Cry of the Newborn (56 page)

Beneath them, the ocean subsided. Not completely. The rhythms of the waves beyond their control fed into the deeps far below. And above them, the gale dropped to a stiff breeze and the rain fell straight down. Arducius smiled. Their minds were steady but the drain on them was huge, dragging the energy from them to feed the bubble and keep the storm at bay in direct proportion to its power.

'Turn the ship, Captain,' said Arducius. 'We cannot keep this up for long.'

The silence that had fallen on the
Cirandon's Pride
gave way to order, beat, action and song. The ship turned into the face of the storm and moved on to the cheers of the crew. The fear would come later with the return of the gales.

'They are saying it was coincidence. They are saying God showed us mercy and the eye of the storm and so we were able to turn,' said Patonius.

The Ascendants and Kovan were in Mirron's quarters. The wrinkles on their faces and hands had already faded. It was three days since the storm had passed and they had resumed their course. Arducius had assured the captain that there was not another storm within ten days of them but even so, she had set them near enough to the Gesternan coast for quick shelter should they need it.

'If it keeps them happy,' said Kovan.

'No, that's not it at all,' said Ossacer. 'We saved them. We made it possible for the ship to turn.'

He was staring straight at Patonius, his sightless eyes making her uneasy.

'Next time, we'll let the ship sink,' said Gorian. 'Let God save them then if He can.'

'And you would go down with it,' snapped Patonius. 'Where is your sense, boy?'

'Where is yours?' he retorted. 'We can't drown.'

Patonius stared at him and shook her head.
‘I
will not talk to you. Petulant brat.'

'None of this really matters,' said Arducius. 'What do you think, Captain?'

‘I
know what I saw. So do those who were standing around you and on the tiller. I know you forecast the storm and I know there was a weakness in my hull.' Her head was shaking again. 'But still in my heart, I cannot believe it's really you that is doing this. And the crew do not want to believe, and so they don't. I see God's hand in this, all of it. And I would believe in coincidence faster than in witchcraft.'

'It isn't witchcraft. It is inside us, part of us,' said Mirron. 'God works through us. We do what we do only by His grace and gift. Please, we only want to be accepted. We only want to be free to do good.'

'I'm not sure I believe that of all of you,' she said, looking askance at Gorian for a moment.
‘I
don't know. I've got a crew of grown men and women out there and they are frightened of four children. There is mistrust and there is hatred too. What would you have me do?'

'Let us prove to you and your crew that this is not coincidence,' said Arducius. 'We can manipulate the elements and the energies of life at will. We're sorry for what Gorian did. But we can help your crewman.'

‘I
can make him see again,' said Ossacer. 'I'm sure of it.' 'You cannot even see yourself,' said Patonius, not unkindly. 'How can you cure another?'

'Let him show you,' said Mirron.

'Anthus would not let any of you within a mile of him if he had the choice. Every rigger wants you put over the side. And while you might not be able to drown, you can certainly starve to death so don't push me.'

'Please,' said Ossacer. 'You must let me try. The nerves in my eyes have died and I will never see. I think his are burned so the life energy can't get through them. I can heal the burns inside and take away the scars. Then he can see again.'

‘I
have no idea what you're talking about. How can you know what is wrong with him?'

'I'm guessing but I'm good at guessing,' said Ossacer. 'Please, captain.'

She addressed herself to Arducius. 'If he causes Anthus any more pain there will be nothing I can do to save any of you, do you understand?'

'Of course.'

'Then I will speak with him.' The slightest of smiles crossed her face. 'What has he got to lose, right?'

Arducius accompanied Ossacer to the surgeon's area later that day. Ossacer could have walked there by himself using the trails in the living wood but the captain didn't think it wise. The surgeon's area was just a table and chests with drawers fixed to the floor and curtained off from the hammocks in which the off-duty crew rested. It stank of old blood and the sweet aromas of herbal preparations. He couldn't count the hammocks that swung from the beams on three levels, the bedrolls on the floor and the belted knots of belongings. And Arducius had thought their temporary home to be tight and sparse. These people always had nothing.

The walk made him sad. It would have made Gorian proud. The crew who saw them backed away from them. They made religious signs and muttered protective words. He saw keepsakes and charms around their necks that hadn't been there before. And he heard them spit on the floor behind them and rub their feet on the deck. It would have broken Father Kessian's heart.

They were ushered through the curtain by the surgeon herself, a short-bodied woman who seemed somehow out of proportion. She had long limbs and powerful looking hands with long fingers. Probably good for a surgeon. He couldn't work out how tall she was because she was stooped in the cramped space. She was very pale skinned and he thought he could see a layer of downy hair on her face and the backs of her hands. He was aware he was staring and blushed. She chuckled. A hard sound from deep in her throat. And then she spoke and her voice was like the grumbling fall of rocks.

'You have never seen my like, younger,' she said.

'I'm sorry,' he said. 'I didn't mean—'

‘I
am Gorres of Kark.'

His mouth dropped open.

'That's them, isn't it?' said Anthus from within. His voice was over-loud, frightened.

'Yes,' said Gorres, sparing Arducius any further embarrassment. 'No need to worry, I'm sure.'

She waved the Ascendants forward. Anthus was sitting on a stool near the table. His eyes were bandaged and his hands were clamped to the seat, his knuckles white.

'Who's that?' Anthus's head twitched round.

'My name is Ossacer. I'm blind too.'

