The Clocks

After eating, Ingrid and Francine were shepherded into their grandmother's rooms. The rest went upstairs to more thoroughly explore what was, for some, their first ever experience with a real bed rather than what was, at best, straw stuffed between two layers of cloth. It was barely 8 p.m., but being warm, clean, and joyfully full of food resulted in generalized sleepiness.

Brigid roomed with Mattie. The four boys with them took the two rooms to either side of the girls'. Everyone else settled down in pairs or fours.

Mimi decided that it was about time to leave. She'd told the children that she'd be back the next day and had almost made it out the door when Mattie stopped her.

"Something's wrong with Heidi. She's sweating, and she's cold and hot at the same time. Please come see her Miss Mimi."

Mimi turned around and flowed past Mattie, whispering, "Just 'Mimi' is fine."

She found Heidi sitting in a chair, bent over and holding her head. Mimi felt her neck, poked here and there, then laid her ear on Heidi's chest. Unfortunately what she'd heard downstairs had been real. She probably had pneumonia. It looked to be in the early stages, but there was no possibility of her leaving with the rest in two days, assuming that she survived.

She looked around and saw seven expectant faces. All of the girls had gathered by the door to watch. Mimi sighed. She'd need to make some major changes in her plans, and it had to be immediately. She hated doing things without a reasonable warning.

Ailin appeared. Mimi had called the twins at the same time, and they arrived shortly thereafter.

"Stavros, you stand outside and make sure none of the boys try to enter."

She turned to Ailin. A few seconds later she nodded and blinked out. She had people to fetch to the Donetti home.

Seeing Ailin disappear prompted several of the girls to pull back, some came forward, and two just stood there watching.

Mimi answered their unasked question. "What you just saw is called 'blinking'. It's a magic talent like many others, just not as common."

She waved her hand vaguely. "Yes, I know, mages aren't common here, or at least they don't let it be known. Almost everyone in The City has some degree of talent, though mostly of a very minor sort."

She made a show of looking at each of the girls. "You're all still young enough. It's possible that some, or all of you, might also develop magic gifts after you've lived in The City for a year or three." Good, they were all thinking and weren't showing fear any more. Now for the hard part.

"Heidi is sick, and if we leave her here it's going to get worse."

Heidi raised a stricken face and wailed, "Am I going to die? It's not fair. I've barely started my life. I haven't done anything yet!"

Mimi patted her head. "Silly girl...then again, maybe not. None of you are aware of how well we can heal things in The City. Which brings up the problem at hand. I'm sure you can see what it is. Heidi needs healing we can only get for her in The City. She's too ill to travel, so it seems like we can't take care of her. BUT...there is a way!"

Excellent. They were all focused on their friend. Aldus was right. Being able to tell a good story could be extremely useful at times.

"What we have to do is get her to The City tonight. Yes, it can be done, but it's going to mean that I won't see you again until you arrive.

She held up her hand. "No questions right now if you please. Instead I want you to listen, carefully. You all just saw Ailin blink away. She went to The City to summon a doctor to 'Suela and Stavros' home.

"Before I tell you any more, you need to promise me something, and it's a promise that must last the rest of your lives. It's that important. It's about those magic talents I mentioned. Girls sometimes have one that is much stronger than a boy's. Both boys and girls can carry things when they blink, but not very much at a time, though boys can carry more total weight because they're stronger.

"But they can't carry living things with them. Only girls can do that. That's the secret part that we don't want anyone else to know. When you're older I'll tell you more about it."

She smiled as she saw three girls clap their hands over their mouths and their eyes widen.

"Yes, that's right. I can take Heidi to The City with me. There's a problem of sorts though. The more you carry, the harder it is, just like when you pick up a stone. Bigger ones are harder to pick up, right? A big stone also makes you more and more tired the further you have to carry it.

"And that's our problem. I'm going to be so tired after taking Heidi to The City, that I won't be able to come back before you leave. Don't worry though. Ailin will be back tomorrow, and both 'Suela and Stavros will come by in the morning and will stay until you leave on Sunday."

She stood and took a deep breath. This was not going to be hard. It would be horrifically difficult. For most, even of her species, it would be impossible. Fortunately she was one of the triple handful known who could accomplish the task, though she wouldn't just be tired for a day or two as she had implied. She'd likely be unable to walk unaided for at least a week, possibly two.

There was a smothered gasp behind her. She turned and saw 'Suela with a wild-eyed expression full of fear. Mimi was going to have to be more careful about shielding her thoughts in the future. That child was growing faster than expected.

Mimi smiled at her. "No problem little one. I promise that it will all come out well in the end, and you know that I never, ever tell lies."

'Suela nodded tentatively then gave Mimi a fragile but hopeful smile.

Turning to the other children she continued, "As I said, the more I carry, the harder it will be, so I'll need to leave carrying Heidi's and my clothes to 'Suela."

