[New Voices] Hermione
New speculative fiction - about a library cat, who is a shapeshifter, once worshipped as an Egyptian goddess. But we only know her as a cat, until she got "nicked" in a firefight and nearly bled out...
Speculative fiction short story by S. H. Marpel
- - - -
I'D BEEN CAUGHT IN a cross-fire. And just got saved from bleeding out.
Now my shape-shifting was on hold until I healed. But I was stuck in human shape, having to re-learn the human experience.
I don't know when I first appeared on Earth. Before recorded time somewhere. And for the last few centuries or so, I'd been happy as a library cat.
But then I got bored, and started helping out with simple missions.
Good thing they got to me in time on this one.
Now I had to re-learn what it is to be human. Me, the cat-goddess.
But I'd never be able to shift back to my native form without shooting pains up that arm – until I could understand human relationships - ones that always left the scholars of the ages mystified.
Easy-peasy for a goddess. Maybe.
I
THE FIREBALLS AND SHARP spinning discs were aimed right toward us as we arrived.
Sent from rock-outcrops in the darkness beyond our glow-balls. An ambush.
Sal and Jude’s shields came up, but John had already gotten himself nicked. He was holding on to his other arm with his free hand, blood seeping between his fingers. We were pinned down.
So I sent to Sal - “Let me out. I’ll hold them while you get John to safety.”
“You sure?”
“We’re sitting ducks otherwise.”
Sal nodded to me and to Jude.
I leapt out and multiplied with alternate selves, borrowed from multiple time-lines. All of us tiger-sized now. And we each held the small groups in stasis. Something I could do indefinitely.
Sal and Jude took John out of there. The attackers and my multiple me's were now all in a Mexican stand-off.
Until their reinforcements came in.
Then one of my other future selves went down with a bad slice and a lot of blood. I signaled the others to retreat and take her with them. Then shrunk down to my smallest cat size and bounced out of harm’s way to a small rock outcropping that was out of their firing-sights. Mostly.
It was just a nick, but I wasn’t going to hold that blood in with my tiny paws. And any larger form that had regular hands would stick out enough to become a target.
About that time, Sal came back with Jude on point - rapid-firing lightning bolts with hopes to fry their equipment, or at least make them duck.
For the second we needed, it worked, Sal scooped me up in her arms and Jude took us out of there. Just as the firing started up again. But we weren’t there.
- - - -
I REMEMBER A GURNEY being wheeled somewhere, and Sal holding me down on it with both hands as I wrestled in pain. Sal’s hands were red with my blood, her face worried. Then someone got a very small mask over my nose and mouth and I was out.
II
WHEN I WOKE, I HAD a sizable bandage on that human-sized right arm, and it was in a sling. There were a few wires going into taped down patches, a pulse thingy on my finger, with more than a few devices and gizmo’s beeping or blinking.
Turning to the other side brought a familiar red-headed face to view.
“Rochelle!”
She smiled. “Great to have you back, Hermione.”
“Did I miss much?”
“Dodgers won, again. Some Canadian team got the Stanley Cup this year. I won’t bore you with the score - well, it was 0-1.”
I had to smile at that. I wasn’t a big sports fan at all. But Rochelle had a soft spot for a few teams. She got it from her grandparents - after she got them back to being human again. Life in that Lazurai dome had sports running for the boys all the time. But that was the 50’s. Post-war. But well before the Rising.
“Dodgers, huh. What does that make them - three in a row?”
“Four, if anyone’s counting. And they only lasted four innings. The other guys, I mean.”
“Not like they have any real competition.”
“Not since there’s less than a handful of League teams left. Of course, you made up for any lack of excitement by going and getting yourself shot up.”
“Helluva segue.”
Rochelle smiled. “Yeah, they don’t let me teach Bedside Manners in this nursing college for good reason.”
I glanced at my arm with its bandage. “Well, ‘doc’, how bad was it?”
She shook her head slightly and sighed. “Well, in order to operate, we had to shift you up to human shape, as you see. And then that ‘nick’ became a major gash. Blood everywhere, even though we thought we were prepared for it. Now you’ll have a new set of dainty scars to show your grandchildren.”
I put on a feigned shock face. “What, I delivered several litters while I was out?”
Rochelle chuckled, happy that I was able to joke. “No, but nothing is keeping you from having any. Other than needing to heal that ‘scratch’, you’re perfectly healthy otherwise.”
“So I can sidle up to some tomcat and have him follow me around until I go into heat?”
“As long as that’s the shape you’re most content with. Or, you could always go back to having one at a time like us human-kind do.”
I sighed at that.
Rochelle raised an eyebrow. “In my not-so-bedside manner, maybe you should check that out. You’re going to have to stay in this shape awhile as you finish healing, and there’s a lot to be said for human relationships. Tomcats can be so - brief - in their romancing.”
“How long is awhile?”
“To get full use of that arm again - weeks or months. All depending. And since you are already older than most of us put together, having a cripped-up right arm for a few centuries might cramp your style a bit.”
I sighed. “You have a point there.”
Rochelle patted my good arm she was sitting next to. “But the good news is that, other than reporting for twice-daily treatments, You can go wherever you want. Just no teleporting or shifting of any kind. Walk around, maybe even run if you want to - but that arm is going to give you twinges for the first few weeks. If some of my nurses return from their projects, then we might be able to accelerate the healing. But all those moon-returnees have pretty much filled our resources beyond capacity for now.”
“I thought those eyes looked a bit tired.”
She gave a wry smile. “Not like I have much time off for anything these days except for the bare minimum of sleep.”
“How about that Rick?”
A slight blush came into her cheeks at that mention. “Oh, he’s as frisky as ever. But we mostly have to do with some long hugs - where I usually wind up sleeping on his chest. But he never complains. He’s used to my schedule by now, and knows that when I can take some time, I will. Of course, my nurses will occasionally tweak the schedule to give me some ‘quality time’, bless their hearts.”
Rochelle pulled the blankets higher around me, tucked them in and then smoothed the wrinkles. A professional habit of hers. “So does that mean you’re taking my advice and broadening your sights beyond some 'tom'?”
I had to smile. “You and your one-track mind. No wonder these schools have been such a success. Your dogged determination along a given course.”
“But you didn’t answer the question...”
My smile turned to a grin. “Too bad John or Jude aren’t around to hear us talk. We’d wind up in one of those books of his in no time. Oh - how is John?”
“He’s fine. That scratch didn’t take much to stitch back together. And he didn’t have to shift out of being human, so he’s back to writing in his cabin. You still didn’t answer the question.”
“Hey, I was getting there. Like you said, I’ve been around a long time. And most of that has been pretty satisfied with being a library cat and greeting visitors.”
Rochelle just rolled her eyes. “And the male human visitors just got extra purring and could hardly walk without tripping over you rubbing on their shins. I’ve seen the way you act.”
“True enough.” I looked down at the now-smoothed blankets. “Guess it’s been pretty obvious.”
Rochelle just patted my good left arm again. “And you know we all love you, regardless of what form you prefer. All I really wanted to say is that you have a lot of time right now to think things over. And if you’re that interested in litters, maybe...”
A ding sounded on the intercom and some half-garbled code words came out.
Rochelle rose quickly. “No rest for the wicked - but you know all about that. Go ahead, get up and around. Just keep your sling on. I’ll try to catch up with you later.”
With a quiet glide, she was gone.
A toss of the sheets and covers ruined her perfect, wrinkle-free bed.
Swinging my feet over the side and sitting up, I knew there was no problem standing. No dizziness. But their healing was drug-free. Only touch was used.
Next was to get off these sensors and find what kind of clothes I needed. Usually, I’d just shift into something. But Nurse Rochelle said no shifting, so I did the next best thing. I pushed the call button and waited for some nurse’s aide or pin-striper.
- - - -
THE MIDWEST AIR WAS clean and humid. The smell of cut lawns and tree pollen was in the air. Nothing wrong with my feline senses. Cotton jeans, a chambray blouse, plus a matching blue sling. The pin-striper helped me get my long red-orange hair brushed out and into a scrunchy so it would stay that way. In case of breezes I didn’t need.
