“And now?” Kasumi asked.
“Now?” Mel shrugged. “If I’m reading Gramps right, he’s just getting started.” She tapped Kasumi on the shoulder. “Do my back,” she ordered. The two girls switched positions, and Kasumi started soaping Mel’s back. “And in case you haven’t figured it out, that’s a compliment,” she said. “He doesn’t waste his time on slackers.”
Kasumi was silent for a while. “I did almost quit,” she chirped quietly.
“Yeah, but you didn’t,” Mel replied. “Remember that.” Mel stood in the tub. “I think we’re clean enough,” she said. “I’m hungry.”
After breakfast—which did feature carrots, much to Kasumi’s delight—she and Mel took a walk. Since Jeremy had told them where to walk, it was no surprise that they ended up in the clearing where the shuttle had landed, marooning Kasumi.
“This is the first time I’ve been here since …” Kasumi said quietly. “It looks so peaceful,” she said with a touch of confusion. “I expected … I don’t know what I expected,” she admitted. “But there should be something …”
“Evil? Forbidding?” Mel laughed. “A dark, swirling cloud hanging over the clearing?”
Kasumi’s crest almost flattened in embarrassment. “I swear, humans read minds,” she chirped in annoyance. “Yes, something like that.” She waved a hand. “Not … this.”
“It makes it worse, doesn’t it?” Mel commented.
“Yes!” exclaimed Kasumi. Mel chuckled.
The two women walked around the clearing. Suddenly, Kasumi stopped and pointed. The ground in front of her was flattened and depressed by several inches. “It landed right here.”
Mel grunted an acknowledgement and examined the ground closely. “Ah, now I know why Gramps wanted us to come here.” She reached down and picked up a metal cube that was about an inch on a side. “Looks like he forgot something.” She handed the cube to Kasumi.
“That’s a message cube,” Kasumi exclaimed.
“Probably Rocky getting the last word,” Mel suggested.
Kasumi shook her head. “Why bother?” she asked. “He had already taken everything.” She held the cube in the palm of her hand. A globe of light appeared above the cube. A figure appeared inside the globe. “That’s Morning Mist!” Kasumi exclaimed.
The image chirped and twittered. Then the image froze. Kasumi chirped quietly and then the image started moving again. “I don’t have much time, Small Snow Flower,” the image spoke.
“Hey, I understand him!” Mel exclaimed. She looked at the image more closely. “Her?”
“Her,” Kasumi confirmed. The image paused. “We should play this back at the cabin.” Her crest rose. “If Morning Mist left a message, I may still have allies on the ship.”
“Morning Mist, huh?” Mel said as the two women started jogging back the way they came. “We may have to change your name,” she said. “Just to keep from being confused.”
“Not really,” Kasumi replied. “I now call myself Kasumi,” she explained. “It will just be a sound to other Rynn.”
“Ah, got ya,” Mel replied.
It wasn’t long before they reached the cabin. Jeremy was sitting in his favorite chair on the porch. He stood as they approached. “Problem?” he asked when they arrived, breathless, at the cabin.
“Not sure, Gramps,” Mel replied.
Kasumi held up the cube. “A message from my ship,” she chirped. “From a potential ally.”
“Her name is Morning Mist,” added Mel. She smiled as Jeremy raised an eyebrow. “Pretty cool coincidence.”
“It’s still a coincidence,” Jeremy replied. “What did she say?” he asked Kasumi.
“I did not play the whole message.” Kasumi looked at the cube in her hand. “Spirits, I did not realize how much I missed my own until I saw her,” she chirped quietly. Her crest rose. “We will listen together.”
They relocated inside the cabin. Kasumi placed the cube on the low coffee table. Again, a globe of light appeared above the cube and the form of Morning Mist appeared. “I don’t have much time, Small Snow Flower,” the figure on the image said. “You are not abandoned,” Morning Mist said fiercely. “Sun-Warmed Boulder does not know this planet is inhabited.”
“Spirits,” chirped Kasumi.
