The Finger of God: a Thalassia novel

by Patrick McClafferty

  “I’m quite happy here. I’ll stay with you for a while, at least.”

  “As you will.” Hedric chuckled, taking Lexi’s hand and starting down the long low hill toward the lake. Even from this distance he and Lexi could hear the shouts and shrieks from children, as the fairies dove and swooped.

  “I should have known that you two would make a grand entrance.” A deep laughing male voice said behind them. Hedric and Lexi stopped and turned.

  “You’re Logan, aren’t you?” Hedric asked politely. “Rhiannon’s husband.”

  The big man with the slightly salt-and-pepper hair bowed, smiling. “My reputation gives me away. I’m Logan MacKennit, Rhiannon’s husband and governor of this community.” He waved a hand at the pavilions below. “Most of the people we had here chose to move back to Thalassia when the troubles were resolved, so now we have only about two hundred people left. I expect that number to grow when you reveal our presence, but this is a day of Thanksgiving. I won’t talk shop.” He smiled, showing very white teeth.

  “Thank you, Mister MacKennit.” Hedric gave a little bow. “I’m Hedric Schwendau, and this is my fiancée, Alexandra…”

  “Isenhart.” Lexi filled in. “I’m the daughter of the Captain of the Golden Fleece, the steamship we both sail on.” She gave the young man a long look. “If Hedric can admit to who he is, I can do no less.”

  Hedric glanced at his shoulder. “The little flier here is called Liriope. She is a member of the Royal Titanian Amazons.”

  Logan put his hands on his hips, and studied the three for several long moments. “So, you’re the two that have Selene and Rhiannon’s tails tied in knots.” He reached out and touched their shoulders, and they felt a gentle probing, before he withdrew his hands. “You will make better custodians of the planet than our two resident goddesses. Medin was right, as usual, however, I don’t see what the big worry about the foursome is all about.” He gave Hedric a wink. “You’ve already touched it, any number of times. In fact you’re so comfortable with it you tend to slip into the foursome whenever you’re close, like right now.” He was grinning broadly. “Why don’t we go on down to the festivities.” His deep eyes were sparkling. “Do either of you play an instrument?”

  “Ah.” Hedric hesitated. “I used to play the recorder. My mother taught me, and my Uncle Padraig encouraged me, often taking out his own flute.”

  Logan laughed again. “Padraig Hansen? That scoundrel is still kicking around?”

  “Yeah, I guess.” Hedric looked embarrassed. “We had a little falling out, and I haven’t seen him for some time. Selene says he’s all right, though.”

  “She would. I knew Padraig before he and Selene were - involved, shall we say.” He turned his gaze on Lexi. “And how about you, young lady? Do you have any musical talent?”

  Lexi’s cheeks reddened. “Mom taught me how to play the zither, before Dad died. I haven’t played since. I think the instrument was sold.”

  “A zither and a recorder.” Logan looked thoughtful. “Hmmm. Well, come along then.”

  “Tell me, Mister MacKennit.” Hedric asked hesitantly as they walked down the soft verdant hill. “You seem awfully well versed with things. Are you like us? I mean, uh, have you been…”

  The tall man chuckled. “Rebuilt by Medin? The answer is yes. Do I have a K’Dreex like you? Yes, her name is Jade. Am I human? Like you, the answer is no. I was repaired a number of times, and each time Medin changed me a little, until finally the only human thing about me was my appearance. Do Selene and Rhiannon know? Rhiannon knows, but has written it off as unimportant. Now, don’t get me wrong.” He laughed lightly. “I love Rhiannon dearly, but she’s somewhat limited, because of her background. Ah, here we are.” He turned into a small, gaily striped tent. On a table at the far side of the room sat three instruments. A fat-bodied mandolin, a beautiful wooden tenor recorder and a modestly sized zither with ivory inlays.

  “Who do these belong to?” Alexandra asked in a small voice, touching the zither with a single finger. “This is beautiful.”

  Logan smiled at the two young people. “These belong to you. Medin made them specifically for you, based on your preferences and body size.”

