Despite the Angels - By Madeline A Stringer Page 0,79
having a fit.”
“Yes,” said Trynor, watching Lucy’s careful attention to her eye make-up, “we have to be careful and remember what the current society’s rules are. It was so much easier back when women had more freedom. After all, when she was Alessia, my Lucy was a mother well before she was Alison’s age and everyone rejoiced.”
“Mmm,” Kumbal agreed, “it did seem simple back then. The lives were shorter, too. How old was Alessia when the Wave came?”
“Seventeen. We were caught out that time.” Trynor stretched out on Lucy’s bed. “I hope nothing ghastly happens this time round. We have great plans, everything arranged for the best, but we never foresee the unforeseeable. That’s why we’re here now, Haliken’s mistake about Kathleen’s infection.”
“No, we’re here because of your mistake, don’t try to wriggle out of that one! We were all meant to get going ten years sooner. They’d have met and married, and had Moonsong again by now. Providing of course, you had put her into the same denomination as David. Ten years ago that would have been an even bigger problem.”
“Yes, it’s easy to forget how important it is to humans. Silly now, not to have remembered when I actually got killed only thirty-eight earth years ago for being the wrong religion. Of course at the time I didn’t realise that was why, I was only a child. And now, with the rush getting her to earth when I realised I was late, I’ve put Lucy into a different group. It was such a good family for her and for Alison. I really don’t know why it should be so difficult for her to meet David, why they all make such a fuss about it. We don’t care what religion they have. Except for the ones with child sacrifice. I really object to child sacrifice.”
“I know you do. We understand.” Kumbal sat on the bed and let some of her energy flow over Trynor, quietening his indignation. “But I don’t think there are any of those left, are there?”
“Not officially.” Trynor was subdued. Kumbal brightened deliberately and put on her most cheerful voice, the one that human listeners might have recognised as an exasperated nursery teacher.
“Well, anyway, the religion thing will probably cause fewer problems the older she gets. It’s never impossible, there are always ways to get them to meet, don’t we all make sure of that, when it’s necessary? That’s why the humans get so fussed about their taboos, they know they can’t trust themselves not to fall in love with the wrong people!”
“But they fall in love with the wrong people all the time. Look at David wasting his time with Kathleen. And she with him.”
“Ah, but the humans think it is a wonderful match.”
“Shows how much they know.” Trynor sat up. “Looks like we’re ready. So I’ll go and see if I can keep her out of trouble and you watch over my back-up plan!”
Lucy looked at herself in the mirror once more and pulled a face at her reflection. She had done her best and she thought that with such indifferent materials to start with she didn’t look too bad. “You look lovely, Lucy. You are perfectly nice looking, with some very good points. Now stop worrying, far too many young men find you attractive for my peace of mind as it is.” She put her new bag over her shoulder and admired the effect. That would do. It was only a drink with a friend in the Pavilion in Trinity after all. Nothing special.
“That’s good. The special nights are an even worse strain, worrying that you’ll set your eye on someone new. And then trying to convince you to bring whoever it is home. Just talk to the girls, Lucy. Okay, I’m coming. Bye, Kumbal.”
Two hours later Trynor was backing away in front of Lucy, trying to block her view of a group from the rugby club. They were pushing and jostling to get to the bar and Lucy had just stood up to make her own way there to get more drinks for herself and her friends. Trynor was in as much of a panic as he could ever remember being, in spirit. Being locked into the gas chamber was worse, he thought, but not more significant. Not for me, anyway. I wish I could turn opaque, so they couldn’t see through me.
“Hello Trynor!”
Oh shit, thought Trynor, maybe I should be even more transparent and then he wouldn’t have seen me,