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BY J. R. KRUZE AND S. H. Marpel
- - - -
THE BURNING CHAPEL had six of us in it.
Right now, the flames were simply a fiery wall that engulfed the front doors and kept the mob at bay.
I stomped out the single torch they had thrown in. There was plenty of light to see by. Nothing else was burning except the candles in their stands.
Then my guide told me we all needed to join hands in order to escape.
As we did, the rest of the interior suddenly burst into a roaring conflagration.
To the rest of that village outside, we all died that day.
Which was the point, I imagine.
But that’s not how we really ended up...
“SO, ARE YOU JUST HIDING out here, or seeking some redemption for earlier sins?”
A redheaded girl was standing by my round library table, holding a book on her cocked hip and pulling a strand of gorgeous ginger hair behind one ear. The light between the bookshelves behind her silhouetted her floral sun-dress and left little to the imagination.
Her smile was like sunshine peeking through after a long string of cloudy days.
I was back at “our” table in the Library, one I shared almost solely with my two buddies, Abe and Peter. “Almost” was when they’d occasionally bring some nerdy chick back with them to see how long she could stand our out-loud thinking.
Sometimes, I thought those friends of mine were being cruel. But most times, I could see the hope on their faces that “maybe this was the one”. Someone who could keep up with their brainstorms, meet them at their own level, and stay for the long run.
But so far, no.
Such was the life of geniuses. Solitary.
But this girl was still standing there, waiting for my answer. I had digressed.
“A little of both.”
Her smile widened into a grin.
“Then I’m in the right place.”
She pulled out a chair and eased into it. Her book was on the table, and I couldn’t read the spine. But sitting forced her to remove that slender finger which was holding her place in that book.
“Sorry I made you lose where you were reading. Hope it’s an interesting story.”
“It was, and is – in parts. But the prose was getting to be over-edited. When they left his real voice alone, the author has some great runs of inspiration. Unfortunately, the rest of it reads like a text book. So I’m glad I lost my place, because I was losing interest.”
“Too many books like that in here. Ever notice that they have more non-fiction than fiction?”
“And yet, we both like the non-fiction more.”
“And both are free here, so it’s cheap entertainment. Or enlightenment.”
She rolled her eyes and sighed. “Oh for a little religious inspiration and up-raising to our next higher plane.” Her lower lip pouted while her green eyes twinkled.
I chuckled.
“They call me Joe.”
“Jenna.”
“Glad to have your distraction this fine afternoon.”
“Distraction from the dull, boring, tedious – or just too much solitude?”
“It’s the enforced solitude for now. I was just getting ready to leave.”
“Then am I keeping you?”
“No, not really. But my friends have already left, so I’m just putting off packing.”
“Like in ‘moving- packing’?”
“Sure, good guess.”
“Well, not too much, since it’s the end of the Spring semester and this place is becoming a ghost town again.”
“You’re here during the summer?”
She shrugged, and the action of her thin shoulders moving under that light sun dress was delightful to watch, for some reason. It made the floral pattern ripple and seem to take on a motion of its own.
That pattern was a delightful contrast to my own blue jeans and gray t-shirt.
“Well, Joe, I was raised in this town. My parents do some work for the college and so I get free tuition. But I know this town like the back of my hand and seldom get out of it.”
“No summer vacations for you?”
“Some times. They save up for them, and I’m getting ready to move out on my own. Once I decide I’m good and finished.”
“More classes?”
She shrugged again. “More degrees, maybe. Unless I find someone’s research to follow – who lives elsewhere.”
“Can I ask how many degrees you have now?”
Jenna tilted her head and peered into my eyes to see if this was going to be a conversation breaker. “Seven.”
“Good for you. I’m happy to last through a three-year post-grad degree.”
“That’s quite a load.”
I shrugged, and looked back at her – I wanted someone to talk to, but not some academic groupie. “For some. I was just here for the research.”
She leaned forward, grinning, while propping her chin up on her elbows. That just made her even more charming, which helped me relax. It wasn’t like she was hitting me up – or was she?
- - - -
“BUT YOUR RESEARCH IS now done, you have your degree, and nothing else is interesting you here?”
“Until you showed up at this remote part of the library, no.”
She smiled at this. “But I have to assume you’ve found the deep stacks that go even further back.”
I sat up from my usual slouch at this. “What do you know of the deep stacks?”
Her smile turned into a grin. “Well, other than getting in some smooching where the librarians never seem to visit, I’ve learned a lot about you and your buddies and all your trips back there. But your friends never seemed to explore these stacks as much as you.”
“And who told you about my visits to the deep stacks?”
She looked right and left as if to make sure no one was listening, then whispered. “Goddesses.”
