For the first time, Narhii felt like kicking and screaming, fighting Odus off before he could ask more stupid questions or do anything else to invade the little she had been left of who she really was. She was so close to—no, better not think that.
But Odus said, tugging her into the lab’s interrogation cell, “Now, now, Mu, we’ll have none of that. Our work is becoming increasingly urgent as you learn your feelings as a young female.”
But inside the room, Akasa sat behind the table, an array of colorful objects spread before her. “All the more reason, Odus, why I should take over the—please pardon the expression—lion’s share of the questioning. You may observe from behind the mirror if you wish to learn more of females, but Mu’s reaction to your demonstration yesterday clearly indicates she needs to begin her indoctrination into the mysteries of our mutual gender at a far less intense level than you anticipated.”
“But who better to teach a female the meaning of her gender than her opposite?” he argued.
“Obviously, someone more similar. And, pardon me, with more finesse. Run along now.”
Growling under his breath, Odus left. Akasa rose, exited the cell, and checked the observation chamber. She gave a sharp nod of satisfaction when she returned, then sat herself opposite her subject. “As you realize, dear, we have endeavored in our inquiries to elicit your natural and spontaneous responses, those instinctive to your species. However, I feel at this critical juncture in your development, it is time to provide a modicum of guidance and instruction, to answer questions that may puzzle you. The portion of your physical and psychological structure supplied by the Others may be instinctively and biologically guided; but you are also, according to your genetic coding, composed of the same stuff as we are, and therefore would have subtler, more sophisticated triggers for your primal functions. Do you understand?”
Narhii nodded, tentatively, “I think so, a little.”
“Therefore, I thought we might start by showing you some of the feminine accoutrements I and other females of my species enjoy and see if you relate to them as well. Do you find that any of these objects attract you?”
The objects in question were a collection of long, bright scarves in colors of the sunset, delicate blossoms that looked real but had no scent and, when she touched them, after making sure she had permission, Narhii found were made instead of some soft fabric.
“Pick them up, hold them against your cheek,” Akasa prompted. “See how transparent? Like an insect wing.”
Narhii did as instructed and didn’t have to feign enjoyment. The scarves and flowers were lovely to look at and to touch. Magnified wonder was at the forefront of her thoughts when she asked, “Is this the stuff you wear every day, ma’am?”
“Oh yes. My robes are of the finest and most gossamer materials.”
She permitted Narhii to touch the skirt of her outer robe. “Will I ever wear anything like that—I mean, is it something I will do as I grow older?”
Akasa laughed triumphantly. How much better a female understood the feminine need for beauty, color, texture—and how these qualities aroused other needs. “Certainly, my dear, you may do so any time you’re inclined. Your earlier developmental stages were too—active—for such opulence, but it is time for you to learn the refinement that will teach you the proper care and use of these embellishments.”
Narhii had an idea, quickly concealed as she clapped her hands in delight. “Oh, may I wear some now? Robes like yours I mean—and those shiny things on your fingers, ears, and neck—what are those? May I have some of those, too?”
“Greedy little thing once you’ve awakened to the possibilities, aren’t you?” Akasa said with a chuckle that was almost fond. She felt confirmed in her belief that females were much the same no matter the species—bipedal females at least, with a modicum of the proper genetic material. For the first time, she felt she was beginning to understand this curious and often sulky child. “I suggest we adjourn to my quarters. There you may see the array of my raiment and I will help you choose what might best suit you. You may also choose a bauble or two from among my jewels, if it isn’t something too precious. If it is, perhaps we can have copies created for you or something even more suitable for your own age and coloring that we design together.”
Narhii clapped again and hopped a little as she followed Akasa’s sweeping skirts through the laboratory, the time chamber, the corridor, out the building, across the street, which today was paved with some golden substance, and down another lane. In a few strides Akasa stopped at the ornate entrance of a building whose every surface was decorated with what looked like more jewels, certainly some tiny bits and pieces of colored stuff that glittered in the sun.
There seemed to be many rooms within that had no purpose except to be cleaned by the technicians who were doing so and to hold elegant furnishings. Narhii had difficulty determining the purpose of many of those as well.
For that matter, though she saw several cleaning and serving technicians, she was unsure why Akasa or the others needed them. They could change their own forms and those of their homes and belongings at will. Could they not simply change them from a disorderly or soiled version to one that was not?
