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Chapter Sixty-Six: Sojourn
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Ding-dong!
Aed came to the door, and stifled a wince. This wasn't a week's peace! He saw a short teen-ager in an outlandish role-playing costume: a long, loose, dark robe fell about him, hooded shadows covering his face, and fractal-decorated gloves covered the skin on his arms. "Mister, may I use your bathroom?" he said, his voice cracking, and then shrunk back.
Aed breathed a sigh of relief, and said, "Sure. Come this way." He led him to the bathroom, surprised at a smell of -- what? something chemical; he couldn't decide. As the door shut, Aed decided to stay; the kid might get lost, and perhaps something else in his house might get lost. It was a few minutes, and then, coming out, the kid reached around the side of his head and pulled off his hood to reveal a shaven head that looked older than he had seemed at first glance. "So," the teenager? said, his voice again cracking, "d'ja recognize me?"
Aed blinked, and did a double take. It was Taberah. No beard, no hair on his head, not even eyebrows. He looked unfamiliar, just a very short teenager whose eyes twinkled.
"I've decided to do some travelling incognito. Listen, I'm really sorry about all the publicity you'll deal with; I hadn't known how your culture works. No, that's not right; I'd guessed about publicity, but I hadn't cared. Anyways, I have learned a lot about travel and adapting back in the middle ages, and disguise came quickly -- I learned a lot at Halloween time. Um..." his voice trailed off, and then added, "You'll eventually have less attention if I disappear."
"Don't feel guilty about the journalists," Aed said. "Their presence is a side effect of making certain kinds of achievements. But Taberah, you will always be welcome here. You don't have to go."
"I know, but I need to go -- for me as well as for you. It's been great here, and I hope to come back -- but who knows what tomorrow will bring? I am a wayfarer, and I am not ready to settle down in one place for good."
"You're sure? You're taking an awful big step -- can I at least provide you with resources? I've got a fair amount invested, and it's an awfully big world out there."
"No. I can't describe it, it's just -- I have a feeling I'll be back, but I need to travel. To think. To work."
"What do you call your creation of artificial intelligence?"
"Aed, do we have to argue?" Aed noticed that there were tears forming in the child's eyes.
"You're making it hard enough for him as it is, honey. Let him go," came Nathella's voice.
Nathella walked over to Taberah, held him in her arms, and kissed him on the lips. "I'll miss you -- Taberah, what does your name mean?"
"Burning."
"Similar to my husband's name. I'll miss you, flame. I'll pray for you every day." Then she continued to hold him in silence.
"Where will you be?" Aed said. He walked over and picked Taberah up, holding him. Taberah kissed him, too, on the lips. "I think it would better as regards the media for you not to know," Taberah said. He lingered for a moment, and then disappeared out the side door.
(Search & Sitemap)
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Firestorm 2034 >
Chapter Sixty-Six: Sojourn
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