I walked down the long sidewalk going nowhere in particular. It felt good to be up and about. These Lazurai healings just were that way. I’d had them before on occasion. Nothing this severe before. But being a library cat generally kept you out of harm’s way.
Ben knew what I could do if I had to. Because I’d saved his butt more than once. All in getting that Library built. Plenty of adventures. And I got bored over the last few decades.
So I started going out with Jude and Sal on some of their assignments. Even helping out with the Academy training.
This last time was supposed to be another “easy-peasy” jaunt.
Right.
Best-laid plans and all that.
So here I was, stuck into the human adventure again. Probably deserved it or asked for it somehow.
Life is funny like that.
Walking took me downtown. Such as it was. Calling this a “village” was right. At least they have concrete sidewalks. Side streets are still gravel, though. Actually, that main street is probably only paved and side-walked because it runs through the village anyway. In spite of being interrupted in its journey. Tolerates a four-way stop half-way through. Polite little state road that it is.
Too soon I was standing in front of what passed for a sheriff's office. I could see through the windows that it was more like a Mayberry-type of operation.
But with all these Lazurai around, any sheriff wouldn’t have much to do besides monitoring the visitors during festivals.
The name on the door said Sheriff Rick Decker. Rochelle’s other half. Time for some questions then.
My hand was just turning the door handle, when a siren went off and a four-door classic with old-fashioned, rotating, flashing lights on top roared out a side road and spun gravel onto the main street - only to screech to a halt in front of me.
The window was already rolled down - but the door jumped open at me anyway - as who had to be Rick in the driver's seat yelled out, “Hermione! Get In!”
That didn’t take me long to comply. And we were moving before I could get my good arm around to finish shutting that door.
I had to watch getting bored these days. Stuff happened then.
III
THE CLOUDS OF DUST rolled up behind us, and gravel was spitting off the wheels against the undercarriage and off to the sides of that road. Two flat tracks in the middle of that gravel went straight to the horizon, except for various dips, and the occasional pothole that Rick was pretty good at avoiding.
“How’s your vacation coming?” Rick almost yelled over the road noise.
He’d turned the sirens off, as we only needed them to get out of town without hitting anyone. Anything on the road ahead would see our dust cloud and lights long before they could hear that siren. Meaning Rick wanted some company.
Rochelle must have found time to tip him off.
I just grinned.
“That good, eh?”
“Well, I love the excitement of a good chase. Where are we headed?”
“Your gonna love this. A circus had a breakdown and their big cats truck had an escapee.”
“So you thought of me?”
“Isn’t this right down your alley?”
“Didn’t Rochelle tell you I couldn’t shift with this arm dinged up?”
“Sure, but she didn’t say anything about you not being able to talk to that creature.”
We slowed slightly to make a 90-degree turn into a cross-road. The rear-end skidded a bit, but we didn’t take the ditch. He pushed the hammer down again, and we kept going. Everything being flat, straight, and empty meant we could do at least ten miles over the speed limit safely.
Over our loud traveling volume, I asked, “What breed is it?”
“They didn’t really say. Cougar, lion, tiger, something like that.”
“Those are a lot different.”
“We're almost there, anyway. But you can talk to them, right?”
“Probably. At least calm them down.”
“Great. I knew you could do it.” He smiled and concentrated on the road.
I just looked at the crop fields blurring by my window and hoped he was right. Big cats are nothing to mess with. I should know.
- - - -
THOSE DUST CLOUDS CAUGHT up with us, to settle down in a choking mass just a few minutes after we stopped.
The truck had a broken axle and all the cages on it were slanted down to that side. I could feel the nervousness inside.
I spit out a tense summary to Rick. “You’ve got to get that truck leveled out before we go hunting for that other one. In this heat, it won’t have gone far.” I found myself definite about what needed to be done.
“Any cows are going to have to take their chances, then.” Rick frowned.
“That big cat has a better chance of coming back here if they are all calmer inside. And those haulers are going to have to give them some water as well.”
“You’re really on the cats' side, aren’t you?”
I raised an eyebrow. “Just because you can’t hear them - well, it was your idea to bring me along. Don't get me started on humane treatment.”
Rick just shook his head as an apology of sorts, then went over to talk to the people at the end of the truck. The big wrecker they called came up about then, bringing its own choking dust cloud with it. The grit stung and caked to the sweat we all had by then.
Few light wisps in the sky and little wind kept things hot.
Rick had a few words with the wrecker's driver, who down-shifted and crawled the modified big rig around us. It then backed up to hook into the circus truck backend and lift it. Then they blocked up that truck bed to fairly level.
“Rick, get me in there.” Don’t know why everything was coming out orders right now, but maybe it was because those guys driving this rig seemed to know more about trucks and driving then they did about living felines of any size. Rick passed my request on with emphasis, and they got a ladder set up. Rick helped me keep my balance, although my innate reflexes had no real problem - even with only one front paw -er- hand available to pull myself up with.
Once I was up on the truck deck, it was only a few steps to get inside. The one cage had come loose, and its door sprung open. The rest of the cages were secure.
I first had to do the alpha trick of staring down the largest males and forcing them to calm down. Once they stopped growling, everyone else fell in line and started listening.
Since humans didn't usually talk "cat" around them, most of these creatures were shocked at being addressed with civility. (Humans can be more than arrogant at times.) But I had to be brief, which is what I told them. There was water coming, but it wasn't safe to get any exercise right now. Most nodded at that.
Visions of humans with guns and stun rods floated around.
I just told them that their human truck had broken (sarcastic thoughts came back - "Oh, now that's a big surprise...") but I interrupted to say I didn't have time to banter. I had to find that missing one before someone did something stupid to her. Then I started getting a flood of data about the escaped lioness and concern for her safety.
That got interrupted by the clatter of watering pans and jugs of water arriving.
So I told them I'd be back if I could, in order to tell them what had happened. Otherwise I'd make a point of coming to see them at their next show. And they knew I meant it.
All calm now, and the water pans being pushed in, I cleared out to give their drivers room. But first pointed out to the humans who the alpha male was and to water him first – as that would keep them all calmer. The head driver appreciated that tip. (Which just confirmed they'd put two clueless morons in charge of animals that were probably smarter than them.)
Then it was one-handed down the ladder and look over the probable route that lioness had taken.
Rick came over to check on me.
"The head guy said he's never seen anything like that. So quiet in there, he had to peek in to check on you."
"Well, this is all just slavery to me. But I understand a bit more about humans and their warped ideas of control. You either have to get them worshiping you or they'll put you in cages and leashes. No middle ground."
I looked at his shocked face. "Oh, present company excepted, of course. Sorry, back in my time things were different, but not much better than what I'd just seen in there. It was also a long time ago. All those cages just took me back."
Rick nodded. "Well, what's next?"
I looked around. "She's going to be in the shade of some tree. By what they told me, she wouldn't go far. I'll go to try and bring her back here. You keep everyone from going after me, no matter what sounds or sights they can here. No, I'm not going to shape-shift - Rochelle made it clear to me that's not an option. But it doesn't mean I can't roar right back if I have to.
"This cat is frightened and nervous. Just keep everyone here. No guns of any sort. Hey, do you and Rochelle 'send' to each other - talk just with your minds?"
He nodded.
I sent to him, "OK, then you might hear some of what I say, even though to you it might sound like just caterwauling."
Rick sent in return,"Got it. Whatever you need."
"Great. Hey, does that heap of yours have A/C?"
"Sure."
"OK, get it cooled off. we're going to need it when she and I get back. And some cold water and whatever raw food they are serving her - but keep the flies off it."
Rick gave me a quizzical look, but nodded.
I set off for the nearest large tree. A massive oak.
I hadn't captured a big cat by hand for years. And I only had one hand to do it with.
IV
I SAW ITS YELLOW HEAD and dark eyes just above the seed stalks of the grasses. Peering at me.
So I stopped walking and started sending.
An old prayer of peace to the jungle queens.
The melody of that chant was ancient, but calmed everyone who heard it. And I sent it in the language of the big cats, whose speech hadn't changed much over the last few thousand years.
