A Door Into Ocean by Joan Slonczewski

Author:Joan Slonczewski
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 2011-07-11T04:00:00+00:00

8

AT RAIA-EL, THE raft blossoms bloomed again in profusion, but Merwen the Impatient felt much alone. Usha brought solace as always; but with Spinel gone, Lystra became impossible to share a silkhouse with. Lystra left at last with Mithril and the other refugees of swallower season, to help establish their new raft. As for Nisi, there was an enigma that only brought pain to Merwen’s heart. Death ruled those who ruled the dead; could Nisi escape or not?

It was a shock, then, the day that the Deceiver returned to the doorhole of the silkhouse. Merwen could not bring herself to share speech again, but Usha did. “So, Deceiver,” Usha observed in a thoughtful tone, “you slipped back before Death quite shut the traders’ door.”

“Listen to me,” Nisi began unsteadily. “They’re not done with you yet. You’ve traded traders for death-hasteners; do you see?”

“When death comes, life will rise to meet it. But you, Nisi; what does this mean for you?”

“I want to learn whitetrance.”

Usha stopped, clearly awaiting a sign from Merwen.

Merwen wavered between hope and apprehension. Was Nisi really ready? she wondered, sickening with doubt. Yet Nisi had a selfname; she must be as ready as anyone.

Merwen said to Usha, “You are the lifeshaper. You will have to share this with her.”

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