Shimmer by Jennifer McBride Page B

plan.’ Her voice remained defiant but in her heart she knew he was right. There was so little she could do. ‘He is my father, David. How can I sit by doing nothing when he is in grave danger? If I could just go back to Genesia, at least I would be there to comfort my mother. She waits alone in the palace not knowing whether any of her family is safe.’
    â€˜Can’t you just open one of those viewing portals? Then you could see for yourself whether they are safe?’
    She shook her head. ‘I could never do that from here. It would take an incredible amount of power to open a portal on Genesia from Earth. Even if I was powerful enough, using so much magic would certainly attract Vennum’s attention.’
    â€˜Okay, but what about your mother?’ he asked. ‘She could use one to keep an eye on your father? Or to see where Atym is?’
    Again she shook her head. ‘No, a viewing portal does not work that way. A portal can only be opened onto a specific location, not onto a specific genie or person. You remember the one I opened onto Panda Rock the other day, when we watched Vennum and his genies?’
    â€˜How could I forget?’
    â€˜I was able to open that one because I had been there. I had a fix on the exact location. Vennum could be on Earth right now and I would not know. I could only open a portal to view him if I knew his exact location.’
    He nodded. ‘I guess it’s just as well it works that way, otherwise Vennum would have been able to find us using one.’
    Kora stepped towards him, her mind swirling with ideas. ‘Yesterday you asked me if I would help you find your father. What if I could help you find him?’ Her voice was filled with hope. ‘If I did, would you release me so that I could go and find mine?’
    David stared at her. ‘I don’t need to bargain with you, Kora. I can just wish that you find my father.’ He glanced away. ‘I don’t have to unharness you afterwards.’
    Kora’s mouth dropped open. ‘You would do that? You would let me find your father for you, while you refuse to allow me to search for mine?’
    She could see uncertainty flicker in David’s eyes. But then his face hardened. ‘You are trying to blackmail me,’ he said. ‘But it is an entirely different thing. No lives will be put at risk by searching for my father.’
    She turned away from him, the intense disappointment making her shoulders slump.
    â€˜I can’t believe you would do that to me,’ he said. ‘You would want me to live without my father, just because you can’t be with yours?’
    She stared out the window, thinking over his words. Finally she turned back to face him. ‘You are right, David,’ she said. ‘It is wrong of me to ask you to suffer just because I must. And you have suffered for five years. It is too long. Let us do it today. Right now.’
    She tipped her head. ‘Go ahead, David. Make your wish.’

The cave
    â€˜What do you mean you can’t find him? I wished it.’ David mashed his hand through his messy hair. ‘You have to find him.’
    She frowned in concentration. ‘I am sorry, David.’ She placed the photo of David and his father down. ‘He is not here to be found.’
    David dropped his head into his hands and took a few deep breaths. When he lifted his head his gaze was steady but sad. ‘I wish,’ he said, ‘to go to my father’s grave.’
    She felt the agony behind his words. Her power rumbled around in her chest seeking the answer to his wish but something wasn’t right. She could feel the pull to a place, but she knew it was not his father’s grave. She increased her power and continued to search. ‘David,’ she finally said, ‘I cannot find him.’
    â€˜What do you mean? Why not? If you’re supposed to be such a powerful genie then why can’t you find