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Sunlight danced on the waves scant feet from where Alymene’s food cart stood this morning, beckoning the eye. It triggered a memory, or the memory thereof; she wasn’t always sure what was hers or her patron’s. The light at the back of her mind echoed the golden display, a near-thought of a vast emptiness filled with the singular radiance of There-Where-He-Is. It called to her from the places where her self had been, inextricably entwined with her being, ego and other meeting like the twin halves of the horizon, calling…
“One with everything?” a customer inquired.
“Maybe so,” Alymene replied.
“Can we have our ball back?”
“Can you prove it is yours?” Wahala stood with her foot on the toy, smiling.
“We just kicked it over here.”
“So, through your own actions, it left your possession and came into mine. I would be willing to sell it, perhaps?”
“That’s not fair!”
“It is holy trade, little friend; nothing could be more fair. I present an offer. This one is burdened with too much candy. If you take some off her hands, you may have the toy.”
Wahala walked away chuckling, leaving the bewildered child half a bag of candy richer.
“The JPS, dad?” Phirun shook his head in disbelief. “I thought you were retiring.”
“I am! At least, from the creche. I thought I’d, you know, go out and see the world a little. But perfectly safely!” Gary hastened to add.
“It’s glorified guard duty, isn’t it? You’re a healer.”
“And thus the right person to help keep others from harm.”
“I’m not going to be able to talk you out of this, am I?” The human sighed.
Gary raised his hands and tentacles in a placating gesture.
“I promise, son, nothing untoward will happen to me in this job.”
“You’re doing good, bud. Keep moving, watch out for any weakness in your opponent.” Dhuxul held his hands up in front of him as Caynaan threw a series of punches at them, demonstrating the lessons he’d been learning. Dhuxul was proud to see the progress he’d been making.
“Okay, let’s work on those counters. Keep your eyes open, block or dodge, then strike where they seem vulnerable.” Dhuxul made a series of well-telegraphed open-hand strikes towards his son, who dodged the first two and blocked the last.
Reflecting later, Dhuxul realized he really should have seen the groin kick coming.
There was a cloud of feathers as the flung stone connected with the unsuspecting seagull, eliciting a gale of vicious laughter from the small coterie of youths. Their leader smiled and hefted another.
“You are not hunting; this is cruelty.” The words appeared in their heads with no visible source.
A crystalline figure rose from the nearby water like the ancient primordials, towering over the children, his near-featureless face glowering many feet above them. They broke immediately, fleeing for anonymous safety.
Xenos turned to the wounded bird, picking it up delicately. Gary would know how to help, he was sure.
Ylyl regarded Irrez impassively.
“I wanted to know how long I’m going to be here,” Irrez repeated.
“A specified length of employment was not part of your agreement with my superiors.”
“Yes, but is there any sort of timetable? Are you close to your goal? Can you give me any information?”
“Conceivably.” There was a long pause.
“Will you?” Another pause.
“Plans proceed apace. There are issues of compatibility across spheres, but this is merely another obstacle to be overcome.”
“That didn’t really answer my question.”
Ylyl nodded acknowledgement. Somehow the lack of emotion made the dismissal even more annoying.