21
“I see a space over there,” Cordelia said to Zack, who steered the Kempers’ junker in the direction indicated. “Wow! Half the population of Sphinx must be here. I knew the Harringtons like to throw big parties, but this is amazing.”
Zack, who was driving because Mack was coming with Brad, after they picked up Dana and her beau, laughed. Cordelia could tell he was feeling very grown up, with his mother riding shotgun and his two sisters in the back.
“Well, it’s not just a birthday party. Or a going-away party, either. We’ve got quite a few other things to celebrate, as well,” Danette Schardt-Cordova said, and Cordelia nodded. The Crown prosecutor had filed formal charges against Orgeson and her hoods two days ago, and word about baka bakari was spreading rapidly around Sphinx. No one knew whether or not it would be regulated—or how—but at least everyone knew it was out there, now.
“I wonder if Dia will be here,” Natalie said. “She messaged that her whole family had been invited to the party, but she wasn’t sure if she’d get parole.”
“Karl said he was driving over a bunch of his family,” Cordelia said, “and I think Dia was on the list. How do you feel about seeing her?”
“Better,” Natalie said, “now that she doesn’t expect me to pretend not to notice she’s sneaking off. There’s a lot to like about her.”
“The Zivoniks are a good family,” Cordelia admitted.
She kept the rest of her thoughts to herself. She’d sort of hoped that Karl would suggest they go to the party together. She’d wondered if he planned to ask her, but then Stephanie’s sixteenth birthday party had morphed into “Birthday Party Plus Farewell Party for Anders,” and all bets had been off. Even though the Harringtons had set aside a large meadow as a parking field, they’d asked that people carpool whenever possible because space would be limited.
“Bleek!” Athos said, reaching up to pat her face.
Cordelia realized that Zack had set down the air car so lightly she hadn’t even realized they’d landed. Athos seemed excited somehow, maybe even a bit edgy.
Maybe he’s just excited because there will be celery. The ’cats always seem to like what Marjorie grows best.
Whatever the reason, as soon as they were near to where the party sprawled in and around the Harrington house, Athos gave her a firm hug with his tail, as if to reassure her that he’d be looking out for her, even if he wasn’t in sight, and then scampered up the nearest crown oak trunk to where several other gray and white shapes could be spotted.
Although the invitation had said, “No presents,” just about everyone coming in from the parking field seemed to have missed reading that line. Cordelia herself held a small bag containing a freshly-baked batch of treecat biscuits.
She presented these to Stephanie with a grin. “Since not even you are likely to be eating these, they qualify as a present for Lionheart, not you, so I didn’t break the rules.”
Stephanie laughed and gave her a hug. “We’re going to be hang-gliding later. I hope you’ll give it a try. The whole club’s here, so you won’t want for teachers. In fact, here comes someone who’s really good, and we’re hoping to get back on the team. Hi, Trudy!”
Cordelia looked up as the blond-haired young woman arrived. Like Cordelia after the near weasels, Trudy Franchitti was on crutches and a personal CG unit, but she looked a lot better than she had. Stephanie seemed genuinely happy to see her, too, Cordelia noticed.
Trudy also had a present for Stephanie, as well as an excuse.
“It’s a hoodie promoting Wild and Free,” she explained. “We’re really excited about the new SFS Explorers, and hope we can do some presentations for you.”
Stephanie shook out the dark green hoodie and admired the art that graced the back: a montage showing an assortment of Sphinx’s wildlife. “You bet. Lots of presentations, and tours, and maybe some help cleaning habitats. We want the Explorers to understand all about wildlife, the dirty parts, as well as the cute and fuzzy.”
Trudy dropped her voice slightly. “I’ve got something to tell you, and Karl, if he’s around.”
Cordelia made as if to excuse herself, but Trudy stopped her. “Hang if you want. This sort of involves your family, too. You’re one of the Schardt-Cordovas, right? I saw the news articles about you helping that injured ’cat, and I know you were there when they arrested that Orgeson and her hoods.”
Stephanie messaged Karl, and soon he emerged from the house with a towering sandwich balanced on a recyclable plate.
“I was just coming to make sure the birthday girl is kept fed,” he said, putting the plate down near Stephanie. “Hey, Trudy. What’s up?”
“I’d prefer that this wasn’t spread around too much, but,” Trudy shrugged, “if you think you need to use it, I’ll go on record. I know you guys busted Frank for spiking Stephanie’s drink in Yawata Crossing. Well, I found out why Loon and Dia acted the way they did, too. Loon ordered his fancy picnic basket from Câmara Comestibles. When Frank learned who it was for, he spiked the puff pastries with something. I can’t prove it, but I know he did. I found a text from Stan where they were laughing about it.”
