Aedre's Firesnake

by Rayner Ye

  “Yes?”

  “You know her?”

  “Red hair? Name’s Aedre?”

  “That’s right.”

  “What’s wrong with her?” a woman’s voice chimed from the phone, possibly Somare’s wife.

  “Says she can’t move.” The tall woman in indigo said. “She's been here since last night. We wanted to call an ambulance, but she insisted we phone you instead. Can you pick her up?”

  “What?! Can’t move? I’m coming now. I know exactly where you are.” He hung up.

  The women squabbled in incomprehensible Giokese dialect.

  From the path behind, footsteps came running, then Gus and Somare stood gaping on the riverbank.

  “Is she the famous Noctar who teaches union?” the woman in red asked Somare.

  He pivoted towards her and nodded, breath exploding from his mouth.

  The women propped their fruit baskets back on their heads, linked arms, and walked away.

  Somare and Gus jumped over stepping stones and carried Aedre through Monkey Forest to the carpark.

  She felt as if she was just a head jigging about. Her body felt nothing. Her gaze pushed and pulled at Somare and Gus’s worried faces.

  “Let’s get you to the hospital in Abud,” Gus said.

  They hauled her onto Gus’s front passenger seat. Somare strapped her in and tried to keep her propped in an upright position. “How did you become paralysed? Did someone attack you?”

  Her heart beat faster, louder, harder. She was supposed to find his key. “Travelled by river and rain and got injured.”

  Somare slammed Aedre’s door and shut himself into the back as Gus slipped into his driver’s seat and started the engine.

  “How’d you get injured?” Somare asked.

  “Shapeshifted into a mosquito and flew into a UV fly box. It electrocuted me.”

  “Did you go see that crow woman?”

  It felt weired being unable to look around to reply. “No. I went to the Yiksaan complex—Bamdar’s place, and I freed his sex-slaves.”

  “So it was you,” Somare said. “I saw on the news MIP were involved.”

  Aedre smiled. “That’s good to know. Let’s listen to the radio on the way to the hospital.”

  “You should’ve visited that crow like you said you would, not gone to the Mafia. You were supposed to get that key for me. No wonder you’re paralysed. How will you ever help us find it in this state?”

  She didn’t speak for the remaining journey as she listened to the news about the Yiksaan raid. Apparently there’d been an android rebellion and many criminals and innocents had dies in fires and a stampede.

  Her face scrunched up in worry. Did I do more harm than good?

  ***

  Gus edged into Aedre’s hospital room, hands deep in his pockets.

  The nurse propped up Aedre’s bed and pulled her from behind so she could sit without slipping.

  “Thank you, Sara. That will be enough.”

  Sara arched an eyebrow at Gus. “No tea for your guest?”

  “No, thanks.” He glanced from Aedre to Sara, then to Aedre again. “I’m good.”

  Sara left, shutting the door behind her.

  Aedre used to feel aroused when she saw Gus, even in her most depressed state after Nabi and Mosh’s murder. Now she felt nothing. After labouring in the Shard of Swords, she’d given up on romantic love, but now with quadriplegia, would she ever orgasm again?

  Gus approached Aedre’s bed and gripped its handrail. “Is it safe to speak?”

  “I think so. Bamdar’s drones have disappeared since he was caught.”

  “My ba noticed his missing drones too. The Mayleedian’s shipped Bamdar to a lunar prison.”

  “I know.”

  “I think his mafia’s fallen apart.”

  “Hope so.”

  “D’you think it’s safe to speak about you know what? No bugs from the police in here?”

  “That’s the least of my worries.” Her lip quivered as she looked at her legs, then turned her face away to gaze out the window. She wanted to say she couldn’t move, but speaking those words would choke her up more.

  “I’m so sorry about what’s happened to you.”

  When she glanced at him, he was holding her hand. No sensation arose from his touch, as if he clung to another person.

  “It’s my stupid fault,” she said.

  “Can I ask what happened?”

  She sighed. “It’s embarrassing. I shape-shifted to a mosquito and flew into a UV bug-zappers. I got electrocuted.”

  His nostrils twitched, but his expression remained sinister.

