Odeon was too edgy to sleep, too nervous about Joanie's prospects for
recovery even to rest well, and more than a little apprehensive about
the Brothers, so not long after midnight he gave up his useless attempt
to sleep. He dressed quietly in the dim night-lighting, careful not to
disturb the others--especially Piety, napping at the table. With a
patient to care for and herself the only medical person who knew about
Cortin's surgery, Chang slept grudgingly, not letting herself get
comfortable for fear of not waking if Cortin should need her. Odeon
didn't think it really necessary, but he wouldn't order anyone to be
less conscientious in their specialty than they thought wise.
He slipped outside, chuckling ruefully at himself. Sis wasn't the only
one taking unnecessary precautions; here he was putting himself on
guard duty in a Royal residential compound with the Crown Prince and
Princess present! If that wasn't redundant, he didn't know what would
be; he'd have the proverbial snowball's chance against anything that
could get past the kind of security this place had. Still, he felt
better when he'd made a tour around the shelter and settled himself in
a lawn chair beside the door.
It was a mild night, a bit cooler than usual for this time of
year--good sleeping weather, and the smell of the roses was relaxing.
Maybe out here he could catch a nap after all, so he wouldn't be a
total loss in the morning--wouldn't want to be a zombie when Joanie
woke up! And he was a Tracker, trained to wake instantly if he heard
anything unusual. He settled deeper into the chair, closing his eyes.
* * * * *
The man approaching him was impossible. For one thing, he was
inhumanly attractive, almost beautiful--but the clincher was his
uniform. Enforcement did have some good-looking older officers; it had
never had a white uniform, or a star for rank insigne, or a Kingdom
emblem that looked like a spiral galaxy. This had to be a dream, then,
so Odeon settled in to play along and enjoy it.
It seemed reasonable to assume that a star outranked even an eagle, so
he stood, coming to attention as the man neared.
"At ease," the stranger said, smiling. "You need have no fear for your
Joanie, Michael; she'll be fully recovered when she wakes."
"Thank you, sir." Odeon had no doubt the man knew precisely what he
was talking about, and it was definitely reassuring.
"But you'd like to know how I know." The man smiled again. "I'm an
aspect of the Triune you worship, Michael, in a form I hope you'll
find--" He broke off, chuckling. "Not comforting, certainly, or even
reassuring, but at least not threatening. I'm here to give you a
heads-up, and maybe more if you want it. You've thought for a long
time that Joanie's something special, haven't you?"
Odeon nodded, glad that this was a dream. If it'd been real, he
would've been too stunned to function--because the man looked like an
older Jeshua, and that was entirely too much for him to accept as
reality with any degree of calm. As it was, he managed a nod. "Yes, I
have."
"And you're quite right, she is." The man paused. "The White Fathers
taught you well, but human interpretations do tend to modify even the
most accurate prophecies. Can you accept both that fact, and the
accompanying one that I cannot, for your own sake, give you all the
details just yet?"
Odeon hesitated in turn, then nodded, slowly. "From anyone else, I'd
say no--but from you, I can manage."
The man smiled. "You please me, my son. The White Fathers called this
the Time of Chaos, though Time of Change would be more accurate,
particularly where the lives of those on your team are concerned. Joan
is the herald of the Promised One, and will act as that one's surrogate
for a time, though she will not be asked to bear that burden
permanently, and would be far happier if she isn't forced to
acknowledge her temporary Protectorship."
Odeon frowned. "The Protector's Herald and acting Protector herself?"
That didn't seem particularly plausible, though he had to agree Joanie
wouldn't enjoy being put in either position.
"You are a wise man, Michael. And properly skeptical, as a police
officer must be." The man raised his hand. "But it's your devotion
that has to take precedence now, and it has to be focused on her."
"With all respect, sir, I don't understand."
"Remain her friend and guide, as you've begun. Completing her destined
tasks will be both difficult and dangerous, particularly since she must
remain largely unaware of that destiny, and her powers must remain
mostly latent, until the true Protector manifests." He gestured, and
they were inside, standing beside the cot that served Cortin as a
recovery room, with Chang on the other side.
The man kept his attention centered on Odeon, though he was clearly
addressing Chang as well. "When she wakes, the final phase begins.
You will be severely tried, Michael in particular, by pain and loss
great enough that you will be sorely tempted to reject me." He raised
a hand to forestall Odeon's instinctive denial. "I said you would be
tempted; I did not say you would succumb, though even Cardinals are not
immune."
Odeon frowned again. In the light of last month's murder of Pope
Anthony and Cardinal McHenry's near-unanimous election--he was now Pope
Lucius--that had an ominous sound. "There was something fishy about
the Papal election?"
"Let us just say that were his true identity known, most people would
prefer a fish in that position. The former Cardinal McHenry introduced
himself to Sister-Lieutenant Chang as the Raidmaster."
Odeon stared at Chang, then at him. "The Raidmaster--are you saying
that Shayan is the Pope?"
