Nightmare

eased.

'I suppose it does,' Ara laughed. 'Your dermospray will still transmit the fact that you used a dose of medication back to the dispensary for your practice record. The dispensary computer doesn’t care why you used it. Kendi, since you’re new to this, you probably can’t leave the Dream unsculpted, so we’ll have to meet on your turf. That’ll be easier.'

Tan sat, Ara lay down, and Kendi positioned himself on his spear. A triple thump went through the room as three dermosprays shoved the medication home. Ara let the colors swirl around the inside of her eyelids for a moment, then opened her eyes to a pleasure garden. A carpet of grass lay thick and green beneath her slippered feet, and a stone fountain tinkled musically behind her, the sound mingling with the ever- present whispering of the Dream. Orange and pear blossoms scented the soft air. Ara wore a green robe with a close-fitting hood. The garden was her own safe place, and she liked it a great deal. But there was no time for personal enjoyment. She closed her eyes and cast her perceptions into the whispers around her until she found Kendi’s voice. Once she caught his whisper, she gathered her concentration. She was here but she wanted to be there, and she would be there now.

Ara released her expectations of reality. There was a slight wrench and she opened her eyes in a large, dry cave. Kendi stood a few steps away. His mind, however, was everywhere, pressing against her, unconsciously ordering her not to dictate reality here. Ara obeyed, though it was difficult. To distract herself, she glanced about curiously. She had only been in Kendi’s cave a couple times and she found it a very interesting starting point.

'I do like this place,' she said. 'It suits you.'

'Weird,' he said, tugging at the white shirt he wore. 'When you appeared like that, it felt like I was in a swimming pool and someone threw in a big rock.'

'You’re very sensitive to other people in the Dream,' Ara said. 'Some Silent can barely detect another person’s presence.' She gave him a critical look. 'Father Ched-Hisak told me you usually wear a loincloth or even appear naked here. Why the shorts and shirt?'

Kendi flushed. 'I–I don’t-'

'You can wear whatever you like on your own turf,' Ara said seriously. 'Dream etiquette. And you’re expected to dress the people who visit your turf in whatever you deem appropriate. This robe I’m wearing is fine for my pleasure garden but is a little impractical for spelunking, don’t you think?'

In response, Ara’s robe changed into a khaki explorer’s outfit. Kendi’s clothing, however, remained the same. 'I’ll keep what I’m wearing for now,' he said, a little less embarrassed.

And then Inspector Tan was there. For a moment, she appeared to be wearing an embroidered yellow robe, but it quickly changed into brown khakis similar to Ara’s.

'I felt her coming,' Kendi explained.

Tan gave the cave a quick glance. 'Nice,' she said. 'Let’s go.'

They followed the exit tunnel up to the Outback. The desert lay before them, filling the world from horizon to horizon.

'Let’s teleport to a blank space,' Tan said. 'It’ll be faster than having our host let go of the world.'

'I …don’t know how to do that,' Kendi said. 'Teleport, I mean.'

'Take my hand,' Ara said. 'I’ll move you.'

Kendi obeyed. Ara was here but she wanted to be there, and she would be there now. Another wrench, and the Outback vanished, replaced by a flat, empty plain. The Dream whispering was loud here. The moment they appeared, Kendi released Ara, dropped to hands and knees, and vomited. Alarmed, Ara knelt beside him. His Dream body flickered, semi-transparent for a moment, then solidified. Kendi threw up again.

'Kendi,' Ara said. 'Kendi, what’s wrong?'

Kendi looked up at her. 'I’m sick. All life-it’s like bad flu. Oh god.' He vomited yet again, a thin, clear fluid.

'The teleportation,' Tan said. 'He wasn’t ready for it.'

'The nausea will pass, Kendi,' Ara said. 'Just wait a moment.'

Kendi spent a fair amount of time in dry heaves. Ara remained on the ground next to him while Tan waited with scarcely-disguised impatience. Finally Kendi got to his feet, face a bit green. Ara held out an empty hand. There would be a glass of cold water in it, and there would be one now. One appeared, and she handed it to Kendi, who accepted it gratefully. He rinsed out his mouth, spat, and took a long drink.

