Nightmare

Cole stiffened. He made a small sound in the back of his throat. Then he vanished. Kendi’s vines instantly disappeared, as did the ones binding Mother Ara. She lay ashen-faced on the ground, her arm lying a step away like a grotesque stick of firewood. Blood was pouring from her shoulder again. Kendi knelt beside her and patted her face.

'Mother Ara,' he said. 'Mother Ara. You have to leave the Dream. Can you do it?'

She opened her eyes, but they didn’t focus. Her mouth moved, but no sound emerged. She was dying, that was plain. The fact that she was still alive mystified Kendi. She had lost far more blood than any human could survive. Of course, this was the Dream, and if Mother Ara had decided she wasn’t dead yet, she wouldn’t be. But Cole’s attack had hurt her, and she was rapidly losing her hold on life. Instinct told Kendi that she needed something to hold onto, something that would help her heal the damage. Kendi looked at the severed arm for only a split-second before catching it up. It was heavier that he had expected, and bits of flesh hung from the tattered end. Kendi held the arm to its rightful place at Mother Ara’s shoulder.

'You can’t do it,' Mother Ara croaked.

'I can,' Kendi said to her. 'My people are renowned for their healing.'

Mother Ara made a choking sound that Kendi realized was a sort of laugh. 'Tell Ben I love him.'

Kendi looked down at her, uncertain what to do. If Mother Ara didn’t believe he could heal her, he wouldn’t be able to do it. He wasn’t skilled enough in the Dream yet to force his will upon her. He had to prove that he could heal her so that she would believe it and heal herself.

Except the only way to do that would be to heal her, Kendi thought. Tears sprang to his eyes. He had to find a way to make her believe. He had to-

A tiny meeping sound made him turn. The sound came from the falcon. He had forgotten about her. Kendi dashed over and picked her up. Her pain washed over him, merged with him. It staggered him for a moment, but then his health merged her wounds and overcame them. She was wounded, but he wanted her to be healthy. She would be healthy now. Kendi spun and held her out so Mother Ara could see.

'All life!' he cried, and flung the falcon skyward. She faltered a moment, the flapped strong, wide wings and ascended to the sky.

Mother Ara closed her eyes. Her body flickered like a hologram with a virus. Kendi dropped beside her again and held the arm in place. Tears ran down his face but he forced his voice to remain steady.

'I call upon the blood of my ancestors,' he said. 'Heal this woman who is my teacher and restore her to health!' Mother Ara was wounded, but he wanted her to be healed. She would be healed now.

Nothing happened. Mother Ara’s body flickered again, stabilized, faltered. A tear fell from Kendi’s eye and dropped through her to land on the sandy Outback soil. Then she vanished.

A low sound escaped Kendi’s throat, but before he could react further, the earth rippled and Mother Ara reappeared with a splash of Dream energy. Her face was pale, but her arm was firmly back in place. She sat up and looked down at herself as if surprised. Kendi stared.

'It worked,' he said. 'All life, it worked.' With a wild whoop he flung his arms around her. Mother Ara winced.

'Careful,' she said. 'The arm, the arm.'

Kendi released her. 'Sorry. You’re all right then?'

'A little sore, but otherwise fine.' Mother Ara flexed her arm in wonder. 'Thank you, Kendi.'

'You’re welcome, Mother,' he said.

No further words were needed. Both gathered their concentration and vanished from the Dream.

Kendi opened his eyes onto darkness. Night insects chirped and a cool breeze washed over him. He wasn’t standing up-he was lying crumpled in a heap on a hard surface. Cautiously he sat up. What the hell? Where was his spear? How had he-?

Frantic footsteps barreled around the corner. Startled, Kendi leaped to his feet, then staggered dizzily under a sudden headache. Too many Dream drugs in one day. A strong, solid arm went around his shoulders and steadied him.

'Are you okay?' Ben asked. 'Is Mom okay?'

'She’s all right,' Kendi said muzzily. 'Where the hell am I?'

'Let’s get home,' Ben said. His arm still lay warm across Kendi’s shoulder, and Kendi found it comforting. 'I’ll explain, and then you can tell your side. Are you sure you’re all right?' His voice thickened. 'I was …I was worried.'

Kendi looked at him. His eyes had adjusted well enough to see Ben’s face, but he couldn’t read his expression. 'I’m fine, Ben. I’m fine with everything. I really, really am.'

And then Ben was kissing him.

EPILOGUE

Sometimes you need to talk about what happened with someone who’s been there too.

— Irfan Qasad

Kendi and Ben waited at the edge of the landing field as Mother Ara and Inspector Tan disembarked from the ship. Ben’s hand lay tentatively in Kendi’s, as if he might snatch it away at any moment. Kendi didn’t push the matter, letting Ben set the pace, though he did give Ben’s hand a reassuring squeeze. Ben flashed a brief smile at him, and Kendi was sure his heart would dissolve into a helpless mess and puddle up somewhere around his feet.

The landing field of the spaceport was surrounded by an almost invisible fence of wire polymer to keep the dinosaurs out. Talltrees loomed beyond it, high as skyscrapers. It felt strange to look at them from the vantage point of the ground. Humans, Ched-Balaar, and other aliens moved about the airfield and the port building, creating a strange mixture of voices, clattering teeth, and other noises. Mother Ara’s left arm was in a sling, and Kendi caught the metallic gleam of a heal splint beneath the cloth. It surprised him how glad he was to see her again. The final confrontation with Cole/Jeren had only taken place three days ago, but it felt like a month had passed. Ara looked a little pale, but her step was firm. Inspector Tan came beside her, crisp and pressed as always. As they drew closer, Ben’s hand quivered slightly in Kendi’s, but he didn’t let go. It occurred to Kendi that in some ways facing a murderer in the Dream was easier. At least you knew what the killer was going to do.

Mother Ara caught sight of them and her step quickened with a smile. When she was only a few steps away, she noticed that her student was holding hands with her son. She halted, looking confused. Kendi’s heart skipped, and Ben’s fair complexion went a shade paler. Then she burst out laughing and, stepping between them, put an arm around Ben’s shoulder.

'That explains a few things,' she said, and kissed him on the cheek. Tan watched impassively.

'Mom,' Ben protested. 'We’re in public.'

'You can hold his hand but you can’t kiss your mother,' Mother Ara observed with a shake of her head. 'What did I do to deserve a teenage boy?' Then she sighed. 'I want to get home. We’ll have a home-cooked meal from Maureen’s and exchange stories. Inspector Tan is paying.'

'Oh?' Tan raised an eyebrow.

'The Guardians owe me that much,' Mother Ara said firmly.

'She’s been saying that all the way here,' Tan groused to Kendi. ' ‘Get me something to drink, the Guardians owe me that much.’ ‘I get the bigger sleeping room, the Guardians owe me that much.’ '

'And don’t forget my exorbitant consulting fee,' Mother Ara added as they walked into the spaceport building and headed for customs. 'I’m thinking it’s time for some serious house redecoration.'