Angels Among Us

by C. E. Barrett

  “You're sure?” he asked, a wistful smile touching his lips.

  “Look, I'm very tactile. I like touching, I like hugging, I like being close to people I care for. It doesn't mean I want it to lead to sex; it means I like to show how I feel. Do you understand what I mean?” She looked at him quizzically.

  He nodded. “Yes. I absolutely do. Like you, I'm very physical with the people I love; just not in public. I am, in fact, very big on touching.”

  “I didn't think you liked it very much at all,” she told him. “I mean, you jumped every time I came near you.”

  “I'm not used to casual contact like that, especially from women. Most of the time, your touch startled me. It wasn't that I wanted you to go away, or to stop.” His hand moved up between her shoulder blades, and pressed lightly. She moved closer, and her arm slid around his waist. She turned more until she was lying on her side facing him. She slipped her other hand under his left arm, which wrapped itself around her. She closed her eyes and struggled with the sudden surge of desire that swept through her from having her naked body held so securely against his chest and belly. What am I doing? We haven't established the rules for being naked around each other yet! We shouldn't be doing this! I shouldn't be doing this, but oh, Daffyd, it feels so nice!

  She opened her eyes and looked at him. “I think we should head back to shore,” she managed to say. He nodded silently. Neither made a move to disengage from the embrace.

  “Before we do,” he said, after a long moment of silence. “May I kiss you?”

  She found it odd that he would want to, but thought of Larry, her brother's spouse. Larry would kiss her at the drop of a hat; it was just the way he was. Maybe now that Daffyd's secret was out, he was more comfortable being himself.

  “Yes,” she said. When his lips touched hers, she jumped with the force of the thrill that went through her like an electric shock. He pulled back right away, but she stopped him. “No, don't go away. It's nice; it just surprised me. Please. Let's try that one more time.” She braced herself for the impact and kissed him again. The kiss was brief, but his lips were warm and soft, and filled her with a longing that this was neither the time nor the place to fulfill.

  “Now we should go back to shore,” he said, and released her. They stood up, Seren suddenly self-conscious about her nudity. She began to turn away, but he stopped her. “Seren,” he said. “Don't be embarrassed. I think you're lovely, with or without clothes.” He hoped she wouldn't take his comment the wrong way.

  She smiled over her shoulder at him, delighted with the compliment. “Thank you, Daffyd. That's the nicest thing anyone's said in a long time. Thank you.” She turned and dove into the water. He followed somewhat more sedately. By the time he levered himself out onto the dock, Seren was dressed and waiting, holding his shirt for him. He threw it over his shoulder, and slipped his sandals onto his feet. They walked back up to the house in comfortable silence, each thinking it was nice to have cleared the confusion between them.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  * * *

  CHAPTER 31

  When Seren walked into the kitchen alone, Reznik cringed inwardly. Devany looked up at Seren and said, “Daffyd went looking for you. Did he find you?”

  “Yes, he did, baby,” Seren replied. She took the fifth place setting from where she had left it earlier, and sat at the table. “He'll be along in a few minutes. He just went upstairs to put on some dry clothes.” Reznik noticed Seren's wet hair and the damp spots on her T-shirt. She began to put two and two together, and was starting to enjoy the resulting answer. Seren served herself some coleslaw and took a handful of sandwiches.

  Daffyd joined them minutes later. Reznik studied him when he entered the room. He was wearing the same shirt as before, but his shorts were different. His beard was damp, and the half-circle of short brown hair was wet. Reznik continued her calculations, and decided she hadn't caused irreparable damage in their relationship. She heaved an inward sigh of relief. In fact, it was beginning to look as if they'd finally figured things out. She repressed a satisfied grin.

  Daffyd sat beside Seren and helped himself to the food. Rapsim glanced over at them, sensing a change of some sort, but unable at the moment to pinpoint it.

  “Oh, Seren,” said Reznik suddenly. “Tell Rap what you saw earlier.”

