29

Timbella woke Deeter up in a manner he was most unaccustomed to. But he couldn't complain much. Afterwards he asked if she always woke people up like that.

"Well, when we're sharing the same bed, why not." She stood up. "Shower," she said, and disappeared into the bathroom.

Deeter sighed. He felt somehow wrong, and the only thing that he thought might help was more sex. So he followed her into the shower. Doing it standing up was a little tricky, but he persevered. Timbella didn't seem to mind too much, either, and afterwards she helped him soap up. Which sort of got him going once again.

"Damn, you really are young, aren't you?" she asked as they dried off.

He shrugged. "I suppose. I've never really had my stamina tested in this regard."

She giggled. "'In this regard.' Lord."

He didn't reply. Ever since finding out that he really was royalty, she'd gently mocked his way of speaking. He wasn't that bothered by it, but it was a bit tiresome.

They got dressed in relative silence, save for a quick smack to her bottom before her long pants were put on.

"So, what do you want to do today?"

"Breakfast would be favorite, to start. And then - well, what do you normally do on a daily basis?"

"I have class today, but I can skip it."

He frowned. "Are you really intending to come with me? Shouldn't you cancel the classes then?"

"Hmmm. Maybe so. I can make up some sob story and get incompletes."

"Well let's have breakfast by your classes, and then you can take care of the withdrawal."

She nodded, and they took their bags and left. On the way up to the train, Timbella said, "You know, maybe it isn't the best idea for you to come all the way to campus with me. I mean Mynog found where I live, he could find where I go to school."

"Hm. I don't think so, I think he just found where I traveled. As long as I don't do anything like that - unless you think the authorities are going to cooperate with him?"

"Ha! No, good point."

So they continued. Breakfast was quiet. Deeter wasn't sure what was going on. He didn't think Timbella should come with him for her sake, but for his sake he couldn't deny that he needed her help. And then there were the fringe benefits.

"So after I get everything canceled, I'll take you to the top of one of the tallest buildings," she was saying. He blinked, back to reality. "Sounds good?"

"Sounds fine," he smiled.

28

"What did he mean, 'not your religion'?" Timbella asked.

"Well, as I told you, the priests can't read the minds of the nobles. So there's no need for them in our services."

"What are the services?"

"Worship."

She rolled her eyes. "I wasn't raised with a religion, so I don't really know what 'worship' consists of."

"Oh, well, it's just honoring the ancestors, for us. The priests try to say they have power and can intercede on the behalf of people, but really no one can influence our world but ourselves." He reflected for a moment. "And the witches, I suppose."

She nodded. "So Mynog is like, an expert on your world?"

"It would appear to be the case," he agreed.

"I almost wish we could talk to him now."

Deeter shuddered. "Whatever for?"

"To pick his brain!"

"That sounds unpleasant," he muttered.

"Oh, you just say that because he wants to take you back to your home."

"Well, yes! Our interests are not at all aligned! Quite the contrary!"

Timbella giggled. "I like how sarcastic you get when you're mad."

He scowled at her. "Can we please just go to sleep now?"

"Can we do other stuff first?" She stroked his upper thigh.

"Not in the mood."

"Morning?"

He shrugged. "We'll see."

"So pouty." She went into the bathroom to get ready for bed. Deeter did likewise, alone, but she came out carrying two cups of steaming liquid. "I estimated a little less for you than me, since you've never taken any. It's really bitter so just drink it fast. I have a fruit drink for after, to get rid of the taste. And it'll kick in really fast, just so you know."

He did so. It was indeed bitter, so he gladly took the fruit drink. They kissed a little but before long he couldn't tell what he was doing. So they broke apart and just lay together in the bed while sleep stole over them.

27

"And the next time you saw him?" she asked.

Deeter sighed. The massage was over. "I really would like to just get to sleep, please."

"How can you sleep? Well, I mean, I've got that dope, we can use that later."

"What's dope?"

"A downer, I told you."

He shrugged, using both arms to indicate ignorance, smiling. Timbella rolled her eyes. "Do they have painkillers where you're from?"

"Yes, of course. Different plant tinctures do different things, a few of them kill pain."

"Well, on this planet, one of the painkillers also induces trances. The kind that are indistinguishable from dreams. You can't really move, and your brain works, but you're not quite awake. If you're already tired you can fall asleep pretty easily from that state."

He nodded. "Sort of like wine?"

"Except without the disorientation. I mean, I don't know about you, but if I drink so much I pass out, it's cos I'm super dizzy. But you mean wine only, don't you?"

