Waterfall
Page 49
Ander shook his head. His arm twisted behind him to trace the gills. But they wont heal.
Solon took a drag from his cigarette and said, Worst-case scenario is your possessor lies dormant within you for now.
Ander nodded miserably.
On the bright side, Solon said, you should be able to breathe underwater. You could swim away and save Eureka the trouble of pretending she doesnt love you. Solon swirled the golden liquid in his glass. Of course, there is the Glimmering.
Eureka felt like an arctic wind had crossed the cave. Shed known the moment Esme spoke about her history that she would have to face the Glimmering, that it was part of her preparation for Atlantis. She would do it alone. She didnt want any of the others going near it again.
Ander leaned closer, hanging on Solons words.
It looks like an ordinary pond, the elder Seedbearer explained, but its the masterwork of the gossipwitches. Ones reflection in the Glimmering is said to reveal who one truly is, as ridiculous as that sounds. You could try it. I dont believe in identity, reality, or truth, so theres no reason for me to take the narcissistic peek. Which is ironic, because Im extremely narcissistic.
How do I get there?
It isnt farsouth of the Celans caves, through a series of what used to be valleys before your girlfriend grew a conscience. Rapids likely roar there now. A gossipwitch could escort you, buthis face twitched worriedlytheir help is costly, as you know.
You think I should go, even if it
Burns your face off? Solon finished Anders thought and stared sadly into his empty glass. That depends. How badly do you need to know?
The sky outside the Bitter Cloud was rusty gray, signaling dawn. Ander had spent his life watching Eureka from a distancebut that morning she was the voyeur.
She lagged behind, stalking him like a coyote stalks a deer. He moved quickly over dark rocks, through stands of dying trees. The orichalcum spears sheath gleamed in a belt loop of his black jeans.
He looked different at a distance. When they were close, chemistry got in the way, making Eurekas body buzz, clouding her vision so that all she saw was the boy she wanted. But out in the wild diluvian dawn, Ander was his own person.
She was so focused on her subject that Eureka hardly noticed the path they followed. It was different from the path Esme had illuminated that night. When Ander arrived at the Glimmering, Eureka crouched behind a boulder as the sky lightened in the east. The wind was cold, its chill bone deep. As always, Ander stayed dry in the rain.
Her arms wanted to hold him. Her lips wanted to kiss him. Her heart wanted to be another kind of heart. She thought the person capable ofyearning and love had died with Seyma and Dad. But the physical need lingered, undeniable.
She looked for Brookss body in the pine tree. She didnt see him there, or anywhere.
Anders eyes looked sunken. She sensed the fear in him, like a hunter senses it in prey. He paced the shore, ran his fingers through his hair. He inhaled deeply and pressed his hand against his heart. He stood where the water lapped the shore, closed his eyes, and hung his head.
This is for you, Eureka, he said.
She stepped out from behind the rock. Wait.
He was at her side in an instant. He studied her lips, her dusting of freckles, the widows peak in her hairline, her shoulders and fingertips, as if theyd been separated for months. He touched her cheek. She leaned into him for a momentblissful instinctthen forced herself away.
You shouldnt be here, both said at the same time.
How similar their preservation instincts were, their tendency for sadness. Eureka had never met anyone as intense as Anderand even that was familiar. People in New Iberia often said Eureka was intense, meaning it as an insult. Eureka didnt think it was.
If my family finds you if Atlas does, Ander said.
Eureka looked around, her gaze hovering on the empty pine tree. I have to know the truth.
Ander faced the Glimmering. Rain glanced off the air around his skin. Now that she was up close, Eureka admired the ridges of Anders cordon.
Me too, he said.
When Brooks was taken, Eureka said, he became so different. I see now that it was obvious. Bitter rain struck her lips. She hated that shed done nothing to help Brooks, that he struggled alone. Was she making the same mistake with Ander, afraid to confront a frightening change in him?
You dont know me well enough to know if Im different, Ander said.
Eureka watched a cloud drape his face in shadows. It was true. He had guarded his identity closely. Yet he knew so much about her.
You know yourself, she said.
Ander grew impatient. If Im possessed, I cant be around you anymore. I wont let him use me to kill you. I would go into the far distance and never see you again.
Then Ander would be free from his feelings for her. He wouldnt grow old like Solon had when hed been in love with Byblis. Wasnt that what she wanted? She tried to picture carrying on without him, toward Brooks and Atlas and the impossible dream of untangling them and redeeming herself. Would it be better for Ander if he left her now?
Where would I go? Ander moaned softly, closing his eyes. I wouldnt know what to do if I werent next to you. Thats who I am.