  “I guess your ba’s too ashamed to visit me?” Aedre asked.

  “A police detective’s taken him to the station for questioning.”

  “But he did nothing wrong.”

  “Just questioning. Don’t worry.”

  “I still want to save your villagers.” She sobbed. She couldn’t move her arm to wipe them away, which caused her sobs to deepen.

  After Mum died, she’d thought it couldn’t get worse. She’d tried to find love in any man who’d have her, believing a man’s affection would mend her broken heart. But all they wanted was sex. Then her selfish need for freedom had caused Dad’s mental breakdown, and her self-hatred and guilt made her fearless about going to a labour camp.

  Slavery had taught her that only helping others through teaching union would heal her. But discovering Nabi and Mosh’s murder sent her in a downward spiral. If it weren’t for that trauma, she’d never have had the confidence to save Bamdars sex-slaves. But she’d fucked up, and one hundred and eighty innocents died, as well as one hundred mobsters.

  She deserved paralysis. She deserved to be fucked up forever.

  That wouldn’t stop her self-pity, though, what she’d give to feel again, how she’d feed her soul if she could practice union slowly in nature with the five elements.

  Five elements perceived by the five senses. How can losing one sense cause so much despair?

  River and rain travel might be her only solution ever to move again, unless she found a key and travelled back in time. But then there’d be two Aedre’s, and like Roobish had told Somare when he was a boy, she’d lose her memory. Anyone who travelled to their unfrozen lifetime would. Roobish had.

  Gus pulled tissues from his pocket and dabbed her face. A tear from his eye dripped onto her sheet. “I don’t think you can go to Haunted River. Who knows how long you’ll be in care.”

  Her heart rate picked up. “But I wanna go home. I need a ticket.” She needed to see whether YeLi had thrown her friends out too. YuFang could die in that state, and bad people could take advantage of Yasmin’s vulnerability. The poor girl deserved a safe home.

  Gus looked at his shoes. “My ba’s broke anyway. He never had any money to buy you a ticket.”

  Aedre frowned. “What?”

  “He thought if you found that key, he could travel into the past to deal antiques, then return the money to you.”

  “Was he lying about the volcano?”

  “No. That part is true. At least, that’s what Ba thinks.” He blew out his cheeks. “Seems certain.”

  “You don’t believe in Giok’s pyramid being a time-portal?”

  “Kinda. But it’s hard. Mom doesn’t.”

  “I wouldn’t either. But your ba knew my spirit guardian’s name. I’ve never told anyone about her before.” Her breath hitched. Who was Sharr Shuvuu anyway? What was her valid reasoning behind directing Aedre’s future? “There’s still time.” She gazed out the window at the car park. “I can find that crow woman and ask her where the key is.”

  “But you’re paralysed, and the hospital won’t allow it.”

  “They’ll have to let me. If I can save lives, I won’t be useless.” Shape-shifting would allow her to feel and move too.

  “You’ll be here for ages, and Haunted River runs nowhere near Abud. We still have ten years until the eruption. There’s time.”
<
br />   Aedre blinked. “Sooner’s better, though. I don’t think this crow woman he speaks about will tell anyone except me where the key’s hidden.”

  ***

  The next day, while a nurse spoon-fed Aedre sweet and spicy curry, someone tapped at her door, opened it a little, and poked his head through the gap. He was tall for a Native-Red, and his black and white striped hair was tied in a ponytail. “Aedre?”

  “Yes.”

  “Sorry. You’re eating. Shall I come back later?”

  The nurse paused her spoon halfway to Aedre’s mouth and shrugged.

  “It’s okay. I don’t mind people watching me eat.”

  He smiled and entered, arching an eyebrow as he approached. “It smells good. Western Firesnake curry?”

  The nurse nodded.

  “Not too spicy for a Noctar?”

  Aedra grimaced. “No. Not as spicy as Giokese sambal.”

  He clasped his hands together. “My name’s Tak, and I’m from the Nerthus Embassy.”

  “You don’t look like a Nerthling.” That remark should compensate for him calling her a Noctar.

  He chuckled and lowered himself into the empty seat. “Not only Nerthlings work for your embassy.”