She finally sat up so I could see her whole head and shoulders. She was a lioness of note. A Queen, by her poise.
"And who is this human who addresses me as royalty?"
I kept my poker face on. Human smiles are just as frightening to the big cats as their "smiles" are to humans. "I am one of the old ones. A cat in human skin."
She chortled at that. "It fits too tightly to be any skin but your own."
"Did I say it wasn't my own? You must be too young to know a shifter of your own kind when you see one."
"Then why do you not shift? Why do you sing the songs of my ancestors and yet show yourself as a human?"
I raised my arm in the sling. "Because I was wounded defending some of them in a fight. To heal those wounds, they made me shift. It is my pleasure to be in a human form. I have that choice."
The big cat just shook her head in disbelief.
I stopped talking to her and stared her down.
She finally looked away.
"Be at ease, sister. But let me approach. I ask you as an elder to an elder with respect."
"Do come closer. I accept your offer and allow you come in safety. Provided all is as you say."
I walked closer, without hesitation. Walking with an old confidence from ages past.
The lioness watched me and made no effort to crouch or get ready to spring.
Once I got within a few feet of her, I stopped and went to my own knees, which put my eyes on a level with hers. Both of us watching the other for signs of deceit.
"And if your arm is wounded as you say, then you are no match for my own claws, strength, and jaws."
"You can smell the cut from where you sit. And yet if I had to defend myself, crippling my own arm to defeat you, I would. Were that to happen, know that you would be forfeiting your own life - one that I would remember and sing the song of your conquest for another century at least."
"Century?"
"And how else would I know the hymn to Bastet? I was younger in those days, but still the memories are fresh."
"Bastet? You served her, the goddess?"
"No, I was that goddess."
"Was?"
"OK – am. You have many questions. Look deeply into my eyes and you will see the truth of what I say..."
We peered, as one old soul to another. And I also learned many things of her, as she did of me.
At last she broke off, and bowed her head low. "It is a great privilege, your highness. I am humbled, and apologize for my rudeness."
"Please - sit proudly as a regal one such as you has earned. How may I help you today?"
"Your highness, I cannot ask anything from you. That poor excuse for a truck broke down in this misbegotten land. Their poorly stacked cages did not take the shifting load. And I was barely able to escape without injury. Truly a fall from grace to even suggest that I am still of regal heritage."
"And yet you are. Your grace in landing unhurt, despite all the mistreatment you've suffered - this alone shows your heritage. Your own remaining here to assist the others of your kind in any way - these show the grace of a Queen. You should be proud. Sit proudly - I am the one honored today. To be graced with your presence in this foreign land. A goddess only exists to serve her own.”
I'd learned from our thought-exchange that she was a High Queen. Even the alpha males demurred to her. And so a little royal treatment wouldn't hurt.
"Before I came to see you, I arranged a cool carriage to transport us. We have required that they serve you cool water and a small snack once you return. My carriage is parked near that truck. The humans have been instructed to keep their foolish weapons and devices put away. You have my word that this will happen. Or you will see their heads roll."
While this lioness knew I was speaking from the heart, it was still hard to believe. I could tell from her eyes.
Action was needed, for proof. "You have been mistreated. You are well to distrust. I will have my driver pull away from the truck so you can walk in safety. The carriage I have is not a fine one. But you can recline fully in the back - you may have my position - while I ride with the driver up front."
"But I cannot take your place..."
"Nonsense. Do you see how different we are in these bodies? I will be nearly as comfortable in front, while you would be most uncomfortable for a ride of any length unless you take the long couch in back. Please, allow me to serve you with grace."
The lioness nodded. Humbled.
I sent to Rick. He drove his sheriff's car about 50 feet down from the truck and it's wrecker.
The lioness' eyes widened.
"It is true as you say - the great cat goddess Bastet who commanded humans to do her bidding." And again the lioness bowed.
I bowed slightly in return. "And now, regal one, if you'd allow me to walk to your right, to signify your status to these humans, we can proceed to my carriage."
And so we walked, my good left arm on her back, right up to the Sheriff's car.
I sent some explanations to Rick as we walked toward him.
He returned that there was another truck on its way and the cats would be transferred to it. It was climate controlled, he assured me.
I informed him that we now had a guest for his office, as I and this lioness had some need for longer conversation.
After some cool water and meat, she climbed into the back and relaxed in the A/C.
Rick drove more carefully with a lioness in his back seat. And drove to make the ride as smooth as possible. As the Queen calmed in the coolness, she eventually lowered her head to her paws and closed her eyes, resting.
- - - -
ONCE WE GOT TO HIS office, we found that Rick had already radioed ahead to get the blinds closed, with thick pillows under-layered with tapestries placed on the office's tile floor. All for the lioness and I to lounge on.
While a small crowd appeared, they had agreed to give us privacy - even though I'd told Rick that while they could listen in, they had to keep any sending quiet.
And so, the lioness and I talked of many things, long into the evening.
It felt good to be a goddess again, to talk with a High Queen, if just for that evening.
- - - -
THE NEXT DAY, A SPECIAL truck arrived just for this lioness, so she could catch up with the rest of the troupe. Fully air conditioned, she had the entire back of it to lounge in.
I heard later that when she arrived, she and the alpha male were each given much larger cages, and their keepers had now been well-educated by a specialist on lion welfare and feline court organization and behavior.
It turned out that the circus has changed ownership that evening as we talked, and now there were new "trainers" in charge. Ones that could actually send and receive thoughts with the animals. (The Library's Ben had something to do with that, no doubt.)
And it was said that their next performance was the finest ever seen.
I had a front row seat. It was flawless, even though crude. The lions made all their cues, despite the humans missing some of theirs.
Afterwards, of course, I went backstage to talk with all of them. After I endured many bowing's and "we are so humbled, your highness" and whatnot.
I was getting used to being a goddess again. A bit heady. So I turned things back over to the High Queen to run for me, telling her that I'd be in touch if she needed my help in the future.
(And I later heard they became headliners with a permanent act in Vegas. [Well, a pair of humans got the top billing. It was said those sequined-clothed “trainers” could "almost" talk to the animals.])
The height of their act was where the High Queen lioness would deign to take questions from the audience, which the human would “translate” for her. It was said that her remarks could get quite "catty." But she was always inspiring. And left them with the idea that if not for the chance meeting of a goddess, one who encouraged her to do her very best, in spite of how she had long been treated, that show would never have been possible...)
- - - -
AFTER THE HIGH QUEEN had departed, Rick and I continued to get along great. He wasn't even miffed that I had to kick him out of his office for most of a day and night while that lioness “borrowed” it.
We shared a very common-sense type of respect. And he made a few jokes about my being a goddess, but was honestly curious about that type of life I'd lived. With Rochelle so busy, we had plenty of time to talk and swap stories. He even gave me the “deluxe tour” of the village.
At last, I got around to asking how his relationship with Rochelle got started and how was it in human terms. What he did and how they got along with all the stresses in their lives.
That led to how she had found him in 'Cagga, and saved his life in more ways that one. How she learned to heal instead of kill with her Lazurai “gift”.
He told me what he and she had learned from each other. About patience and openhanded love, and considerations he had to take into account. That giving was more important than asking.
Of course, he was a man of few words about things. So there were gaps to fill in.
A day or so later, Rochelle's nurses arranged for her to have one of those "special schedules" to come up, and the three of us then had some time to talked about many things. Some discreet, some even a bit randy. And I didn't hog the evening, but retired back to my out-patient bungalow at her nursing college. Just so they could have some "alone time."
And I digested and sorted what I could.
Of course, she came in the next morning with a big smile. And I got an extra treatment that day. But I didn't pry. Because some things are private and should stay that way.
And some have told me I need to open up more. But that's between me and me.
V
NOT TOO LONG AFTER that, one of my other attending nurses introduced herself to me. Her name was Cathy, and had been raised in this village from a baby. And went through the nursing school when old enough.
One day she was sent as head of a volunteer nursing team to take care of babies caught in a quarantine.