"Ale doesn't get me as drunk."

"Distillation hasn't been invented where you're from?" At his blank look, she said "I guess not."

"My brother froze wine once to make it more potent. We felt pretty rotten after."

"How did he freeze - oh, you mean just outside."

He laughed. "Yes, not by use of magic. Or electricity."

"Anyway this stuff doesn't give you the headache the next day. Just a pleasant trip to dreamland. But first you have to tell me about - Mike?"

"Mynog."

~

After the first encounter, he was more cautious with the places he went. He still ran into Watchers, but only in the advanced civilizations. So he began to avoid them. Also, as Hypose had pointed out, his jewels went further in "backwards" places. Or, to Deeter, homelike places. He was still cautious and didn't stay anywhere more than three days.

He was getting ready for his second night in a small village. He had paid a farmer in jewels to stay in his barn, and for food. He finished speaking his diary entry, and blew out his candle, and the barn door blew open.

He jumped up. "Who's there?"

The farmer waved at him. "This is Father Fantal," he said apologetically.

Deeter could just make out the second figure. "Yes?"

"I need to speak with you about your immortal soul," the priest intoned.

Deeter sighed. Well, the man was built like a priest, so it was probably safe enough... "All right. Leave us."

The farmer complied, closing the barn door. Deeter sat back down. "Do you do this with every stranger to your village?"

"Not every one, but an angel told me to be aware of you. Or at least, a pale child with pale hair and pale eyes. Perhaps he did not mean you, but you are the only one I have seen in my lifetime."

Deeter frowned. "This angel didn't happen to resemble, say, a very very tall man, not quite as pale as I, with dark hair and dark glasses?"

Fantal gasped. "Yes! Save the glasses. He wore none in my vision."

"Really? What color are his eyes?"

"I - didn't notice. He is an angel, isn't he? Your guardian angel?"

"I don't think I would put it that way."

"No, you wouldn't. He seemed to want to find you, and you seem reluctant."

Deeter sighed. "I'm merely tired. Would you mind waiting till the morning?"

"I'm afraid not," he replied, and spoke an incantation that did not translate. The next thing Deeter knew, he was in a bed, tied up by torn bedclothes.

"What?" Fantal was sitting at a desk, writing with a quill. He turned to Deeter.

"I do apologize, but my instructions were quite clear. I cannot be detained by an unfaithful."

"You cast a drone spell on me? It's worn off." Deeter noticed his bag at the side of the bed. The spell obviously had not penetrated his mind deeply. A true drone would only take instructions literally, rather than interpret them, and he couldn't imagine a command to take his belongings.

"It was supposed to. Now just be patient. I have summoned the angel. You should try to get some sleep." Fantal turned back to his writing.

"Your god is not my god. I think you will be sorry for this."

He paused. "Quiet, please, or I'll cast a hush on you."

"Fine." Deeter had wriggled quite a bit while they spoke, and was quite loose. He didn't want to make any noise now, though, so he tried to simply relax.

It was not long before there was a knock at the door. "It is I, Mynog," said the voice that Deeter remembered all too well.

Fantal jumped up and let him in. "Your Grace," he said, bowing.

It was indeed the Watcher, wearing long white robes even more shapeless than the outfits of Akinal. And glasses-free. "Well done, faithful servant. Leave us for now."

"Yes, your Grace," he repeated, and ran outside, calling out "Be in the cellar!"

Mynog laughed. "Ah, priests. So gullible. Religion is truly a blight, isn't it?" He took the chair where Fantal sat.

"Not mine."

"No, not yours," he agreed. "But as usual, even on your world, the churches have perverted things, and only your people do without them."

"We attend church!"

"But not, I surmise, the same way the peasants do." He shook his head. "Damn, I really would love to have this conversation with you, but it will have to wait. We'll talk on the way back to Shringston, eh?"

"We will do no such thing," Deeter said in his most imperious tone, and pulled his arm out of the makeshift ropes. "I'm not going back."

Mynog groaned. "Not this again. What's wrong with you? Has the royal blood really been so diluted?"

Deeter pulled out his other arm and wriggled out of the now-slack knots. "Call it whatever you like. It interests me not at all." He stood up and picked up his bag.

"Wait, where are you going?"

"As if I would tell you!"

"Point," he conceded. "But you don't actually know either, do you?"

"A billion miles from you sounds good right now."

He snorted. "Good luck with that."