  “And not all foreigners with white skin should be called Noctars.”

  He opened his hands out. “I’m sorry about what’s happened to you.”

  Tears stung her eyes, and she sniffed. “Shit happens.”

  “The government’s agreed to pay for your flight to Nerthus as an apology for your poor treatment at their labour camp.”

  Her heart seemed to freeze, then pound. “I can’t believe it!”

  “You’ll need to contact your father.”

  “But the Airdome—”

  “Don’t worry about Airdomes. I’ve brought an airSphere from the embassy today.”

  Her hands tingled—the first body sensation she’d had since waking at Haunted River. “Can I call him now?”

  “Yes. But I’ll talk to him and explain your situation.”

  Her face dropped. “Tell Dad I’m paralysed?”

  “Of course.”

  Hopefully, Dad wasn’t still in a mental asylum. Then again, even if his psychological state had improved, but her news could cause another breakdown. “Maybe it’s better if he doesn’t know.”

  “Sorry, but your family has to know. You must return to your homeworld.” He squashed his airSphere one-metre in diameter against the wall. The nurse left with her empty bowl and spoon.

  Tak dialled her Dad’s. Nothing.

  He called Bod’s Android Recovery Centre. An elderly male receptionist answered. “Hello. How can I help?”

  Tak leaned closer. “Does Pak’Johnston still work in the electronics department?”

  The receptionist swung around and scanned a second airSphere by his side. “Putting you through now.”

  As Tak’s airSphere pulsed red, Aedre’s heart raced. If only she could talk to Dad first. At least Tak’s airSphere wasn’t on privacy mode. Dad would see her straight away and know she was alive.

  Dad appeared. His ginger hair had receded, and more circles lined his under-eyes. Upon recognition, he shot up from his chair and pulled his airSphere around himself. “Aedre!”

  “Pak’Johnston?” Tak asked.

  Dad frowned at Tak. “Speaking.”

  “My name’s Tak, and I’m from the Nerthus Embassy. I’m afraid your daughter’s become paralysed from her neck down.”

  Colour drained from Dad’s face. “Aedre?”

  Time slowed, and she sobbed.

  “Doctors are still unsure whether she has a neurological disease or sustained internal trauma to her brain. There are no head wounds but internal swelling. Doctors will talk you through this in due course.”

  Dad nodded, eyes dazed. “Come home, Aedre.”

  “The Inarmuzzan government will buy Aedre a ticket as an apology for poor treatment at the labour camp she’d been mining in—”

  “Labour camp? Mining?”

  Tak stared at Aedre, eyebrows squished together.

  “Sorry, Dad. I didn’t tell your colleague that.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I didn’t want you to get worse.”

  “I mean, why have you been in labour camp?”

  “I had no money and couldn’t afford a ticket home—”

  “But your teaching position.”

  “I resigned before my contract ran out.”

  “You should’ve asked me for money. I would’ve bought your ticket.”

  “I was too proud.”

  “It’s my fault.” Tears welled, and he rubbed his face. “I should’ve bought you that ticket to Mayleeda when you asked. I should have encouraged you, not put you down. Should’ve let you follow your dream.” He turned away, sniffing.

  “No, Dad. I was wrong to ask for so much.”

  Dad spoke to Tak. “When can she return? Surely cryosponge is too risky at the moment.”

  “Doctors say once her swelling goes down, she’ll be good to go. Paralysed humans are at no more risk than non-disabled.”

  The reminder that she wasn’t non-disabled made her gag.

  “Can I talk to Aedre again?”

  “Same time next week?”

  “That’s two weeks in Kuanja, isn’t it?”

  “That’s right.”

  After Tak left, Aedre’s heart continued to flutter. Finally, she could return home. How stupid she’d been to disconnect herself from Dad and Soozan. Mum was dead, but they weren’t.

  If it rained before then, could she ask someone to take her to Haunted River? She had to tell Yasmin how to travel by river and rain, then Aedre could find that key for the villagers.

  A few days later, Aedre sat in a wheelchair in the patients’ common-room. Some played ping pong, while others sipped tea and chatted, read books, or watched holographic TV. On the news, a search was on for a man who emitted poisonous gas in a bank in Rajanakki. The image displayed a YuFang lookalike. He’d killed women, men, and even children.