“Well, that explains a lot,” Karl said. “Thank you. Dia’s admitted that she and Loon were sneaking off for a little romance, but she’s sworn all the time that they weren’t doing any drugs or drinking really heavily. It’s good to know.”
“Why would Frank do that?” Cordelia asked.
“Because he’s a nasty bastard,” Trudy said, her violet eyes flooding with tears. “And so was Stan. I knew it, too, but I looked the other way for a long time. Until…until—”
She broke off, and Stephanie looked at her for a moment. And then, to Cordelia’s astonishment, she put her arms around Trudy and hugged her tightly. Touchy-feely was the one thing Cordelia did not associate with Stephanie Harrington, and from Trudy’s expression, neither did she.
“I’m sorry about Stan,” Stephanie said softly. “I may never have liked him very much, but I know how close you were. I hate it that you had to lose him that way. But at least you’re going to be all right, Trudy.”
“Yeah.” Trudy returned her hug, just a little awkwardly, then stepped back on her crutches. “Yeah, I am,” she said. She scrubbed her eyes with one hand, then flashed a wicked, only slightly watery grin that showed Cordelia a glimpse of the former, less kind Trudy about whom she’d heard. “It’ll be a while before I get off these,” she indicated her crutches, “but when I do I’ll knock your socks off on the hang-gliding field, Stephanie!”
“In your dreams!” Stephanie laughed.
“Just you tell yourself that,” Trudy said. “And in the meantime, I guess I should get out of the birthday girl’s way.” She glanced at Karl flashed that grin again, one that almost hid the lingering pain in her blue eyes.
“Later, Karl…” she said, and sashayed off into the crowd. Even on crutches, that was the only verb Cordelia could think of to describe it, and she smothered a smile of her own as she and Karl, aware that there was a cluster of people waiting to give Stephanie birthday greetings, took their own leave.
“That sounded like an invitation,” Cordelia said.
“Not my type,” Karl laughed. “Definitely not my type, even if she’s improved a lot.”
Cordelia was tempted to ask just what Karl’s type was, but decided not to. Maybe she’d like the answer, but then again, she might not.
She was feeling happy and oddly excited. Somewhere, not very far away, she could feel that Athos was excited, too.
I already have a life partner, she thought. I won’t be greedy, just grateful.
<There is Stone Shaper.> Climbs Quickly looked down from where he was perched with Dirt Grubber, Keen Eyes, and Swift Striker, near where the two-legs were gathering their many flying things. <He is coming to join us. Now to hope he will not flee when he senses the surprise we have for him.>
When he had seen Death Fang’s Bane, Healer, and Plant Minder begin preparations for one of their gatherings, Climbs Quickly had sent a message to Sings Truly that it was possible Stone Shaper would be in the vicinity within a small hand of days. She then had spoken with Fleet Wind, one of the heads of Bright Water’s scouts, and requested that a relay be set up so that the news could reach her quickly and that she, in turn, could arrange for some of Stone Shaper’s young to be ready to make the journey to meet with their long-absent father.
In the days that had gone by since her initial meeting with Stone Shaper, Sings Truly had worked hard to convince at least some of his family to meet with him and—more importantly—on how to not make Stone Shaper feel maimed in the presence of those who had not lost their ability to mind-speak. Climbs Quickly had helped by meeting with as many of Bright Water clan as cared to join in, so he could share first hand his own experiences with the Person that Stone Shaper had become since his departure turnings before.
Although he could not share precisely what had happened when Stone Shaper had met and bonded with Awakening Joy, since Stone Shaper had been the only Person who had witnessed the events, Climbs Quickly could share what he’d seen after, going back to his first meeting with the terribly injured Stone Shaper in Healer’s clinic, moving from there to what he had seen of the battlefield where Stone Shaper had played a key role in saving Awakening Joy and the barker, Needle Biter.
Better were their experiences since then, and best of all was the tale of how Stone Shaper had bravely gone to defend his two-leg and, yet, when doing so he had kept within the bounds of the agreement the People had made long before to reveal as little as possible about how clever and dangerous People could be. Such behavior, Sings Truly had persuasively argued, showed that while Stone Shaper had taken himself away from where he could not be a full part of the clan, he had continued to live up to what he would have last been told about the policy of the People regarding the two-legs.
Happily, by now, most People were coming to accept that since Climbs Quickly had bonded with Death Fang’s Bane, followed so soon after by several other bonds, the code of secrecy could no longer be maintained, although restraint was still in order.
Not all of Stone Shaper’s children who still lived with Bright Water Clan would be coming to this reunion. Several had been unable to hide their emotions—especially pity, but also some resentment that Stone Shaper had abandoned them when they were still grieving for their mother—in check. Sings Truly had reassured them that if all went well, there would be other opportunities, that, for now, the goal should be helping Stone Shaper realize that while he had made himself a new life, a good life, he need not reject everything about the old.