“I have analyzed their transmissions,” Morning Mist continued. “Despite their monstrous form, they seem to be very much like us.”
“Very much,” agreed Kasumi with a look first toward Jeremy and then toward Mel.
“Spirits willing, you may be able to find shelter among them,” Morning Mist continued. “I was able to retrieve your Torque and hide it among your supplies. Forgive me, but I had to drain much of its charge in order for it to remain undetected.” The image appeared to lean closer. “Stay strong, and may the spirits watch over you.” The image froze.
“I was not abandoned,” Kasumi whispered.
“She gave you a chance,” Jeremy said to Kasumi. Kasumi nodded. “You will repay her courage by getting your ship back,” he said sternly.
“She deserves more than that,” Mel shot back. “What would be an appropriate reward for her actions?” she asked.
“Me,” Kasumi replied. “We … we had considered asking her to join us.” Kasumi’s crest lowered then suddenly raised. She looked at Jeremy. “How long?”
“Several months,” Jeremy replied. “I want to make sure you will have a fighting chance.”
Kasumi nodded. “Then I had better …” she began.
“You train when and how I tell you,” Jeremy said sternly. “You’ve trained enough for today.” He raised a quelling finger. “Do not argue with me.”
For a moment, Kasumi looked like she was about to do just that. Her crest flared to its fullest, and she even extended her vestigial claws. Jeremy just folded his arms across his chest and waited. Finally, with a visible effort, she retracted her claws, though her crest stayed up. “I … will not argue,” she chirped.
“I only have your best interests in mind,” Jeremy said in a gentler tone. “For the rest of the week, you will work on the basics while building up your strength and endurance.” He smiled. It was not a comforting smile. “Then the training really begins.”
“Told you you’d end up hating him,” Mel said in an aside.
The princess looked at the temple. For the first time, the doors were open. She walked to the doorway and stopped.
“Why do you hesitate?” a familiar voice asked. “The way is open … just as you demanded.”
Kasumi turned her head to see the old monk. She covered her eyes for a moment. “I cannot leave without …” She paused. “Without apologizing.” She covered her eyes again. “I had no right to demand.”
The old monk smiled in approval. “Truly, you have grown.” She made a gesture, and the princess felt more than saw two figures flank her, one on her left and one on her right. The one on her left was the faceless figure of before, while the one on her right was barely more than … a mist. “The doors are open, and the path lies before you,” the old monk said. “The way will be hard and success uncertain.”
The princess nodded. “That may be true, but I have my core,” she said. “Failure cannot take that away.”
Kasumi’s eyes opened in the darkness. She was in her bed with the comforting weight of Mel’s arm across her waist.
“Mel?” she whispered. She reached over, picked up her Torque, and put it on.
Mel snorted. “Hmmm?” she noised sleepily.
“If … when I take my ship back, when we …” Kasumi paused. “I have no claim over you, but my life would be incomplete without you next to me.”
Mel chuckled sleepily. “Are you asking me to marry you?”
“We do not marry as you do, but … yes,” Kasumi chirped.
Mel chuckled. “Well, what do you know? My first m
arriage proposal, and it comes from an alien princess.” She felt Kasumi stiffen. “Did I say something wrong?”
“I still think humans read minds,” Kasumi replied after a moment of silence. “I dreamt I was the princess again.”
“Was I in the dream?’ Mel teased.
Kasumi was silent again. “I think so,” she said eventually. “I had two companions in my dream, a mist-like being—”
“Morning Mist?” Mel asked.
“I think so, and a faceless companion.” Kasumi reached over and touched Mel’s face. “But I think she was you.” Her finger traced Mel’s nose.
“Hmm,” Melanie noised. “Faceless, huh?” she said musingly. “I’m sure there is some deep psychological reason why I’m faceless in your dreams.” Mel smiled. “Yes.”
“Yes?” Kasumi asked in confused tones.
“Yes, I’ll marry you, or whatever it is you do,” Mel replied.
