Part 26 (2/2)
”Well, let's wait to see what amazing evidence this David guy has and then I'll make up my mind. You know, because I'm a scientist and I'm supposed to say things like that.”
Jenny smirked. ”It isn't all facts. It's the burning questions that drive us to explore and discover things, not the reinforcement of factual information. If that's what drove me, then I'd be a pretty dull woman.”
”You're saying I'm dull now?”
Jenny shook her head. ”Nope. But maybe you've forgotten the wonder of all that we do. Maybe it's become stale for you in the wake of finding out you have to carry that sword around with you.”
”Not the sword again.”
”Well, can you blame me for wondering about you? The last time we were together, you were much more happy-go-lucky. Now you're much more a cynic. You frown a lot more than you used to, and I wonder what happened to the Annja Creed I used to know.”
”You sound like the mother I never had.”
”Don't dodge the question, Annja.”
Annja walked another few steps and took a deep breath. ”I've seen a lot of bad stuff since I got this sword. Maybe it's having an effect on me that I haven't realized until now.”
”What kinds of bad stuff?”
”A lot of death. And I've been the cause of some of it. Justifiable, of course, but it's death just the same. ”
”You've killed people?”
”Yes.”
Jenny fell silent for a moment. ”That's a lot of bad karma you're hauling there.”
”Tell me about it.”
”And here I thought my man troubles were plenty bad.”
”I don't have time to think about men. Well, not much, anyway.”
Jenny laughed. ”I knew the old Annja was still in there somewhere. Remember that time in Virginia Beach at that bar with the Navy guys?”
”Don't even bring that up.”
”So you do remember.”
”How in the world could I ever forget? I never heard someone sing in quite that way before. It was horrifying and hilarious at the same time.”
”You saying I shouldn't try out for American Idol American Idol anytime soon, huh?” anytime soon, huh?”
”You'd be better off sticking with big foot,” Annja said.
They kept walking and, for Annja, the sound of the footsteps was in some small way comforting. The rhythm of their pace as they continued to trek down the road with the forest on either side helped refresh her spirit. As different as she and Jenny were, there was a comfort in being with her. The sense of the familiar. It was something Annja realized was missing from her life in a big way.
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