“I don’t want any rewards for doing the right thing.”
“I knew you’d never find Fee’s body.”
“And you were right.”
“Because I knew it was gone.”
A long moment, but I couldn’t twig. “I don’t understand.”
“After she was killed and you were suffering so, Jacy took you out to comfort you.”
“I remember.”
“Borgia and I went to the compost. I wanted Fee buried in a private grave just for you. Borgia said no and talked about rebirth.”
“What? DNA-Cloning?”
“Y. She said we were in time and she got Fee back. It cost an enormous bribe.”
“And you never told me.”
“Borgia said she had luck with Boris, but it was still so iffy that she didn’t want to get your hopes up. She made me promise. Anyway, I couldn’t understand what she was talking about. My XX wasn’t v. good then.”
My heart began to pound. “So? Now?”
“She said she’d write and report progress.”
“And?”
“She hasn’t yet.”
“Then I can hope. Dear God! I — I can’t tell you how grate — And I made that vicious crack about jealousy.”
“I’ll forgive you if you’ll forgive me.”
“No bargains. It’s just us together, forever.”
“Not quite,” she said solemnly. “I’ll grow old and die, of course, while you go on forever. That’s what hurts most. It must have tortured poor Fee, who didn’t even have — But I know you’ll be with me to the end. Who else would you have to take care of you?”
“We don’t have to think about that for a long time.”
“You’ll probably want to run away.”
“Probably, but I won’t.”
“They’ll all believe I’m your mother.”
“Or a rich old lady I married for her money.”
She giggled a little. “Why didn’t you ever hook up with one of the eternal ladies?”
“I suppose because I prefer human beings. The Group isn’t really human, you know.”
“You are.”
“We have a long time before us in Erie — we can take vacations, I hope, and see the solar — so you may change your mind about that.”
She smiled. “I’ll go tell my father. Meet you in the tree in an hour.”
“Why not now?”
“I have to help mother bathe and diaper your son.”
So here I am, here I am in Erie, son of the Mighty Sachem, prince of poppies, fink of firewater, and it’s damned hard work. They’ve renamed me White Eagle. I study Cherokee, Ugly synthesis and customs at the college. I obey. I refer all major decisions to the Sachem. I exercise with the braves and submit to their derision. My wife walks three steps behind me with her head lowered. What she does after hours is nobody’s business but mine.
I have this recorder on which I’m keeping my journal in XX. I sent word to Pepys, and the Group visits occasionally. M’bantu stayed six weeks and had a glorious time. He made friends with everybody and was formally adopted by the Mandan nation. Tosca came and studied tribal dances for her new production of Salome. Disraeli brought a financial report. Apparently the cryos had forced the Extro to shape up and I was back in business again. I was able to repay the Sachem’s loan. Queenie came but the Pawnees on duty wouldn’t let him in. He was livid.
I think I’m beginning to gain some clout in Erie. The other day a deputation from the tribes and nations arrived at the wickiup with an internecine problem and they kept addressing me as “Great Eagle.” Next week I go on duty as Chief of the west gate for the first seasonal tourist invasion. Natoma promises to do a paint job on me that will fill them with awe. The Sachem has given us permission to take June off and we’re for the moon.
Dio! My son is crying again. Escuse me.