theyhadalreadybeen harassingheraboutherweight,butnowtheybecameevenmorevocal.Hofer pinchedSana’sbarerolloffatunderthebreakfasttable.“Ow!Stopit!”Sana howled.
SaedewhisperedsomethingtoSuda,whogiggled.Theykeptthatupall throughbreakfast.TheymadeashowofguardingtheirfoodincaseSanatried tostealitfromthem.
MommytookSanaupstairstogiveheroneofSaede’sshirts.Itwasjustbig enoughtocoverSana’sbloatedstomach.“It’snottherightcolor,”Sanawhined.
“Iknow.We’llgetyouanewoneafterschool.”
“Allright.”
Mommykissedherontheforehead.“It’sallgoingtobefine,darling.I promise.”
“Iloveyou,Mommy.”
“Iloveyoutoo.”
Asthebuspulledup,Hofersaid,“Youprobablywon’tevenbeabletofit onit.”
“Cantoo,”Sanasaid.Itwasatightsqueezeforherintheaisle.She ploppeddownonthenearestseat,tiredalreadyfromtheexertion.Sheclosed hereyessoshewouldn’thavetoseeherreflectioninthemirror.
Thekidsinherclassweren’tanynicerthanhersiblings.Theyhadalready beguntocallhernameslikeTubboandLardbuttweeksagowhenher chubbinesshadfirstreallyshowed.Otherschosetomockherbehindherback likehersistersatthetable.
Ittookanhourofclassforsomeonetoknockonthedoor.Amessenger cameinsidewithanotefortheteacher.SheturnedtoSana.“Sana,wouldyou
pleasegototheprincipal’soffice?”
“Yes,ma’am,”Sanamumbled.Shewaddledoutoftheclassroomtothe jeersandgigglesofherclassmates.
TheprincipalwasawomanaboutthesameageasMommy.Sheclucked hertongueatthesightofSana.“Thiswon’tdoatall,”shesaid.“Wesimply can’thavesuchuglinessatthisschool.”
“ButmyfriendValisfat.”
“She’sanoutsider.Noonecareshowfatoutsidersare.”
“I’msorry,”Sanamumbled.“IpromiseI’lllosetheweight.”
“Youwilllosetheweight,butnothere.”Theprincipallookeddownat papersonherdesk.“You’llbetransferredtoaspecialfacilitythattreatseating disorderslikeyours.”
“You’resendingmeaway?ButMommy—”
“Yourmotherhasalreadybeennotified.Sheunderstandsthisisthebest thingforyou.”
Sanalookeddownatherstomach.Itdidn’ttakemuchefforttosummon tears.“HowlongwillIbegone?”
“Itshouldonlybeamonthortwo.Obviouslyitwilldependonhowyou respondtothetreatments.”
“Idon’twannaleave!”
“Youshouldhavethoughtaboutthatbeforeyouletyourselfgetthisway.”
Thedooropenedandasecurityguardcamein.HeeasilyheftedSanatoher feetdespiteherextraweight.“No,please!Don’tdothis!I’llstopeating.I’ll exercise!Ipromise!”
“Goodbye,Sana,”theprincipalsaid.
Sanawasroughlydraggedoutside,towhereablackcarwaited.Theback dooropenedandshewaspushedinside.Shelandedonthefloor,whereshelay onallfours.“Hello,Sana,”QueenJerisaid.“It’sgoodtoseeyouagain.”
Sanalookedaroundtoseethequeenwastheonlyoneinthebackseat.As thecarbegantomove,Jerihelpedherontotheseatfacingher.Thequeen lookedjustasshedidonthevideoscreenwhentheyrecitedthepledgeof allegiance.Sheflashedthesamebrilliantsmileasshesaid,“Well,lookathow bigyou’vegotten.”
Sanaforcedherselftosituprightandmusterasmuchadultcourageasshe could.“ItwastheonlywayIcouldhopeforaroyalaudience.”
“That’snottrue.I’malwayshappytospeakwithmysubjects.”
“I’msureyouwouldhavejuststoppedeverythingtotalktoafirstgrader.”
“Ifthatfirstgraderisafriendofmine,thenofcourse.”
‘“Friend?’Youreallythinkwe’refriendsafterwhatyou’vedonetomy
people?”
“Ididn’tthinkyouwerestillmadaboutthat.Youseemedtobefittinginso well.Atleastuntillately.NowIsupposeyoucan’tfitintomuchofanything.”
Herlaughwaslikethetinkleofabell,fartoogirlishforawomanherage.
“Well,Isupposeitdoesn’tmatter.YouwantedtotalktomeandnowhereI am.”
“Ihavesomeimportantinformationforyou,butitcomesataprice.”