"The Cardinals' free will includes the freedom to accept temptation,"
the man said drily. "Yes, he's managed that. But for now balance must
be maintained, which means giving Joan a core group he can't touch, and
nudging temporal authorities to give her mundane power to match his.
All of which will have to be done without her knowledge, or she loses
her temporary immunity before she's strong enough to fight him. If
that's how she chooses to handle it."
Gently, he pulled the coverlet down to Cortin's waist, then touched her
breasts. "If you choose, you two will be her chief support--and for
that, you'll need support yourselves. You've both offered your lives
to me and been accepted. That hasn't protected you from sin, because
that's part of the Protector's covenant. And it's too early for it to
protect more than her core group--but if you're willing to surrender
that fragment of your free will so you can serve her fully, I can give
you the help and protection you need to do it."
"You've got it," Odeon said without hesitation, and Chang nodded.
"I expected no less of you," Jeshua said, obviously pleased. "Then
drink from her, for hers is the protecting and healing Milk of Life."
Chang obeyed immediately, but Odeon hesitated, looking at the drop of
white that had appeared on her nipple. "Even for that," he said
softly, "I can't take advantage of her. That's not the way to help
her."
"I admire your integrity," Jeshua said, "but that need not concern you.
I foresaw this possibility; she'll feel and enjoy your drinking.
Though she won't understand it until the time comes to make this
available to everyone."
Reassured, Odeon bent to his Joanie's breast and drank. Her milk was
warm and sweet, so full of the promised life it was almost
intoxicating--and he could feel her pleasure in it, could feel Sis'
emotional pain and scars fading to nonexistence, could feel God's
Presence surrounding and enfolding them.
He was reluctant to release her even when he could drink no more. The
unity he'd felt with her, and through her with Sis, was too right for
him to want to leave it.
"There will be other times," Jeshua said. "Only one drink is
necessary--but once all can partake, she will feed you again and often,
both as part of your loving and as a remembrance and renewal of the
unity you've just felt." He smiled. "That doesn't mean she won't
continue to lactate; she and those who accept her will have special
gifts, you and her other staff and priests in particular. It only
means that until then, her milk will be no more miraculous than any
other woman's. You and Piety are the ones who'll choose those to serve
her and give them milk or seed."
That part made sense; Odeon was used to both priestly functions and
delegation of authority. It was what Jeshua said about Joanie's milk
being part of their loving--with Joanie the Protector, even just
temporarily, he couldn't possibly--
Jeshua chuckled. "Of course you can, and will. You don't love her any
less because of what you've learned; why deprive either yourself or her
of the most powerful physical expression of that love? It's also
something both of you want, and I certainly have no objection." He
smiled.
Odeon returned the smile, unable to resist the other's charisma. What
he said did make sense; he'd wept when Joanie'd lost that pleasure and
consolation, and now that she had it back, it'd be unfair for him to
deprive her. Not that he wanted to deprive either of them; it just
seemed incongruous that he make love to an Aspect of God. Knowing that
she was, anyway; it'd seemed normal enough before. Still . . . "You
know I'll do anything she needs--or just wants--me to do."
"I know," Jeshua said. "To your credit, my son, though you don't
really need it." He turned to Chang, touching her head gently. "Any
more than you do, daughter. You've had the special help you needed;
now your suffering is over, and you may conceive whenever and with
whomever you wish. I assure you, your child will have a distinguished
family."
Chang bowed to him, her expression at once radiant and serene. "I will
leave those choices to the One Who healed me, with gratitude."
"So be it." Jeshua smiled, covered Cortin again, and was gone.
* * * * *
Moonlight in his face brought Odeon awake, frowning. That dream had
been decidedly peculiar, not at all his usual type--much too realistic,
for one thing, so much so that it seemed he could still taste Joanie's
milk. What had gotten into him?
More disturbed by the dream than he cared to admit even to himself, he
got up and stretched, then made another tour around the shelter before
going in. The activity helped--until he saw Chang's tear-stained face
and haunted expression. He joined her at the table, glancing at
Cortin--no, nothing obviously wrong--before touching the medic's hand.
"What's wrong, Sis?" he asked quietly.
"A dream, no more," she said. "I should not have let it disturb
me--though it seemed so real I find it hard to dismiss as I should."
Two overly-real dreams not only on the same night, but apparently at
the same time . . . "I just had one of those myself," he said. "If
yours matches, I think we can count on interesting times ahead--tell me
about it."
When she finished, he rubbed his scar. "Word for word, and as close to
action for action as possible with you in here and me outside. Not a
dream, then, was it?"
"No." Chang managed a shaky smile. "To live in interesting times is
an ancient curse of my people, did you know that?"
"I'd heard," Odeon said. "This was a blessing, though." He fell
silent. "If we can believe the visions, anyway. On the other hand,
Shayan is the Father of Lies, and his only absolute limitation is that
he can't create life. He could be trying to trick us."
Chang shook her head. "I have felt Shayan's touch, Michael; I would
know it anywhere, and that was not he. More, what benefit would he get
from such trickery?"
"None that I can think of," Odeon admitted. "And I don't really
believe the idea myself--comes from a career of questioning everything,
especially when there's no physical proof one way or the other."
