Industrial Magic
Page 123
Is Lucas, I said.
Eve elbowed me. I ignored her.
We need Lucas. We left him
The woman shook her head. He cant go, child. He died. He must stay here.
No, he didnt
We know you dont want to believe that, but
Wait, I said, lifting my hands. Im arguing the fact, not the interpretation. The bullet hit Lucas and he fell into the portal.
We know what happened.
Then you know it takes longer than that split second to die after being shot in the chest. Therefore, when he fell through the portal, he wasnt dead.
The woman shook her head, smiling. Always the logical one, arent you? Im afraid its a matter of semantics, child. The shot would have killed him. We know that.
My heart seized in my chest, but I pushed on. Okay, you know that because you know it was his time, but
His time? the old woman said as she appeared. She swept a hand at the yarn jungle behind her. Its never anyones time, girl. We dont make that decision. What happens happens, and what happened was that Lucas Cortez died
The middle sister cut in. Which is a tragedy, of course. But here hell be able to continue his work. Theres good and evil in this world, too. We can use Lucas here and, when you die, you will join him. Youll be together. Thats already been determined. Thats why you came through to the same dimension. You just have to wait
I wont wait. If he stays, I stay.
The womans lips curved in a sympathetic smile. Thats not a choice you really want to make. It wont go the way you hoped.
Im not hoping for anything. Im making a statement of fact. Lucas stays, I stay.
Dont do this, Eve hissed in my ear. You cant trick them.
It isnt a bluff.
The crone appeared. Whether you go or stay isnt your decision to make, girl.
But if you send me back, I can make it my decision. Youve said theres no predestination, so I can choose my own time of death.
Doesnt matter. Even if you kill yourself, theres no guarantee youll ever see him again.
Of course there is. You said so yourself. Its been decidedwell be together. I suppose you could change things, but that would be petty, and you said youre never petty.
The woman appeared with a sigh. I do so prefer the ghosts who cower and quake in our presence.
Oh, shes awful, isntshe? Eve said. Been like this since she was a child. Always questioning everything and everybody. No respect for authority. My advice? Send her and Lucas back and spare yourselves sixty, seventy unnecessary years of grief.
Thank you, Eve, for considering our feelings in the matter. However, your bias in the matter is well known. You want Paige for your daughters guardian.
Have you considered that, Paige? asked the old woman, popping back to fix me with that soul-piercing stare. If you stayed here, youd abandon Savannah, after all youve
The middle sister cut in. No, thats not fair. We wont make you choose, child. The decision must be ours. That is the only truly equitable She stopped, head tilted. Yes, sister, thats an idea.
The woman vanished, then the child appeared, then the crone, then the three began flipping so quickly I couldnt tell who I was seeing. Snatches of conversation flew past, meaningless, out of context. Then the middle-aged woman took over.
Eve, you want Paige and Lucas as Savannahs guardians. Would you be willing to barter for it?
Eve lifted her chin, meeting the other womans gaze squarely. I am. You want me to obey the rules, right? Send them backboth of themand Ill do it.
The woman smiled and shook her head. Obedience without acceptance is meaningless. When you understand the rules, youll obey them. Until then She shrugged and waved at the yarn hanging behind them. You make your own mistakes. You determine your own fate. We dont do that for you.
Eve frowned. Then whats the price?
You will owe us a favor. A chit, which we may call in whenever we wish.
Ill do it.
Are you sure?
No, but Im agreeing anyway. Do this for me, and Ill owe you one. Now, we left Lucas
The Fate cut Eve off with a wave. We know. She closed her eyes and the three forms flipped past in a blur, then returned to the middle sister. There. Lucas is back in the living world. Paige, well see you again someday, hopefully after a long and
Wait! Eve said. Dont I get to say good-bye?
Yes, after I do. Now, Paige, turn around.
I did. Twenty feet away, the air shimmered, like heat rising off hot asphalt.
Thats the portal. When youre done with Eve, just walk through it. Be quick, though. Ive sent Lucas back to where he left, and hell likely be disoriented. There was no danger there a moment ago butwell, be quick.
