The Motherwalk

Page 3

"You always have been the finest dramatist among us, Aurora," notes Elspeth, composing herself.

"Why, just the other night I was saying to Jacquet what a fine performance you gave in the earth drama this solstice past. We've never had a better time finding the fun in such a serious performer." She pauses, and fixes me with her gaze before continuing. "You look for the portentous everywhere you know--your stage manners simply reflect your outlook. It's one of your strengths, and one of the coven's as well, given the natural lightheadedness of Vanya and myself. . . ." What has Elspeth seen? "But tonight I want you to join us. I want you to cultivate your lightheaded nature on this night above others."

Vanya has risen and stands at my side, her arm around my waist. "She's right you know, just like she always is." 'Tis true--Elspeth is the oldest among us, and she rarely misses the mark for which she aims. "Life is a comedy as well as a drama, Aurora. You must be focused, but you must not lose your perspective. That is the Way. We are telling you nothing you don't know already, but indulge us and quiet our uncertainty. You must find balance--in the river and the crickets' song and the stars in the sky and the fertile loam of the course you will follow. It is a peckish thing to dwell on one side or the other, to worship life and vilify death, to glorify the mind and forget where the heart was begotten. . . ."

Something outside the window has caught my sister's attention, and now she walks over to see what might be there. Just outside the pane, I see two burning, bobbing red coals; only gradually do I become aware of the leathery, fluttering garment surrounding and upholding them. And then, more gradually still, I see that there is no garment there in the breeze, for the flapping, rippling thing remains poised, unobliterated by the currents as it should be were it a simple piece of clothing.

Abruptly the window explodes in a shower of glittering fragments. There is a great cry--it is Vanya's--but Elspeth is already gesturing, and as she completes her movements there comes a popping sound, and the room is empty of flying glass. . . the window whole again.

A horrendous shrieking noise assails us all then, even as Vanya and I see the beginnings of a slight smile on Elspeth’s mouth suddenly checked. The charcoal-blackened thing at the window screeches again, and its barely human words make a mockery of the vocal chords which drive them. “You are already dead, witch! And soon your very bones will know it! The days grow long, and our time is upon you. Run! Hide! You are already dead!” Spittle strikes against the glass, steaming and sizzling and greenish-brown it runs down onto the sill, and still the creature hovers and cavorts obscenely upon the night air.

Elspeth is magnificent in the precision of her hostile gesture. She speaks a word of command.

Abruptly a Warden appears outside the window, just behind our visitor, and taps cordially on the thing's scaled shoulder. Raking the air in sudden paroxysms of rage and shame, it turns and would have at whoever dares breach its hostility.

The Warden's face is a polished mirror, its hands two open nerve endings, conveying to its enemy all the memories and emotions and judgments and deeds once claimed in the repertoire of a good man: Cruel anathema to this traitorous ghost of an evil one who is but a shell containing all the sullied and tawdry dreck all men are capable of, the Warden begins to sparkle and vibrate as though it would come undone--and indeed, a moment later it begins to open up at the seams.

It is all over in an instant. A kaleidoscopic flash and a thunderous clap of white noise, then nothing remains of the two antagonists.

Usually the duty of setting the Wardens for the night falls to one of the initiates, but tonight security is high; Elspeth herself set the perimeter. How this Ibling got as far as it did is a mystery.

"Vanya--are you well?" In diving away from the window when it burst, my sister has cracked her head on the floor. But now she sits up as Elspeth and I hurry to her side and attend her.