Picking up her thought, Akasa said, “My dear, we cannot be expected to exhaust ourselves with trivialities. Besides, it gives these other beings a purpose in life. Here we are.”
A place on the wall looked exactly like Akasa’s own highly ornamented eyes without the nose between them The center of the pupil was an obsidian disk, the outer iris lavender, purple and aqua rays set in an alabaster oval surrounded by a spiked trimming of cobalt with a long curl extending from each side. The eyes grew larger, then swirled open to reveal the room beyond.
Akasa, apparently fatigued by her unusual exertion, flung open her wardrobe and flipped her fingers toward it. “Go play, little one. Bring out your selections to show me, and I will help you decide if they are suitable or not. The jewel box is in there, too, and my cosmetics. We should do something with your hair. White is such a bore.”
Narhii didn’t have to feign the appreciative noises she made at the display of colorful garments, dainty slippers, veils, head wrappings, more scarves, and flowers. All swayed from their display racks as if in a breeze.
“There’s a draft?” Narhii asked.
“The ventilation circulates through here to keep my things fresh and fluid,” Akasa said. “Some of the fabrics are organic and require aeration.”
“It looks wonderful,” Narhii said, and it did.
Akasa led her to the cosmetic table, above which was a huge mirror. As they approached it, the frame of the mirror glowed with flattering pinkish light.
Akasa sat on the padded bench in front of the table so that she faced Narhii. “Kneel,” she commanded in an imperious tone. Then remembering she was assuming the role of Narhii’s female mentor and hopeful confidante, she continued. “Please. I wish to prepare your face and hair to form a suitable background for the splendors I am about to share.”
Twisting backward, she reached for several pots. With smooth strokes of soft fingers, she applied colors to Narhii’s brows, eyes, cheeks, and mouth. Narhii still looked like herself only, with darkened brows and eyes and dark pink on her mouth and cheeks, more vivid. Akasa inspected her, tilting her chin this way and that. “Still washed out,” she pronounced. She twisted again and opened a drawer, revealing a number of other jeweled pots. Selecting one with a blue gemstone surrounded by golden butterflies, she opened it, flinging the lid unceremoniously onto the counter before turning back to Narhii. “Blue will bring out your eyes, I think,” she said, dipping her fingers into the pot and smearing them with cobalt.
And without asking Narhii’s opinion, Akasa then wiped her fingers on the side of Narhii’s head, pulling them down the length of a side strand of hair. Critically she said, “Well, that’s a little livelier though you still look as though you’ve snow for blood.”
She used another of her ointments and a square of pristine white silken stuff to clean her fingers, then sighed heavily, and said, “You look around and select what you like best and hang it by the door. I am going to rest while you play, but I’ll be in the outer room to critique your choices when you’re ready.”
“Oh, thank you, ma’am,” Narhii said, appearing at the door with several garments in her hands. “If I could change myself as you can, I’d change my colors and patterns all the time.”
“How refreshing you can be, dear. This is an entirely new aspect of your personality development. I believe my innovative approach is helping us make tremendous progress toward our goal.”
Fortunately, Narhii had already submerged herself amid the colors and prints, skirts, tunics, robes, and gowns. She picked the ones that most profoundly attracted her, collecting them as she approached the end of the room, where a large transparent chest with many compartments, lit from within, displayed Akasa’s jewelry.
Narhii carried her garment selections back to the door and hung them, peering around the corner. Akasa was stretched out on her bed, snoring robustly for a creature who prided herself on her delicacy.
Narhii slipped on the closest of her selections, a light blue-violet gown, and then, looking into the mirror at the gown, which was too short for her since she was already taller than Akasa, made a show of studying herself, tilting her head to the side, and saying, “It needs something more.” As she had sometimes overheard Akasa and other females do when assessing each other’s costumes before or during some social event. Apparently it hadn’t occurred to any of them then to introduce her to the realm of feminine finery.
But she had realized such a long time ago, when still quite small, that the Friends only gave her things or rewarded her when they wanted something from her in return. She rather took it for granted that was how it was supposed to be, except that the Others weren’t like that. Of course, they had nothing to give but peace, healing, affection, comfort. No silks or jewels though. She sighed. Even the Others withheld knowledge from her that was hers by right and that they knew she had longed for her entire life.
