'Give me a minute,' Nathan told him.
'You're that eager?'
'Wouldn't you be? I'm going home!'
The other smiled, however uncertainly. But Trask thought: Would you still smile if you knew what he's going home to? And as the cavers left the room he released Zek and told her, 'Be careful, and stay in touch. Let me know when you're ready. Or not ready? I mean, I know I'm not that much of a catch, but -'
'You're an awful lot of a catch.' She kissed him. 'You're
.. . true? That's not just a talent you've got there, Ben Trask. It's a life style. Sometimes when you look at me ... I have to admit, I've looked into your head once or twice. And there was only one other person who ever thought of me like that. Well, I've spoken to Jazz, and he doesn't want me to be alone.'
Trask's heart gave a leap. 'You've made up your mind?'
She nodded. 'I think so. Now I need a break to just ... well, to think about it. The logistics of the thing. You see, I love my island, too, and I have to say a long, slow goodbye to it.'
Nathan was getting impatient and Trask knew it. He returned Zek's kiss and said, 'But right now a fast goodbye, right? Very fast!' And to Nathan: 'Okay, she's all yours - so to speak. And look after her!'
Nathan smiled his slow, introspective smile and said, 'You needn't worry, Ben. I love her too - but differently. Apart from her colours, Zek could be my mother.' An outsider hearing that would probably find it strange: her colours were Nathan's, and in that respect she could easily be his mother. Except he thought of himself as Szgany, and so her colours were alien to him. Moreover, Nana Kiklu (his real mother) was dark-eyed and raven-haired, a Traveller, a Gypsy. But speaking his mind was part of Nathan; so that the way he'd said it, Zek knew his comment had nothing to do with her age, everything to do with his feelings. And she felt complimented.
'I'm ready,' she said. And again Trask watched it happen:
The way the Necroscope's eyes changed from a deep sapphire blue to the cloudy blue - the near-mystical blue -of English summer skies, as he conjured a Mobius door. And he nodded just once at Trask as he drew Zek to him and guided her in a certain direction, stepping to one side with her, almost as if they were dancing .. . but stepping into nothingness. Then:
There was a sudden rush of air into the spaces they'd occupied, and apart from Trask the room was empty ...
David Chung, with a cordless telephone in his hand, beat Nathan back into the small room by maybe a second and a half. 'It's lan Goodly,' he told Trask. 'For you - urgent!'
And a moment later Goodly was piping in Trask's ear: 'Ben! Something bad is on its way!'