  Seren described the distortion she had seen in the yard. Rapsim frowned. He had caught that pattern as it was happening, and had been able to go over the readings. It was different from the elusive ones he had been chasing, but it was a wave he had seen before, most often before things went awry on missions. Some species attributed the ‘bad luck’ to gremlins, or imps, or even various demons. Rapsim was of the private opinion that there was an unknown species out there whose main pleasure in life was causing trouble and harm for others. The gods knew there were individuals everywhere who enjoyed that sort of thing; why not an entire race? The presence of such a reading caused him some concern, which he kept to himself. He would tell Reznik later, but Seren and Daffyd and Devany did not need to be burdened more than they already were.

  “If anyone else notices anything, please inform me,” said Rapsim. “So far, I have had no good luck finding the source of the surges. I did find out where the power comes from for the lights and things, however.”

  Seren and Daffyd turned interested eyes on him. “Do tell, Rap,” said Seren around a mouthful of slaw.

  “The entire roof is made of solar collectors of a very advanced type. They seem to convert the light directly into electricity and heat. That's how the water for the shower is heated. There's a tank in the attic, and it's heated by the collectors.”

  “Then why isn't there hot water to the kitchen?” Daffyd asked.

  Rapsim shrugged. “This whole place is mixed up, Daffyd. There seem to be items from every era, different realities, different worlds, even. Look at the wine from Keriald. I can't explain it. I would dearly love to know who put all this together, because there is no way all these things came together accidentally. I doubt that we came here accidentally. Someone, somewhere, has chosen us; but for what, I can't even guess.”

  “Daffyd has a theory about that,” said Seren suddenly. She caught his warning glance, a flash of eyes toward Devany. “Maybe we four can discuss it later,” she finished smoothly. Reznik and Rapsim had also seen the quick dart of Daffyd's eyes, and followed Seren's lead.

  “Yes, I think that's a fine idea,” said Reznik brightly. “Right now, I think I'm going down to the lake for a swim.” She saw Seren's mouth open and forestalled any objection, “I know! I just ate. I promise I'll just float around for an hour while I digest, Mom. And you guys can clean up,” she added, indicating the men. “Because Devany and Seren and I made lunch.” She looked down at Devany who was taking in everything quietly. “You want to come swimming?”

  “There's no pool here,” said Devany. “And I don't have my swimsuit.”

  “Why don't we pretend it's a funny-shaped pool, with bushes painted on the walls, and we'll swim in our undies,” suggested Reznik.

  Devany frowned. “I don't want to get my underwear all wet,” she said. “Could we swim in nothing at all? That's what we did when we were really little. It was fun.” Her desire to get in the water outweighed her fear of the wide outdoors. Gerri's suggestion to pretend the bushes and trees were painted on the walls appealed to her. On the one hand, she was stunned that someone was telling her to use her imagination, but on the other, she was excited at the prospect of giving it free rein.

  “By the way,” said Reznik casually to Seren and Daffyd. “How's the water?”

  “Fine,” said Seren.

  “Perfect,” said Daffyd at the same time. Reznik grinned and turned away.

  “Come on, Kiddo,” she said to Devany. “Let's let the old folks hang out here. You and I have a date with the lake.” She offered a hand, which Devany took readily. She was getting used to the custom, and feeling more and more comfortable with these people.
However, when they stepped out onto the porch, the open space in front of her was too immense, too frightening. She held back. Reznik looked down at her.

  “Don't be afraid, Devany,” she said, and squatted beside the child. “Look. If you look over there, doesn't that look like a painting of a road? And those hills behind it; don't they look like someone put them there, trying to make a 3-D picture? Just squint your eyes a little bit, and focus on a little piece.” Devany followed her instructions.

  All at once, she realized she could make it seem fake. She concentrated. Reznik smiled at the intensity of Devany's expression. “Now,” she said to the little girl. “Let's pretend we're going down a hallway to the stairs down to the pool. Be careful, we don't want to walk into the walls.” With Reznik's vivid narration, Devany's imagination leapt into action, building walls along the yard, turning the path into a staircase leading down, and making the entire bowl of the lake and lawn into a huge swimming pool with projected images on the walls. With this idea firmly lodged in her mind, she was able to enjoy the outing. She beamed up at Reznik, as they made a neat pile of their clothing on the grass.

