Read Online The Persistence of Memories - A Novel of the Mendaihu Universe by Jon Chaisson - Free Book Online Page B

responded. The man sent a wave of spirit
energy in response, flitting past like a swallow, here and gone
before its presence had been acknowledged. He smiled again; the
Mendaihu on Earth rarely used nonverbal communication except in
times of distress or utter joy. They were in fact quite keen on
meeting him.
    As for what they were going to ask, he had no
idea. He could only wait and see.
     
    “Somfei, edha Usarai! Welcome, welcome!” the
young man said, approaching Nehalé with an outstretched hand. “I am
Dolan Usara. We met very briefly during your last visit.” The man,
possibly a distant spiritual cousin of his, clasped his
outstretched palm and shook it vigorously with both hands. Nehalé
responded in kind; they were all equals here. Dolan beamed at the
gesture, and led him towards the table. The Elders of the One had
congregated at one end, all busy talking over one another. Ampryss
was there as well, sitting equally among the other Elders rather
than at the head, and motioned him over as soon as she saw him. She
wore her dark hood halfway back this time, letting her fiery red
locks spill out the sides. There was a livelier aura about her this
time, barely containing her excitement.
    “Somfei, edha Usarai,” she said. “We are
happy that you could make it here. I gather your journey was a safe
one?”
    “Safe and pleasant, thank you,” Nehalé said
with a slight bow. “Things are still a little unstable in
Bridgetown, but it's nothing that can't be handled by the Mendaihu
Gharra. I felt no reason to worry during my travels.”
    “I am very glad to hear that,” she said.
“Please, have a seat.”
    “Thank you, emha,” he bowed, and took his
spot. The Elders nearby acknowledged his presence briefly, glancing
at him with a courteous smile and a slight nod of the head. Others
were more straightforward, walking up and introducing themselves,
fascinated by his presence. It took him a few minutes for him to
realize they looked upon him as some kind of high adept well above
their own rank, and when it did, he fell silent in shock. He’d been
certain the Elders were going to be disappointed.
    He leaned over to Ampryss and spoke quietly.
“Nyhnd’aladh, emha, but I don't understand. These Elders are
thrilled that I'm here.”
    Ampryss flashed a smile at him and laughed
warmly. “They are, Nehalé! Don't you realize what has
happened?”
    He shook his head and shrugged, clearly at a
loss.
    Ampryss shifted in her seat to face him and
adjusted the hood she wore over her head, revealing more of her
flowing red locks. “Your Awakening ritual was a success,” she said.
“And Dennise Johnson has taken it upon herself to extend this
ritual to span an entire planet. She is the first embodiment of the
One of All Sacred to choose to do that.”
    Nehalé stared at her. “Surely others have at
least thought about it?” he started.
    Ampryss shook her head. “None have bothered.
The others had all decided the risk was too great. The fact that
she did it purely as a gesture of love and peace and not for
personal or political reasons only reinforces her will on the
Mendaihu spirit.”
    “Yes, but...”
    “Nehalé,” she said, touching his forearm.
“She's become the One and the Goddess in human form. She
controls Gharra. She can control the universes if she so
wished.”
    Nehalé could not respond. He’d been so close
to Denni and everyone else at the warehouse that he hadn’t noticed
the change. Had she really progressed so far, so soon?
    Moments later, the steaming plates of meat
and vegetables were brought to the table and served, easily
distracting him from his worries. He recognized a few Meraladian
delicacies but most were new to him, and tried a bit of everything
that passed his way. He probably wouldn't remember half of what he
ate when he returned home, but to enjoy Trisandi cuisine was a rare
thing indeed, and he wasn't about to pass any of it up. It was
nearly an hour later when all plates were cleared,