Part 49 (2/2)
”Yes.” Elizabeth held the sobbing baby against her shoulder, then triggered a ma.s.sive release of endorphins so that Dedra would at least see him smile before she left ... in case this sight of him was the one that would live in memory. ”Dedra, there's still a danger. As always.”
The mother kissed her baby's head, feverish beneath gossamer-fine curls.
Love Brendan love.
Brendan loves Mother.
”I know how hard you've worked,” Dedra said to Elizabeth.
”You and-that man. I'm grateful, whatever happens. Believe me.”
Elizabeth placed the quiet child into his basket. ”You can send Marc in now. Tell Brother Anatoly to wait outside with you tonight. We can call him if we need him.” For the Blessing of Departure.
”Very well.”
Dedra went out of the nursery and Elizabeth turned away from the basket, going to the window to take a few breaths of cool air. A harvest moon rode above the silvery undulations of the Montagne Noire. The aether was apparently tranquil all over Europe.
It seems, she thought, that the only dread and unease in the world are here on my sad crag, and I am very much afraid. Not of personal failure. Not even of facing Dedra's grief. I'm afraid of him, and the energies he will channel through me into the mind of this dying child. He has come here faithfully for the past ten days. He has been a superlative a.s.sistant, never making the slightest attempt to seize control or even question my direction. Even his socializing has been formal. And still I am threatened ...
”Good evening, Elizabeth.”
She turned from the window and he was there, standing beside the child's basket, as usual wearing the crimson silk robe that Brother Anatoly had gladly relinquished.
”We'll attempt the finalization tonight,” she said. ”Since it will be hard on all three of us, we'll go at it in brief stages and give the child ample time for synaptic recuperation as we impose the new circuitry. Are you ready?”
”In a moment.” He held out a closed fist toward her, turned it over and let the fingers open. In the palm of his hand was a small white star. ”I went exploring today and brought you a souvenir.”
In spite of herself, she reached out. It was a flower with a central cl.u.s.ter of golden b.u.t.tons, surrounded by fleshy bracts clothed in fine white wool. She studied it in some perplexity.
He said, ”Edelweiss. Shall we begin?”
Hold.
Quickly halt that surge!
Done.
YesOgood see the holonet react burn it HARD yes enough.
Now brainstem input.
(SleepBrendansleepbabysleepnow.) Disengage easy ... comeout Marc and rest.
They sat in their chairs on either side of the cot, heads bowed as they caught their breath. As always, he recovered first and went to the nearby tabouret for the carafe of fruit juice and gla.s.ses. After he had poured, he bent down and picked up something from the floor.
”You lost your flower,” he said, smiling.
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