She had also partnered up with someone she had cured. Reg met her when he was brought in as a detective. Sent to investigate her nursing operation there on the outskirts of 'Cagga. He was to find out the secret of her reported "miracle"cures.
That was all on top of Cathy and her student nurses inheriting the whole operation of running that quarantined out-patient care – after the last of the medical help there also came down with that virulent infection.
Anyway, Reg broke quarantine one day as their support person on the “outside” with him got sick. Meaning that Reg would catch it anyway - so he thought quick and busted in with this guy in his arms. Cathy and her nurses cured them both.
But those two new patients had to pay their dues. For once those alarms went off, the government policy was to gas that facility and seal it over with concrete. All within 24 hours to contain the disease spread. Even though they knew most of the people inside were visibly healthier by video footage and on the mend.
As you know, "government intelligence" is an oxymoron, similar to the double-speak phrase "I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
Hazmat suits and body bags smuggled them all out in a large truck and then to a transport plane. Because the Lazurai had friends in high places - or at least some smarter types who would rather be owed a favor than face their wrath. That plane landed not far from here, on a grass strip barely long enough.
A few of the villagers here and some of the orphan babies adopted into local families came from that incident.
- - - -
CATHY INVITED ME TO her home and I got some time to hear this story from the two of them. As well as find out how they got along. Two very different people who somehow fell into a very human love.
Sure they had been through a form of hell, and that crucible had forged an understanding between them. When they returned to the village, they took things slow. Testing each other. That give and take showed their mutual trust to be strong. Getting married helped them adopt a couple of those babies – who were now older and running around the house, being curious and getting into trouble.
Once their little tykes were in bed for the evening, we shared some personal stories. I wanted to know how human relations ticked. And found theirs was really born out of that mutual trust they'd forged in escaping that scene.
Cathy had been one of those treating me by shifts. And little known is that the Lazurai also get snatches of the memories of their patients through those treatments. She'd bring up those memories she'd sampled, and I would explain the rest of the stories around them.
That allowed me to probe into my own personal questions - to better understand my human heritage. That one I'd been avoiding for these centuries past.
- - - -
MY OWN DREAMS STARTED returning in those evenings after I returned to my little bungalow and slept. Dreams I hadn't had for many human lifetimes. Forced labor as a shifter. Something about a duty to perform in keeping "balance". But I was always a child in those dreams. Talked down to, in simple terms. Instead of achieving any real understanding beyond an explanation.
There was something ominous in those dreams. Something just out of view.
But I didn't push. Just take what showed up and tried to make sense of them. Too often, I'd wake in a sweat, the bandages on my arm itching. The need to "shift" pressing me as hard as I resisted it.
I'd tell Rochelle about those dreams, as she would pick them up from me anyway. And she'd change out my bandages for fresh ones, tell me how well I was doing - but no, I couldn't shift yet. The healing was slower than normal for a human. But she recommended I talk to someone else who worked at the clinic. She and her partner had also been at 'Cagga.
- - - -
MICHELLE I'D SEEN EVERY day, mostly because she ran reception at the clinic. A beautiful young woman with an endless smile.
When I came up to say Rochelle suggested I talk with her, she nodded at me and then turned to her assistant, who just nodded in return. She came out from behind the counter and it was then I saw she was expecting.
"Congratulations."
"Thanks. Of course, they are all rooting for us here. Probably the best care anyone could get when you're surrounded by Lazurai nurses."
"You're the first expectant mother I've seen here."
Michelle took my good left arm in hers and we started walking through reception toward the front doors.
"Oh, there are others, and I'm not the first. It's no secret that the Lazurai have generally adopted to form their families. Has to do with their very long lives."
I nodded at this, knowing the responsibilities of immortality. "So you're not Lazurai?"
She smiled. "Not yet, anyway. The only treatments I've had were a check up when I arrived. Of course, I imagine some of this has brushed off on me just from living here. There are so few illnesses here, you almost forget people can get sick. I think receiving all these moon-transferee's helped everyone. Since it's so much better to help someone whenever you can. And the nurses get a lot of experience quickly. Otherwise, like Cathy, they have to do field trips to other areas.
Once we got out the double doors in front, a young, chubby man about Michelle's height came and hugged her gently, kissing her cheek. Michelle was now holding onto him as if they were magnetized to each other.
"This is Andy."
We shook hands.
His smile was every bit as wide as Michelle's. "She didn't tell me about the surprise - that we were having a guest for dinner. But I kinda expected something like that, and we've got plenty."
Michelle kissed him on his cheek. "Andy's good at a lot of this intuitive stuff."
He hugged her again. "Probably what we have most in common. You should see her size up a person in the few steps between the front door and her desk. Almost like she reads the person's mind right down to their soul - and has everything possible ready."
"Well Andy is his own type of miracle-worker in the Emergency Ward. And he often has to go out to other villages and towns around here to train them on what he learned with all the battle-triage medical training he's had. Mostly because people can still get into car wrecks and have other serious accidents. If I can read souls, he can know exactly what's going on inside their bodies before anyone else can examine them. That's a big help in emergency scenes. The paramedics and Emergency Rooms love having him around."
They were both smiling, a perfect couple.
So we had a lot of talk about over dinner and afterwards, sitting at her dining table once the dishes were cleared.
They asked about the lioness and how Rick let her take over his office for a day. That led to the rumors about me being a goddess - so I set the record straight with them.
I pried into what they thought made their relationship work and got some answers I'd already had, but some of their nuances started filling out the scene more.
Trust, openhanded love, understanding. Lots of commonalities started boiling out. Stuff you can only learn by doing, and being around people who were doing. Life's lessons seem to be couched in action.
- - - -
AT ONE POINT IN OUR conversation, Andy stiffened and looked out into space.
Michelle looked at me, and just nodded like this was normal.
He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Something's come up. I'll be back in a couple of days, I hope."
She leaned into him for a hug and a brief moment of her head on his shoulder.
Andy rose, shook my hand with a smile, and then was out the door without another word.
"I picked up there's an emergency somewhere?"
"Or will be. That's his specialty. Getting their just in time. Like when he found me."
"He can't prevent things from happening?"
"He's tried, many times. But it always works out that he's just there to pick up pieces, and fix things the best he can."
"Like some things have to happen."
Michelle nodded. "And I can't say that how he helped me made us fall in love, but I do know that his faith in the goodness of humanity healed me on many levels. Plus he's the best shoulder to cry on I've ever met."
She looked away, blushing a bit at some of the memories, then returned to me again. "And he gave me a purpose for my talents.”
Michelle put her hand across and took mine. "He's everything that I'd been missing in my life. Andy has told me the same. How we got together seemed more than chance - like we were both looking at the same time."
- - - -
I NOTICED A GREEN PENDANT glow on a woven thong around her neck. She put her other hand up to it and dropped her gaze to the table to concentrate.
I waited, having seen these pendants in action at the Library.
Michelle looked up at me. "Reg needs your help sorting out a clue. Rick is coming over to pick you up outside." Then she squeezed my hand and smiled hope at me.
VI
REG HAD SOME NONDESCRIPT office in what used to be an old bar on the main street. Or that's what it looked like when the sheriff dropped me off out front. When I first entered, I got the impression he had a taste for the old movies. The small interior looked more like something out of Casablanca. He'd left the squat, high windows in front, so it was dark in there most of the day. A few small tables stood around the edge of a small dance floor. Their tiny lights just showed up each round table top. A couple of rotating fans above. And the long bar with shelves behind it now holding framed pictures of the local clients he'd helped - instead of any booze bottles.
Other than the dark interior, it reminded me a lot of Hami's. Just smaller and from a different age.
And instead of a jukebox, he had a regular piano - like Casablanca. But no "Sam" to play it again.
Reg came toward me, wearing the blue jeans and plaid cowboy-cut shirt, more appropriate to a honky-tonk than the a bar in a desert resort town. No beige suit, ascot, or cuff-links. Reg came forward with a wide grin and an open hand to shake.
And then his brow furrowed again, as he remembered why he'd asked me here.
"Hope I didn't drag you away from something important."
I shook my head no.