Solon took a drag from his cigarette and said, Worst-case scenario is your possessor lies dormant within you for now.
Ander nodded miserably.
On the bright side, Solon said, you should be able to breathe underwater. You could swim away and save Eureka the trouble of pretending she doesnt love you. Solon swirled the golden liquid in his glass. Of course, there is the Glimmering.
Eureka felt like an arctic wind had crossed the cave. Shed known the moment Esme spoke about her history that she would have to face the Glimmering, that it was part of her preparation for Atlantis. She would do it alone. She didnt want any of the others going near it again.
Ander leaned closer, hanging on Solons words.
It looks like an ordinary pond, the elder Seedbearer explained, but its the masterwork of the gossipwitches. Ones reflection in the Glimmering is said to reveal who one truly is, as ridiculous as that sounds. You could try it. I dont believe in identity, reality, or truth, so theres no reason for me to take the narcissistic peek. Which is ironic, because Im extremely narcissistic.
How do I get there?
It isnt farsouth of the Celans caves, through a series of what used to be valleys before your girlfriend grew a conscience. Rapids likely roar there now. A gossipwitch could escort you, buthis face twitched worriedlytheir help is costly, as you know.
You think I should go, even if it
Burns your face off? Solon finished Anders thought and stared sadly into his empty glass. That depends. How badly do you need to know?
The sky outside the Bitter Cloud was rusty gray, signaling dawn. Ander had spent his life watching Eureka from a distancebut that morning she was the voyeur.
She lagged behind, stalking him like a coyote stalks a deer. He moved quickly over dark rocks, through stands of dying trees. The orichalcum spears sheath gleamed in a belt loop of his black jeans.
He looked different at a distance. When they were close, chemistry got in the way, making Eurekas body buzz, clouding her vision so that all she saw was the boy she wanted. But out in the wild diluvian dawn, Ander was his own person.
She was so focused on her subject that Eureka hardly noticed the path they followed. It was different from the path Esme had illuminated that night. When Ander arrived at the Glimmering, Eureka crouched behind a boulder as the sky lightened in the east. The wind was cold, its chill bone deep. As always, Ander stayed dry in the rain.
Her arms wanted to hold him. Her lips wanted to kiss him. Her heart wanted to be another kind of heart. She thought the person capable ofyearning and love had died with Seyma and Dad. But the physical need lingered, undeniable.
She looked for Brookss body in the pine tree. She didnt see him there, or anywhere.
Anders eyes looked sunken. She sensed the fear in him, like a hunter senses it in prey. He paced the shore, ran his fingers through his hair. He inhaled deeply and pressed his hand against his heart. He stood where the water lapped the shore, closed his eyes, and hung his head.
This is for you, Eureka, he said.
She stepped out from behind the rock. Wait.
He was at her side in an instant. He studied her lips, her dusting of freckles, the widows peak in her hairline, her shoulders and fingertips, as if theyd been separated for months. He touched her cheek. She leaned into him for a momentblissful instinctthen forced herself away.
You shouldnt be here, both said at the same time.
How similar their preservation instincts were, their tendency for sadness. Eureka had never met anyone as intense as Anderand even that was familiar. People in New Iberia often said Eureka was intense, meaning it as an insult. Eureka didnt think it was.
If my family finds you if Atlas does, Ander said.
Eureka looked around, her gaze hovering on the empty pine tree. I have to know the truth.
Ander faced the Glimmering. Rain glanced off the air around his skin. Now that she was up close, Eureka admired the ridges of Anders cordon.
Me too, he said.
When Brooks was taken, Eureka said, he became so different. I see now that it was obvious. Bitter rain struck her lips. She hated that shed done nothing to help Brooks, that he struggled alone. Was she making the same mistake with Ander, afraid to confront a frightening change in him?
You dont know me well enough to know if Im different, Ander said.
Eureka watched a cloud drape his face in shadows. It was true. He had guarded his identity closely. Yet he knew so much about her.
You know yourself, she said.
Ander grew impatient. If Im possessed, I cant be around you anymore. I wont let him use me to kill you. I would go into the far distance and never see you again.
Then Ander would be free from his feelings for her. He wouldnt grow old like Solon had when hed been in love with Byblis. Wasnt that what she wanted? She tried to picture carrying on without him, toward Brooks and Atlas and the impossible dream of untangling them and redeeming herself. Would it be better for Ander if he left her now?
Where would I go? Ander moaned softly, closing his eyes. I wouldnt know what to do if I werent next to you. Thats who I am.