Eve elbowed me. I ignored her.
We need Lucas. We left him
The woman shook her head. He cant go, child. He died. He must stay here.
No, he didnt
We know you dont want to believe that, but
Wait, I said, lifting my hands. Im arguing the fact, not the interpretation. The bullet hit Lucas and he fell into the portal.
We know what happened.
Then you know it takes longer than that split second to die after being shot in the chest. Therefore, when he fell through the portal, he wasnt dead.
The woman shook her head, smiling. Always the logical one, arent you? Im afraid its a matter of semantics, child. The shot would have killed him. We know that.
My heart seized in my chest, but I pushed on. Okay, you know that because you know it was his time, but
His time? the old woman said as she appeared. She swept a hand at the yarn jungle behind her. Its never anyones time, girl. We dont make that decision. What happens happens, and what happened was that Lucas Cortez died
The middle sister cut in. Which is a tragedy, of course. But here hell be able to continue his work. Theres good and evil in this world, too. We can use Lucas here and, when you die, you will join him. Youll be together. Thats already been determined. Thats why you came through to the same dimension. You just have to wait
I wont wait. If he stays, I stay.
The womans lips curved in a sympathetic smile. Thats not a choice you really want to make. It wont go the way you hoped.
Im not hoping for anything. Im making a statement of fact. Lucas stays, I stay.
Dont do this, Eve hissed in my ear. You cant trick them.
It isnt a bluff.
The crone appeared. Whether you go or stay isnt your decision to make, girl.
But if you send me back, I can make it my decision. Youve said theres no predestination, so I can choose my own time of death.
Doesnt matter. Even if you kill yourself, theres no guarantee youll ever see him again.
Of course there is. You said so yourself. Its been decidedwell be together. I suppose you could change things, but that would be petty, and you said youre never petty.
The woman appeared with a sigh. I do so prefer the ghosts who cower and quake in our presence.
Oh, shes awful, isntshe? Eve said. Been like this since she was a child. Always questioning everything and everybody. No respect for authority. My advice? Send her and Lucas back and spare yourselves sixty, seventy unnecessary years of grief.
Thank you, Eve, for considering our feelings in the matter. However, your bias in the matter is well known. You want Paige for your daughters guardian.
Have you considered that, Paige? asked the old woman, popping back to fix me with that soul-piercing stare. If you stayed here, youd abandon Savannah, after all youve
The middle sister cut in. No, thats not fair. We wont make you choose, child. The decision must be ours. That is the only truly equitable She stopped, head tilted. Yes, sister, thats an idea.
The woman vanished, then the child appeared, then the crone, then the three began flipping so quickly I couldnt tell who I was seeing. Snatches of conversation flew past, meaningless, out of context. Then the middle-aged woman took over.
Eve, you want Paige and Lucas as Savannahs guardians. Would you be willing to barter for it?
Eve lifted her chin, meeting the other womans gaze squarely. I am. You want me to obey the rules, right? Send them backboth of themand Ill do it.
The woman smiled and shook her head. Obedience without acceptance is meaningless. When you understand the rules, youll obey them. Until then She shrugged and waved at the yarn hanging behind them. You make your own mistakes. You determine your own fate. We dont do that for you.
Eve frowned. Then whats the price?
You will owe us a favor. A chit, which we may call in whenever we wish.
Ill do it.
Are you sure?
No, but Im agreeing anyway. Do this for me, and Ill owe you one. Now, we left Lucas
The Fate cut Eve off with a wave. We know. She closed her eyes and the three forms flipped past in a blur, then returned to the middle sister. There. Lucas is back in the living world. Paige, well see you again someday, hopefully after a long and
Wait! Eve said. Dont I get to say good-bye?
Yes, after I do. Now, Paige, turn around.
I did. Twenty feet away, the air shimmered, like heat rising off hot asphalt.
Thats the portal. When youre done with Eve, just walk through it. Be quick, though. Ive sent Lucas back to where he left, and hell likely be disoriented. There was no danger there a moment ago butwell, be quick.