I just grinned myself. “Such as?”
“Gaia for one, and sometimes there’s Luna, and a few spirit-guides, plus their own staff.”
Now I sat forward. “Wait a minute – Gaia, I know her – and that means you’ve been visiting back there quite a lot, then.”
“Several times a week, if I can. The summers are great, since I don’t have to keep to any class schedule. I just tell my parents I’m going ‘camping’ and they know exactly what I mean.”
“They know?”
“They’ve been there. In fact, when they let it slip that there were deep stacks I had to find out for myself. And I still don’t know if they let that ‘slip’ on purpose or accident.”
“Did you get lost the first time? I lost a couple of days back there.”
She smiled shifted her look to the table top, to start drawing circles with a delicate finger on its clean surface. “Well, yes and no. Of course someone came along and led me to the center, and brought me some cookies and milk. We had a nice talk. Then she showed me the shortcut to get back home. So I was only gone for a couple hours in the real world, but I always thought it was much longer.” Her eyes were on mine again as she finished.
“Did this guide have a name?”
“Well, I’ve seen a few people back there, but Grainger was the one who first came to my rescue.”
“Gaia mentioned Granger to me, but we’ve never met.”
“You’d like her. She gives great hugs. Especially to tall, hunky guys like you.”
I tilted my head and smiled. “Oh, that’s right – smootching practice in the deep stacks.”
“Grainger doesn’t do that type of stuff.”
“But you?”
She leaned back and crossed her arms, which amplified her more-than-adequate chest. “Occasionally. Nothing too randy. Depends on how well the guy I’m with can control themselves.”
I just smiled and shook my head again. “Not to offend you, but is that an invitation?”
“Maybe. But it’s not the reason I came to see you.”
I LED JOE BACK TO THE center of the real Library back in the deep stacks. And showed him some short-cuts that made the trip take only a few minutes of walking. Of course, I didn’t bother to explain how there were some time-space warps in there. And a few more times, he’d know them by heart.
“Here we are.”
The long mission-style couch of dark oak and near-black leather cushions was sitting there as usual, with a long solid wood tea table in front of it, and matching side chairs opposite.
Joe nodded. But didn’t let go of my hand. Or make any movement toward the couch.
I stepped up on tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek. “Go ahead, have a seat. This isn’t a ‘make-out’ couch for students. Try that and you’ll get interrupted real quick. Been there, done that. This couch is for official business only.”
Joe took a few of his long steps to get around the far end of the couch and sat down.
I came around the closer end and went to sit in the middle, which still left some space between us.
“Jenna, what’s ‘official business’?”
I shrugged, and noticed this made him relax. “Well, I couldn’t say I know all what goes on here. But when there’s goddesses and spirit-guides around, I think it’s something above a regular student’s pay-grade.”
“Even a post-graduate student with seven degrees?”
I shrugged again, just as a test. “Still a student, I guess. I couldn’t say right now what someone would need to qualify on to be part of the ‘business’ around here.”
Grainger came in right at the end of that sentence, carrying a platter of what looked like Toll House cookies and a carafe of iced tea, dewy on it’s cold glass surface. She was wearing her typical brown robe and sandals.
She carefully moved the plates, carafe, tumblers, and cloth napkins on the tea table, then smiled warmly to both of us. Taking the empty tray, she moved quickly back into the stacks and out of sight.
I picked up a cookie and wasn’t disappointed. “Ooh, this is delicious – but they always are.”
Joe picked up a cookie of his own and also smiled with delight from the taste. Then looked at me with a direct look. “So if students aren’t permitted to play hanky-panky here, and we’re both done with our studies, then – other than sampling possibly the world’s best cookies – why did you bring me here?”
I only smiled – and waited.
- - - -
GAIA SHIMMERED IN AT that point. A bit more dramatic than simply walking out of the dark stacks surrounding us – but goddesses like the dramatic.
“Hey Jenna, Joe.”
Joe nodded. “Gaia”
My smile turned to a grin.
Gaia stepped with studied grace over to one of the side chairs, paused, and smoothly snagged a cookie on her graceful motion of easing down into that chair. Legs crossed at the knee, completely relaxed, nibbling daintily on that cookie, she looked every inch a goddess. The diaphanous green-tinted gown she was wearing, slit up to nearly her hip, completed the effect. The dainty cookie nibbling just heightened her allure.
Joe’s mouth was open, eyes wide.
I looked over and cleared my throat.
He glanced my way.
My raised eyebrow sent him a definite message.
As a response, he closed his mouth, swallowed, and gave a sheepish grin. Then turned back to Gaia. “So – long time, no see.”
“Well, not since you saved this world.”