In the end, three of Stone Shaper’s children had come. The youngest was Frolics Merrily, from the last litter Stone Shaper and Golden Eye had produced. This young female was not yet bonded, and was concentrating on learning the many skills an adult female needed, for since the females rarely travelled far, they were the ones who maintained the clan. Clay Spinner was somewhat older, from a middle litter. He had not followed his father’s path as a stone worker, but had taken an interest in pottery. He was also a strong hunter who provided not only for his own mate and kits, but for others.
The last, and most problematic, was sour Stone Biter. He was from Stone Shaper’s first litter, and upon his father’s departure had taken over as senior stone worker. Although talented, Stone Biter lacked his father’s artistic flare. His tools were perfectly good and he made far more of them, but Climbs Quickly doubted that any young hunter or scout had lusted after one of his knives as Climbs Quickly had the one he now kept as a dearly held treasure. Worse, the advent of the two-legs and their not-stone tools, many of which could be scrounged from the places where the two-legs left their waste, had Stone Biter facing the before this point unthinkable possibility that his skills would become obsolete in his lifetime.
But although Climbs Quickly had thought that leaving Stone Biter out of this initial reunion might be best, Sings Truly had disagreed.
<Stone Shaper knows perfectly well that he abandoned not only his clan, but left his son to take his place. If this is to be a healing meeting, those two must meet, so that for Stone Biter his father will cease to be a thunderhead he cannot get out from under, and so that Stone Shaper will have an opportunity to see how his son has carried on.>
Climbs Quickly respected his sister. Nonetheless, he had to shove his apprehension to where it would not taint his mind-glow, then let his honest excitement cover it as he loped down the limb of the net-wood to meet Stone Shaper and then led the way to the destined meeting.
Heart Stone suspected what awaited him even before they arrived at the meeting place high in the net-wood. When she chose, Sings Truly could cause her mind-glow to be blindingly bright. In its blazing, Heart Stone decided there was a message.
<I am here. I know you remember what I tried to share with you the last time we met, that Bright Water is open to you if you have the courage to face what once drove you away. We are not perfect. Not all of us have the imagination to face without pity and fear what you were condemned to when you chose life over the easy escape of death. You fled, only to discover that one cannot flee suffering and grief. You dove into battle, perhaps seeking death and instead discovered love and a new reason for life. Are you ready to face Bright Water? If not, turn back. I will not let you be tricked.>
Closer, Heart Stone sought and found the taste of apprehension in Climbs Quickly’s mind-glow. From Sharp Sight, a Person whose tragedy he would never know, there was the taste of determination. From Plant Fancier there was, as always, a slow, intense quiet that tasted of growing things. From all of these, Heart Stone took courage.
<Climbs Quickly, you are fearful that this meeting you have set up—for surely it was you who first contacted your sister—will drive me away from you, reducing this new clan you are making. Sharp Sight, I wish I knew what you suffered, but if after whatever it was you can live with a mind-glow that bubbles with laughter, then who am I to believe my sufferings are excuse enough to separate myself from other People? Plant Fancier, you are a strange one, but in you I taste how a dead and rotting tree is also a rich source of life. If I face those I abandoned, those who frightened me, perhaps my days of rot can be turned to use, because the song the memory singers will keep of me is one of regrowth, and that will be an inspiration into a future beyond my imagining. My friends, I can do this, because of you, and because my life has taken a new shape.>
And he ran forward, six strong legs leaping and jumping, doing his very best to fill his mind-glow not with his real apprehension but with anticipation, with hope.
In the joining of branches where once before they had met with Sings Truly, she waited and with her was Frolics Merrily, Clay Spinner, and, the taste of his mind-glow dour, bleak, and full of doubt, Stone Biter. Although he had been a grown Person when Stone Shaper had left to become Stone, Stone Biter’s mind-glow was older, stiffer than it should be for one who had added only one more ring to his tail.
Young Frolics Merrily was tentative, but willing to meet the sire she really knew only through memory songs. Clay Spinner had memories of his own, and Heart Stone could taste the wistful hope that these would not be all he would ever have. To these he opened his body in a physical embrace, something People rarely offered except to mates after kittenhood, but which he had learned from Life Shaper could help wordless mind-glows to blend. They hesitated, but perhaps one of his friends explained, because they accepted his hugs and healing flowed forth.
Only then did Heart Stone face Stone Biter. He had wanted to give this most difficult of his younglings—no longer a youngling—a chance to consider. Rather than offering a hug, Heart Stone took something from the carry bag where he kept his stone shaping tools. As he had run toward the brilliance of Sings Truly’s mind-glow, he had remembered something from a long time before. He could only hope that Stone Biter would remember as well.
On the broad surface of the tree limb, Heart Stone set the broken pieces of a stone knife he had been working on. It had been going well, then a hidden flaw in the stone caused it to split. Although he knew Stone Biter could not hear his mind-voice, Heart Stone shaped his intention as if he could.