He glanced at my sling. "How's the arm these days? Sorry to be nosy, but we might have to do some traveling and I don't want you to miss your treatments - you're just too valuable."
I smiled at this. "That's something I have been hearing more and more. But yes, the arm is fine. Rochelle says I have just a couple more weeks or so."
"Good. Good to hear." He gestured toward the back and led me over and into his office.
This room was again dark, but that was to be able to watch the monitors. He was the security for the entire village.
"Just about all the activity we get these days is raccoons getting into garbage cans. But those cameras do come in handy during wind storms we get out here on the plains. So we know what fixings need to be done to get the power back on fastest. And they also help to pin responsibility when some of the young bucks get a bit 'restive'."
He pulled out a seat for me and turned on a desk lamp, then moved a keyboard to open up a folder with different photo's and pieces of paper in it.
"Ben sent me what he had about the situation you ran into with the Ghost Hunters. He wanted someone with an actual detective background, plus you were nearby to give us more information."
I looked over the papers and photo's until I stopped at one. Something in the background of one of them.
"Do you have a blow-up of that photo - that figure over there, behind that bunch of shooters?"
Reg ticked at one of the other keyboards and a printer started whirring. Soon enough, he handed over an enlargement of that figure.
Just as I suspected.
"This might be trouble."
"Hmm?"
"Looks like something one of my relatives had to deal with. Name of Rangda. Depended on her power from the dark spirit forces, one called Durga. Rangda was defeated and escaped, but was never found. They still recall this in dances through Bali."
"Well, that would figure. she might be back now - or it looks like."
"As I recall, we were there to collect an 'overdue' book from the Library. I think that was Jude's euphemism for 'stolen'."
"Some powerful book?"
"What was the name of that thing... I've been so busy healing I haven't thought of it. Oh, right. A book of magic incantations. Check with Ben, I bet that was one for Durga. Rangda's daughter used to have it, according to legend. And it's loss led to Rangda's defeat. Seems Durga wanted no part of that battle. And there was lots of spells used on both sides of it."
That took me back quite a ways. I sat back in my chair and scratched a sudden itch in that arm, which turned into a shooting pain and a visible flinch.
"You OK?"
I rose. "Sure. I'd better get to the Nursing School and have Rochelle look at this arm."
"Need a ride? I can call the sheriff."
"No, but thanks. The walk to anywhere in this village is a short one. And I could use the walk. Hope this helped you."
"Well, Ben will know what to do with this."
I started walking out of his office, but turned at the door. "Say, how do you have a connection to Ben and the Library from around here?"
Reg smiled. "We've got a small lending library here. There's a little request box there where we can leave requests for books. Sometimes messages come in that way. Sometimes by those around here with pendants."
I smiled and nodded. "See ya. Let me know if anything comes up on that or if you need anything."
When I got outside and onto the sidewalk in front of his office, the sunny day was gone. Overcast, gloomy clouds had covered the sky and the air had turned cooler. Looked like some thunder storm was heading our way.
I got moving. Several blocks to cover. My arm itched again. If there was no rest for the wicked, there's even less for goddesses to have to bring them to justice.
VII
ROCHELLE GOT RIGHT to the point. She took the bandage off. And her prediction was true. I only now had a series of criss-crossed scratches on that arm. But it was otherwise back to normal.
"Well, you've got 'phantom twinges'. There's a technical name for it, but just means that while it's basically healed, there's some emotional baggage connected to it."
I told her about my talk with Reg.
"That figures. You've just hit what I called earlier the 'depending' factors."
"Yeah, what was that you were saying - the difference between weeks and months of healing?"
"And I told you this was healing slower than a human. You're only probably the second goddess I've ever heard or read of that's been treated by a Lazurai. According to the story, her illness was connected to a spell. She only got well by defeating that priestess."
I raised an eyebrow at that.
"Hey, I didn't write it. But you know John, he leaves out the dull parts and it reads more like fiction than fact. I think Michelle could find you a copy of that book if you wanted to read up on it."
I just sighed. "Homework. One reason I was the Library cat and not a student there. Thank the gods that schools were invented after I first appeared. But I've had to suffer through enough of them in my days – as an 'undercover' student - and having to brush up on things that humans 'invented'."
Rochelle took the sling off me and folded it up. "You won't need this any more. Or any bandages. But I'm going to have you do one more test. Try putting your usual cat fur on that arm."
I did, and a shooting pain made me flinch.
"Sorry about that. And I wish we could do more treatment for it. But that flinch just confirms some other mental healing is needed. Old memories you don't want to look at or something. I've done my research on this - homework, as you call it. And Ben was only able to get me to the same conclusion. That pain might show up here (as she touched the scar) but the source of it is there (her finger pointing to my heart) and there (pointing to my head.)
"Something wrong in my brain?"
Rochelle smiled sweetly. "No, darling. It's your mind that's needing healing now."
The bell chimed over the intercom and some garbled code words came out.
"Lousy timing. Sounds like you need to get back to the Library and do your own reading on this."
Rochelle hugged me and then smiled as she turned to glide out into the hall, going wherever duty called.
Rolling down the sleeve of my loose chambray blouse, I found my way back to the reception area. And thoughts of all I'd learned and all the people I'd met during my convalescence swarmed through my mind.
- - - -
SOON I WAS AT THE RECEPTION desk again. Michelle smiled at me, and pulled a thin paperback from under the counter. "This is what Rochelle was talking about. She sent word you'd be looking for it."
The book was about Harpy. One of my favorite visitors nowadays. Even though I hunted her after she first kidnapped John.
I wondered again about him and the other Ghost Hunters. It would be good to get back.
Looking up at Michelle, I was about to phrase that question, when I heard someone clear her voice behind me. Michelle was smiling and looking at someone over my shoulder.
Small multi-colored lights started to flicker and float around me - that was my first clue.
Turning around gave me the full answer.
A tall red-headed figure whose hair waved in a breeze of her own making - or that of those lights in constant motion around her. Wearing a red and gray jumpsuit stuffed into dark lace-up boots.
"Tess!"
We hugged like the long-time friends we were.
"Hope you're all packed and ready to go. There's some traveling we need to do."
She pushed me back to arm's length and looked me over, her hands on my shoulders. "I don't know that you want to show up looking like that. I mean, it's a nice disguise for around here - but it's not your usual trademark look"
I nodded at that. "Shifting was off the table while I was healing, and now it's a little painful to do any."
Tess smiled and nodded. "So I've been told. So let me have my tessies whip you up something closer to what you'd normally wear."
The lights around her got busy and soon my denim and chambray outfit was replaced with a red-tiger-striped, one-piece knit outfit, that came up to mid thigh and down in front enough to make men look twice. Long sleeved with a narrow knit cuffs at my wrists.
Tess whistled softly. "Now that's more like the Hermione I've always known."
The tessies formed up a full-length mirror to look myself over with. My hair was now loose again, and its usual full, thick, and wavy orange-red mane. I had to smile. Purr-fect.
Well, except for one thing.
"What would you suggest for shoes to match this outfit?"
Tess looked down and cocked her head. "Hmm. Oh, right - I know. Yes, you're normally barefoot, but you can't shift your calluses and claws back right now. I've got just the thing."
She snapped her fingers and the tessies got to work. In a few seconds I had almost skin-tight, black, knee-high boots with inside-leg zippers. A slight heel with what looked like lugged soles.
"Those are better than leather and will give you grip on uneven ground. A pattern close to Jude's Timberland's, but not as heavy and more flexible."
I was turning them over and back, and gave them a stomp.
Then hugged Tess in thanks. The mirror disappeared.
But that book in my hand got Tess's attention. And a small tan bag appeared at my waist, with a long narrow strap that ran diagonal across my chest. It now held that book. The feel of that bag said that it would probably expand as needed to hold anything else within reason.
"Well, Hermione - ready?"
"For anything."
"Here goes, then..."
VIII
WE SHIMMERED IN OUT front of a small farmhouse in a short-cropped grassy yard that had an assemblage of chickens, ducks, and geese. Through the wood fence to one side, I could see sheep and goats, plus a milk cow.