“And gave you some faster resolutions to salvaging the others.”
Gaia nodded, and gave a mock salute. “Yes, there’s that.”
Joe raised an eyebrow. “But you’re here again, so...”
Gaia’s smile turned into a grin. “So there’s more work to be done.” She looked over at me directly.
I nodded, already smiling.
Joe glanced over at me, then fixed his glance into a steady look. “Something my math didn’t take into account?”
I shook my head, and took another sip of tea. Pausing for effect.
Gaia was still looking at me, working on her own cookie. Amused.
I took another sip. Of course, I knew this was driving Joe nuts. Because there were too many variables – and at least one was hidden.
I put the tumbler back down on the tea table, right on its coaster. Then returned Joe’s steady look.
“Your math missed an underlying element.”
“Such as?”
“Who or what caused it?”
Joe was quiet for a moment. “Set. Or, more correctly, Ouroboros.”
Gaia’s smile vanished.
THE CALCULATIONS ONLY took a few nano-seconds to generate, another several seconds to double and triple check. But the results, when pointed to who created and pushed these catastrophes, all pointed to the same individual.
I just wasn’t prepared for the live reactions to stale, dry math.
Jenna face was now drawn, pale.
Gaia’s was dark and clouded.
“What? Didn’t we just get this ring? Doesn’t this prevent that guy ‘Set’ from coming out and affecting things?”
Gaia replied in a quiet voice. “Yes – and no. Yes I’ve got that ring in a time stasis. But it’s escaped before, several times. I’m on my fifteenth iteration of that stasis, the toughest yet. But since it’s gotten away fourteen times before, I’m not holding my breath.”
Jenna nodded. “I’m afraid that I’ve run across both Set and that ring before – and it’s never turned out well.”
My eyebrow went up at that. “Wait, how many times have you run across – I thought you were brought up in this little college town?”
She shrugged. “And now you have the reason I brought you to the center of this Library. Because I can only admit it here.”
I waited for the other shoe to drop. Gaia just looked on, interested in how this was going to come out.
“Joe, I wasn’t wholly truthful when I spoke earlier. But I couldn’t afford to let anyone out there hear me. You see, I appear to be in my early 20’s. But frankly, I’m a few hundred years old now.”
I sat back. Didn’t see that one coming. “So, like Gaia, you’re some goddess?”
She smiled. “No, I can’t compare to Gaia. I am immortal, as far as I know. But I ‘died’ a long time ago – and have been running around taking a human form as needed ever since.”
“As needed? How’s that different from Gaia?”
Jenna looked to the goddess.
And Gaia took that question. “Joe, I was born here on this planet, for to care for this planet in all it’s multi-verse forms. The body form I take is appropriate to what culture I’m dealing with. For the last 10,000 years or so, it’s been humans. Jenna is what you might call a ‘spirit-guide’, which to you would be a ghost with a purpose.”
“And a ghost without a purpose?”
Jenna smiled. “Is just a ghost. Spirits who are stuck to some mystery in their lives, and so tend to relive the moments around their death over and over. Spirit-guides are those who started out as human, died, and then stayed on to help out others. That’s their general purpose, although some specialize in certain types of assistance – like healing – or only helping types of people or even animals.”
“Like the shrines that show up here and there. Or the magical relics that are guarded by sects.”
Jenna nodded. “Exactly. And in my case, I have a penchant for gifted students.”
“So you haunt colleges and find brainiacs like me.”
She shrugged. “More or less. But the deal is that I get ‘called’ to certain circumstances.”
“Like the circumstance of this particular gifted student graduating?”
“It’s more like what you’re going to do next.”
“Or my general lack of plans.”
Jenna smiled again. “Oh, you have some definite plans, but you haven’t narrowed down to what you really want – yet.”
Gaia shifted her position, and caught my attention with the movement of her near-transparent gown and what it covered.
“So, Gaia, what’s your part in this scheme?”
Gaia grinned. “You are a bright one, Joe. Don’t miss a thing.”
“And...”
“I’m just here to help you make your transition, much like Jenna here. After all, we get along so well.”
I felt my face flush slightly, recalling our last meeting.
“OK, Gaia, what do you see my transition being, then?”
Gaia shook her head. “No, that’s not an accurate question. One, I can tell you a dozen-dozen things that might be the transition you want to do. But your transition will only be what you personally chose.”
And I got her concept. “Oh, sorry. That’s an unfair question to ask a born-before-time goddess. I just saw the magnitude of variables you deal with over that scope of time. Oops. I’m still getting used to this math you helped us develop.”
“Well, you did all the work.”
“But it was your challenge and insistence that helped guide us.”
“And that is why Jenna showed up. I’m only here to help you accept her assistance.”
