Read Online Beyond the Pale: A fantasy anthology by Nancy Holder, Kami García, Saladin Ahmed, Jim Butcher, Jane Yolen, Heather Brewer, Rachel Caine, Gillian Philip, Peter Beagle - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nancy Holder, Kami García, Saladin Ahmed, Jim Butcher, Jane Yolen, Heather Brewer, Rachel Caine, Gillian Philip, Peter Beagle
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Alek? You’re afraid of something.
I know you. I can tell. What are you afraid of?”
It amazed him at times how well that Sara
knew him, or how she could predict so easily when things weren’t sitting so
well inside his mind. When it came to predictions, to knowing things that were
unknowable, the citizens of Misery turned to a woman by the name of Jordan.
Jordan was psychic, or sensitive, or just incredibly gifted when it came to
understanding the annual blessings that were bestowed upon the people here. No
one knew where the Gifts came from, or who sent them. Like anything else in
Misery, people simply accepted the Gifts as the norm, refusing to make waves by
questioning the Gifts’ origins.
Two years ago, Jordan had told him that a
new friend was coming to Misery, and that she and Alek would become very close
in a relatively short period of time. Maybe it had been Alek’s loneliness
talking, but he’d doubted at the time that his Gift of friendship would ever
come true. The very next day, Sara had found him at the town center, not so far
from the spot they were standing at now. He’d vowed that day that he’d never
doubt Jordan or her abilities ever again. And yet here he was, his stomach all
tied in knots, his palms slick with anxious sweat.
“Fine. Don’t tell me.” Sara folded her
arms in front of her and turned, leading Alek down the sidewalk, in the
direction of Jordan’s house. As they came to a stop at the corner across from
[place], she continued her thought. “But I’ll bet you just about anything that
you’re wrong. It’s your Gift , Alek. How can that be anything to worry
about?”
“Morning, you two. Causing trouble early
today, are you?” Virginia called to them from where she was kneeling in her
flower beds. Beside her was a pile of weeds, as gray and dull as the flowers
themselves, but somehow full of much less life. She wore a big floppy hat to
block out the sun’s rays, and had to hold up the brim just to meet Alek and
Sara’s eyes.
Sara put on a pleasant smile. “No, ma’am.
Just walking over so Alek can receive his Gift.”
“Oh, has it been so long already? I swear,
after so much time here, every year seems to blend into the next.” Virginia
stood and brushed dirt from her knees before approaching the white picket fence
between she and the sidewalk they were standing on. “Are you looking forward to
your Gift, Alek?”
Alek gulped as silently as he could
manage, swallowing his hesitancy at receiving something he knew on the surface
would be satisfactory. Then he nodded at her. “Every year. When do you receive
your next gift, Virginia?”
She wiped a bead of sweat from her
forehead with the back of her hand as she considered his question, leaving
behind a smudge of soil. “Well, let’s see. If you get your Gift today, my next
Gift must be in about two months. But, you know, after last year, I don’t
really need another Gift.”
Alek shrugged. “Maybe you’ll get some new
flowers to put in your garden.”
Virginia sighed. “You know what I’d really
like? Some color. Maybe some color for my roses. Oh yes, I’d like that very
much.”
The three of them exchanged looks. Looks
that spoke volumes.
Then Virginia stammered, as if she were
afraid that someone might overhear them. “Of course, I’m not complaining. I
like Misery just the way it is. It’s just that you have such beautiful green
eyes, Alek. I wish I could see that in my garden too. Anyway, you two should
scoot. Don’t want to be late to receive your Gift.”
“Yeah.” Alek’s heart felt hollow and
heavy. His voice dropped off, into an almost whisper. “I wouldn’t want that.”
Alek moved down the sidewalk, his steps
hesitant. Beside him, in direct contrast, Sara’s stride was confident and sure.
Lining the street were large oak trees. A strong wind gusted high above the two
friends, blowing several leaves in varying shades of gray from the branches.
The leaves danced and fluttered on the
I know you. I can tell. What are you afraid of?”
It amazed him at times how well that Sara
knew him, or how she could predict so easily when things weren’t sitting so
well inside his mind. When it came to predictions, to knowing things that were
unknowable, the citizens of Misery turned to a woman by the name of Jordan.
Jordan was psychic, or sensitive, or just incredibly gifted when it came to
understanding the annual blessings that were bestowed upon the people here. No
one knew where the Gifts came from, or who sent them. Like anything else in
Misery, people simply accepted the Gifts as the norm, refusing to make waves by
questioning the Gifts’ origins.
Two years ago, Jordan had told him that a
new friend was coming to Misery, and that she and Alek would become very close
in a relatively short period of time. Maybe it had been Alek’s loneliness
talking, but he’d doubted at the time that his Gift of friendship would ever
come true. The very next day, Sara had found him at the town center, not so far
from the spot they were standing at now. He’d vowed that day that he’d never
doubt Jordan or her abilities ever again. And yet here he was, his stomach all
tied in knots, his palms slick with anxious sweat.
“Fine. Don’t tell me.” Sara folded her
arms in front of her and turned, leading Alek down the sidewalk, in the
direction of Jordan’s house. As they came to a stop at the corner across from
[place], she continued her thought. “But I’ll bet you just about anything that
you’re wrong. It’s your Gift , Alek. How can that be anything to worry
about?”
“Morning, you two. Causing trouble early
today, are you?” Virginia called to them from where she was kneeling in her
flower beds. Beside her was a pile of weeds, as gray and dull as the flowers
themselves, but somehow full of much less life. She wore a big floppy hat to
block out the sun’s rays, and had to hold up the brim just to meet Alek and
Sara’s eyes.
Sara put on a pleasant smile. “No, ma’am.
Just walking over so Alek can receive his Gift.”
“Oh, has it been so long already? I swear,
after so much time here, every year seems to blend into the next.” Virginia
stood and brushed dirt from her knees before approaching the white picket fence
between she and the sidewalk they were standing on. “Are you looking forward to
your Gift, Alek?”
Alek gulped as silently as he could
manage, swallowing his hesitancy at receiving something he knew on the surface
would be satisfactory. Then he nodded at her. “Every year. When do you receive
your next gift, Virginia?”
She wiped a bead of sweat from her
forehead with the back of her hand as she considered his question, leaving
behind a smudge of soil. “Well, let’s see. If you get your Gift today, my next
Gift must be in about two months. But, you know, after last year, I don’t
really need another Gift.”
Alek shrugged. “Maybe you’ll get some new
flowers to put in your garden.”
Virginia sighed. “You know what I’d really
like? Some color. Maybe some color for my roses. Oh yes, I’d like that very
much.”
The three of them exchanged looks. Looks
that spoke volumes.
Then Virginia stammered, as if she were
afraid that someone might overhear them. “Of course, I’m not complaining. I
like Misery just the way it is. It’s just that you have such beautiful green
eyes, Alek. I wish I could see that in my garden too. Anyway, you two should
scoot. Don’t want to be late to receive your Gift.”
“Yeah.” Alek’s heart felt hollow and
heavy. His voice dropped off, into an almost whisper. “I wouldn’t want that.”
Alek moved down the sidewalk, his steps
hesitant. Beside him, in direct contrast, Sara’s stride was confident and sure.
Lining the street were large oak trees. A strong wind gusted high above the two
friends, blowing several leaves in varying shades of gray from the branches.
The leaves danced and fluttered on the
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