Descending Road - MELODY IN FOUR VOICES by Dana W. Paxson

MELODY IN FOUR VOICES

1563 4D

“I’m back,” Grendel‘s voice rumbled. Andrew and Ezzar turned their faces toward the doorway. The huge andro stood with a little figure silhouetted beside him. Andrew recognized the girl he had called to. “She came back,” Grendel said. He grinned widely enough to show his crooked teeth.

“Jan?” Andrew called. “Jan, here, it’s Daddy.” He beckoned to her, but she just stood by Grendel. Slowly he approached her and reached out. She allowed him to pick her up, her finger in her mouth. Andrew studied her. Is it just my wanting that makes her mine? Or is it really Jan? “Can you talk to me?” Her only answer was a slow curling and uncurling of her fingers. After a few minutes Andrew looked up at Ezzar and Grendel watching them. He looked over at Martin‘s body for a long moment.

“I loved him,” Andrew said, “And now I can’t even bury him. You know, he was a good man. He really tried.” He hung his head.

The silence lasted a long time.

Andrew turned to Ezzar. “I guess we’d better find food and a place to rest.” Feeling in his pocket, he cradled the datacard he had found in a time and place that seemed infinitely remote. “After that, I’ve got to try to find my son.” They took Martin‘s gun, and Andrew arranged his brother’s body in a corner, its hands folded, the expression on its face neutral. Andrew clenched his fist around a small packet he had found in Martin‘s coverall: rings and numeroseal.

Martin had been the driver, the smart one. Andrew, Raul and Norwell had always turned to him when they were baffled, and he had always found a way to get them moving forward again. What would they do now without him? I’ll find a way to come back and stand the blood for you, and take your bones. And I won’t send them to Return, like we did with Dad. I’ll put you up near the farm. Grief and pain surged and subsided in him, like a rare desert rain that fell and ran, and left him parched again.

Andrew picked up the little girl. They all moved out into a left-bending corridor, vacant, silent and long. As he walked, Ezzar‘s arm moved gently across his upper back. Her hand patted his shoulder for a moment, then fell away. From Grendel came a weaving fugal melody in four voices. His foot dragged slightly, but he grinned crookedly against the darkness.

Story List	SURPRISE ME	Author Page
USER SURVEY	PUZZLE ME	MAKE ELM MARK

HOVER Lucida Bright BARE	HOVER Lucida Bright FULL	HOVER Palatino Linotype BARE
HOVER Palatino Linotype FULL	HOVER Times New Roman BARE	HOVER Times New Roman FULL
PAD Arial BARE	PAD Arial FULL	PAD Lucida Bright BARE
PAD Lucida Bright FULL	PAD Times New Roman BARE	PAD Times New Roman FULL


	MELODY IN FOUR VOICES 1563 4D “I’m back,” Grendel‘s voice rumbled. Andrew and Ezzar turned their faces toward the doorway. The huge andro stood with a little figure silhouetted beside him. Andrew recognized the girl he had called to. “She came back,” Grendel said. He grinned widely enough to show his crooked teeth. “Jan?” Andrew called. “Jan, here, it’s Daddy.” He beckoned to her, but she just stood by Grendel. Slowly he approached her and reached out. She allowed him to pick her up, her finger in her mouth. Andrew studied her. Is it just my wanting that makes her mine? Or is it really Jan? “Can you talk to me?” Her only answer was a slow curling and uncurling of her fingers. After a few minutes Andrew looked up at Ezzar and Grendel watching them. He looked over at Martin‘s body for a long moment. “I loved him,” Andrew said, “And now I can’t even bury him. You know, he was a good man. He really tried.” He hung his head. The silence lasted a long time. Andrew turned to Ezzar. “I guess we’d better find food and a place to rest.” Feeling in his pocket, he cradled the datacard he had found in a time and place that seemed infinitely remote. “After that, I’ve got to try to find my son.” They took Martin‘s gun, and Andrew arranged his brother’s body in a corner, its hands folded, the expression on its face neutral. Andrew clenched his fist around a small packet he had found in Martin‘s coverall: rings and numeroseal. Martin had been the driver, the smart one. Andrew, Raul and Norwell had always turned to him when they were baffled, and he had always found a way to get them moving forward again. What would they do now without him? I’ll find a way to come back and stand the blood for you, and take your bones. And I won’t send them to Return, like we did with Dad. I’ll put you up near the farm. Grief and pain surged and subsided in him, like a rare desert rain that fell and ran, and left him parched again. Andrew picked up the little girl. They all moved out into a left-bending corridor, vacant, silent and long. As he walked, Ezzar‘s arm moved gently across his upper back. Her hand patted his shoulder for a moment, then fell away. From Grendel came a weaving fugal melody in four voices. His foot dragged slightly, but he grinned crookedly against the darkness.