'Don't come any closer. Blind or not, you've got those eyes changing colour all the time. Not right. Will I have those eyes if you fix me?'

'No,' said Ossacer. 'Only we have those.' 'Gorres?'

'Yes, Anthus, speak.'

‘I
will get better on my own, won't I? Eventually?'

‘I
think not. You cannot even tell light from dark. I cannot help you.' Anthus was silent. 'Let the younger try. Do you want to spend the rest of your life in shadow? And on shore?'

Anthus shook his head. 'Just don't make it worse.'

Ossacer took that as agreement. Arducius watched him. His delicate fingers reached out. Gorres was rapt, licking her lips in anticipation.

i'm going to lay my fingers on your bandages above your eyes,' said Ossacer. 'You'll feel warmth. Perhaps a tingling. If you feel any pain, tell me.'

Anthus breathed deeply. 'This isn't right.'

it wasn't right what Gorian did to you. This will put things back where they should be,'

Ossacer's fingers touched and Anthus started violently.

it's all right. Try to relax.'

'Relax. Don't think so.'

it'll be done quickly. Do you feel warmth?'

'Yes. It itches. In my head. Make it stop.'

it will. Just a moment.'

Gorres whispered in Arducius's ear. 'What happens, younger?'

'Ossacer will detect where the energy lines are blocked and he will remove the block by forcing a little of his own life energy in. That will clear the scarring in his eyes and let Anthus's own lifelines complete their circles and let him see again.'

'He doesn't cut him?'

'He doesn't even move the bandages.'

'Done,' said Ossacer.

'You've done nothing,' sneered Anthus.

'Keep your eyes closed,' said Gorres, stepping up quickly and placing a palm over his bandages. 'Snuff the lantern, younger.' She began to unwind them. A couple of layers and then soft pads soaked in balm. She peeled the pads away. Anthus gasped. His hands reached up and his eyes flickered beneath their lids. 'Keep shut. Let me clean you.' She wiped away the slight weeping that had gummed his eyes. 'Now. Put your hand over them. Open slowly.'

‘I
can see light,' said Anthus but there was no joy in his voice.

'Fascinating,' said Gorres. 'Amazing.'

‘I
t doesn't scare you?' asked Arducius.

Gorres laughed. 'Now why would it do that? I am Karku. I was born into wonder.'

Arducius looked back to Anthus. His eyes were open and he was squinting against the light, even in the gloom below decks. He prodded around their edges.

'The pain around the sockets will fade,' said Ossacer. 'You should have as much sight as you ever had.'

Anthus retched suddenly and Arducius saw he was shivering.

'Go away,' he said. 'No one can do this. No man. No woman. I'm dirty. Touched. This is devil's sight.'

Gorres got to him before he could scratch his eyes out. Her strong arms bound him tight and she whispered for him to calm. Ossacer backed up. Arducius held him.

'I helped him,' said Ossacer, voice trembling. 'I helped him to see.'

'Best you leave, youngers,' said Gorres, holding the writhing Anthus hard. 'He'll come round. Maybe you should too. What you have, people will shy from. It's too different and men scare easily. Hide what you are when you can. Estorea isn't ready for you. It might never be.' She smiled rather sadly. 'I'm sorry for you. I know what you feel you can be.'

Arducius led Ossacer past the staring, suspicious eyes of the crew in the open quarters and around the oar deck. They could all hear Anthus's cries. His denunciation of Ossacer's act to restore his sight and his assertion that he had been cursed. Ossacer himself was on the verge of tears and Arducius hurried him back to Mirron's quarters and called Kovan and Gorian in. Before he had the chance to tell them all that had transpired, the shouting had begun.

'Why now? Why when we've cured him? Why not when Gorian hurt him?' asked Mirron.

'Until now they could fool themselves,' said Kovan. 'Even what Gorian did could have been a fluke, poking his eyes out or something. But now . . . well it's there for everyone. He couldn't see and now he can.'

There was a loud thud from outside. Kovan drew his sword and ushered the Ascendants behind him. Gorian stood at his shoulder.

'I won't hesitate,' he said.

Kovan glanced at him. 'I wouldn't ask you to.'

'The more good we do, the more they hate us,' whispered Ossacer.

He was sitting on the bed, Arducius with him. Mirron stood behind the two others, not knowing where to put herself.

'You should listen to me more often, then, shouldn't you,' said Gorian. 'Stop snivelling. It makes you sound weak.'

'You didn't hear the hate in his voice,' said Ossacer. 'He thinks me evil.'

'So we have to defend ourselves against these unbelievers,' said Gorian. 'We can do it. We have power they can only dream about.'

'You cannot think like that, Gorian,' said Arducius. He had closed his eyes when he heard Gorian's words but was clinging on to the possibility that they were said in fear, nothing else. 'Just because they don't understand doesn't—'

There was a thump against the door. Mirron screamed. Gorian jumped back a yard. A woman's loud voice stilled the shouts. Patonius. It was confusing. They couldn't hear what she was saying but the responses were hard and angry. But it seemed she was holding sway. Then another voice. Distant, perhaps from above. And everyone fell silent. They heard the running of feet and the clatter of men against ladders.

Inside Mirron's quarters, they were too scared to say anything. Each of them strained to hear some clue. And the Ascendants all pushed out with their minds to see if they could sense anything in the trails through the air.

'More life is coming,' said Gorian.

'Above or below the sea, I can't tell?' said Mirron.

'Above. Other ships I suppose.'

'What do we do?' asked Ossacer.