6
OUTWARD BOUND
The next day was like the first. Kasumi and Mel were awakened before dawn and spent the next three hours training. Jeremy made breakfast, with carrots, while the two women bathed. Afterward, the two women took a long walk and returned in time for lunch.
After lunch, Jeremy led the two women through a series of gentle stretching exercises, followed by another walk. They returned in time for dinner. That night, Kasumi sang for Mei Lin.
The third day was like the second, except instead of a walk, the two women jogged. Again, Kasumi sang.
By the end of the week, they started ending their jogs with a race toward the cabin. That night, while Kasumi sang, Mel hummed and clapped her hands in accompaniment. And every night after the two women went to bed, Jeremy would sit on the porch, smoke his one allowed cigarette, and speak to his dead wife.
“I want to teach her your grandfather’s style, Mei,” Jeremy said to the night sky. “I know it’s not supposed to be taught outside the family, but …” An owl’s hoot interrupted him. “Why me, of course.” He chuckled. “I’ll take that as permission,” he said. “Thank you, Mei.”
The following morning, when they reached the dao chung, Jeremy made his announcement: “Today we begin training.”
“Begin?” Kasumi questioned. “What have we been doing for the last five days?”
“Building up your strength and stamina,” Jeremy replied. “Fortunately, you are both in decent shape.” He pursed his lips. “However, I feel Kasumi is still lacking … in confidence.”
“Uh-oh,” Mel murmured.
Kasumi snapped her head around to stare at Mel.
“Kasumi would never survive …” Mel began.
“Not by herself, no,” agreed Jeremy.
“What are you two talking about?” Kasumi asked. The translation captured her nervousness.
“How are you with heights, Kasumi?” Mel asked sourly.
Kasumi’s crest flared. “I’m fine with heights,” she replied in annoyed tones. “I am the captain of a trading ship and an accomplished pilot.”
“I’m not talking about those kinds of heights,” Mel replied. “Have you ever gone rock climbing?”
“Rock climbing?” questioned Kasumi. “Well … no.”
“There’s a big difference between looking down at the ground from inside an airplane or spaceship and looking down hanging from the side of a mountain.” Mel glared at her grandfather. “Really, Gramps, why is this even necessary?”
“For the same reason it was necessary for you,” Jeremy replied. He looked at Kasumi. “Understand, I do not question your courage,” he said. “Everything you’ve done since I brought you here is proof of your bravery.” He shook his head. “No, it’s not your courage I question; it is your will.”
“Much as I hate to admit it,” Mel said in grudging tones, “Gramps has a point.” She looked at her grandfather. “The same trail?” she asked. Jeremy nodded. Mel blew out a breath. “She’s gonna hate both of us,” she muttered.
“You seem to have gotten over it,” Jeremy said in amused tones. Mel growled in response. “You will leave in the morning,” Jeremy added. “Now … bow,” he ordered. Both Mel and Kasumi bowed to Jeremy.
Mel took Kasumi’s hand and pulled her out of the dao chung. “Leave in the morning,” she grumbled. “You had to go and rejuvenate him. I have half a mind …” Mel continued grumbling under her breath.
Kasumi had a confused look on her face as Mel pulled her along. “I don’t understand,” she complained. “Is Germy mad at me?”
“Hardly,” Mel replied. “If anything, he’s treating you like family.” She added, “Unfortunately.”
“I don’t understand,” Kasumi complained again.
Mel half-dragged Kasumi into the spare bedroom and started going through the closet. “I know I left some of my camping gear … ah, here it is.” Mel dragged a box out of the closet and opened it. “I assume you have shoes or boots.”
“Of course,” Kasumi replied.
“I hope they’re tough,” Mel continued. “Here, try this on.” She tossed Kasumi a pair of pants. They were of a thick material. “And this.” She tossed Kasumi a shirt of an equally thick material.
Kasumi looked at the two items of clothing. “I don’t understand,” she repeated. “I can’t tell if you’re angry at Germy or angry at me.”
“I’m not angry,” Mel replied. “Well, a little angry.” She sighed. “Okay, maybe I should explain.”