  Hedric picked up the recorder as Liriope flitted to the table top. The wood was hand crafted as far as he could see, and when he blew a soft trill, the mellow haunting notes filled the tent with heart wrenching purity.

  Alexandra sat down on a convenient chair and placed the zither on her lap. The very first chord she played brought tears to the listeners’ eyes. Logan slowly set his own mandolin back on the table.

  “Aren’t you going to keep playing?”

  There was a slight frown on his face. “No, I don’t think so. There’s something else going on here, I think.”

  The door flap to the pavilion pulled open and Medin stepped in, followed immediately by Thallia. “You are quite correct, sir.”

  Logan looked stunned. “Medin, is that you?”

  The gray haired man smiled. “Yes, sir, and this is Thallia, from Elysium.”

  “I… I didn’t know that you could…”

  “You never asked, sir.” Medin turned an affectionate look on the two young people. “They, however, did. Please, Hedric and Alexandra, continue.”

  Lexi glanced at Hedric, a light blush darkening her fair cheeks. “Do you know ‘Greensleeves’?”

  “I know the tune, but I can’t remember the words.” Hedric admitted, lifting the recorder.

  “That’s all right.” Lexi smiled for him alone. “Mom taught me the words, and the melody. It was the first piece I ever played.”

  The first stanzas caught the listeners’ hearts, and when Lexi began to sing, in her clear smooth mezzo-soprano voice she caught at their very breath. Hedric’s tenor recorder carried the smooth melody, sweeping the both of them together and binding them so tightly that only one exquisite strain could be heard.

  Finally, as in all melodies, the music came to an end, and silence filled the small room.

  “That.” Medin said solemnly. “Was the Hedric/Alexandra foursome. I feel distinctly privileged to have witnessed it, since it went well into both sub and ultrasonic ranges. We felt it as much as heard it.”

  “Thank you.” Hedric and Lexi said together.

  “We really should go now.” Logan pulled open the door flap of the pavilion and they stepped out to face a half hundred rapt faces. The eyes lit on the recorder and the zither. “Play some more, PLEASE!” The voice of the crowd seemed to speak as one.

  Logan tucked his mandolin under his arm, and headed for a larger pavilion, set close to the water. “We’ll continue down there.” He pointed with one hand, and the crowd swept away. With a crooked smile, he turned to the two young people. “I hope that you don’t mind playing a few more pieces.”

  Hedric laughed. “We’ve never had such an appreciative audience.”

  Three jigs, two reels and one soft lament sung by Alexandra and harmonized by Hedric later, they finally paused for a break. Hedric and Lexi had managed to break away and dance both reels, spinning madly to the wild music played by Logan and several other varied members of the community. At one point Hedric found himself dancing with Thallia, and later with both Selene and Rhiannon when they joined the fun.

  Lexi slid her zither into its padded case and hesitantly set it on a table in the music pavilion. “Do you think it will be safe here, Medin?” She asked, hesitantly.

  “Absolutely, Miss Alexandra.” Medin replied with a smile. “After the pleasure you’ve given them, nobody would dare touch your instruments.”

  Hedric set his recorder and mandolin down next to the zither, and took Lexi’s hand. “Shall we find something good to eat?”

  “Yes!” She declared emphatically. “I’m starved. And a glass of wine too.”

  “The dining pavilion is right this way. I believe that you will be seated with Selene, Rhiannon and Logan at the head table.” Hedric groaned. “I’m sorry, Hedric. You are guests of
some importance, and I believe the goddesses wish to show you off.” Lexi groaned this time.

  “And how are our small flying friends doing?” Hedric looked around, and realized that he hadn’t seen a fairy in quite some time.

  “They were an immediate sensation, but they are small creatures. When they became hungry, I gave them a bowl of cream and another of honey, and they ate and went off to find a quiet place to sleep. I believe that they are one hundred yards into the forest right now, on the branch of a large oak tree. Do you wish me to wake them?”

  Hedric smiled. “No, Medin. Let them sleep. They’ve had a busy day. Will you and Thallia be joining us for the feast?”

  “No, I believe that we will find a quiet spot for our own luncheon. Perhaps the observatory, if you don’t mind.”