“Letmeguess,youwantmetochangethisbeautifulplanetbackintoabig mudball?”
“IwantyoutomakeeverythingonShadalikeitwasbeforeyougothere.”
“AndwhywouldIdothat?”
“BecauseIcandoubleyourpower.”
“Ihaveplentyofpoweralready.Ichangedthisentireplanetinafew minutes.”
“Sure,butwhathappenswhensomeoneelsehasthesameamountof power?You’llbethefatlittlegirlsittinghereagainortheplainlittleensign piningafteraskinnytomboy.”
Jeri’seyesnarrowed.“You’vebeentalkingwithyourlittlefriends,haven’t you?”
“TheytoldmeallaboutwhathappenedonPheraandKif.Theytoldme beforeyoucamehere,youwerejustatinybabysuckingherthumb.”
“ButnowI’mtheoneincharge,”Jerisaid.ShetooktheStoneofChange frombeneathhersweatersoSanacouldseeit.“Idon’tseeanythreatsofar.”
“KariandValareplottingagainstyou.Theythinktheyknowwhere anotherStoneofChangeishereonShada.”
“Sowhat?Onethoughtfrommeandthey’llbothendupinacribagain.
Thesamegoesforyoutoo.”
“Thatmaybe,butthey’llleaveinstructionsforsomeoneelsetofind.
Eventuallysomeonewilllocatetheotherstoneandthenyou’llhaveareal problemonyourhands.”
“Andyou’vealreadywrittentheseinstructionsdown,haven’tyou?”
“Maybe.”
JeriglaredatSanaforaminute.“Let’ssayIbelievethissillystoryof yours.Whyareyoutellingme?Whydon’tyoujustgofindthisstone yourself?”
Sanapattedherstomach.“Lookatme:I’matubbyfive-year-old.Ican’t evengodowntothecornermarketbymyself.HowamIgoingtogohundreds ofkilometerstofindastone?”
“That’sagoodpoint.Soyoucametome,yourmortalenemy,tofinditfor
you?”
“You’reabouttheonlyonewhocangettoitrightnow.”
“AndonceIhaveit,what’stostopmefromjustturningyoubackintoa toddlerandsendingyouhometoMommy?”
“Youcoulddothat,butIthinkyou’regettingboredhere.Sureit’sprobably niceforawhiletohaveeveryoneworshippin
gyouandtendingtoyourevery whim,butafterawhileit’sgottobedull,doesn’tit?Especiallyonaprimitive planetlikethis.Someonelikeyouwantsmorethanjustoneworldadoringher.
Youwantthewholeuniverse,don’tyou?”
“Icanstillhavethewholeuniverseandkeepyouallpretty,can’tI?”
Sanalookeddownatherstomach,seeminglydefeated.Afteramoment, shelookedbackup.“Butonceyouleave,you’llneedsomeonetorunthisplanet foryou.”
“Andyou’renominatingyourself?”
“Whynot?Beforemyfamilydidn’thaveanything.Ihadtodigupgrubs sowewouldn’tstarve.Mymotherwasgoingtomakememarryacomplete strangerforthedowry.Iwouldn’tmindbeingqueenofShadaevenifIhaveto beasmooth-skin.”
Jerismiledather.“Youareaverycleveryounglady.Youneverreally thoughtI’dchangeyourpeopleback,didyou?”
“Itwasworthashot.”
“That’strue.ButnowIthinkwehaveadeal.Youtellmewherethisother stoneisandyou’llgettobemyprotégé.”
TheStoneofChangewinkedatSana.Momentslater,thecarbeganto shrinkaroundherasshegrew.Herfatdisappearedassheswelledfroma hatchling,backtoajuvenile.Hersmoothfleshlightenedslightlytothesame shadeasJeri’s.Shegainedtwobumpsatthetopofherchest—breasts,Karihad calledthem.Theyweren’taslargeasJeri’s,morethesizeofherclenchedfistat themoment.Hersailortopbecameapinkblousethatlikehertopearlierthat daydidn’tcoverherentirestomach.Herdarkgreenskirtbecameapairofwhite shortsthatdidn’tquitegotoherknees.Lastly,goldentressescascadedoverher shoulders,tothemiddleofherchest.
JerimotionedforSanatositnexttoher.Sheheldupamirror.“Welook likesisters,”shesaid.“Ialwayswantedalittlesister.”
“Nowyouhaveone,”Sanasaid.Hervoicesoundedhighernow,asifshe wereanevensmallerchild.ItwasverysimilartoJeri’svoice.
“You’renotquiteasprettyasme.Maybewhenyougetolder,kid.”
“Gosh,Ihopeso.”Sanatousledhergoldenhairandflashedawhitesmile.
Shetrulywasbeautiful—forahuman.
