by L. Itram and Ben Yackley Main * Story * Setting * Cast * Illustrations * About * Comment

Chapter 26: New Beginnings: Convalescence (Posted on 4/13/04)

"She really likes to see you," said the nurse quietly. "Even if she doesn't ... you know."

"You don't have to reassure me. Really."

The tall, gawky cockatrice fidgeted with a corner of her regulation hospital apron. It had a small pink skull embroidered on the pocket. "Sorry. I never really know what t'say."

Her companion patted her awkwardly on an elbow. "It's ... it's okay. She must, uh, seem very strange. You didn't know her before."

"Nah, she's like the animals I normally work with. Only not dead. They promised they'd transfer me to autopsy next month. Summer work-study's tough competition, y'know?"

"Er, no. Not really. Anyway ... she's happy. Right?"

"Yeah. She likes havin' you around."

"So, uh, anyway ..." Pico glanced at his silent companion and then out the window again. "The nurse -- you know, the tall one -- um, she says you've been doing really well. She says -- I, um, asked them, see -- and they're letting me take you back to Almanaque. I told them I'd, uh, take care of you." He looked back again to see how Auli was taking the news, but she just smiled at him. He tried to smile back. They also said not to expect any further improvements, he thought glumly.

Aloud he said, "You'll, uh, you'll like it. My landlady has a spare room. You can live there. Um, Featherglass -- they'll hire a nurse for you. For when I'm at work. You'll be happy there. And, um, we'll be together." She just smiled. She's so easy to talk to now, he thought. But, then, talking to her is no different from talking to myself for all the good it does.

"Ezer," said Auli.

"What is it?"

She smiled. When he didn't continue, she prompted "Izzi?" She touched her lips and then gestured toward his face.

"'Is it' what? Oh. Um. You want me to talk? I guess that's another change. You never really -- I, uh, I don't know. Maybe you did care for me, in your own way. I would have done anything for you, you know." Talking to himself had always been so much easier than talking to her. Now, all she really wanted was the sound of his voice. "I sometimes wonder -- you know? -- I wonder if I should've let those mages stay in prison. It -- I know I did the right thing, but then it got you in trouble."

Auli made no judgement about his decision. She sat silently, enjoying the stream of sounds, sometimes watching his face, sometimes the students in the courtyard outside.

"I never really knew you, did I?" The words flowed more easily now that he didn't have to think about how she'd respond. "That sweet, quiet girl, studying so hard so she could get a good job and make a good life for her sister. Was that all made up? I think ... you wanted me to think that at the end, didn't you? But sometimes I wonder if you were still trying to make good for your family, even if you had a really strange way of doing it. What would you have done with all that money, Auli? Really, what would you have done?"

She was staring out the window at a bird, but she turned her head at the sound of her name and gazed at him, puzzled. He paused and took a breath, removing his glasses and smiling at her again.

"Never mind, it -- it doesn't matter. The girl from the library is gone and the criminal is gone, too. And now you're someone new again. You... you like me, you like hearing me talk, but you don't know who I am. You don't remember Pico. You don't even remember the mages -- the nurse, she said one of them came to see you. Maybe that's for the better; now you really are someone new.

"You'll like Almanaque. You won't remember it, but it's a pretty place. I'll show you the Library gardens; you'll like that. And..."

A pause. "Ann?" she prompted.

"And? And I don't know. And we'll be together, even if it's not how I'd ever wanted. But you'll be happy and you'll be safe and right now, that's enough for me. I couldn't help you then, but I can now. You don't have to run anymore, you don't have to be scared anymore, because I'll always be there. You'll always have your Pico there with you."

"Pico."

"Yes, Pico." He turned back to the window. "Even if you never remember me."

"Pico." There was a soft touch on his hand. He looked down to see Auli's fingers resting on his. "Theh ... than kyu."