  “Mind?” Hedric stopped, and looked at Medin strangely. “Medin, the observatory isn’t mine.” He glanced quickly at Lexi, standing beside him. “Or should I say, ours.”

  “You’re wrong, Hedric, Alexandra. This moon is your home, and especially the observatory. At my insistence, none may enter without your consent.”

  Hedric took a deep breath. As close as they were, he knew he didn’t have to ask Lexi. “Medin, you and Thallia have our permission to enter the observatory any time you want. Even if you just wish to sit and gaze at the stars.” He looked over at a blushing Lexi. “If we’re asleep, try not to wake us up if it’s not an emergency.”

  Medin studied them with level gray eyes. “You have a deal.”

  Selene and Rhiannon both waved them to the head table as they entered the dining pavilion, and wine was immediately poured by two awed looking children.

  “Children as servers?” Alexandra asked, eying the young boy and girl.

  Rhiannon smiled. “There was a competition between children from eight to twelve years old for the privilege of serving us at this feast. Six were selected. Of course, Medin does all the heavy lifting, but the children serve the wine and other drinks. At the end of the feast we’ll call them up and personally thank each one.

  “That’s very considerate.” Hedric commented warmly. “Logan mentioned that your population has been dropping.”

  “Yes.” The red-haired goddess sighed. “We had dropped to ninety-five people. The number is back up to one hundred and four now, and there are four more families due to arrive next week. More should start coming once we open the school. It was Logan’s idea, really.” She gave her husband a suggestive wink. “He thought a school that taught a person all they needed to know would be useful. Reading, writing, math, science, armed and unarmed combat, in the lower grades up through medicine, agriculture, chemistry and government in the upper grades.”

  “No music?” Hedric asked, surprised.

  “That is in a separate School of the Arts.” The goddess laughed.

  “How many can you comfortably accommodate?” Lexi asked curiously.

  “Thousands.” Rhiannon grinned at their stunned expressions. “Then we would probably have to expand our living area. The whole moon is available to us, you know.”

  They were still gaping at Rhiannon, when the feast arrived. Mountains of salads and cascades of sweetmeats were followed by steaming platters of meats; both red and white, fish, heaped salvers of vegetables and rivers of wine. Finally, when the crowd could eat no more, dessert was served; thin succulent wedges of fresh fruit, heaps of chilled berries, pies and cakes still steaming from the oven, and small crystal bowls of colorful, flavorful sorbets.

  Since they had started first, Hedric and Alexandra finished first, and on a kind of mutual agreement, retrieved their instruments from the other pavilion, and entertained the diners with light strains for the remainder of the meal.

  When the last tune was finished, the two young people quietly packed their instruments and slipped out the back door of the pavilion, leaving the instruments with the others in the music pavilion.

  “Have you ever paddled a canoe?” Lexi asked somewhat breathlessly, pulling him down toward the water.

  “Ah, no.” Hedric looked dubiously at the small green craft pulled up to the shore, and considered how long and narrow it seemed.

  “Well, I have, so get in.” Lexi’s command was preemptory.

  “It’s your funeral.” He stepped into the canoe, and was shocked at how tippy it was. “How are you supposed to…?”

  “Oh just sit down.” Lexi pushed the small boat out into the water, then jumped in the back. She handed him a paddle, and then began to use her own vigorously, moving them quickly out into the lake. “Paddle on the opposite side from me, and in sync.” Her request was more like a command, but in his mind Hedric could tell exactly when Lexi’s paddle touched the water, so they moved out smoothly.

  To their right a small fish jumped, and the light cool breeze was heavy with the scent of pine and cedar. The distant trees were casting long fingers of shadows across the water as the evening slowly crept in.

  “Hi, guys!” The small bright voice made Hedric turn sharply and look over his shoulder. Liriope was sitting on the low gunwale between Lexi and him, dangling her feet over the water. “How was the feast? We could smell the food and hear the music. Was that you playing?” She was talking very fast, as if the excitement of the day was catching up with her.

  “Yes, that was us.” Hedric replied, smiling. “How has your day been?”

  “It’s been wonderful!” The fairy rolled her eyes dramatically. “This place is great! Don’t tell her I told you, but I think Captain Zanna is going to ask you if the fairies could found a small community here. We found some caves high up on a hill that would be perfect.”