"There is a form of proof possible," Chang said. "If either of us can
do something we know to be sinful, the vision was false. If not, which
I am certain is the case, it seems safe enough to assume its truth;
even in my most cynical moments, I cannot believe that Shayan would
render a human incapable of sin, even if such lies within his power."
"I can, under one condition, but since I don't believe he's capable of
love--especially where Enforcement people are concerned--I agree with
your conclusion."
Odeon thought for a minute, then made the attempt, with a total lack of
success. Giving the nun a half-smile, he shrugged. "Can't violate the
First Commandment, at any rate. I can consider it intellectually with
no problem, but when think comes to do, no way." His attempt at a
humorous grin turned into an elated smile. "Sis, it's great! I've
been praying for this since I was a boy and learned what the Protector
would do--I not only can't sin now, I can't even want to!"
Chang gestured him to quiet down before his enthusiasm woke the rest;
it was still well before normal time to get up, and waking someone
unnecessarily was rude at best. His pleasure was infectious, though,
and she couldn't help returning his smile. "I feel as you do,
Michael--though I still find it difficult to fully accept that I am
actually living in the Protector's time. I am somewhat surprised that
I am able to accept it at all."
"Me too--so I imagine that's part of the help we were promised. We
couldn't accomplish a whole lot if we were too stunned to function, and
from what he said, we're going to have to start functioning almost
immediately."
"True--though we will be able to say nothing about this."
"Not right away, no," Odeon agreed, "but we'll have to tell the rest
soon. And anyone else we think should be part of her core group. I've
got some pretty good ideas about who I'd like to see in it, too. Brad
and Ivan definitely, Their Highnesses--odd as it may seem--very
possibly."
"I believe it would be difficult to find better, if they are willing."
"We'll ask when we get the chance. In the meantime--" Odeon hesitated.
"I don't know about you, Sis, but I never expected to be living at the
end of one age and the beginning of another, even though the monks who
raised me said it was possible and I always wanted to see the
Protector."
"My feelings also," Chang said. "I had hoped for such, but not really
anticipated it either." She smiled. "I always wished to be both a nun
and a mother, and that seemed to be the only way it would be possible.
So while I, like you, am frightened, I am also looking forward to the
experience."
"From what he was saying, you're going to be more a priest than a
nun--but I know what you mean." Odeon studied her carefully. "I
gather that being healed means yau'll be able to join the action
now--and want to?"
"Indeed, as eagerly as you. Were it not that I have responsibilities
to my patient, I would wish to enjoy you immediately." She looked
toward the sleepers, then back to him. "I find that strange,
considering the circumstances of my previous sexual experience. But it
is also undeniably true. I desire you, and I will undoubtedly desire
the others when opportunity presents itself."
"They'll be as glad to hear that as I am, though they might find it a
little hard to believe at first. Whatever we tell them later, we'll
have to give some sort of explanation for that almost immediately."
"I see no problem there; the truth, in part, should do nicely. All
know I have been praying for this; I need only say my prayers have been
answered. I need not say how directly just yet, though I agree that we
will have to do so eventually."
Odeon chuckled, pleased to find his equanimity returning. "True. It
looks like you may not be with us too long, though, if He sends you a
child right away."
"It is in His hands--but He said Joan will need us both, so either I
will not conceive soon, or He will find a way for me to remain with
her."
"Any preference as to the father?"
"Not of the fertile men I know. Were he one, and the choice still
mine, I would choose Tiny."
The gentlest of the team, except for Piety herself. A natural choice,
Odeon thought, smiling. "He'd make a good father, I think. And it's
not completely out of the question, with the same kind of help you've
already had."
"True." Chang smiled briefly. "We shall see, when the time comes."
* * * * *
"How do you feel, Captain?"
"Mmm?" Cortin opened her eyes, to see Odeon and Chang standing over
her. "Not bad--it's done?"
"It is done. The procedure went quite well. You feel no pain?"
"Only the usual in my back. No sensation where you were working."
Chang gave them a thumbs-up, smiling. "Precisely as it should be; you
are fully healed, and the algetin has worn off. You are again capable
of intercourse, and I believe enjoyably so. Though it may take you a
few times to become accustomed to the different sensations."
Cortin licked her lips apprehensively, sitting up but keeping herself
covered with the sheet. Mike had said it'd be an order of magnitude
better, Sis said it should be enjoyable, and she trusted them
implicitly--so why in God's name was she suddenly so apprehensive at
the prospect of something she'd enjoyed so much before? Her last
experience had been horrible, granted, so maybe the apprehension was
normal . . . She forced herself to calm. None of her people would
hurt her, she knew that; at worst, she'd have no feeling. No physical
feeling, she corrected herself. Making love with Enforcement men had
always been fun, and usually gave her a comfortable, cherished feeling
whether she climaxed or not. She'd still have that, which was
something to cling to. A big something.
"There are some things you should know before beginning," Chang said.
"While you are again capable of arousal, you must understand it will
not be the same; you will have to make allowances."