Godfall by Van Jensen
Author:Van Jensen [Jensen, Van]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: FIC028000 FICTION / Science Fiction / General
Publisher: Nebraska
Twenty-Three
Gradually, the weight fell away, and David found himself able once again to move. He strained his aching neck to see that he sat in an easy chair in a small living room, another chair across from him. A TV on one wall, a few small paintings and grainy family photos. Heâd seen this place before, he was sure of it. He squinted at one of the photos. A father, mother, and a boy. A little boy with a hunched back. Jimmy. He was at Jimmyâs house, the house heâd inherited from his parents.
âWhat was in the cup?â David asked, words slurring.
Jimmy leaned forward in his chair, hands on his knees. Dressed in a T-shirt and jeans. He was smiling.
No one else was in the room, but still David tensed, testing out how his hands responded as he gripped them into fists. Would he need to fight again? He was wearing the same shirt and sweatpants but no robe.
âYou shouldnât have done what you did, David,â Jimmy said. âYou shouldâve just asked. We wouldâve told you. We arenât hiding . . .â
âWhat was in the fucking cup?â David asked, his voice firmer.
âWe had to show you. So that you could see the truth of Anum,â Jimmy continued, as if he hadnât heard David. âYou saw him, didnât you? What did he say?â
It was all there, locked in his mind, as clear as it had been when he experienced it. The horrifying explosion into space, the dissolution of everything he knew to be real, including himself. And the giant. Saying . . .
No. It didnât matter what it had said, what he had seen. It was a dream. Just a dream. David glared at Jimmy.
âI thought you were one of us,â David said.
Jimmy pulled at one of his ears.
âOne of what?â
âPart of this town. Not one of them. Coming in and ruining everything.â
Jimmy looked off, then back to David. His smile was gone.
âRuining our perfect little town. Heh. My folks, they never had enough to keep food on the table. They couldnât afford to send me to the doctor for my back. At school, you all made fun of me every day. Youâd all run away from me, call me a monster.â
âJimmy. We were friends.â
David remembered. It seemed like fun. Harmless. Now . . .
âYou know, Spady grew up right there. Right next to me. If Spady had lost his arm as a kid, you wouldâve just made fun of him, treated him like a freak. But he was good at sports, so you all took him in. But me? I was stuck here, by myself. Alone, until they came. It may sound stupid to you, but they really donât want to hurt anybody. They know that when he awakens, all this pain is going to go away.â
They sat silent for a bit.
âIâm just trying to find out who killed my cousin,â David said. âIf anyone there had anything to do with it . . .â
Jimmy shook his head.
âThey didnât. I promise you that.
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