Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50815 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50815 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
“And we don’t change sexes at all,” Nora said. “The sex we’re born with is the one we stay. I’ve been female all my life,” she added.
“Truly? You remain just one sex your entire lifetime?” The One who Cares for All opened their jeweled eyes wide. They seemed to change color, Nora thought, going from dark purple to deep green and back again.
“We do.” Xarex nodded. “I hope that won’t be a problem?” he added, frowning.
“Oh no—no problem,” the One who Cares for All assured him. “But how sad for you, to only experience one body—one sex.”
“It’s normal for us,” Nora told them. “As I’m sure, uh, switching back and forth is normal for you,” she added diplomatically.
“Yes. You have come to us on the eve of transformation,” the One who Cares for All informed her. “So you will see us change.”
“Um, forgive me for asking, but are you going to change into a male or a female?” Nora asked. She hoped she wasn’t being offensive, but she honestly couldn’t tell if the One Who Cares for All was a woman or a man.
A soft, neutral laugh was her answer.
“Ah no, I am afraid I do not change myself. I remain in the In-Between Place. In this way I can guide others in their journey back and forth,” The One said, smiling. “Please let me know if you wish me to help you to try a new sex. The berries of the Mandalay plant which we prize for its transformative qualities, should make that possible.”
“Thank you, but we haven’t come to change sexes,” Xarex said. “We are here to pluck the Healing Flower.”
“Ah, Syrilla’s Bloom—the Flower that Heals All.” The One nodded mysteriously. “This is indeed the perfect time to pluck it for it always blooms during the time of Transformation.”
Nora couldn’t hold back her anxiety any longer.
“Will you let us pick it?” she asked, twisting her fingers together. “Oh please—my daughter is so ill! I have to bring it back to her!”
“Whether you are given an opportunity to pluck Syrilla’s Bloom will be based upon your performance at the Feast of Transformation tonight,” The One said mysteriously. “It shines only for those who are willing to bare their true nature completely and pay the ultimate price.”
“I’ll pay any price!” Nora promised recklessly. “Please—I can’t let my daughter die!”
The One looked at her with wide, jewel-like eyes and nodded thoughtfully.
“Please, do not distress yourself. I can see that your need is genuine and I do believe you will be granted the right to pluck the Bloom. But for now, come—we must go, for the Feast of Transformation is about to begin.”
16
XAREX
They followed the strange being who had greeted them through a narrow path in the jungle. Xarex went first, keeping a watchful eye out for any dangerous plants and animals. Nora was right behind him and he turned his head every once in a while to be sure she was safe.
He sent a silent prayer to the Goddess that they would be able to get the Flower of Healing or what The One who Cares for All called “Syrilla’s Bloom.” Nora’s desperation was almost palpable and he was genuinely worried about what might happen to her if they couldn’t get the cure for her daughter.
But he didn’t just want the cure for Anna because of Nora, though that was certainly a large part of his motivation. He was already quite attached to the child. Her sweet, open demeanor at the Joining ceremony had touched Xarex’s heart. And when she’d put her little arms around his neck and called him “Daddy,” he’d felt the emotions of warmth and protectiveness wash over him in waves.
No matter what happens, we have to get this flower, he told himself as they walked through the jungle. We can’t go home without it. No matter what the price is, we have to pay it!
If only he had known how high the price would actually be he might have felt differently…
17
NORA
They kept to the curving path through the jewel-toned jungle for some time until they came to a large clearing that was filled with small, straw-thatched huts. It looked primitive but clean and neat to Nora, who looked around in wonder.
It occurred to her that this place looked much too primitive to have the technology to speak with spacecraft or send coordinates. But maybe they were kind of like the Mennonites or some other religious sects back home on Earth and only used technology very sparingly.
In the center of the village was another smaller clearing where a lot of people were sitting. They were in a circle around the perimeter of the clearing and in the center was what looked like a tangle of purple roots and vines. It was shaped into a kind of rectangular platform that was raised several feet off the ground. The people of Primus Nine—Nora wasn’t sure what to call them—were sitting around it as though waiting for something.