<Do you remember when I was teaching you to work stone? You were very talented, and very proud of how you could shape tools better than many with far more rings on their tails. You were working on a knife, much like this one, when a buried flaw broke it. You would have flung the pieces away in anger, but I showed you how they could be worked into smaller pieces, useful for scraping the bark from branches.>
<I have proven myself a flawed knife, but I have remade myself. Can you accept me as I am? Even more, can you accept that you need not be so bitter? I feel that you see yourself as a bit of stone shaped too fast and not as beautiful as you could be. Let this go. See yourself as the strong one you are.>
And as he shaped what his son could not hear, Heart Stone strove with all his might to pour his regret, his repentance, and, most of all, his love and admiration into his mind-glow.
Stone Biter stood as still as the bits of stone, but his mind-glow was a swirling clash of tastes, too complex for Heart Stone to understand fully. Doubtless Stone Biter’s mind-voice shared things the others could hear, and doubtless Sings Truly replied with something, perhaps something very wise.
Then Stone Biter reached forward. He picked up one of the broken bits of the knife and carefully put it into his own carry bag. When that was done, he opened his own arms, inviting an embrace, wordlessly letting Heart Stone know that he was forgiven, he had been missed, and, even, <Whenever you come to us, you are welcomed home.>
“I never knew,” Stephanie said to Anders, “that there could be so many ways of saying, ‘This isn’t a birthday present.’ The number one excuse is that the gift isn’t for me, it’s to help with the new SFS Explorers program. Number two is that it’s not a present, it’s just something to eat or drink that they brought for the party. Number three is that it’s for Lionheart.”
“Tell me about it,” Anders replied. “At least in my case, though, the farewell gifts are pretty much all digital files. People did remember that I’m getting on a spaceship in less than a week and weight allowances are pretty strict—worse, Dad’s taken over half of mine for his artifacts. Still, some are really amazing. Mack Kemper did me a painting of Main Street, Twin Forks, which I plan to have printed when I get home. Nosey Jones gave me a subscription to his newsletter. It’ll be out of date when I get it, but at least I can keep up with local events.”
“Nosey’s over learning to hang-glide,” Stephanie said. “He’s decided to do a series of columns featuring him trying out different sports. Since hang-gliding is becoming increasingly popular, he’s going to start with that, but Jake Simpson has made him promise that skimmers will be next.”
“Jake gave me a present, too,” Anders said, laughing at the memory, “the schematics for making my own skimmer. I think I’ll pass on that one. Urako’s a little more conservative than Sphinx.”
“You okay with going back?” Stephanie asked.
“I am, actually. This has been an amazing year or so, but y’know, I do miss my mom. I’m going to miss all of you, but it’s not like I’m never going to come back. As long as Dad’s working on treecats, there’re going to be opportunities.”
“I have a present for you, too,” Stephanie said. “I’ve sent it to your uni-link. It’s a bunch of images from your time here, sort of a scrapbook. A bunch of people helped me out. Chet and Christine even had images of you getting attacked by the rock ravens.”
“Oh, joy,” Anders moaned, but he was laughing, too. “It has been fun. Even when it wasn’t, still, somehow it was.”
They fell silent, standing shoulder to shoulder, comfortable now in a way that maybe they’d never been before, not even at the best of the short time they’d been dating.
There’s something to be said for friendship, Stephanie thought. To think that a year ago my parents had to all but threaten me to get me to invite anyone to my birthday party. This year it was my idea, and rather than having too few people I could ask, I just about ended up with too many.
She looked to where Herman was having a conversation with Jessica’s mom and Marjorie, doubtless discussing fungi, since Herman looked very animated. Jessica was over talking with Richard Harrington and Scott MacDallan, probably about med school. Zack and Irina were, judging from the way they kept sketching shapes in the air, chatting about something artsy. Overhead, the sky was bright with hang-gliders. Karl’s emerald and gold striped wings were next to a pair of trainers. She guessed he was teaching Cordelia.
Without even realizing she was doing it, Stephanie reached out along her link to Lionheart. He was having a good time, too, and the glow of his happiness met and mingled with hers.
Once I thought that Lionheart was the only friend I’d ever need, she thought. I’m so glad I’ve learned how great it is for us both to have friends.
She looked out to where Buddy Pheriss had set up some speakers and was acting as D.J. to an impromptu dance party. Mack and Brad swayed in each other’s arms, not far from Chet and Christine. Xadrian, in full club regalia, even for a midafternoon picnic, was marshalling a Sixy-Snakey line, which included Loon and Dia, Chief Ranger Shelton, and, Lev, Karl’s youngest sibling.
Stephanie poked Anders in the ribs. “That looks like fun. Time’s short. Let’s dance!”