  “You do know how to swim, don't you, Dev?” asked Reznik. Devany nodded. “Okay, then. But remember, we have to take it easy for a little while so we don't get cramps. Right?” Devany nodded again. Everyone knew that. They walked into the water, the lake bottom sandy and nice at the edge of the grass. Devany showed Reznik how well she could float and swim underwater. Reznik showed her how to turn somersaults without getting water up her nose. They played and giggled together, having a wonderful time.

  Back in the kitchen, Rapsim asked if Daffyd would mind sharing his thoughts.

  “What about Gerri?” asked Seren.

  “I'll keep her apprised,” said Rapsim with a mysterious smile. He explained about the tiny transceivers they carried in their skulls, and how they could communicate subvocally.

  Daffyd told the other man his theory regarding their coming together for Devany's sake; how he thought she would be better off in Seren's world.

  “Or with you,” said Seren. “I thought we agreed you were the number one choice.”

  “If I don't get home soon, and do some preventive work,” he said. “My life won't be worth going back to; not for me, and certainly not for a little innocent like Devany.”

  “Would you care to enlighten us?” asked Rapsim, mystified.

  “Not right now,” Daffyd replied. “All you need to know is that I'm about to be the center figure in a scandal that I don't want her caught in.” He looked at Seren, to see her reaction.

  She surmised it had to do with the secret he had shared earlier. She covered his hand, where it rested on the table, with her own. “I'm sorry, Daffyd,” she said. “It must be very hard on you, being such a public figure and everything.”

  He smiled ruefully. “It's certainly not easy,” he replied. “It's very hard to have a personal life when you're public property.”

  Rapsim watched them with interest. Their relationship had changed subtly, but there was still an undercurrent of unexpressed emotion he found fascinating. However, most of the earlier tension was gone, for which he was grateful. He had feared a major blow-up of some kind sooner or later due to the simmering sexual stresses between them. Now the dynamics had changed; Daffyd was no longer clinging to his homosexual façade as tightly as before, and Seren had reached a more comfortable level with Daffyd. This was worth keeping an eye on. It was these types of problems he was trained to handle and to defuse. Human relationships were interesting, but made him glad he wasn't one of them.

  “Let's clean up, then, Daffyd,” he said. “I want to start scanning the basement, and work up through the house. The sooner I find a way home, the sooner you can defuse your situation, and perhaps it will be safe for Devany to be with you. I do agree that she shouldn't return to her world. It's not a good place for her to grow up. In fact, I seriously doubt she would see adulthood as anything other than an automaton, if that.” He shook his head in distaste. “I admit, I don't care much for her reality.”

  “I can help Daffyd, if you want to get started on the cellar,” said Seren.

  “No, that's all right,” replied Rapsim. He smiled at her, a bright, sunshiny grin. “It's good for me to do something different. Clears my mind, as it were. Why don't you go have fun with Rez and Devany?”

  “You sure?” she said. “I don't mind.”

  “You heard the man,” said Daffyd, rising to his feet. “Shoo.” He winked at her and smiled his brief smile.

  “Fine,” she said. “You don't have to tell me twice to go have fun.” She climbed free of the bench, patted Daffyd's shoulder and smiled at Rapsim. “Later, boys,” she said, and left.

  Rapsim and Daffyd worked quickly and before long, Rapsim had vanished down the basement stairs to begin his interior scanning. Daffyd went with him, and then used the tunnel to get to the barn to check on Dammit. He cleaned out her stall again, put down fresh bedding and hay. Then he checked the cow herself, and decided he could put off milking her for another hour or two. He wandered over to the fence, and looked down at the lake where Seren and the others were swimming and splashing. Reznik was standing on Seren's shoulders, preparing to dive off, while Devany laughed at the sight. Seren was holding onto the other woman's calves to help her keep her balance until Reznik could dive, but Reznik toppled and they both fell over in the water with a gigantic splash. They surfaced, laughing and coughing and sputtering. He smiled at their antics and thought about joining them. Then he remembered Seren's telling him she was a norm, and decided to leave her and Reznik to get acquainted. He stepped back without being seen.

