A Paradox in Retrograde by John Faherty

memory
he thought must somehow be key. He sensed these holes would
soon be filled by something or someone waiting within that crystal room. So Ananda then was anxious to return there to complete
some unfinished business.
    There he was visited upon again by that unknown tune that hung
there raggedly in his throat. Rolling disjointedly over his tongue
it floated in the distilled ether of his own memory just beyond his
reach. He longed to know the words as he had once known them.
Xora was approaching, so he turned from the wall toward her and
said, "If you must know the state of my mind, then we should not
waste another moment. We should return to the crystal room at
once." With a look of disappointment on her face Xora responded. "Have you not enjoyed our hospitality, Ananda?" He looked
into her eyes, and could tell she was somehow put off by his impatience. But was there something else he sensed? He thought
perhaps she was infatuated by his manner. He decided he would
not play the cad. He would need to be more sensitive for he did
not want her to feel trifled with and thus alienate his greatest
ally. He moved swiftly to ease her emotions. "What is the matter
Lady Xora, have I said something to upset you? I do apologize
if I have said or done anything to show disrespect. I have wished
only to unburden you. I suspected this business with these gentlemen friends of yours to have distressed you. I can't help but
think it was my presence here among you that may have caused
your trouble. I wish only to relieve you of this distress, and be
on my way." She was surprised by his keen insight and was now
embarrassed by how much she may have inadvertently shown
this stranger. "No you have been a perfect gentleman. I imagine
I was enjoying the flow of this day so much that I had completely forgotten that there was real business to take care of. Do forgive me? Come, we shall again look upon the oracle and receive
its blessings."
    Down over the craggy cliff the conveyance rode the steel rail
down along the steep sides of the plateau. Along the way birds
flittered playfully among the bromeliads that hung there delicately between the sinewy rattan vines. After a few moments
during which she dared not look into his eyes, the conveyance
made the seamless transition from free fall to an abrupt yet comfortable landing. Exiting the conveyance, Xora led them on foot
toward the citadel along the old road that crested the shoreline.
There they were greeted roughly by the crashing sounds of the
surf and mocking sea birds. There too they were harassed by
blasts of wind borne sand. Ananda, to Xora's surprise had endured this well. As they moved, the silhouette of the ever present central tower of Breideblic grew ever larger. It was well
after mid-day by the time they came upon it. To Ananda it stood
there imposingly and somehow he sensed vaguely that it did not
belong. It left him with an odd foreboding feeling, curious to
why the crowd there swirled about oblivious carrying on with
their daily business. Despite this they had passedthrough their
midst unnoticed and without any of the excitement that marked
the previous day. There within they came upon the temple and
passed through the arch way from which hung a large set of
wooden doors. As they approached the temple attendants pushed
aside these massive doors held in place by an equally impressive
set of stout hinges. They held them open until they had passed
into the inner chamber, and then slowly closed the doors behind
them.
    Through an ornately decorated ante chamber they approached the
threshold of the crystal room. He did not enter the space however, as he now felt an unconscious reservation. His stomach contents then threatened to come up on him as a wave of unseen energy played havoc with his equilibrium. To steady himself from
falling he held tightly onto the wall beside him. Xora who stood
beside him spied upon him his expression of discomfort and subtle apprehension. "What is it? Have you