  A lump formed in her throat. She shook her head, vigorously. Must be a different man. Jerjens looked similar.

  Who was she kidding? Jerjens looked as different as Saxs, Papsnens, Native-Reds, and other ethnicities. There was a similarity in their race, but differences sufficient to distinguish from one individual from another. His sturdy posture, rounded shoulders, square jaw, and full black beard told her it was him.

  What had Yiksaan mobsters wanted with YuFang? Even worse, what had he done to Yasmin and YeLi? Were they safe? Was Apek still secure in his hospital? Or had he returned to carnage at his temple?

  When Gus next came, she’d arrange for him to take her to Haunted River. She’d tell her doctors she wanted to perform a water ritual for luck. Giokese Indites appreciated elemental worship.

  ***

  Gus pushed Aedre to the hospital reception, where the only receptionist lay asleep behind her desk. As rain slammed into the hospital porch’s plastic roof, Gus struggled with Aedre’s aurashield remote. Once outside, her aurashield protected them from the monsoon, and Gus pushed her wheelchair to his car. Lamplight shone on Somare as he climbed out of the car and ran to greet them. Father and son lifted her into the front passenger seat.

  Somare belted her in. “Thank you for doing this.” He slammed the door and ran around to slip into the back. He leaned between the two front seats, most likely because she couldn’t turn around to meet his gaze. “Gus said you didn’t think that crow woman would listen to me.”

  “That’s right, and I wanna save these villagers without messing up. You’ll have to hold onto the key for ten years before the volcano erupts, though. The government are buying me a ticket home, so the sooner I know the key’s whereabouts, the better.”

  “That’s great news. I’ll look after the key. With no more drones following us, and with Bamdar in prison, the evil bastard won’t muck things up. You did well to destroy his mafia ring. I should’ve told you that
before.”

  “Thanks. But two hundred and eighty people died.”

  “You didn’t know that would happen. Who’d think androids could rebel. It’s an interstellar debate now.” He laughed. “Mayleeda is thinking about giving androids their own rights.”

  She clenched her jaw. Somare certainly hadn’t given his labourers any rights. Whether he was a father and husband or not, could she trust this monster to hold onto a time-key for the next ten years?

  After Gus strapped himself in, he started the engine and entered a dark, country road. Her bottom slipped down on the leather car seat. Unable to push herself up again, she sighed.

  “So, now it’s raining, are you going straight to the crow woman?” Somare asked.

  Aedre swallowed. “Yes.” She couldn’t tell him she’d first search for Yasmin and that murderer, YuFang.

  ***

  Astral Body: Apek’s Temple, Rajka

  Aedre appeared standing next to Yasmin’s bed. “Yasmin. It’s me, Aedre.”

  Yasmin’s voice croaked in the dark. “You came.”

  “Are you safe staying here? Has YuFang hurt anyone?”

  Yasmin switched on her bedside lamp and rubbed her eyes. “We’re all fine. What time is it?”

  “Hour thirty-six. What about YuFang?” She’d tie him up and drop him on the police station’s steps. Didn’t matter they were corrupt. The government offered a generous reward for his capture, and they could argue about it between them.

  “He’s here too. Apek’s helping him heal and get his memory back. Says YuFang’s memories aren’t real. He thinks YuFang was a different man called YuFu with a different past.”

  Aedre wrinkled her nose. What rubbish had YuFang been feeding them? How could they be so gullible? “You know he’s a murderer? I’ll either tie him up and call the police or take him there myself.”

  “Please leave him alone for now. He has to find out who he is. He won’t hurt us.”

  “He’s dangerous.”

  “Please don’t. You trust Apek, don’t you?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “I beg you.”

  Aedre bit her lip. “D’you wanna learn how to travel by river and rain? You could save your mum.”

  Yasmin nodded frantically, forehead wrinkled from raised eyebrows.

  “I don’t have long.” Somare’s desperate face flashed in the forefront of Aedre’s mind. “I’ve promised someone else a favour. Should’ve done it a long time ago, but it didn’t rain.”