She turned her head toward Brigid. "If you will please help Heidi undress?"

Brigid nodded, and Mimi began to disrobe.

"'Suela, I'll be targeting your largest bathing room. I want you to go first and make sure that some robes are there for us when we arrive so we can bundle up afterwards." She handed both sets of clothes to 'Suela who immediately blinked away.

There was a knock on the door, followed by Ailin's velvety voice. "All four will be there within 10 minutes. I shall remain here untill the children are settled down for the night."

Mimi nodded to herself. Time to be about it.

She sat on the edge of the bed. "Brigid dear, help Heidi stand please. I need her to sit on my lap. Yes, that's right, sideways. Now Heidi, lay the side of your head on my chest and wrap your arms around me as far as they will go."

Once Heidi was in position, Mimi wrapped her arms around Heidi as well, then bent her head forward and laid her cheek on the top of Heidi's head. This worked best with as much body contact as possible. "Here we go. Hold on tight."

She blinked and found herself utterly surprised when she was caught by Sara and Miranda as she collapsed. When she'd looked ahead, she'd only scanned a meter around where she intended to arrive and had not seen them standing by the wall. 'Suela grabbed Heidi so she also wouldn't hit anything as they fell. She'd already stripped and immediately led Heidi over to the bath.

Heidi was more than a little wild-eyed as she watched Sara and Miranda help Mimi to the bath, with Sara slipping in to help her as 'Suela was doing for Heidi. However, Sara was also keeping Mimi from sliding under water as she was unable to sit up by herself.

Miranda smiled broadly at Heidi. "Welcome to The City of The Bells child. Have no fear, we are most happy that you are here with us. The others should be here shortly."

Heidi grabbed 'Suela's hand and squeezed tightly after which she turned and buried her face in 'Suela's chest. Then she wailed, "More people? I can't handle more people. Please, just leave me be for a while!"

The child's breathing, though a bit raspy, wasn't awful, and Sara looked to have Mimi under control. Mimi's breathing wasn't compromised either so Miranda did some rapid revision of their plans.

"Your name is Heidi, correct? Well Heidi, I understand completely. I'll leave and make sure that you don't have to meet anyone else for at least half an hour. Then we'll see how thing are going. Will that be OK?"

Seeing a faint nod, Manda left and closed the door behind her, after which she stood guard. Well, that's what she told everyone later. What she really did was put her ear to the door so she could hear what was going on inside.

After Miranda left, Heidi lifted her head and scanned the room, especially the corners, to make sure that nobody else was going to surprise her. Eventually her eyes found themselves focused on Sara, who had a pleasant and, truth be told, compassionate smile on her face.

"I haven't heard much of your story yet, but 'Suela told me just a little before you arrived. Am I correct in understanding that you want to be a teacher?"

Seeing Heidi's shy nod, Sara resumed, "I'm 'Suela's sister, Sara. I'm the Librarian In Charge at what we call the Little Cathedral and the Cathedral of Whispers. What they are you'll learn later when you feel better. For now I want you to understand one important thing. My job is to help people learn things, so if you want to learn how to be a teacher, I'll be helping you all the way."

She smiled again. "That's enough for tonight. We can talk about the rest later, OK?"

Heidi nodded more vigorously and finally was able to scrounge up a smile of her own. It was a bit forced, but it was real. Maybe this was all going to work out after all.

Miranda nodded to herself and straightened. There likely wasn't going to be much else interesting to hear, and she didn't want Kaho, Jason, and the twins to see her listening at the door when they arrived.

About five minutes later there was a knock at the front door, which was answered by Sven, who ushered in the aforementioned quartet. Manda met them and took them to the family parlor, where she explained what had happened so far.

Kaho nodded several times. "Understood. Easily fixed, assuming it really is early pneumonia. As for Mimi...let me think a while."

Everyone sat, without speaking, while she pondered. Even Miranda had learned by then that trying to hurry Kaho was like trying to stop an avalanche. All you could do in either case was wait for the outcome.

Ten minutes later Kaho gently pounded her left fist into her right palm. "Yes, that should work. This is what we'll do. First we'll get this Heidi child out of the bath and into a warm robe. Then Yoko can feed me while I work on her. We shouldn't need anything more than that if it really is just an early infection.

"Once we've begun, Biki and Sara will get Mimi out of the bath, get a robe on her, and lay her down on the floor. Then Jason can come in. I want Biki holding Mimi's hands, and Jason, you'll put your hands on Biki's shoulders. You two feed her however much energy you can without getting light-headed.

"Then we get both of them to eat whatever they can tolerate and put them to bed."

She looked at Miranda for approval. Seeing it she finished with, "The four of us will return tomorrow at...will 10 a.m. be acceptable?"

Miranda nodded. Kaho settled back, and it was clear that she wouldn't speak further.