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ended up in prison cos of them being Spiritists, he s none too friendly with the government
types.
 The man died.
Kir gave Jeyle a funny look before he answered.  Yeah. Meram never found out the truth
about it neither, and it s something that really bites. So he s sound. You get a lot of normals like
that, see people whose parents or sisters or brothers or friends got hauled away, or shoved onto
naksen and their lives fucked. The Spiritists don t have no trouble recruiting, even with the
risks.
 One of my colleagues former colleagues was arrested for associating with them.
 Yes, Jeyle said.  We heard about that they had the wrong information, but we could do
nothing to help the man. An accusation is enough to ruin a reputation, a security rating. We have
to exercise extreme caution in our dealings with the Spiritists. We need them very much more
than they need us.
 You all need the Weadenisis more, right?
The mirror reflected her glare at me.  Yes. Don t judge them because you antagonised one of
our staunchest allies, Jodi. Wesejne is honest to the bone.
 Maybe, but he s an arrogant prick.
 Tell me would you prefer him or Noret to be in charge of your future?
 Ask me something easier, Jeyle.
Kir smirked at me in the mirror, but I wasn t lying. I didn t know the answer. Both men were
arrogant, and I knew neither of them well enough to assess their motives. I had a feeling her
question wasn t theoretical.
Meram hon Rensire lived on the north edge of Vizinken, a prosperous, older suburb full of
highset homes and tall fences giving the residents privacy. He lived not far from Timo, in fact,
which made me crouch down below the window even though it was full dark by now, and if
anything, the street lighting with its harsh shadows did more than enough to hide my face.
 Knock that off, Jodi, Kir snapped.  You act like a criminal, people ll see you that way. I m
scanning. Anyone recognises you, they ll stick out like a beacon. Walk proud. You ain t got
nothing to be ashamed of.
 Sorry. It s just...this was my home.
  Was being the operative word, Jeyle said unkindly.  Kir, let him know we re a minute
away, please?
Kir s message meant that as we drove up towards a neat house on an ordinary street, the
garage door unfolded, and our veecle swept in without the slightest pause. A short red-haired
man, my age or thereabouts, with a permanently worried expression, came to us as the garage
doors closed with a well-oiled hiss.
 I greet you, Jeyle, Kir and our new friend, he said as we climbed out of the veecle.
 We greet you, Meram, Jeyle said, clasping his hands.  This is Jodi.
I gave a little wave.  Uh, hi. I, uh, greet you too.
He smiled rather solemnly, and then ushered us into the house where we could shed our
outer gear. His wife, Terna, a pretty woman with a motherly figure, welcomed us as he d done,
and served up khevai and hot rolls without waiting to ask if we wanted them. Warm, tasty scents
from the kitchen promised a good meal for us later on. After so many hours in the cramped
veecle, staring out onto a wintry landscape, it was as welcome as a hot bath.
The home was comfortable without being luxurious a family home, and with images and
knickknacks displayed that indicated family was very important to these people. It was not unlike
my parents house, but without the rigid formality and obsessive tidiness Mam imposed.
Children s toys were piled out of the way in the corner, ready for use, and a stack of well-
thumbed medical journals had clearly been hastily straightened up before we arrived. The place
was neat and clean, but I didn t feel I had to apologise simply for sitting on the sofa and wearing
it out.
It became clear that Meram and Terna were old and good friends of Kir and Jeyle. Kir
regularly stayed with them, and a cover of him being a cousin s former husband had been set up
for years. For me, being back in a normal, middle-class house again disoriented me considerably.
Meram was a doctor like me, as his parents had been. I didn t know what he knew of my
background. I waited to take my lead from Kir and Jeyle.
 Arwe Jodi, we re being very rude, Terna said at last, smiling at me.  It s always such a
pleasure to see two of our friends. How long have you known Kir?
 Uh, a few months, I said. Kir didn t look at me.  He s been...very helpful.
 He s so brave. We owe him our lives.
 So do I. Have you always been Spiritists?
Meram s expression clouded.  No. My aunt was a prominent member. She was arrested and
imprisoned for her activities. My father was wrongly convicted for being involved with her. I
grew up hating Spiritists. Ten years ago, one of my aunt s old friends contacted me, and I learned
more about what had happened when I was a child. My grandparents raised me, but they had
believed the same lies I did. I don t know what happened to my father, but I know he was no
criminal. One day, I hope to prove that. Until then, I ll work to spare others the misery I
endured.
His wife covered his hand with her own.  Are you a Spiritist, Arwe Jodi?
 Just Jodi and...well, I don t know much about it. I think the work you re doing is amazing,
but the religious side of it...I m not a very spiritual person. Raised a Marranite, curse in his name,
that kind of thing. I shrugged.  I m a scientist. I like facts.
Meram managed a smile at that.  On that, Jodi, you and I can agree. I m dying to ask you
about where you trained and so on, but it s best I don t. However, would you mind if we held a
small greeting circle? It won t take long.
 Uh, sure. No, I don t mind. I hadn t been expecting a religious ceremony.
 You can join in, watch, or I can find you somewhere 
 No, I ll watch. If that s okay.
He nodded, and then the four of them got up from their chairs and sat in a circle on the rug.
He looked up at me.  We don t keep the chairs in a circle because it gives it away, what we are.
I gaped at him. So that explained....  My mother would never allow chairs to be pulled
around. Ever. She smacked me hard once for even suggesting it.
 Yes. Stupid prejudice, but there you have it. You can sit here too, Jodi. I promise, nothing
unfactual will happen.
He was only teasing, and what could it hurt? So I climbed down and sat next to Kir and
Terna. Each took my hand.
Meram cleared his throat.  My friends, my beloved Terna, I greet you. It s been a little while
since we saw you, Kir, Jeyle. My spirit lifts to know you are well, and that your friend, Jodi, is
also well.
 My spirit lifts to know you are both safe, and that your family continues to be healthy and
happy, Jeyle replied gravely.
 We bring you greetings from our friends, and news, Kir said.
And that was it, basically. Just formal welcomes, some information they hadn t already
covered, while holding hands. No prayers, no invocations, nothing else. The only thing vaguely
spiritual about it came at the end, when Meram asked us to send our thoughts to the spirits of two
recently deceased Spiritists, and to wish them well on their journey to the next life. Then with a
final squeeze of my hands, Kir and Terna set me free, smiled and then sat back up in their chairs.
Meram looked at me with amusement.  You seem confused, Jodi.
 Um...that s all there is?
 Well, yes. It s a coming together of people, our spirits a connection. In a bigger circle,
there will be more news, more deaths to commemorate, welcomes, and so on. Issues to discuss,
and, oh, arguments too. All we re doing is reminding ourselves that we belong to a great
communion of spirits, part of a river of existence. You can see why the government s terribly
threatened by us.
 I can see why the Marranites are, anyway, I murmured, thinking of the vast religious
industry and the influence it possessed.  Don t you need an empath for a greeting circle?
 Goodness no, Terna said as her husband rose to clear our mugs and plates.  We welcome [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]