dusk, Jen recognized the place from Kira’s description of it in dreamfasting. It was her home, and these were Pod People. As she took his hand to introduce him into the village, he knew that the largest of the long houses was the one where she dwelt.
Fizzgig bounced on ahead of them, barking enthusiastically. The peasants looked up, peering into the dusk. When they saw Kira, they ran up to greet her, whooping with delight in their babbling, lilting speech:. Then they stopped short, hesitating, crowding together in confusion.
“They can’t believe their eyes,” Kira said, “seeing you.”
“Will they welcome me?” Jen asked.
“Oh, yes. When they see that I am happy with you.”
From the largest house an old woman came running out past the others, who were still hesitating. She threw out her arms and embraced Kira.
Again, Jen knew at once who it was: Ydra, Kira’s foster mother. But he felt he ought to wait to be introduced, nevertheless. It was going to raise a few ticklish questions, this dreamfasting.
Ydra greeted Jen with a warm smile when Kira introduced them, but the old woman was clearly as confused to see two Gelfling as they themselves had been on meeting each other in the swamp. After Aughra, then Kira, and now Ydra, it was obvious to Jen that the whole world had hitherto assumed that only one Gelfling still lived on Thra. If there were two, might there not be still more in some other corner of the planet? It was thrilling to think so.
At the doorway of the largest house, the Pod People surrounded the Gelfling. Jen was solemnly welcomed over the threshold. Leaf, twig, root, and fruit were extended for him to hold. Then, at Kira’s bidding, he was required to drop each one to the ground, where the pattern they made with each other on falling was examined for auguries. Since everyone went on being jolly, Jen hoped that the prospects looked encouraging. One step over the threshold, he was again bidden to pause while he chewed and swallowed a seed they gave him, and drank from a gourd – kainz juice, he recognized. The Pod People laughed at how thirstily he drank from their loving cup. The truth was he was famished again.
He saw that he would not have long to wait. In the single room under the Pod roof, kettles of soup were steaming as cooks stirred them, and a long table was already laid with platters of cheese and vegetables, katyaken-egg flans, gourd mush, dyillorkin seeds, river roots and berries, loaves of bellow-bread, and bowls of juice and milk. The Pod People seemed to be continually singing as they prepared their feast. Jen wondered whether his visit luckily coincided with a festival supper. No, Kira told him, it was like this every night in the Pod village. Why should it be otherwise? The simple, natural foods were in abundant supply, and song was not subject to drought.
In addition to the happiness of the place, the aroma of good food, and his joy in Kira’s company, Jen felt very good about one other fact: he was a full head taller than any of the Pod People. That was a brand-new experience for him, after a childhood among the urRu. He really felt himself almost a giant when he looked into the cribs of the smallest Podling infants.
Ydra wanted Jen to follow her. She led him to the head of the table, where two chairs with arms had been set, side by side. Ydra motioned to him to sit down. Jen looked at Kira. “Go on,” Kira said. “You are the guest of honor tonight.”
“Sit down with me at the same time,” Jen asked.
“All right.”
Grinning, they took their seats. The Pod People joined them; sitting on stools that had been placed along each side of the long table. A small band struck up a merry tune on reed pipes and gourd drums. Loud chattering and laughter filled the house as the cooks served the soup. Jen looked at Kira and thought he had never been so happy in all his life. She did not need to take his hand to acknowledge that she felt the same way.
Hoping
Fizzgig bounced on ahead of them, barking enthusiastically. The peasants looked up, peering into the dusk. When they saw Kira, they ran up to greet her, whooping with delight in their babbling, lilting speech:. Then they stopped short, hesitating, crowding together in confusion.
“They can’t believe their eyes,” Kira said, “seeing you.”
“Will they welcome me?” Jen asked.
“Oh, yes. When they see that I am happy with you.”
From the largest house an old woman came running out past the others, who were still hesitating. She threw out her arms and embraced Kira.
Again, Jen knew at once who it was: Ydra, Kira’s foster mother. But he felt he ought to wait to be introduced, nevertheless. It was going to raise a few ticklish questions, this dreamfasting.
Ydra greeted Jen with a warm smile when Kira introduced them, but the old woman was clearly as confused to see two Gelfling as they themselves had been on meeting each other in the swamp. After Aughra, then Kira, and now Ydra, it was obvious to Jen that the whole world had hitherto assumed that only one Gelfling still lived on Thra. If there were two, might there not be still more in some other corner of the planet? It was thrilling to think so.
At the doorway of the largest house, the Pod People surrounded the Gelfling. Jen was solemnly welcomed over the threshold. Leaf, twig, root, and fruit were extended for him to hold. Then, at Kira’s bidding, he was required to drop each one to the ground, where the pattern they made with each other on falling was examined for auguries. Since everyone went on being jolly, Jen hoped that the prospects looked encouraging. One step over the threshold, he was again bidden to pause while he chewed and swallowed a seed they gave him, and drank from a gourd – kainz juice, he recognized. The Pod People laughed at how thirstily he drank from their loving cup. The truth was he was famished again.
He saw that he would not have long to wait. In the single room under the Pod roof, kettles of soup were steaming as cooks stirred them, and a long table was already laid with platters of cheese and vegetables, katyaken-egg flans, gourd mush, dyillorkin seeds, river roots and berries, loaves of bellow-bread, and bowls of juice and milk. The Pod People seemed to be continually singing as they prepared their feast. Jen wondered whether his visit luckily coincided with a festival supper. No, Kira told him, it was like this every night in the Pod village. Why should it be otherwise? The simple, natural foods were in abundant supply, and song was not subject to drought.
In addition to the happiness of the place, the aroma of good food, and his joy in Kira’s company, Jen felt very good about one other fact: he was a full head taller than any of the Pod People. That was a brand-new experience for him, after a childhood among the urRu. He really felt himself almost a giant when he looked into the cribs of the smallest Podling infants.
Ydra wanted Jen to follow her. She led him to the head of the table, where two chairs with arms had been set, side by side. Ydra motioned to him to sit down. Jen looked at Kira. “Go on,” Kira said. “You are the guest of honor tonight.”
“Sit down with me at the same time,” Jen asked.
“All right.”
Grinning, they took their seats. The Pod People joined them; sitting on stools that had been placed along each side of the long table. A small band struck up a merry tune on reed pipes and gourd drums. Loud chattering and laughter filled the house as the cooks served the soup. Jen looked at Kira and thought he had never been so happy in all his life. She did not need to take his hand to acknowledge that she felt the same way.
Hoping
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