“To vouch for her.”
Gaia nodded.
Jenna spoke up. “Because some people reject my help when they find out that I’m not mortal like they are.”
I gave her a wry grin. “Yeah, well, finding these deep stacks and meeting Gaia here have kinda set the stage for me. Plus, finding out that I can travel through time and space with just my math.”
Jenna smiled. “And so, we have a proposition for you.”
“Proposition meaning more like a job offer – not a tryst.”
Jenna blushed slightly, which made her appear even more endearing to me.
“Yes, I mean no, Joe.”
“Meaning yes, a job offer and no to a tryst.”
“But not that some fooling around would be off the table.”
Gaia chuckled at our interplay, and recrossed her legs. Distractive, but made the point.
“You two gals really know how to make a red-blooded male feel at home.”
Grins all around.
Jenna asked, “So are you ready for the job offer details?”
IT WAS A NICE RURAL location. A straight, well-maintained gravel road went by on one side of the farm, and the house was well away from that road, shaded on its south by some ancient trees. The house itself was weather-worn, and had construction details that placed it to be out of the last century – all wood, but still tight and no signs of sagging or decay.
Gaia was on the opposite side of Joe from me, as we three walked up to the house using the twin overgrown paths that made up the driveway.
“To your unasked question, yes, there’s a spell on this house that has been preserving it. You’ll find the land surrounding it is in a trust, and the house is offered on a cash-rent basis. In your case, that means you do certain ‘jobs’ in exchange for living here.”
“How are the taxes and utilities paid?”
“More trusts, and a very old lawyer firm who is paid out of those trusts to ensure everything is kept up as far as governments and so on. Of course, that’s nothing you have to worry about.”
“So, these ‘jobs’ you have in mind?”
I had to smile. He’s straight to the point, focused.
Gaia continued her explanations. “Joe, you may call them opportunities. And they’ll come every now and then. Some will show up close together in time, some that will be spread out from each other. But you won’t be bored.”
“Because the jobs are so interesting?”
“More like they just keep your life interesting while you work on your main project.”
“That project being?”
“Your math.”
Joe stopped, and we all did. “Wait, Gaia. You’re trying to tell me that I get an all-expense paid rural experience just so I can do math in solitude?”
“In between these jobs, yes.”
“Like you and I went over before – my idylls.”
Gaia nodded, her smile contagious.
“One last thing, ladies. I’m going to need some spending money.” We’d arrived just outside the house. Joe looked around the outside – and peeked in. “And, by the looks of it, there’s going to need to be some work done on the place.”
I pulled an envelope out from behind me, like it came from a hidden pocket (although, yes, it came literally out of thin air.) I handed it to Joe, who opened it. “You’re right, as usual. Those papers have two accounts set up in your name. One is for house and farm maintenance. The other is for you. Both are replenished monthly. Those deposits are from certain long-term investments. If you look over the recent statements, you’ll be able to figure out the budget you’re expected to stay within. But they are substantial, so...”
Joe looked them over and his face relaxed. “Sure, I can live within these means, easily.”
“And inside that barn over there, under a tarp, is a older pickup truck in good repair. So you can go to town and get your signature put on those bank accounts, do your shopping, and so on.”
Then he looked up at me. “I’m still thinking there’s some catch – as this deal is just too good to be true...”
- - - -
THE KITCHEN INSIDE the house was simple, small, and efficient. One person could prepare and cook a meal, as well as set the table, all without moving from a couple square feet between the stove, refrigerator, and table. You’d just have to get used to thinking tiny and simple. And plan things out in advance, developing and sticking to successful patterns.
We three were sitting at the sturdy, solid wood kitchen table. A large plate of brownies and a dew-covered stainless carafe were both between us. Small plates had individual helpings of brownies, while tumblers filled with iced tea were within reach for each of us.
I was reminded of the phrase heaven on earth. As long as that heaven could fit into the two rooms of this small house.
Joe finished his current brownie first, but waited for me.
I used a cloth napkin to wipe the crumbs off my smiling, satisfied face. “OK, Joe, here’s the deal. I’m a teacher at heart, even though I love being a research student. And you’re a mentor.”
Joe frowned a bit.
“Joe, don’t get your knickers in a twist. Gaia gave me the blow-by-blow of how you and your buddies worked together on that last problem. And don’t think I wasn’t around as a virtual fly on the wall. After all, that was my future you were affecting, too.”
He smiled. “Like maybe you two have some other plans for me?”
I returned his smile. “And like we even need to try to keep ahead of that future-guessing math-mind of yours.”
He shrugged.