"Home again. Hope you like it." Tess was beaming.
Almost on cue, a half-dozen or so red-haired youngsters flooded out the front door to hug both of us. With Tess's beaming parents behind them.
It turned out we were just "in time" for dinner, so we all swarmed back inside to sit around a long wooden table with small individual benches for each of us by its sides. Tess' Dad sat at one end. After she supervised the young ones helped get the many dishes and platters of food onto the table, her Mom sat at the other end.
As custom, we all were quiet for prayer, and then dug in.
It continued quiet for awhile other than the sounds of knives and forks, with giggles and grunts as we passed things around for second helpings, and then Tess's Mom and some of the older children helped take the dishes and platters away, to return with bowls of dessert for everyone.
Over the spoonfuls of sweetness, we had to bring everyone up to date on our recent escapades. Between Tess's tales of her adventures on the Moon, and my retelling the story of meeting the Lioness Queen, it was dark and time for the youngest to be in bed before we knew it.
- - - -
BIG COMFORTABLE CHAIRS in front of a lit fireplace, with large mugs of something like café-mocha. That's the life. And was the life Tess had before she started her travels.
Her Mom and Dad started telling me of stories that were designed to embarrass Tess and educate me about her back history. Some of it I knew, except the personal anecdotes. Her parents would interrupt each other with different details they remembered, mostly about what they'd seen and felt themselves.
Tess alternately smiled, blushed, and rolled her eyes with every story. All these told about how she grew up and the lessons she learned along the way.
Tess told the last story, of how she was lost and then found her way back home, by tracing down a tessie she'd left in a jar on her room's one shelf. One she'd forgotten about – until she remembered it. She thought it was some sort of firefly at the time. One that wouldn't go away.
She'd told this story before, but if she didn't tell it when she visited, they'd ask her to.
And their gratitude and love for having such a daughter was evident on their faces and those of the oldest children, who got to stay up to be with their elder sister.
I just soaked it all in. And felt some old remembrances come in - just feelings really - of times where home and family were the most important things in the world.
Even worth defending with your life.
Her Mom and Dad sat together on a short couch, frequently holding hands during all these stories. When his arm wasn't already around her shoulders.
This was why Tess loved to come home and "made time" for it every chance she could. The loving household her parents had built was her storm anchor and kept her stable.
At last the oldest children had to go to bed.
Mom spoke first, as we saw the last of them make their way upstairs. "Will you be staying the night? We have some extra rooms..."
Tess just smiled and shook her head no. "Sorry, Mom. I'd love to, and I'm sure Hermione would, too. But there are matters to take care of that won't wait.
Hugs all around ended at the doorway, where Tess' parents stood as we walked back out into the yard.
We both turned as we stopped and saw them waving to us in front of their home's open door.
We both waved back, smiles on our faces, as we shimmered to our next destination. One Tess hadn't warned me about ahead of time.
IX
THE PLACE WAS THE SAME, the rocky outcrop where I'd been "nicked". The blood from my future self still there on the ground. We could see this from the glow balls the tessies created to light the scene.
No attackers here now.
"We've got a few minutes, but not much longer. She went over to the blood on the ground and touched it. A tiny tessie-generated vial appeared in her hand.
Then a flaming orb scorched its way in between us.
We ducked as the tessies took us out.
- - - -
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?" I almost shouted to Tess.
“Probably a pre-programmed booby-trap,” she replied.
We were now in a long steel-walled, steel-floored room that had multiple steel counters with various chemical beakers and electronic equipment on them. One of Tess's many hidden labs.
"We had to get that sample to find your other self. Because there's a chance you might wind up following that exact timeline. If we're lucky, we'll be able to get her to a healer before she dies."
"Meaning, we're about to save my own future life."
"Exactly. Like the reverse grandfather conundrum - except now you can do something about it."
"That blood you sampled..."
"...Will give us the 'woof and warp' of where she came from. And then we get just in front of where she'd go if she returned to her own space-time."
"If?"
Tess shrugged. "It's where we can start. Because you went back to the Library and then shuttled immediately over to Rochelle's Nursing College, which is in a slightly different space-time. You're just lucky that one of the doors in the Library's treatment room is hooked into Rochelle's Nursing College permanently. You were in no shape to travel far, especially with all that blood loss."
She was reminding me that the proportionate amount of blood loss from a cat was a much larger amount in a human form.
Tess walked over to one of her humming machines and inserted the vial into a tube on it's top - where it promptly vanished. And a small ticker-tape ran out to the side.
Tess tore that off, read it, then reached down her front to pull out a small notebook and stylus. Then inscribed the coordinates into it. Holding up the paper, her tessies ignited it into flame, and then consumed the ashes.
My eyes must have gone wide at that.
"Yes, it's a bit dramatic, but has a bit of flair, don't you think?"
I smiled and nodded my head in agreement. Dramatic is nice in small doses.
"So, where to now?"
"One more thing - a gift you need to have."
Taking my hand in hers, she led me over to another table where a small orange box was gift-wrapped with a white ribbon and bow. Tess picked it up and handed it to me.
"This is long overdue, but you've more than earned it."
I opened the box and found inside a small choker with a tiny turquoise and gold stone embedded in that ribbon. The ends of that choker's ribbon had no catches to them.
"How do I get it to stay on?"
Tess smiled. "It's a special Bucky-ball type of closure. I was talking to Ben about this and that's how we came up with this design. Whether cat-size or tiger or human, this will stay around your neck and adjust with any shifting you do. Just hold the two ends together behind your neck and they'll join by themselves."
I did, and they did. It felt so light to almost be non-existent.
"Technically, it actually doesn't actually exist in any space-time - or all space-times, take your pick. If you ever need it removed, just think it off. Only someone with tessies like me or Carol could remove it otherwise."
I felt the cool stone with my fingers. "Thanks. So this is the same..."
"...As any of the other pendants. That's the other reason you're here - to start practicing your time-shifting and moving to the spaces you want to, as well as talking to others through that pendant."
I frowned a bit. "Not to be ungrateful, but I've been time-shifting literally since before you were born."
Tess just smiled. "The other thing that print out tape showed me was that we are somehow related genetically. You, me, and Carol. So now I'm going to help you find your tessies - if you want them."
My eyes opened at that. "When the student is ready, the teacher appears."
"Yes, Hermione my goddess. It's my honor to have such an illustrious student."
She bowed her head with a grin and peeked up at me.
I just came forward and hugged her again. This was a real gift, and very personal to her. I was the one that was honored. Three of us in the whole universe.
Then I pushed her away to hold her at arm's length.
"Wait. Genetically similar - does that mean...?"
"Technically, yes. I don't know how that works, but it is very possible that you could teach Carol and I how to shape-shift - in theory. But we'll work with what we know, first."
I hugged her again. My eyes were watering. I said softly in her ear, "This is like having family all over again."
She replied in my ear, "My home is your home. Welcome to your new cousins, Cousin."
I had to separate from her to wipe my eyes. And I noticed this all had a similar effect on her.
Family. After all these centuries. And a home I could visit other than the long rows of library shelves.
Tess had her arms akimbo now. "Alright, my elder sister - or should I say 'your highness", time for your lessons."
She took my arm and we shimmered out to - somewhere.
X
THOSE LESSONS DIDN't take all that long. Like I said, I'd been time-shifting for centuries already. Space shifting through the pendant wasn't too far from that.
Tess also showed me more about how time was simultaneous rather than linear. I'd always suspected that, but even Ben was surprised with that concept when Carol showed up. (He's still writing the monograph on how that revises most space-time theory.) Come to think of it, that's probably more like the accepted paradigm in Columbus' day – linear time was more the idea of falling off the edge of the world at the end of those maps. Something to keep the competition at bay...
With Tess's help, I made all the key jumps so I could do them almost automatically - getting to all the most common places in an instant. And it was good to pop in and see all sorts of places. Even interrupt John at his writing, and Hami at her cooking. Fun, fun, fun.
Then we got to work chasing up my future self.
