The League of Grey-Eyed Women

by Julius Fast

  Faintly at first, stirring out of sleep, surprise, delight, amazement, and so many awake waiting for just this, a ripple of joy. It worked. Jack! And then voice after voice, Greetings. Welcome. Tearful and eager and delighted, accepting, enfolding, joy, joy! One by one, a legion of them, thankful, tearful happy.

  Happiness like a comfortable flood. Welcome!

  He drove crosstown through a silent city ringing with mental calls of welcome, never alone again, and he headed uptown. The girl in Riverdale, a woman in Yonkers, two teen-age sisters in White Plains, and then the long highway to South Salem.

  Steve? Rhodaf I'm coming back!

  The early sun touched the road with pink and the sky lightened to green-blue and gold and white. And then their thoughts reached out and welcomed him. Confidence, sureness from Steve, calm and strong. Yon made me a promise once, Jack.

  I remember. Sexuality, laughter, challenge.

  And Rhoda, as soft and tender as a caress. My darling. Forgive.

  Assent, love, impatience.

  And Allie, putting up biscuits in a fire-blackened kitchen. The house still stood. It could be fixed, but meanwhile Allie had breakfast to prepare.

  His people. His women!