Descending Road - JEDDIN AND FERDINAND by Dana W. Paxson

FERDINAND AND JEDDIN

1529 4D

A lone andro sat at a table at Kuklagrad, bent over with his head lying in a puddle of drink. “Ferdinand,” Jeddin said, the sadness coming through his voice. Ferdinand picked up his head, eyes brimming, and clamped his hand over Jeddin‘s as it rested on his shoulder. Jeddin sat by him, wondering, ready to ask him about his nightmares, but Ferdinand threw his arms around Jeddin and clutched him like the last handhold on a cliff. Ferdinand, trying once again to mute the shouting of his senses, was stoned.

“Jeddin.”

“Yes.”

“You’re a fool. You can’t stay here. They’ll find you and burn you.”

“I know.” Jeddin gently rocked Ferdinand as they sat.

“You don’t care, do you?”

“It doesn’t matter. I can’t help it. I find pain, and I have to go to it. That’s why I come to you.”

Ferdinand blurted, “Domaro‘s dead. His name was on our memwall an hour ago, in jaSRann and dzoijin shades, in the gray ashes there.”

Jeddin shuddered in his gut. “I heard him die. The Hounds killed him. Then Nazilan loved him too – dzoijin is her color for death.”

Ferdinand‘s eyes stared wide at Jeddin. “Go. I’ll be all right. The Hounds are everywhere. Bujilla said two of them left here at halflight.”

Jeddin wondered how he would get Ferdinand to help, in such a state. “Ferdinand. I need a favor from you.”

“What?”

“Find the Lady. I’ll need her soon.” At the memory of his last awakening, Jeddin‘s belly tightened. Pain lay deep in that place.

“You’re letting them catch you?”

“No. But they will. You’re the only one who can change through innerspace and the Archives for the rest of it.”

“What’s the rest?” Now Ferdinand seemed to gather himself. Maybe this would work. Ferdinand had done these things before. It would be all right.

“I need to know who or what lived on Tarnus before the Colonists came. The Archive has blocks on all that. Go in and get past the blocks, and then come here again. I’ll find you.”

“But you’ll be dead!”

Jeddin laughed. “Yes. But I’ll find you. Just find the Lady for me, and I won’t be as dead as you think.”

Ferdinand threw his arms around Jeddin again. “Please don’t do this.”

They’re coming. A signal from within, perhaps some trigger from innerspace, tickled Jeddin‘s awareness. “It isn’t a choice for me. It’s a curse. Get out the service tunnel, Ferdinand. Now.”

Jeddin leaped from Ferdinand‘s arms and raced down the understreet to the nearest alleyway, the sound of soft fast footfalls coming behind him like a dark wind. If he could outdistance them, he’d try some of his own research, even if it took him where he didn’t belong.

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
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PAD Lucida Bright FULL	PAD Times New Roman BARE	PAD Times New Roman FULL


	FERDINAND AND JEDDIN 1529 4D A lone andro sat at a table at Kuklagrad, bent over with his head lying in a puddle of drink. “Ferdinand,” Jeddin said, the sadness coming through his voice. Ferdinand picked up his head, eyes brimming, and clamped his hand over Jeddin‘s as it rested on his shoulder. Jeddin sat by him, wondering, ready to ask him about his nightmares, but Ferdinand threw his arms around Jeddin and clutched him like the last handhold on a cliff. Ferdinand, trying once again to mute the shouting of his senses, was stoned. “Jeddin.” “Yes.” “You’re a fool. You can’t stay here. They’ll find you and burn you.” “I know.” Jeddin gently rocked Ferdinand as they sat. “You don’t care, do you?” “It doesn’t matter. I can’t help it. I find pain, and I have to go to it. That’s why I come to you.” Ferdinand blurted, “Domaro‘s dead. His name was on our memwall an hour ago, in jaSRann and dzoijin shades, in the gray ashes there.” Jeddin shuddered in his gut. “I heard him die. The Hounds killed him. Then Nazilan loved him too – dzoijin is her color for death.” Ferdinand‘s eyes stared wide at Jeddin. “Go. I’ll be all right. The Hounds are everywhere. Bujilla said two of them left here at halflight.” Jeddin wondered how he would get Ferdinand to help, in such a state. “Ferdinand. I need a favor from you.” “What?” “Find the Lady. I’ll need her soon.” At the memory of his last awakening, Jeddin‘s belly tightened. Pain lay deep in that place. “You’re letting them catch you?” “No. But they will. You’re the only one who can change through innerspace and the Archives for the rest of it.” “What’s the rest?” Now Ferdinand seemed to gather himself. Maybe this would work. Ferdinand had done these things before. It would be all right. “I need to know who or what lived on Tarnus before the Colonists came. The Archive has blocks on all that. Go in and get past the blocks, and then come here again. I’ll find you.” “But you’ll be dead!” Jeddin laughed. “Yes. But I’ll find you. Just find the Lady for me, and I won’t be as dead as you think.” Ferdinand threw his arms around Jeddin again. “Please don’t do this.” They’re coming. A signal from within, perhaps some trigger from innerspace, tickled Jeddin‘s awareness. “It isn’t a choice for me. It’s a curse. Get out the service tunnel, Ferdinand. Now.” Jeddin leaped from Ferdinand‘s arms and raced down the understreet to the nearest alleyway, the sound of soft fast footfalls coming behind him like a dark wind. If he could outdistance them, he’d try some of his own research, even if it took him where he didn’t belong.