“But you’re right, though. We were certain you three guys would get that problem solved, and that afterwards you personally were going some place where you could wait for people to come to you for help. All this -” I gestured around the tiny kitchen and house, “is just a way we thought would be a short cut to getting things moving more quickly.”
“But – ‘mentor’?” Joe was frowning again.
“Sounds better than ‘helper’. Its root is from ‘mens-‘ which means ‘to think’ – something that you’re pretty good at. So you help people think through their problems.”
Joe relaxed as he thought through this explanation. Taking another brownie helped him accept it.
Gaia and I had another as well. Since there was no rush – and those delicious-smelling fresh brownies were too tempting to let them just sit there while he was munching away. Joining in has never been so tasty.
At last, he broke the silence – once he’d finished off his tumbler of tea as well.
“OK ladies. But you said you had a job for me – or did I assume too much?”
Gaia looked at me, then back at Joe. “I think you’ll like this one. Compared to saving the world, it’s a walk in the park.”
WE ARRIVED OUTSIDE, and across the street from an old stone chapel situated in a tiny village, whose residents were massed around it as a mob with flaming torches.
As we watched, a small group of sturdy men were forcing the two main entrance doors apart. As they swung open, those men quckly stood to the side, not knowing if they’d be attacked in response.
In an almost syncopated move, a torch flew end-over-end between them and through the doors.
Right after that, someone struggling with his captors broke free from the crowd and ran into the building.
Screams erupted from inside.
That was our cue.
- - - -
WE SHIMMERED AS GAIA ‘ported us inside the chapel.
The torch was simply burning itself out on the floor. Nothing had been ignited.
Jenna fixed that.
A wall of flame erupted at the front doors and flamed outward. The crowd backed up, believing the whole room was on fire.
I stepped forward and stomped out the torch. The candles on various stands were more than enough to see by. Obviously, we were in a time before electric lights.
“Actually, John, you’re more than a few centuries before you were born.” Gaia smiled, trying to reassure me. I was used to her mind-reading, I thought.
The look on my face must have been priceless.
Gaia’s smile turned to a grin. “Oh come on, John. You lived through the end of the world. You know how to travel time with just your mind. All you need is a little practice.”
I smiled.
Gaia chuckled in return. “That’s my boy.”
Jenna came over and put her hand inside my elbow. “OK, now – let me clue you in on the job today. Whatever time it is.” She pointed to two young girls and a couple crouched together near the altar.
“They are all going to die today.”
I was shocked and looked at her directly. “And this is a sample of your ‘usual’ day job that I get to help you do?”
She smiled. “Oh, this is a little mild as far as what I go through at my job. But don’t worry, we’ll get you back to your solitary ‘idyll’ soon enough. And then you can have the rest – well, most – of your jobs come to you.”
“But – die?”
Jenna shrugged. “You’re talking to two immortals here. But, yes, I died once. It’s not so bad, after you get over it.”
“Get over it? OVER it? It’s Death. Finale. The End. Kaput.”
She chuckled. “Look, we don’t have a lot of time here. And pausing time to have a nice little talk may create other complications. So just get over your emotional pre-programming and use your math.”
I took a tiny moment to calculate the scene, and saw she had a point. A very big point. We had split seconds.
“Jenna, you’re right. What do you need me to do?”
She took my hand, smiled into my eyes, and then turned to Gaia.
“OK, Gaia, we’re set.”
Gaia nodded. “Join hands, then.” She took my other hand and led us over to the couple with girls by the altar..
Jenna then took hold of the husband’s hand.
He, in turn, nodded to his wife.
The wife took one of the girl’s hands, who then took the other’s.
Gaia completed the circle of hands by joining the second girl.
Glancing around the circle, she nodded.
And flames engulfed us all.
- - - -
THE NEXT THING I SAW was the Library. That one in the deep stacks.
Gaia was on one side of me, Jenna on the other. And everyone else were still holding hands as before.
Between us was the long tea table, and the dark wood couch and side chairs nudged our calves behind us.
After quizzical looks, there soon were smiles all around. We all separated.
There were seats enough for all of us, as Jenna began the answer-session for their many questions.
- - - -
THAT SESSION WOUND up with me and the two girls alone in the Library. I was there to do that “mentor” thing that Jenna needed me to do.
They were sitting next to each other on the long couch, I was opposite that long tea table and sitting in one of the side chairs on that side.
“I understand your name is Salome - or, Sal.”
The blond girl nodded.
“And your’s is Judeth – or as you like it, Jude.”
The black-haired girl nodded and smiled.
“Now, Jenna already explained a few things to you. And I’m here to help you make sense of things. So ask me what you didn’t want to say in front of everyone else.”
Sal opened first. “So we died in that chapel?”