  “I don’t know, Liriope.” Hedric replied seriously. “I’ll have to ask Medin and Mister MacKennit, the governor, what they think.” He gave the little creature a wink. “I suspect it won’t be much of a problem.”

  Liriope’s face went suddenly serious. “You are a good friend to us, Hedric Schwendau. This is another one that we owe you.”

  The young man sighed as the canoe drifted in the twilight. “I told Captain Zanna. Friends don’t owe friends. I do this because I like you—all of you.” He amended quickly. “Although you, Hot Shot, are my special friend.” He touched her tummy with a single finger, and she smiled, lifted off from the gunwale and brushed his cheek with a fleeting kiss.

  “I love you.” Drifted through the air, and then she was gone.

  “You realize.” The voice of Medin was soft, and came from somewhere just over the canoe. “That fairies are somewhat like bees. Although they have individual personalities, they also share a hive mind. By befriending Liriope, you have, in effect, befriended them all.”

  “Is that a problem?” Hedric asked, frowning in concern.

  “Not a problem, per se, but it could lead to some interesting complications.”

  Lexi stifled a yawn, and Hedric looked up at the stars, just appearing in the sky. “This is absolutely beautiful, Medin. Your sense of majesty is breathtaking.”

  “Why, thank you, Hedric. It is simply a real-time projection taken from the observatory.”

  Hedric glanced at Alexandra, who was yawning again in the back of the canoe. “Speaking of the observatory. Could you give us a little tow to shore? I think my darling betrothed has worn herself out.”

  There was a chuckle in the air. “Certainly.” The canoe began to slide through the water, faster than they could paddle at their best. In no time it was crunching into the soft gravel of the shore. Hedric helped Lexi out and pulled the canoe further out of the water. “I’ll hold your instruments for you, Hedric.” The air sparkled and he and Alexandra were standing under the stars of the observatory dome, a pine scented breeze cool enough to raise goosebumps blowing gently on their skin. A fire in a large circular fire pit flickered a welcome casting inviting shadows across the scattered furniture. “Is there anything else you would like?”

  Hedric grinned. “Two mugs of hot chocolate, if you have it.”

  “Ah, a favorite of mine
.” Medin’s voice sounded pleased. The air shimmered, and two steaming mugs appeared. “Just touch the side of the couch and it will convert to a bed, when you are ready. Blankets and pillows are in the hassock to your right. You already know where the bathroom and small kitchen are located. Is there anything else, Hedric?”

  “No, that’s fine, Medin. Thank you.”

  They sat for some time curled up together, sipping hot cocoa, warmed by the fire, watching the stars. Neither Hedric nor Lexi remembered just when they fell asleep.

  “Hedric!” Alexandra’s voice had a strange note to it, and Hedric hurriedly finished drying his hair. Waking up had been a slow, luxurious affair, and Lexi had claimed the bathing facilities first. He had almost finished his own shower when she called. Tossing the wet towel into a convenient hamper, Hedric slipped on the soft white robe that had, obviously, been left for him.

  “Are you all right?” He was trotting across the fifty feet of carpeted floor, to the small cluster of furniture that surrounded the fire pit. He still couldn’t see Lexi. “Are you all right?” He repeated.

  “I’m right here.” Alexandra’s voice purred. One bare arm was beckoning him from under the blanket. Her robe was draped across the back of a nearby chair, and her dark hair spread out like a glossy shadow across the white pillow. She had a wicked little smile on her face, and her lips were very red. “I didn’t get my goodnight kiss last night. I’ll take that, along with my good morning kiss right now, if you please.”

  Hedric could feel the flush spreading up his face, heating his ears. Looking down on the beautiful young woman before him, he dropped his white robe on the floor and crawled under the blanket beside her, running his hand over her smooth bare hip.

  “Ohhh!” A gasp escaped the girl’s lips as his gentle hand moved over her hip and down her flat abdomen. “Hedric, I…” She froze as his tongue touched her left nipple, and with a small cry she pulled his head closer. He could feel her trembling under his touch—or was it himself?