The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction NovemberDecember 2018 (The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction Book 135) by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Spilogale Inc.
Published: 2019-03-11T23:00:00+00:00

* * *

"Our river."

Some of this water had run past Uncle's house, while other handfuls had been drunk by the People and then pissed away again. The People who sneaked down to their shoreline in the night. Souls invisible to everyone but the demon standing beside Raven Dream.

"Our famous, secret river."

All true. In this place, water and air belonged to Julian. Raven counted seven bridges invisible from the air, each made from glass or condor eyes or some other crystalline magic waiting for a worthy name. Grown demons were walking out from their sharp-cornered little houses just to cross Julian's river on those narrow bridges. More buildings stood on the far shore, each larger and less colorful than the homes. These demons must work under those plain roofs. Raven guessed that, and he began to ask if he was right.

But Julian spoke first. "As Jacob has told you, I very much want to thank you. I need to thank you. My son was nearly killed, and poor Mara. She felt she was to blame. She still can't forgive herself. But you found them and gave them so much help."

"Did Mara tell you?"

"No."

The crashed condor had seen him standing inside the juniper forest. Again, Raven wanted to ask if he was right.

And again, the demon interrupted. "You knew where to find help, and you escorted them downstream. And in the end, when the worst happened, you were the one who saved my family from a killer."

There was a pause.

Into the silence, Raven said, "There was another condor. It was circling overhead, and that's how you know this."

Julian shook his head, smiling about whatever secret was hiding in his throat. "No," was too important to say once. "No, no, no. Only the helicopters were close, flying low and hard, and you were gone before they landed."

"Then how…?"

"Do I know everything that happened? Because, sir, I have extraordinary resources. Tools and talents beyond what all but the most powerful governments possess. Because I'm Julian Bounty, and more importantly, I am an ordinary father. I love my children and I let them get away with far too much."

"You aren't ordinary," Raven said.

Julian was happy to argue. "Oh, I'm smarter than most people, but not everybody. Not by a long shot. My gifts? A gift for salesmanship, and one exceptional intuition that led me to the great city standing just downstream."

New-Year's City wanted to be noticed. Those first rounded hills straddled the river, what looked like fog caught in the blue-green branches of what looked like grown spruce trees. Trees that might not have been seed a year ago. Raven suddenly wanted nothing but to walk inside that impossible forest, and growing comfortable with that unexpected wish, he tried to imagine himself stepping inside the City, to see whatever there was to see.

The nearest bridge was a few steps away. Raven walked to it, and Julian followed, saying, "So yes, I have enormous powers, amazing tools. And hearing that, Raven Dream…can you imagine why you scare me so much?"

A woman demon was coming across the same bridge.

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