“Yes.”
Jude then asked, “And now we are what? Ghosts?”
I smiled. “Technically, that’s up to you. Ghosts are generally stuck between life and the hereafter for some reason they don’t understand. Once they figure that out, they can move on.”
Jude was startled. “Wait, what about the Charles and Emily?”
“The priest and his wife? They elected to move on to the afterlife.”
Sal asked next, “So we, too, can move on, since we aren’t stuck here.”
“For you, personally, sure – moving on is simple for you. But Jude has a problem.”
“And that problem is?”
Jude just looked down. “Sorry, Sal, I – I just can’t say.”
Sal put her hand on her sister’s shoulder, then looked back at me. “So she’s a ghost and I’m not?”
I shook my head. “Not necessarily. Nothing is truly finite in this universe – not even death. It’s all shades of gray – darker and lighter.”
“Meaning neither of us are truly dead, nor truly stuck as ghosts.”
I smiled and nodded. “That’s the working model, anyway. It’s held up for most of humankind’s history, so that’s a pretty good test.”
Sal was brighter at this explanation. Jude was still gloomy.
Right at that impasse, Grainger came quietly in with a platter in her hands. What she carried looked and smelled like fresh, hot brownies sitting on a large plate. Along with a dewy carafe of tea.
After passing small plates all around, and leaving the tumblers filled, Grainger made her smiling exit. Her twinkling eyes glanced at me as she did.
The girls and I all relaxed after we got some great-tasting chocolate and caffeine in our systems.
I opened up the discussion again. “OK, then. Now, as the equation goes right this moment, Jude has a problem and can’t move on. Sal has a problem with Jude not moving on.”
The two girls both nodded in agreement.
“But – there’s another choice than just haunting things. You both met Jenna?”
Both nodded and smiled.
“She’s got a job offer for the two of you. One that will keep you more than busy – working together.”
That got their attention.
I WAS WALKING JOE BACK to his new home.
We were coming up the drive, side by side, when his new guard dog appeared to check us out. The dog knew me. Joe was someone he didn’t know. So that black lab/red healer cross stood back, off to my side. He didn’t bark, didn’t growl, but just stood his ground, the scruff of his neck raised slightly.
Joe knew what to do. He crouched and held his hand out in a fist, fingers curled loosely into his palm. Then looked off to the side, watching the dog with his peripheral vision. The big dog came up and sniffed his hand, then licked it tentatively – watching Joe’s eyes the entire time. Joe kept his eyes averted, but turned his hand slowly up and opened it. The dog sniffed his palm and started wagging his tail, grinning. Joe looked at him directly then, and scratched him under his chin, then up his nose to the top of his head. The tail wagging got wider.
I crouched and offered my own hand. This was the dog’s cue to come in between us and let me give him a good all-over scratching. “Joe, meet Barney.”
Joe turned and Barney reached up to sniff his face, giving it a tentative lick.
“Well, does Barney come with the house?”
“No, we found him just for you. Nothing like having a loyal guard dog on a farm.”
“Any special talents?”
“Nothing beyond being a loving, appreciative dog.”
“That’s more than enough.”
We both stood. Barney jumped up on Joe to get more petting, which he received. Then the dog went off at a trot to investigate something that got his attention.
“Joe, I brought you back to your own time again. We had a crew come in and clean up things inside. And replaced what was too worn. In addition to a new set of dish-ware, and some well-seasoned cast iron pans, your pantry has been stocked.”
“That’s great, Jenna...”
“Oh, and we found a set of classic Western novels for you, plus some good SF short story collections. And all your things have been moved in from your dorm room – I hope we put them away ‘logically’ for you.”
Joe smiled. “I’m sure I’ll figure where things are. But are you sure you don’t want to stick around and see if there’s anything you haven’t figured out about my needs and wants?”
I gave a light laugh, which widened his smile. “Actually, there is another job you could help me with.”
His eyebrow raised. “Such as?”
“A simple problem, but one that’s been hampering you your entire life.”
Joe just waited for the rest of the explanation.
We’d just reached the porch, and now stood in its shade – a step away from his new life. I turned to face him.
“It’s the Autist problem.”
That startled him. “Like you’ve read my mind. One of the reasons I needed to be out here.”
“Good, we can solve it together.”
“Your spirit-guide day job won’t get in the way?”
I put my arm around his waist and gave him a hug. “No, Ben and Grainger are training Sal and her sister Jude as spirit guides, so I can devote more of my time to you personally. It will probably make your research faster.”
He pulled me to him and hugged me back. “Of course, we’ll have to deal with distractions from other things.”
I giggled, since I knew where this was heading. “As long as you don’t hold back, I can keep up with you in everything.”