Only to find that injured "me" was the one that was also healed at Rochelle's Nursing College. Like I said, simultaneous time takes a bit of getting used to. Yes, it surprised both me and Tess, as we knew it was possible, but... At least it explained all the blood. (Larger bodies, bigger cut, more blood escaping.)
The next mystery to solve was those twinges.
Using the pendant to shift through space-times wasn't painful at all.
Trying to do as little as change my skin to fur or even fingernails to claws still gave me some severe twinges.
- - - -
SO WE WOUND UP BACK at the Ghost Hunters Library, with Ben bringing and leaving large stacks of books for us. And since Tess knew that shape-shifting was probably in her future, she helped go through them all.
Even with Granger's great brownies, it was a long and futile struggle through all those hardbacks and portfolios. Nothing really added up.
I closed and set down that last heavy tome on the coffee table, to pick up the last brownie to munch on, frowning.
Tess slouched back in her own side chair. Her tessies were rotating slowly around her, as if mimicking either her thoughts or her frustration.
Then she sat up straight. Then stood. "I've got it. Or think I do."
I was following her actions with my eyes, but hadn't moved. Other than finishing that brownie. "What do you have?"
"It's a cousin of John's who just wrote a book. You probably know this guy mentioned in there - he's as old as you, maybe more so. But we're going to have to make a pit-stop at Hami's..."
I stood, and held out my hand across the book-laden coffee table. Tess took it and we shimmered out...
- - - -
AND ARRIVED AT SOME long white stone porch, one that extended a long distance to each side. White stone walls reached up into the clear blue sky in above us.
Behind us I could hear distant songbirds in the trees below on the mountainside. The perfume of flowers in bloom also from below almost overcame the fragrance of Hami's fresh-baked pastries on the platter I held in both hands.
Directly in front of us were two enormous solid wood doors, enameled in orange and trimmed in dark brown. Just above our heads were two enormous solid brass rings toward the center of each door - rings as wide as our shoulders. The rings were each hanging above a polished bronze plate. Like door knockers for giant guests. Just the rings themselves must weigh fifty or a hundred pounds.
Tess let go of my shoulder and tried to reach up to one of the rings. With her height, she could almost get her fingers around the bottom of it - but not lift it. So she stood back, and frowned in concentration, then lightened up with an idea.
A small wave of her hand sent her tessies swirling around the platter and then scooting through the narrow opening below that door.
Then we both heard the quiet pattering of soft feet echoing on the other side of that door. Above the quiet songbirds in the trees far below.
One great door slowly edged open and a shiny bald head emerged - one with a somber face that sniffed the air, eyes that pivoted to the great tray of pastries I was holding, and a mouth that smiled wider until it became a grin.
"Welcome, welcome! I expect that you're not Greeks and have left your hollow horses on the beach. But if they had brought stuffed pastries from Hami's, I'm sure their city would have opened the gates wide. Like this..."
The head ducked in and both doors swung open, exposing the long marbled and pillared hall to the setting sun behind us.
"Come in, come in!" The orange-robed monk stood at the center of that hall, with one hand up to shade his eyes from the glare.
"Quickly - my eyes are reminding me of what my nose and stomach only alerted me to. Do step lively. We have much discussion ahead of us and a delectable discussion it will be..." His voice trailed off as he'd already turned and was heading away from us.
We quickened our pace to keep up.
XI
THE THREE OF US WALKED along the hallway for quite a distance until another pair of orange, brown, and brass doors opened inward to show a long, long dining table. At the very far end of that table, were three place settings.
The monk frowned at this, clapped his hands, and the settings appeared at our near end. Then he smiled again.
"I could say something polite like you have both traveled so far, or that the reason for those settings at the far end were to be impressive - and both of those statements are true. But I really brought them here because those pastries are cooling fast and there is nothing like Hami's pastries when they are fresh."
He gestured us into seats on each side. I placed the platter in the middle, closer to him than either of us.
Soon, the monk had a pastry in each hand. Each delectable treat had a bite out of it. And he was wearing a covering of powered sugar around his mouth.
Both Tess and I had one each on its small china plate in a setting before us. We simply waited.
He noticed our lack of activity, and put down both pastries to wipe his hands and face.
"Please forgive my manners. My name is Akashi. Just as yours are Tess and Hermione.
I had met Akashi before, but most recently as a library cat. And longer before that, many times before, when he still got around to visiting Ancient Egypt.
He turned to me and held his hand out on top of the table in order to receive mine.
When my fingers touched his palm, he closed his eyes to concentrate. The smile remained constant.
"Of course. I should have known. Goddesses are like that." Akashi opened his eyes and winked one of them at me. "Good to see you again. More radiant and beautiful than ever."
Then he turned to Tess and accepted her hand. Again, the closed eyes. Then as opened, "You surprise me. I wasn't expecting two goddesses today."
Tess's eyebrows raised, her eyes opened wider in surprise.
Akashi just chuckled. "Hermione either hasn't told you or hasn't figured it out yet. Because you are both related, Time bender plus Lazurai plus shape-shifter means you pretty much can have any ability you want. You only have to really want it. And then train to perfect it. That's what any goddess can do."
He patted Tess's hand with his other one. While he held it in a firm grip with his first. "You only have to train to perfect all your nascent abilities. You bless me with your presence."
Letting go of her hand, then turning back to me, "How long has it been in all the multi-verses when a goddess has been born, Hermione? I know the Greeks and Roman gods were busy at this, but a goddess born from two mortals? Who would-a thunk it?"
My own eyes were wide with this revelation - but at his dropping to slanguage, I had to chuckle.
"It has been too long, great Akashi."
He playfully frowned at me. "Your highness gives me too much credit. If anyone should be called 'great' around here, it is you. Didn't all those crowds fawning at your feet when they called you Bastet mean anything?"
I shook my head and smiled back at him. "Those were so many eons ago. All those crowds gone themselves to dust almost too long ago to be recorded in texts."
"And yet, you are here, I am here, and now Tess is here. What a happy day. Let's celebrate."
With that, he again picked up his pastries and took another bite out of each.
From where I sat, he looked to have one blueberry and one lemon creme. The proof was on his cheeks.
Tess and I each sampled our own. Hami's reputation for capturing the essence of nirvana inside her pastries was well earned. Soon all of us had our eyes closed in bliss.
When I opened mine, Tess was daintily daubing her own face clean, while Akashi was reaching for his second double helping. Seeing our open eyes on him, he stopped in mid-air.
Again, we just sat and watched him. Discretion being the better part of flavor. Or something like that. Besides, we were amused. Akashi was the god of knowledge across the multi-verses. And the fastest access to him was through his love of stuffed pastries.
And we only had to travel to Shangri-La to watch him in action.
It had been a long time since I'd talked with him last – or even seen him – but I didn't want to dwell on history as much as get this twinge gone. Coming to Akashi was the ultimate shortcut solution.
So we waited in polite quiet.
Eying each of us, he removed his hand from above the platter and returned it to pick up his napkin. So he could again wipe his mouth and hands.
"Well, I owe you both for such a remarkable distraction. Sorry I took so long to get back with you. Hami's form of nirvana is worth everything.
Now. Tess is here for you and you are here for your twinge. Have I got that right?"
Both of us nodded.
He sighed.
We waited.
He drummed his fingers and looked from one of us to the other. And to the pastry platter. Then back to us.
I could tell he wanted another pastry, but needed to help us and so steeled himself.
He cleared his voice. But said nothing.
I then remembered. "Why don't you tell us the ground rules?"
Akashi let out a big, exaggerated sigh and grinned. "Hermione, it's been too very long, hasn't it? The ground rules are that I can only answer questions you ask."
I raised an eyebrow. "You're right Akashi. Could you give us an example - like Tess here could use?"
"Well, for Tess, if she asked me, 'What types of abilities I could gain to manifest my full abilities as a goddess?' - well, that would be too broad. In that case, I would say - 'Go ask Hermione, she will be your teacher and coach for that.' And in that case, Tess wouldn't really get an answer to her question."
Tess nodded at that.
