We tell the story of Perdur Alas to our children when we teach them the commandments of Dinadh: “Do not wish to live forever. Do not believe that every man-shaped thing is holier than something else. Do not look into the mirror to see the face of God. Do not weave your life only in one color, for Behemoth will not bless you if you do.”
Now the morning song is almost over. One of the sisterhood offers the bell. Shalumn accepts it. She rings it, once, twice, three times. Quiet falls. Heads are bowed. All in Cochim-Mahn are saying a silent prayer for Lutha Tallstaff, and for all the Leelies, too. May their shuttles carry brightness; may they be comforted in their choice.
Whenever I say the words, I remember our parting:
The ship was slender and white and still, like a tower, all its crew aboard, all its people waiting. At the bottom of the ramp we few gathered in the light of the rising sun. From the bottom of the valley the sea threw the dawn into our eyes. There was not a sound except our voices, as though the world held its breath.
I hear Lutha repeating what she had said over and over during the long night:
“Leely can’t go back, Leelson. He mustn’t, not ever.”
I hear Leelson:
“Then let the Leelies stay … ”
And Lutha again:
“I will not leave my child.”
He reached for her then, and she backed away, blazing at him through her tears. “Don’t tell me you’ll stay, Leelson! The Fastigats will listen only to one of themselves. You have seen what happened in Hermes Sector! Do you want it to happen to all mankind?”
She took one step, then another, her hand lifted in farewell. Yet still he reached for her, tears streaming down his face.
Then Jiacare’s voice:
“Go, Leelson. She won’t be alone. Snark and I are staying with her.”
And finally, Snark:
“Kings and women, Leelson. Kings and women! We gotta do stuff like that!”
Lutha and Leelson and Leely. They are with me always. Leelson left her once, because of Leely. He left her at last, because of Leely. If their love was not really love, their courage was surely courage. Heroes have been adored for less.
The sun is upon Shalumn’s ankles now, and her voice ascends the sky. She holds her arms wide, inviting us to enter into the pattern, to go forth into a world that was not made and is not kept for man alone.
And we of Dinadh step into the light.