Joe gave my waist a squeeze. “I’ll have to bring you up to speed on math.”
I put my arms around his neck. “That should be fun. I’ve read your notebooks, they make fascinating sense in retrospect.”
“And are you prepared to study the rest of the human experience?”
I kissed him lightly on his cheek. “Another subject to bring me up to date on. A lot of what I know needs to be brought into this century – practices, and morals. Although I don’t think the number of positions has changed much.”
Joe’s face flushed.
“Don’t worry, Joe. Spirit-guides and humans are completely safe to interact in close physical relationships. We can’t have children, for instance – well, not without a near miracle.”
“Not the top of my concerns, but thanks for the data.”
“Just didn’t want you to be distracted in performing your research.”
“At least our minds are thinking in sync.”
I kissed his lips long and slowly. “But there is one thing.”
“What’s that, Jenna?”
“I still do have that day job and I can get called away at a moment’s notice.”
“Enough time to get decent, I hope.”
“Oh, I can get dressed at a moment’s notice.” A gesture of my finger and we were both in a pair of his large flannel pajama’s. I was wearing the top and he had the bottoms.
Joe chuckled as he remarked in a low voice, his lips not far from mine. “Well that covers matter and time, now. All that’s still left to show me is how you handle space.”
Another gesture and, well... you know where we wound up.
GAIA TOLD ME TO NOT get too attached. And from her million-plus years of experience, that was good advice.
But it didn’t stop me from loving him.
Just not in your ‘head-over-heels” love type of thing.
And by now it’s been somewhere over a decade I’ve been working with him.
We got his math mostly settled down. “Mostly” because it turned out to be a form of life itself. Like that sentient virus that helped him. Yeah, Lazurai.
But Gaia also gave me the same tip she gave Joe. There’s a very human woman in his near future. One that fills a need I couldn’t begin to approach.
Sure, we had a lot of fun, but the greatest pleasure we had was in what we built with out minds – completely outside of this universe we live in. Outside of all time-spaces. The reason it works.
- - - -
THE THREE-QUARTER-SIZED bed was comfortable, as usual. And almost filled the tiny bedroom.
And you may say that our best thinking was done here. But you’d be wrong. It was just one of the better places. There was no couch, and sitting around the kitchen table in its hard chairs made for sore rumps fast.
There were also our pasture walks, and gardening, and playing with Barney – although he was never a “fetch it” type of dog.
I rolled over to look at Joe – who in turn was just scanning the ceiling, working out some equation again.
I looked up at that ceiling and saw all the figures he was working on – illuminated like a projector lamp. It always helps when you can not only read minds, but also see their visions.
“Hey, Joe. Whatcha working on?”
The figures vanished. He turned to look at me. “Nothing much. Some extrapolations of quintile applications. How are you feeling this morning?”
I rolled over to face him. “Just fine, more than fine.” I smiled. “Always good to wake up next to you.”
Joe smiled in return. “And your agreeing to ‘sleep’ like us mortal humans is appreciated more than you know.”
My smile widened into a grin. “Better than being bored watching and listening to you snore. You woke up first this morning. What was the reason this time?”
“Something coming in. A new project.”
My eyebrow raised. “What we’ve been waiting for?”
He just nodded.
“Well, it’s been a good run, Joe.”
He gave a wry grin. “A nice long run.”
I grinned back. “In human years. Just a blink for us spirit-guides”
He rolled his eyes. “Technically, it’s a little more than that.”
I punched him in the arm. “Cute. Of course I know that. But English idioms are still more fun than decimals any day of the week.”
“But you’re so cute when you get ticked-off.”
“You wanna see what ‘ticked-off’ really look like ?”
“No, no, that’s fine. I’ve seen your ‘ticked-off’ once and – no, thanks.”
So I snuggled up to him and put my head on his shoulder. “OK, then. She should be here any time now – I figure a day, more or less.”
Joe nodded. “Yup.”
“Plan B, then.”
“Like you said. It’s been a nice long run.”
He freed his arm and put it around me, cuddling me close. “Still, I’ll miss you being around for calving season.”
I nodded. “And I may sneak in anyway to see your new darlings sometime. Seeing them kick up their heels always makes me smile.”
“One of many things around here. Like checking in on Sal and Jude.”
“It’s been easier since John moved in and those two hired him for the Library.”
“And he started writing their stories.”
“Much easier to keep up with all their adventures with John writing them up. And far more entertaining than dull after-action reports.”
I took the moment and took Joe’s elbow, turning him to me. Then I reached up to both sides of his face and pulled his lips to mine. And it lasted quite a while. Because it would be a long time, if ever, before I’d taste those lips again.
