babbling, making no sense, trying to get up when you shouldn’t.’
‘I don’t remember.’
‘That is perfectly understandable. Now be at peace, all is well.’
She stroked my brow, and I was suddenly overwhelmed by a ripple of fatigue. Her touch was full of bliss, like the warm sunlight on my face, the cool soft pillow behind my head, and the slow blink of my eyelids…
No. Something was wrong.
‘Where is he?’ I said, forcing myself to sit up and bite back the ensuing pain. ‘Where is Reed?’
My mother pulled her hand from my brow and closed it slowly into a fist.
‘I told you,’ she replied. ‘Reed is fine.’
‘You have been looking after him?’
‘No. Benedikt has.’
I froze.
‘Why?’
She cocked her head and frowned.
‘Why not?’
‘Take me to him.’
She watched me for a second. Then she stood, flattened her dress, and went to the door. It creaked as she opened it, fresh light flooding in from the hallway outside and throwing her long shadow upon the oak floor.
‘You can come in now. She is awake.’
Two sets of footsteps, one short, one long. You entered the room, followed by Benedikt, dressed in deep red. He laid a hand upon your shoulder.
My heart surged.
‘Hello, Ima,’ you said.
I wanted to spring across the room, knock that hand away and gather you up.
But I calmed myself.
‘Hello, Reed,’ I said, with as untroubled a smile as I could muster. ‘Are you all right?’
You rubbed your left wrist.
‘My arm got bashed, and it was sore, but it’s better now. See?’
You held it out for me to see. I reached out my own.
‘Come here.’
You hesitated, looked up at Benedikt, who nodded. Only then did you cross the room to my bed. My belly trembled at this, but you embraced me and all was well.
‘Is your head better?’ you said, placing a hand on the area of my skull which I assumed had taken the blow.
‘Yes,’ I replied. ‘Yes, I think so. Reed, do you know what happened to Jorne?’
You shook your head.
‘I don’t remember much until they found me.’
My heart gave a skip of hope. Had you blacked out the incident altogether?
His eyes flashed.
‘But you saved him, Ima. I saw it. Do you remember?’
‘Yes, I remember. Reed, I want to explain.’
‘It’s OK, Ima. I know.’
My blood ran cold.
‘What is it that you know?’
‘I know how you were able to save him. I know how you were strong enough to push that whole tree from the river.’
My heart thumped. ‘Who told you?’
You looked over your shoulder.
‘Benedikt did.’
I glared at Benedikt’s shadowed face, the long nose and hoods under his eyes, skin I would have gladly torn from his skull right there and then.
‘Is that so?’ I said. ‘And what exactly did Benedikt tell you?’
You turned back with an excited look.
‘It’s really interesting. People can do things, amazing things, when they’re in danger. If they need to save somebody, or if something is running after them like a wolf or a bear or something, then they get super strong, stronger than they could ever imagine themselves being. Did you know there was once a woman who lifted a boulder twice her size just to free her daughter?’
I listened to you, watching your eyes dance about as you spoke, and feeling relief flood through me. The lie remained intact.
‘Boulders are much heavier than trees, aren’t they?’ you said. There was an eagerness in your face; you wanted the lie as much as anyone.
‘Yes. Boulders are much heavier than trees. And what else has Benedikt been teaching you?’
‘Oh, lots. About things that happened in the past, like wars and machines and missiles and big buildings falling down.’
‘I see.’ I stroked the hair from your eyes. ‘Perhaps you can tell me about them once I’m out of bed. Would that be OK?’
You nodded.
‘Can I go and play now?’
‘Yes, you can go and play.’
You kissed my forehead and left, glancing at Benedikt, who smiled as you passed. Once the door had closed behind you, I turned to Benedikt.
‘What have you been teaching him?’
‘Nothing you would not teach him yourself, I am sure. History, mostly. Empires, civilisations, that kind of thing. The child deserves to know the truth about his species, wouldn’t you say?’
‘And who can give anyone that?’
There was a silence, during which Benedikt and my mother exchanged a nervous look. I felt suddenly foolish.
‘I should go,’ said Benedikt. ‘Good bye, Ima. Kai.’
He nodded at my mother and left. I looked back at the billowing curtain, trying not to think about Jorne, and all the time feeling my mother’s eyes