Nobody really cared about her for her own sake, and she didn’t care about them either.
Before Akasa could refresh herself enough to interfere, Narhii went to the huge jewelry chest and began searching for the time device. She expected it would look much like the one Akasa wore, though perhaps less gem-encrusted.
As she pawed through the box, she slipped on bangles, a necklace that caught in her mane, a tiara that teetered above her horn, to make it seem as if she were truly accessorizing instead of hunting. It was hard not to be distracted by the color and gleam, rippling ribbons of shining stones or metal links so fine the piece looked solid but infinitely fluid.
The jewels dazzled her to such an extent that, when she started to replace a fistful of bracelets in a drawer before closing it, she was startled to discover she had been holding the timer all along.
It was made for a wrist much larger than hers and flopped about even when she fastened it on the smallest setting. Now that she had it, what did she do with it? How would she get to that safe time when her parents lived in the world and somewhere she had a twin her own age?
How did one get past that broken time when the monsters destroyed the machine? The timers didn’t depend on the machine, apparently, but she didn’t want to end up among the monsters. Nor did she want to go back to her own birth so she could grow up with her loving parents and sister. She had been erased enough as it was, thanks very much. She wasn’t about to erase further the life she already had lived. For better or worse, it was her life and what made it her own, and she wanted to know about it. She seemed to have learned some useful skills after all. Like finding things she wasn’t supposed to find and finding out other things people didn’t want her to know.
Hmmm. There was one person quite near who could tell her how to use the timer. If Akasa would only start mumbling to herself the way the technicians had…
She stopped and listened, Akasa’s jewels and silks draped all over her slight form. She listened hard. Akasa still slept, her breathy snores audible through the wardrobe door. But some knowledge of Narhii’s activities remained in her dreams and thoughts. I should get up, she thought drowsily. Not that the mutant child will do any harm that can’t be quickly mended, and she was enjoying herself so much. If only Odus and the other males realized that one pleasure is so conducive to seeking others, even if they are quite different, they would be heaping us females with little gifts and agreeable experiences so often we’d never get any work done.”
Narhii was surprised that Akasa wasn’t even concerned about the timer. Why not? Was it broken or disabled in some way?
“Gracious me, and I am awfully gracious today, aren’t I?” Akasa’s thoughts continued, the heaps of gifts and experiences and fine foods evaporating in her semi–dream state. “I forgot all about Grimalkin’s timer. But that’s all right. I doubt the child would even recognize it for what it is and if she did, she wouldn’t understand how to operate it. One does need to focus on something particular in the time when one wishes to be in the place where one wishes to be prior to activating it. And how would she do that? She’s unfamiliar with anything other than what she has always known here. She’ll be all right.”
Narhii frowned at the timer. Yes, she would be all right indeed if only she could overcome the problem Akasa had just brought up. How would she find the right time. Maybe she could visualize people instead of a place—or, well, how much could a meadow change anyway? She’d visualize the meadow and the descendants of the Others who looked like them—and also males and females like herself only taller and—someone who looked like herself. Her twin. She pressed the area on the timer that Akasa’s visualization of the device had shown.
For a long time nothing happened, then she saw a tiny red light. What did that mean?
Obligingly, Akasa’s thought drifted back to her, “All the child would see on the timer if she accidentally activated it is the red light that shows that one or more of the variables in her visualization is not viable. She won’t know to eliminate them one at a time until the timer works.”
Narhii’s smile to herself was an echo of the one Odus’s face showed when he was feeling particularly pleased with himself. It didn’t usually mean anyone else would be similarly pleased. She had what she wanted. She had somehow gone, with the dawning of her telepathic power, from being the manipulated to the manipulator.
Now, then. What would she eliminate?
The Others, the Meadow—that was safe, because if the Others were there, the monsters couldn’t be and if the monsters were anywhere near, the Others would protect her until she could escape with the timer, she knew.
And she longed to meet her parents more than she could say. They must have missed her, somehow. Her mother must have realized she should have had two children instead of one. Narhii desperately wanted to reclaim her parents but in doing so—wouldn’t a twin complicate things? Perhaps the twin had died or was somewhere else? That would be convenient, actually. It would give Narhii a chance to have her parents all to herself. After all, the other twin had had them for six ghaanyi.
It was Narhii’s turn.