“Who or what are they?” murmured Ellin.
D’Jevier shook her head, shrugging. “Bofusdiaga is something very large and singular. The Corojumi are smaller and numerous.
In the stories, Bofusdiaga is the sleep tender, the one who lullabies, and the Corojumi weave the dreams that keep the snake from waking. Also, Bofusdiaga sets the sails, and the Corojumi hold the tiller, or other way round, and they sail the ship of dreams across the pillared seas to Niasa’s nest.”
“They want to keep the snake from waking?” asked Ellin.
“Yes.” Both the cousins nodded. “So it won’t hatch too soon.”
“And from whom did you hear this charming story?” asked the Questioner.
A momentary stillness.
“Our … nursemaids,” said D’Jevier. “When we were little.”
“And what were their names?”
“Mine died,” said Onsofruct.
Questioner glanced at her aides and smiled, a sardonic smile that said she knew they were lying.
D’Jevier said, in a tone of bright and totally spurious helpfulness, “Mine was a nice old lady, but she also died, years ago. Her name was Velgin. Emily Velgin. She didn’t have any family. She was sterile. She never married.”
“Her parents are no doubt dead, too,” murmured the Questioner. “And all her family.”
“Certainly.” They said it almost together, both nodding.
Questioner rose, still smiling, thanking them fulsomely, letting them know with every movement and word that she knew they were liars of the worst stripe, whom she would pretend to believe for the nonce, for reasons of her own. As they moved toward the curtained arches, the floor came alive beneath them, dancing under their feet. High in the vault, a window cracked, then broke, shedding a shower of tinkling ruby glass.
“Perhaps Little Niasa has colic.” Questioner smiled. She had thrown her protective cape across Ellin at the first shiver. “Perhaps it writhes helplessly, seeking to escape evil dreams. Night terrors, as they are sometimes called. If Big Niasa could waken it, perhaps it could be soothed, given hot milk and a cookie. Or, since it is reptilian, a live mouse.”
She lifted her arm, releasing Ellin.
“Perhaps,” said D’Jevier, her forehead beaded with tiny drops, her hand clammy when Ellin grasped it as they said good-bye. Bao waited for them outside on the steps of the Temple, his own face fearful. They felt three more tremors of descending degrees of violence on their way back to Mantelby.
Where they confronted rebellion.
“Look at this,” snarled the protocol officer, waving a copy of the geological report. “I’ve just had a chance to read it. It says the world is going to come apart. We aren’t required to sit here and wait for it, are we?”
“Is it indeed?” Questioner was calm as she removed the cloak. “Would you like to leave the planet?”
“We should all go at once.”
“I am inclined to agree that you should, yes. I am staying here for the time being. I imagine, though I am not certain, that Ellin and Bao will choose to stay with me. That is no reason, however, why the other members of my entourage should remain here. Your work is largely done. You will no doubt be more comfortable on the ship, and I should be able to maintain a link with the ship while it remains safely in orbit.”
For a fleeting moment, Ellin readied herself to shout a denial. She would go, go at once, not stay, things were too dangerous. She tried to formulate a graceful announcement that wouldn’t sound like total hysteria, but the words wouldn’t come. Why not? Could it be that she didn’t want to go? After a moment’s shuddering indecision, she admitted it to herself. She wanted to … to feel like this. She had never felt like this, tingling like this. Absurdly, she remembered the little boy who had wanted tornadoes! He had been right! She also wanted tornadoes. She wanted to see what was going to happen.
Turning, she caught Bao’s eyes on her and flushed. He had told her to put out roots and grow, and now he was watching her do it! He made a comical face and winked at her, accurately interpreting her confusion.
The protocol officer departed, returning briefly to say that all eight of them were leaving for the shuttle and would return to the ship immediately.