  He kept himself busy with chores. He chopped more wood, filled the woodbox behind the stove, and then set about with a couple of rags to remove the dust layer from everything. When everything was softly shining, he sat at the piano and played. He was completely absorbed in the music he was creating, and failed to hear the return of the female contingent. They had heard the evocative music from the top of the path, and had approached the house quietly. None of them wanted to disturb his playing.

  They sat on the front porch for a while, Devany tucked between the other two, and listened. Seren looked over Devany's head at Reznik.

  “Isn't he incredible?” she said quietly. Reznik nodded. She glanced at Devany and discovered the child had fallen asleep against Seren's arm.

  “I'll take her up to bed,” said Reznik. She stood up and gathered the little girl into her arms. “If you'd get the door.”

  Seren rose and opened the front door for Reznik to enter the house. When the young Recruit went upstairs with Devany in her arms, Seren crept into the living room and settled herself on the couch. Daffyd was unaware of her presence. Everything he had been feeling for the past few days, from his anger at himself and the unscrupulous reporter, to his confusion about this new world, his longing for Seren and the subsequent awareness of the abiding loneliness of his life, all poured out his hands onto the keys of the piano. The resulting music was stirring and haunting, and caused myriad emotions to whirl through her, leaving her confused and trembling.

  He stopped suddenly and looked around, as if he had suddenly sensed he was no longer alone. He stared at her for a long moment. His gaze was so intent that she felt awkward, uncomfortable under it.

  “I'm sorry, Daffyd,” she said at last. “Am I intruding?” She leaned forward to rise from the couch, but he waved her back.

  “No, Seren. I just get lost sometimes, in my music.” He smiled slowly. “One of those ‘artistic temperament’ things, I suppose.”

  “I understand,” she said. “I get like that when I'm writing. You get so caught up in your creation, you lose track of the real world. It's hard to come back to ‘reality'.”

  “Exactly. You do understand.” His left hand toyed idly with the piano. His face was thoughtful and distant. Seren stood up.

  “You look like you need to be alone for a while,” she said softly. He looked
up at her, and the deep loneliness in his eyes tore at her. He shook his head.

  “I've been alone all my life,” he said cryptically. She stood completely still and met his eyes. What do I say to that? she thought. How do I answer that? What do you need from me, Daffyd? What do you want? Why do you make me feel like a teenager again? I don't need this!

  “Do you want me to stay?” she asked.

  I can't tell you what I want, because, although you've been very understanding, you're still a norm, and what I want, what I need from you; I can't have. He pushed the thought aside and replied, “Yes. I will even attempt to throw off the melancholy mood, and liven things up. What sort of music do you like?”

  She laughed. “I like everything. How about something lively?”

  Reznik came in just then. “Lively sounds good. Something we can dance to!” Her eyes sparkled. “How about a polka?” She demonstrated with an imaginary partner, counting out the beat. Seren laughed again. Daffyd nodded to Reznik's count, and pulled something appropriate out of his memory.

  “PERFECT!” Reznik shouted. “Come on, Seren! Let's party!” They moved the couch and coffee table out of the way, dithered briefly over who would lead. Seren won by claiming age privilege. With Daffyd playing the lively tune, the two women danced around the living room, laughing every time they lost count, or missed a step. Daffyd's surface mood lightened somewhat, but his sense of isolation and loneliness intensified with every shout of laughter, and every glance he caught of Seren and Reznik with their arms around each other. At last, Seren begged off and collapsed, breathless and laughing, onto the couch. Reznik flopped on the other end. They grinned at each other.

  “That was a blast!” said Reznik. “Bless you for the music, Daffyd.”

  “Yes, dear. Thank you,” added Seren. “I haven't had that much fun in ages.”