'We’ll work on this,' Ara promised. 'Are you ready to go on?' He nodded. 'Then let’s get started. I want you to close your eyes and empty your mind, as if you were going to meditate, then concentrate on what you remember about the murder. I’m going to be building a scene using your memories as well as those of the solid-world minds around us. You have to allow me to read your mind, all right?'

Kendi nodded. The sickness had left his face entirely. Ara put her hands on the sides of his head and he closed his eyes. Ara concentrated on the whisper, now nearly a shout, that was Kendi’s mind. Images and sensations swirled around her. (Blood, blond hair, chains, a number, fear, horror, pain.) Ara widened her senses to the greater whispering around her and gathered images from that as well. (Shadow-faced man, tidy house, shattered glass, bloody finger.) Carefully but with swift skill, Ara arranged the images into a picture like a archaeologist arranging a fossilized skeleton. (Hot anger, cold love, metallic gun.) When it was done, she released Kendi and opened her eyes.

The three of them were in Vera Cheel’s patchwork living room. Varieties and styles of furniture clashed and melded. Vera sat on a sofa, chatting with Ched-Balaar Ara didn’t recognize. A part of Ara that was beginning to think like a detective mused that they would have to track the alien down for an interview. This scene was clearer, far clearer than the first one Ara had recreated for Tan. Ara could feel Vera’s contentment. She was sure of herself in the Dream, confident of her abilities. And she liked her strange living room.

As Ara watched, the Ched-Balaar vanished. Vera ran her hands through short blond hair, started to stand, and came up short. Mystified, she raised a hand. It clinked. Her wrist was bound with a black wristband and chain that extruded from under the sofa cushions. So was her other wrist and her ankles. The air turned cold. Fear rose in Vera’s chest. She hadn’t created the chains. They would be gone. They would be gone now. But they remained. Ara’s heart started to beat faster.

A blackness touched the room. Suppressed rage mixed with desire and …love? A door opened, and a man dressed in black entered. A wide-brimmed hat hid his face in shadow. He strode toward Vera, who screamed. Vera tried to gather her concentration to leave the Dream, to escape, but the couch moved beneath her and the cushions themselves folded themselves about her body. More chains snaked out and wound tight and cold around her body. Terror swept over Vera and disrupted her concentration. A knife appeared in the man’s hand and he loomed over his victim. He bent down and said something to Vera, who only screamed again. Rage swept over Ara in waves, and he slashed quickly. Blood flowed, and Vera cried out. It went on and on. Ara was vaguely aware of Inspector Tan vaulting over the furniture, trying to get behind the couch so she could get a look at the man’s face.

And then Kendi was there-another Kendi. Ara glanced at her student to make sure he was also still beside her. He was, eyes wide, lips compressed. The man cut off Vera’s finger just as she died and wrote a bloody number on her forehead. Ara felt a tiny blank moment, a barely-discernable flicker as Vera’s Dream form vanished and was replaced by the power of the man standing over her. Dream Kendi swore, and the man lunged for him. Ara watched them struggle, saw the furniture erupt into movement, felt Dream Kendi’s own fear and terror. Finally Dream Kendi crashed through the window and disappeared. The man stood in the window for a moment, then howled once and vanished. Vera’s living room went with it, leaving Ara, Kendi, and Tan alone on a blank plain. Tan was breathing hard.

Ara stood stock-still. Her mouth was dry as salt and she felt weak as a dishrag. A quick glance at Kendi showed he felt the same. His skin was ashen.

'I didn’t see his face,' Tan reported. 'I don’t think he has one in the Dream.'

'We need to get out of here,' Ara croaked. 'Kendi, you go and I’ll make sure you get out before I follow, all right?'

Kendi only nodded. A moment later, he vanished and the Dream energy around them rushed in to fill the empty space. Without another word to Tan, Ara herself let go of the Dream.