think it’s…alive?”
“ No. Not like you and me, anyhow. It’s just doing what it was made to do, leftover from olden times by the same folk who made Laotswend.” The big man cocked his big woolly head and crossed his arms. “You know, maybe when it’s ready, it’ll show us the whole mess at once. Mayhap, while we’re down there, it’ll change as we walk, keeping track of where we are in relationship to where we’re goin’.”
Andaris smiled. Gaven’s thinking was often methodical, a trait which some mistook for slow. Occasionally, however, he would surprise you with a flash of inspiration, saying something that seemed almost prescient. Either way, be it inspiration or intuition, what he’d just said rang true—straight to the marrow it did.
“While we’re down there?” Andaris asked, smile curving into a grin. “So, I take that to mean we’re going?”
Gaven returned his grin and patted him on the back. “Course we’re goin’.” He put the pages in the box and closed the lid, face a caricature of bewilderment. “You know, given your obvious intelligence, you really can be thick sometimes.”
“ Can’t argue with you there,” Andaris agreed with a laugh, more relieved than he could express.
Not one to squander a chance at merriment, regardless how fleeting, Gaven joined in, his hearty guffaws turning Andaris’ quiet amusement into full-fledged laughter, the sort that cleanses the spirit and brings tears to the eyes.
“Thank you, my friend,” Andaris said after the fit had passed. “Really. The thought of going by myself was a bit...overwhelming.”
The big man cleared his throat. “ Wouldn’t have it any other way. You know that.”
Andaris nodded meaningfully . “There’s a lot I have to do before we can leave. Someone has to take care of Mandie while we’re gone. She isn’t even conscious for short periods anymore. She just sleeps and…occasionally mumbles.”
“What does she say? ” Gaven asked, his darkening expression suggesting he dreaded the answer.
“Just random stuff that doesn’t make any sense. Do you know that I have to mash up her food and put it into her mouth now? At least she swallows it. I suppose we should be grateful for that much. I’m still waiting to hear back from Trilla. And I’ve made such a mess in the archives. I know it probably doesn’t matter to anyone else. It’s so disorganized down there, but—”
“I’ll help you figure it out, Andaris. Tomorrow. For now, I think we need to catch some shuteye. Sort it out in the mornin’ when our heads are clear. After that, we can begin making preparations. We’ve had enough to chew on for one night, don’t ya think?”
Andaris nodded , stifling a yawn that had apparently been summoned by Gaven’s words.
“ Tell you what, you go get the cots and blankets and I’ll move the furniture so we can sleep next to the hearth.”
Recognizing wisdom when he heard it, Andaris stood and headed for the storeroom door.
Despair
Eli Johansen sat beside his daughter’s sickbed, broad shoulders slumped with worry. The past few weeks he’d been having thoughts unlike any he’d had before, thoughts which made him doubt both the existence and benevolence of The Watcher. He’d always been a devoutly religious man. That’s how he’d been raised, how his wife had been raised, and how they in turn had raised their children. Twice a week, on Sundays and Wednesdays, they’d gone to church to pay homage to the creator, to thank Him for both His worldly and otherworldly gifts.
Eli had prayed for hours on end when Mandie had first taken ill, begging The Watcher not to steal his little girl from him. But his prayers had gone unanswered and Mandie had slipped further from his grasp until, eventually, he’d stopped praying altogether. Soon after, a deep bitterness had taken root in his heart and
“ No. Not like you and me, anyhow. It’s just doing what it was made to do, leftover from olden times by the same folk who made Laotswend.” The big man cocked his big woolly head and crossed his arms. “You know, maybe when it’s ready, it’ll show us the whole mess at once. Mayhap, while we’re down there, it’ll change as we walk, keeping track of where we are in relationship to where we’re goin’.”
Andaris smiled. Gaven’s thinking was often methodical, a trait which some mistook for slow. Occasionally, however, he would surprise you with a flash of inspiration, saying something that seemed almost prescient. Either way, be it inspiration or intuition, what he’d just said rang true—straight to the marrow it did.
“While we’re down there?” Andaris asked, smile curving into a grin. “So, I take that to mean we’re going?”
Gaven returned his grin and patted him on the back. “Course we’re goin’.” He put the pages in the box and closed the lid, face a caricature of bewilderment. “You know, given your obvious intelligence, you really can be thick sometimes.”
“ Can’t argue with you there,” Andaris agreed with a laugh, more relieved than he could express.
Not one to squander a chance at merriment, regardless how fleeting, Gaven joined in, his hearty guffaws turning Andaris’ quiet amusement into full-fledged laughter, the sort that cleanses the spirit and brings tears to the eyes.
“Thank you, my friend,” Andaris said after the fit had passed. “Really. The thought of going by myself was a bit...overwhelming.”
The big man cleared his throat. “ Wouldn’t have it any other way. You know that.”
Andaris nodded meaningfully . “There’s a lot I have to do before we can leave. Someone has to take care of Mandie while we’re gone. She isn’t even conscious for short periods anymore. She just sleeps and…occasionally mumbles.”
“What does she say? ” Gaven asked, his darkening expression suggesting he dreaded the answer.
“Just random stuff that doesn’t make any sense. Do you know that I have to mash up her food and put it into her mouth now? At least she swallows it. I suppose we should be grateful for that much. I’m still waiting to hear back from Trilla. And I’ve made such a mess in the archives. I know it probably doesn’t matter to anyone else. It’s so disorganized down there, but—”
“I’ll help you figure it out, Andaris. Tomorrow. For now, I think we need to catch some shuteye. Sort it out in the mornin’ when our heads are clear. After that, we can begin making preparations. We’ve had enough to chew on for one night, don’t ya think?”
Andaris nodded , stifling a yawn that had apparently been summoned by Gaven’s words.
“ Tell you what, you go get the cots and blankets and I’ll move the furniture so we can sleep next to the hearth.”
Recognizing wisdom when he heard it, Andaris stood and headed for the storeroom door.
Despair
Eli Johansen sat beside his daughter’s sickbed, broad shoulders slumped with worry. The past few weeks he’d been having thoughts unlike any he’d had before, thoughts which made him doubt both the existence and benevolence of The Watcher. He’d always been a devoutly religious man. That’s how he’d been raised, how his wife had been raised, and how they in turn had raised their children. Twice a week, on Sundays and Wednesdays, they’d gone to church to pay homage to the creator, to thank Him for both His worldly and otherworldly gifts.
Eli had prayed for hours on end when Mandie had first taken ill, begging The Watcher not to steal his little girl from him. But his prayers had gone unanswered and Mandie had slipped further from his grasp until, eventually, he’d stopped praying altogether. Soon after, a deep bitterness had taken root in his heart and
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