Akashi continued. "Now, I will only answer one question at a time. Even if you ask me two or more. The first one will get the answer - or the last - or one in the middle. Because that is my choice. If Tess, as smart as she is, would ask 'What would be the first practice lesson I should take to learn shape-shifting?' And I'd tell her that she must learn to know herself in all her forms before she could know how to change her forms."
Tess's mouth opened at this, and then closed to smile at me.
Akashi turned toward me. "And we've already mentioned your twinge..."
I gave him a wry smile. And thought before asking.
Akashi made a gesture and each of us had a nearly-full mug of fragrant roast-blend coffee in front of us. I reached for mine and found it sweetened to taste with honey. My eyes closed in delight, for a second.
Akashi drummed his own fingers while he sipped his own coffee from the other hand.
At last I think I had it. "Can you outline a series of steps I would still need to take in order to fully complete Rochelle's advice about understanding the human experience?
Akashi rolled his eyes, but grinned. "Hermione, for all the long time it's been since we've last talked, you are still the most clever a goddess I have ever met. No wonder you are still around.
“OK - here's the simple route you're asking for:
1) Quit trying to be what you're not. Accept what you already are."
(I thought of Michelle and her Andy.)
"2) Life is a bowl of cherries. Pits come free. Make lemonade when served lemons."
(This reminded me of the lioness Queen and her human handlers.)
"3) Realize that one only finds what they look for."
(And I thought of Rochelle and Rick who both came to 'Cagga to find healing in each other.)
"4) Understand fully that you have to give to get."
(That had to be Cathy and Reg and their mutual trust.)
"5) Examine the old phrase, 'You become what you think about' - which is a strange secret hidden in plain sight."
(A two-for. And that was Tess's family, who had become lost to her until she thought of the solution to finding them that was sitting in her memories of them all that time.)
I almost clapped in delight, but restrained myself. There was still more to what I needed to know.
"Well, thank you Akashi. So it's obvious this condition is mental. How would you suggest to narrow down what I'm thinking about to find out what I need to think of instead?"
Akashi cocked his head slightly to the side, and took another glance as the mound of remaining pastries on the platter - and then back to me. He gestured slightly toward my cup. I then set it down carefully as it was now filled to the very brim with hot coffee.
"Now, if you wanted to drink some nice tea out of that same cup, what would you have to do?"
"I would have to remove the coffee."
"And if you wanted to simply put an ice cube in it to cool it down?"
"As it exists right now, I'd have to remove some coffee so adding the ice wouldn't spill coffee on the table."
"And so it is with the habitual thoughts you have."
I sat and waited for more - but that was it.
Then it hit me. I wasn't looking early enough. And would have to be willing to let go of something that never gave me the result I really wanted. I had to observe what I was looking at. And give more.
In short, the days of being merely a library cat were over.
So I turned to Tess. "Well, here's your chance - what would you like to know?"
XII
TESS THOUGHT FOR A moment, and then talked it out to me as she figured out her question. "Well, I could ask if I was ever going to find true love? But of course Akashi could simply say 'yes', especially as time is immaterial to a goddess. 'Ever' could happen an infinite number of times."
Akashi nodded at this.
"And I could refine this, knowing that goddesses can fall in love multiple times, to ask - 'Will I find a partner I can be infinitely happy with?' And Akashi, knowing that goddesses can have anything they want, would only have to answer 'yes' again."
Akashi again nodded.
"So I would then have to ask myself, 'Why am I so concerned about having to find love, especially since I have such a loving family and so very many dear friends?' And that answer would come back to me that I've seen people do better in life when they have a true soul-mate as a partner to go through life with. At that point, we are getting much closer."
Akashi only cocked his head slightly to the side.
"As one cannot get without giving, and one gets as good as one gives, the question I might ask Akashi would be:who I should find a true soul-mate for – but that is still selfish and narrow. Because as we know, a goddess is unlimited, and works best to improve infinities of things. So the greatest good one can receive is acquired by first helping the greatest numbers of people achieve what they most want."
Akashi beamed at this.
Tess looked at Akashi directly then. "My question then is this: How can I help you most Akashi - what is it that you most want - that I can help you achieve, acquire, or attain?"
Akashi clapped his hands. "Oh Tess, you must visit me more often. It has been so long since I had such a wonderful student. But that isn't my answer to your question.
“My answer is this: What I want most is for you to know yourself."
Tess nodded. A tear came down her cheek.
Akashi stood at this. As we both did.
"Ladies, goddesses, this has been an absolute pleasure. More than I have had in eons. Of course, you may always visit at any time - my doors are always open to you (the secret is simply to touch them lightly – and bring stuffed pastries.)"
He and the room started to fade - and then returned. "One last thing: Please tell Hami, her platter will be back shortly. I just have to finish cleaning off the last crumbs of her excellent pastries..."
Then the palace in Shangri-La, as well as Akashi's grinning face, all faded away.
- - - -
AND TESS AND I WERE now back at the Library.
As a test, I shifted to all fur and back. No twinge. I went to house cat size, then Bengal Tiger, then a prehistoric Saber-tooth - and back to human. Just as easy as walking down the hall.
Cured.
I looked at Tess, and she was still moist-eyed.
I came over and put an arm around her shoulders. "What is it, Tess?"
She just patted my hand as it rested by her neck. "Just too much for me, I guess. Smart guy, that Akashi. Far more insight than I expected."
"Not the half of it, Tess, not even a pinch of what he knows."
"So, then, what's next with you?"
"Looks like I have to settle an old score. Move someone back into retirement. Between Reg, Ben, and I, we put a finger on who's been causing the Ghost Hunters all this trouble. But before we do that, it looks like we have something else to do."
"And what would that be?"
"Well, training, of course. A goddess can't get enough training. Ever.
“But first, there's someone we both have to go and tease."
Tess just shook her head. Either she didn't know or was finding this impish side of me amusing.
"John will want to hear this story. And I bet he can't keep his attention on typing while we're shifting in and out of shapes and clothes while we tell him all we've been through.
“Besides, he has the best-tasting steaks in that freezer of his. And I'm hungry enough to eat a dozen.
"Oh, that's something I can teach you - how to properly shape-shift raw steak into its properly-grilled version."
Tess just laughed as we shimmered out.
XIII
TESS APPEARED IN FRONT of me days after we finally returned, which was days after we left for John's place. (He's such a good host, and such a great listener. Plus his rugged handsomeness makes him easy on the eyes.)
Tess was bedraggled, her usually well-coiffed hair was struggling to hold any shape at all. Her tessies were flying very erratic patterns around her head, and her gray jumpsuit with red accents looked like she had slept in it for weeks in a coal mine tunnel. Smudges of soot everywhere – knees, elbows, and (as her pacing hinted) perhaps her backside as well.
“Tess, slow down. What's going on?” I put down my chai tea on its saucer just next to the smallish platter of thin buckwheat biscuits Granger had whipped up for me. Which was itself a trick, since that Library coffee table was stacked high with my research books.
The red-haired time-bender stopped directly in front of me, almost staring at me with an intense gaze.
“They've done it. And I can't help them any more.”
“Done what, help them with what?”
“Those two nitwits, those adorable two knuckle-headed geniuses have broken time!”
NOTES:
We know of Hermione from the earliest Ghost Hunters stories. But never met her as other than a cat. Even though her shapeshifting abilities have been touched on, briefly.
Now we are introduced properly. As it were.
We have an interesting point here - where the Lazurai healer Rochelle is talking to Hermione about a parallel universe which she was working to heal in “For the Love of ‘Cagga” short story. That was part of what became “The Hooman Saga, Part 01” Hermione is teasing Rochelle about her now-husband Rick from that story. (No, it’s not part of this “Ghost Hunters Primer” collection, sorry - not room for everything. But I’m at least giving you these notes. There is a fairly complete discussion of the Lazurai where most of their stories are collected in “Tales of the Lazurai”.)
But this is a story if Hermione’s redemption. She is there to learn about human relations. We see a longish conversation with Tess and Akashi toward the end. And after that, the story ends - but adds a cliff-hanger, as this is just a first of four in series-serial. This Book Universe has become large enough to be interesting on it’s own.