what face it would wear in the world or what deformities of body or spirit it might carry. Pepan could understand Repanaâs reservations,
but life was sacred, even this life. He must do what he could to ease the way.
Silently he called out to the unseen cloud that had taken up a position in the center of the circle of stones. This is the woman I should have wed. This girl should have become my daughter. I did not give them enough of myself in life, but I would rectify that now. Help me. Help us.
It has never been done â¦
Never been done â¦
Never ⦠.
When the argument raged into silence, the Prophet said simply, Put your hand on her belly.
Pepan protested, I have no hands now.
His grandfather replied, The memory of your earthly body is still strong and we will add all our force to yours. It will be enough.
Pepan did as he was instructed and approached Vesi. His fingers were as transparent as glass when he held them up to his face; through them he could dimly see Vesiâs body, as if she were made of slightly thicker mist. When he laid his palmâdelicately, tentativelyâon her mounded flesh he had no sensation of solidity. There seemed nothing to keep him from reaching farther, from reaching inside her and actually putting his hand on the womb. As he stared at her belly, its flesh became translucent and he could see the shape of the baby within.
Yes , said the voice of the Prophet, that is what you must do. Reach inside, feel the child.
Pepan obeyed. Neither of the two women on the bed seemed aware of the invasion, but the infant floating in its small, warm universe responded to his touch by opening its eyes.
Beyond the shelter, the stone circle began to hum.
The unborn child heard. Its eyes opened wider, looking upon scarlet and crimson tides as its tiny hands clutched at the mist of Pepanâs fingers.
Do not move now, Pepan, commanded the Prophet.
The cloud within the circle began to glow with a lambent green flame, while sparkling white fire shivered across the stones.
In his dreams, Wulv stirred and mumbled but did not awake.
The cloud contracted violently then expanded to cover the hut. Tiny emerald fires flickered over the carefully arranged branches. The air smelled of storm. A rushing wind howled through the primeval forest, whipping the trees until they groaned in protest, sending the forest creatures scurrying for shelter.
Pepan felt a great weight descend upon him, as if he had been floating in the river for a long time and just come out on land again. The weight pressed down unbearably, threatening to crush him though he had no body. Desperately he fought to remain upright and stay stillâuntil the weight flowed through him and his hia caught fire.
This he could feel. He writhed like the storm-tossed trees in an agony beyond description. His spirit was burning hotter than the forge, hotter than the sun, consuming him.
The essence of a people was raging through him.
And from him, into the woman and her unborn child.
Chieftain and warrior, craftsman and Planner and Prophet and all the generations before them poured along the conduit Pepan provided, emptying their knowledge into Vesiâs womb.
The baby convulsed. Vesi sprang up with a shriek, clutching at her belly. âItâs being born!â she cried. âItâs being born now!â
FOURTEEN
A s with a Dying, there were certain rituals that must attend a Birthing. The newborn hia required protection as it entered the Earthworld from a very different plane. It would take awhile before he or she learned the rules governing this new type of existence. But the more immediate problem was the danger imposed by malign inhabitants of the Otherworld.
Siu, as well as corrupted hia who had never made their way safely to the Netherworld, were very aware of a newbornâs vulnerability. While a mother was still in labor they crowded close, hoping to subsume the babyâs spirit and thus acquire a
but life was sacred, even this life. He must do what he could to ease the way.
Silently he called out to the unseen cloud that had taken up a position in the center of the circle of stones. This is the woman I should have wed. This girl should have become my daughter. I did not give them enough of myself in life, but I would rectify that now. Help me. Help us.
It has never been done â¦
Never been done â¦
Never ⦠.
When the argument raged into silence, the Prophet said simply, Put your hand on her belly.
Pepan protested, I have no hands now.
His grandfather replied, The memory of your earthly body is still strong and we will add all our force to yours. It will be enough.
Pepan did as he was instructed and approached Vesi. His fingers were as transparent as glass when he held them up to his face; through them he could dimly see Vesiâs body, as if she were made of slightly thicker mist. When he laid his palmâdelicately, tentativelyâon her mounded flesh he had no sensation of solidity. There seemed nothing to keep him from reaching farther, from reaching inside her and actually putting his hand on the womb. As he stared at her belly, its flesh became translucent and he could see the shape of the baby within.
Yes , said the voice of the Prophet, that is what you must do. Reach inside, feel the child.
Pepan obeyed. Neither of the two women on the bed seemed aware of the invasion, but the infant floating in its small, warm universe responded to his touch by opening its eyes.
Beyond the shelter, the stone circle began to hum.
The unborn child heard. Its eyes opened wider, looking upon scarlet and crimson tides as its tiny hands clutched at the mist of Pepanâs fingers.
Do not move now, Pepan, commanded the Prophet.
The cloud within the circle began to glow with a lambent green flame, while sparkling white fire shivered across the stones.
In his dreams, Wulv stirred and mumbled but did not awake.
The cloud contracted violently then expanded to cover the hut. Tiny emerald fires flickered over the carefully arranged branches. The air smelled of storm. A rushing wind howled through the primeval forest, whipping the trees until they groaned in protest, sending the forest creatures scurrying for shelter.
Pepan felt a great weight descend upon him, as if he had been floating in the river for a long time and just come out on land again. The weight pressed down unbearably, threatening to crush him though he had no body. Desperately he fought to remain upright and stay stillâuntil the weight flowed through him and his hia caught fire.
This he could feel. He writhed like the storm-tossed trees in an agony beyond description. His spirit was burning hotter than the forge, hotter than the sun, consuming him.
The essence of a people was raging through him.
And from him, into the woman and her unborn child.
Chieftain and warrior, craftsman and Planner and Prophet and all the generations before them poured along the conduit Pepan provided, emptying their knowledge into Vesiâs womb.
The baby convulsed. Vesi sprang up with a shriek, clutching at her belly. âItâs being born!â she cried. âItâs being born now!â
FOURTEEN
A s with a Dying, there were certain rituals that must attend a Birthing. The newborn hia required protection as it entered the Earthworld from a very different plane. It would take awhile before he or she learned the rules governing this new type of existence. But the more immediate problem was the danger imposed by malign inhabitants of the Otherworld.
Siu, as well as corrupted hia who had never made their way safely to the Netherworld, were very aware of a newbornâs vulnerability. While a mother was still in labor they crowded close, hoping to subsume the babyâs spirit and thus acquire a
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