At last we came back to the regular world.
Barney barked outside. That was our cue.
- -—
WHEN WE GOT OUTSIDE, Gaia was there, petting Barney. Of course the dog was panting, grinning, and wagging his tail so hard almost his whole rear end was moving.
Gaia was grinning, and having a great time with all that appreciation.
I ran over to her and gave her a hug. “Gaia!”
“Hey, Jenna.” Looking over my shoulder, “You too, Joe.”
He smiled, but stayed back from that energetic hug. Humans can’t take the pressures spirit-guides and goddesses can dish out. “What brings you here, sweet-cakes?”
Gaia smiled, and came over to brush his unruly morning-hair with her hand. “Oh, you darling boy! I must have interrupted something.”
Joe only smiled.
So she turned toward me. “Not even a blush. Means nothing was happening, really. You two were probably just doing math again.”
“Busted. Joe likes to keep himself amused while I’m sleeping.”
“And you only sleep to seem more human.”
I shrugged. That conundrum was too logical to need an answer.
“Sorry Jenna – about putting you on the spot that way.” A whisper of a smile crossed her face. “You know why I’m here.”
“To bring balance.”
“...and, specifically?”
“The new girl that’s coming.”
“Like we needed any nudge.”
“You’re cutting it close.”
Joe was watching all this, trying hard not to smile or get in the middle of our banter. He knew how sharp our two wits and tongues were.
I walked over to him and took his hand.
“Like I said, a nice run.”
“And we’ve accomplished so many things.”
“The math is nearly perfect, but the Autist problem remains.”
I had to smile at his little summary. “Not quite QED, still. Even after all these years.”
“Because we need a proof case.”
“And she’s nearly here.”
“Nearly.”
I stated the obvious. “So, we should leave you and your new proof case alone?”
“We’ve got a bit of time, still.”
Joe brought me in for a good hug. “I owe you tons, Jenna.”
“No, what you’ve shown me and let me help you perfect has meant the universe to me – shown the universe to me. Not what most spirit-guides get to experience. It’s me that owes you.” I tilted my head to the side. “But I’ll let you and your new girl get to know each other, first. That would only be polite.”
Gaia spoke up. “And I brought her a welcome gift.” She gestured toward the shade tree nearest us.
A no-flat spare tire out of a modern sedan was leaning up against that tree trunk.
Joe chuckled. “Perfect.”
I teased him. “Math doesn’t lie.”
“Only mathematicians.”
He laughed out loud.
“I’m gonna miss you around here, just for the jokes themselves.”
I chuckled.
Gaia had to interrupt. “And on that note, the two of us have to go. Don’t want to let your new girl stay out in that car too long.”
She nodded toward the road at the top of the hill, where we could see the dust cloud settling over the sporty sedan that had stopped there.
Joe nodded. “Guess I should go get dressed for the occasion.”
I reached behind me and pulled out his cowboy hat, two bandannas, and a pair of heavy work gloves.
“Thanks, dear.” Joe took them from me and gave me a light kiss on my cheek.
Gaia came over and took my hand.
Joe nodded. “I guess I’ll see the two of you around - whenever it suits you.” He sighed. “Long goodbyes – guess they do make stories too long. Don’t know what John will make of this story when I tell him.”
Smiles all around. Nothing else to be said.
Gaia and I shimmered out of his view.
- - - -
BUT WE STILL LOOKED on.
Joe smiled, put on his bandannas, hat, and gloves, then took off along a cow path toward the top of the hill. We could see that her car had already slowed to a stop.
The next chapter in Joe’s life had started.
All long series of books become complicated. The universes of these stories can mix and merge. There are short and long series, as well as crossovers. So we’ve begun the process of adding Book Universes Notes to each of them. This allows you to get links to the earlier materials that explain the character backgrounds and abilities, story arcs, and even easter eggs.
Please enjoy.
THIS STORY IS A SEQUEL to “Idylls of a Lazurai” – because there was more to tell that didn’t fit there.
But it also becomes the prequel to “Autists: Brigitte”
Joe was first introduced in “Walkaway Mary”.
This is Jenna’s first appearance.
Gaia was first introduced in the book of that name.
The Library was first described in “Ghost Hunters”. John, Ben, Grainger, Jude, and Sal were all introduced in that book.
The Ouroboros ring first became prominent in “Doppel”.
The small college town might be one as described in “Her Eyes” and “The Case of the Tenacious Typist”.
There is more about Sal and Jude’s human childhood and background in “Two Ghost’s Salvation” parts 1 and 2. This story is a prequel of sorts to those.
The sentient Lazurai virus first appears in “Lazurai”, and a fuller development is collected in “Tales of the Lazurai”.