That night there were no stars, but the heavy rolls of clouds were lighted with fitful lightnings and somewhere far over the horizon the molten heart of a mountain range was crimson and orange against the night. I lay on my bed letting the weakness wash over me, a tide that would soon bear me away. The soul is a lonely voyager at any time, but the knowledge that I was the last person in a dying world was like a weight crushing me. I was struggling against the feeling when I caught a clear, distinct call-“Gramma!”
“Simon!” My lips moved to his name.
“We’re all fine, Gramma, and I just Saw Eve with two children of her own, so they will make it to a new Home.”
“Oh, Simon! I’m so glad you told me!” I clutched my bed as it rocked and twisted. I heard stones falling from the garden wall, then one wall of my room dissolved into dust that glowed redly before it settled.
“Things are a little untidy here,” I said. “I must get out another blanket. It’s a little drafty, too.”
“You’ll be all right, Gramma,” Simon’s thought came warmly. “Will you wait for me when you get Otherside?”
“If I can,” I promised.
“Good night, Gramma,” said Simon.
“Good night, Simon.” I cradled my face on my dusty pillow. “Good night.”
“Oh!” breathed Meris, out of her absorption. “All alone like that! The last, last anyone, anywhere-“
“But she had the Home longer than anyone else,” said Valancy. “She had that dear familiarity to close her eyes upon before opening them in the Presence-“
“But how could Bethie possibly remember-” began Meris.
“It’s something we can’t quite explain,” said Jemmy. “It’s a Group consciousness that unites us across time and distance. I guess Simon’s communicating with Eva-lee before he was Called brought her Assembling more directly to us. Eve, you know, was Bethie’s mother.”
“It’s overwhelming,” said Karen soberly. “We know, of course, about the Home and how it was lost, but until you’re actually inside an emotion, you can’t really comprehend it. Just imagine, to know that the solidness of earth beneath your feet is to become dust scattered across the sky so soon-so soon!”
The group was silent for a while, listening to memories and to a Past that was so Present.
The silence was suddenly shattered by a crashing roar that startled everyone into an awareness of Now.
“Good heavens!” cried Meris. “What’s that!”
“Adonday veeah!” muttered Jemmy. “They’ve got that old clunker going again. Johannan must have done something drastic to it.”
“Well, he started it just in time to stop it,” said Valancy. “We’ve got a journey to go and we’d better eat and run. Karen, is it all ready?”
“Yes,” said Karen, heading for the shadowy house. “Meris has a lovely kitchen. I move that we move in there to eat. It’s chilling a little out here now. Jemmy, will you get the boys?”
“I’ll set the table!” cried Lala, launching herself airborne toward the kitchen door.
“Lala.” Valancy’s voice was quiet, but Lala checked in mid-flight and tumbled down to her feet.
“Oh!” she said, her hands over her mouth. “I did forget, after I promised!”
“Yes, you did forget,” said Valancy. her voice disappointed, “and after you promised.”
“I guess I need some more discipline,” said Lala solemnly.
“A promise is not lightly broken.”
“What would you suggest?” asked Karen from the kitchen door, as solemnly as Lala.
“Not set the table?” suggested Lala, with a visible reluctance. “Not tonight,” she went on gauging carefully the adult reaction. “Not for a week?” She sighed and capitulated. “Not set the table for a whole month. And every meal remember a promise is not lightly broken. Control is necessary. Never be unEarth away from the Group unless I’m told to.” And she trudged, conscientiously heavy-footed, into the house with Karen.
“Isn’t that a little harsh?” asked Marls. “She does so love to set the table.”
“She chose the discipline,” said Valancy. “She must learn not to act thoughtlessly. Maybe she has a little more to remember in the way of rules and regulations than the usual small child, but it must become an automatic part of her behavior.”
“But at six-” protested Meris, then laughed “-or is it five!”
“Five or six, she understands,” said Valancy. “An undisciplined child is an abomination under any circumstances. And doubly so when it’s possible to show off as spectacularly as Lala could. Debbie had quite a problem concerning control when she returned from the New Home, and she was no child.”
“Returned from the New Home?” said Meris, pausing in the door. “Someone else? Oh, Valancy, do you have to go home tonight? Couldn’t you stay for a while and tell me some more? You want to Assemble anyway, don’t you? Couldn’t you now? You can’t leave me hanging like this!”
“Well,” Valancy smiled and followed Meris into the kitchen. “That’s an idea. We’ll take it up after supper.”
Jemmy sipped his after-supper coffee and leaned back in his chair. “I’ve been thinking,” he said. “This business of Assembling. We have already Assembled our history from when Valancy joined our Group up to the time Lala and the ship came. We did it while we were all trying to make up our minds whether to leave Earth or stay. Davy’s recording gadget has preserved it for us. I think it would be an excellent idea for us to get Eva-lee’s story recorded, too, and whatever other ones are available to us or can be made available.”
“Mother Assembled a lot because she was separated from the People when she was so young,” said Bethie softly.