Deeter stared at Mynog, who stared back at him. Green, he noted; Mynog's eyes were green. With his eyes on his, he didn't worry about being seen digging in his bag. But he still felt he should talk. "So the peasants don't like your dark glasses here?"

"Well, they aren't really necessary."

Deeter carefully put one gem each in his hand, and hoisted the bag up. "This has been a delight, as usual, but I really must be going."

"In which case I will take the glasses out," he laughed. At the time Deeter was puzzled by this reaction, but he continued walking out. He didn't want him to see the portal, glasses or no glasses.

26

The hotel was not nearly as nice as Timbella's flat, but it took cash and asked no questions. Deeter was beginning to calm down, so he flopped down onto the bed, belly first. Timbella joined him, and began rubbing his shoulders. He made a happy little noise.

"So you met that guy before?"

"Mmmm, can we not talk about this?"

She stopped rubbing his shoulders. "Sure."

He sighed. "I'll talk if you keep on?"

"Start talking."

"My first few jumps were to planets more advanced than even this one. Ahhh. Mmmm. There I was often noticed quickly for what I was, and warned away. That's how I learned what I told you. But I didn't believe it at first, till I met Mynog.

"I had just replenished some supplies and was sitting in a small tree-lined area, on the ground, eating. He was dressed in what appeared to be local fashions, except more conservative, and wearing dark glasses. I remember being confused about that. He's quite tall, as you saw, and doesn't exactly blend in. So I noticed him from rather far away. I wasn't certain he was heading straight for me, but I had this feeling. I mean, I'll be honest, I thought he was simply another man I'd caught the eye of, so I just started to gather things up normally, and head towards more people."

"You get a lot of guys hitting on you?"

"Probably fewer than you would."

She laughed aloud. "Was that a compliment?"

It wasn't meant to be, but he said "It certainly sounded like one, didn't it?"

"So when did you figure it out?"

"Well, he must have seen me getting up, because he started to run, very fast, straight towards me. I still didn't understand then, and I stood extremely still with all my things at my feet. I managed to estimate his speed, and then right before he came upon me, I launched downward, as prone as I am now."

"Oh man. How many times have you made this guy fall down?"

"He didn't fall this time, just kept running, a little surprised. I went the other way towards a path, as I said, towards more people. But by then I had guessed that he was a Watcher. I still didn't really understand what that meant, though.

"He finally caught up with me, but I was in a crowd, and he simply talked to me as I walked quickly away.

"'You've already figured it out? Or did your father warn you as a child?'

"'You know my father?'

"'He sent me to bring you back. One missing son is enough.'

"'A pity I am not fit to take my brother's place.'

"'That's for him to decide, not me. I just do my job.'

"'A pity, then, that you have no free will or empathy.'

"This must have upset him, for he grabbed my hand. 'Don't you dare. I've lived over a century before you were born. I've wept tears for your people before your grandmother did. You're a child, even for a human.'

"His voice was soft, but a man dressed as he was, acting as he did, caught the attention of passers-by. A few people were gathered around staring, and he noticed, and he let go. 'Remember me. Mynog,' he said. 'The next time you're alone, I'll take you back.'"

"Creepy."

"Yes, I think people were staring more because he was speaking my own language, though. He didn't know about the translator, you see."

"Oh, that makes sense. He probably thought you wouldn't be able to cope anyway."

"Something like that. As soon as I could, I found a toilet enclosure and went to a new world."

"Did he follow you?"

"No, it was a different Watcher. The next time I saw him was on a world about forty million miles away. I think."

"Like four light-years?"

"Light year?"

"Oh man. Another physics lesson. Light doesn't travel instantaneously, just really really fast. Um, I think I learned it as a billion miles an hour."

"That seems quite fast. How can you tell the difference?"

"Oh there's lots of experiments and stuff. In school we timed it by using a gear with teeth set a certain distance apart from a beam of light at the other side of the school gymnasium. Since we knew all the distances we could calculate it. And of course you can use shadows from farther planets and stuff."

He almost thought he understood. "And a light-year is how far light travels in a year?"

"Yep. I never remember what it is though. Anyway. Nothing can go faster than light. At least not in this realm, I guess you are proof that there's another one."

He shrugged a bit. "You can stop if you like. It does seem the Watchers can go faster than light, if planets are light-years away from each other, and I've seen Mynog multiple times."

"I may have had it wrong. I'm pretty sure our nearest star is 5 light-years away, though."

"I've only been on the run ninety or so days."

She frowned. "I guess they can then. But still seems like they can't go that much faster. Wonder what the deal is."