“Please,” begged Kasumi.
“Gramps … Gramps was right when he felt you lacked will, lacked confidence,” Mel said. “You do.” She raised a hand. “When I was fifteen or so …” Mel paused. “Puberty was not kind to me,” she said. “I sort of developed backward.” She smiled sourly. “My hips were too big, and my tits were too small.” She raised her hand again. “Just shut up and listen.”
Kasumi nodded uncertainly.
“So, there I was feeling like a freak and unsure of my sexuality,” Mel shrugged. “Tomboy was probably the least offensive insult thrown at me.” Mel sat down on the edge of the bed. Kasumi sat down next to her. “I started losing competitions.”
“Competitions?” asked Kasumi.
“Oh yeah, right.” Mel shook herself. “Gramps had taught me martial arts almost as soon as I could walk.” A small smile appeared on her face. “By the time I was ten, I was one of the leading competitors in my age group.” Her smile became fixed. “By the time I was fourteen, I was the leading competitor in all age groups.” Mel sighed. “Puberty hit me late, and like I said, I started losing competitions.”
Kasumi leaned against Mel to offer comfort. “Thanks,” said Mel. “Anyways, Gramps came up with a solution.” She sighed. “I hated him the whole year afterward.” Her expression turned wry. “Funny thing was, it worked.”
“And Germy thinks this … solution will work on me?” Kasumi asked.
“That or kill you,” Mel replied. “And I’m not exaggerating. Much.” She looked at the pants and shirt Kasumi was holding. “Try those on,” she ordered. Kasumi removed her Chinese pantsuit and put on the pants. “Not too bad,” Mel said. “We can just roll them up.”
“They’re very thick,” Kasumi said in half-complaint.
“The mountains get cold at night,” Mel replied. “I figure you can wear my old hiking jacket,” she said almost to herself. “Can you eat fish?”
Kasumi nodded.
“Okay, good.” Mel ran her hand through her hair. “Here’s the deal. You and I are going camping.”
“Camping?” asked Kasumi.
“Camping as in sleeping outside—well, in a tent—and foraging for our food.” Mel chuckled sourly. “We have to travel to a designated spot and back.” She chuckled sourly again. “When Gramps and I did this, it took two days to get to the spot and three days to get back.” She gave Kasumi a concerned look. “Okay, I was exaggerating about i
t killing you, but just barely.” She took Kasumi’s hand. “It’s going to be tough, and you’re going to be cold and miserable and your feet will hurt and … and at the end, you’re going to know what your limits truly are.”
“The path home will be hard and success uncertain,” Kasumi said softly. She looked at Mel curiously. “Was Germy ever a … I think the closest word would be … ‘monk’?”
“Actually, yeah, he was. Right after Grandma Mei was killed,” Mel replied in surprise. “Why?”
Kasumi smiled. “It just makes sense.” Kasumi stood and removed the heavy pants and shirt. “I didn’t realize until just now that Germy loves me.”
The princess walked through the open doors of the temple. On her left was the mist-like being and on her right was the faceless one. “I will not be of much help,” the mist-like being said in a faint voice. “I can only observe.”
A chuckle came from the faceless being. “Just watch our backs.” The mist-like being seemed to nod. “So, where do we go?”
The princess waved a hand to indicate the path. “We follow where it will go,” she said.
“Great and difficult tasks await you,” said a gravelly voice.
The princess turned to see the old monk. She was leaning on a broom in the doorway. The princess covered her eyes. “That may be true, monk,” she replied. “But at least I no longer journey alone.”
The old monk smiled in approval. “The journey will be hard and success uncertain,” the monk said. “Yet if you do succeed, the rewards will be great.”
The princess covered her eyes. “My reward will be seeing my home again,” she said. “I do not ask for more.”
“Ah, but if you do succeed, more will be asked of you,” countered the old monk. “And if you succeed, seeing your home may be all you may do.”
Kasumi awoke. “Seeing my home may be all I may do,” she said quietly.
Redemption Song Page 7