The Alembic Plot Part 20

"The Cardinals' free will includes the freedom to accept temptation,"

the man said drily. "Yes, he's managed that. But for now balance must be maintained, which means giving Joan a core group he can't touch, and nudging temporal authorities to give her mundane power to match his.

All of which will have to be done without her knowledge, or she loses her temporary immunity before she's strong enough to fight him. If that's how she chooses to handle it."

Gently, he pulled the coverlet down to Cortin's waist, then touched her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. "If you choose, you two will be her chief support--and for that, you'll need support yourselves. You've both offered your lives to me and been accepted. That hasn't protected you from sin, because that's part of the Protector's covenant. And it's too early for it to protect more than her core group--but if you're willing to surrender that fragment of your free will so you can serve her fully, I can give you the help and protection you need to do it."

"You've got it," Odeon said without hesitation, and Chang nodded.

"I expected no less of you," Jeshua said, obviously pleased. "Then drink from her, for hers is the protecting and healing Milk of Life."

Chang obeyed immediately, but Odeon hesitated, looking at the drop of white that had appeared on her nipple. "Even for that," he said softly, "I can't take advantage of her. That's not the way to help her."

"I admire your integrity," Jeshua said, "but that need not concern you.

I foresaw this possibility; she'll feel and enjoy your drinking.

Though she won't understand it until the time comes to make this available to everyone."

Rea.s.sured, Odeon bent to his Joanie's breast and drank. Her milk was warm and sweet, so full of the promised life it was almost intoxicating--and he could feel her pleasure in it, could feel Sis'

emotional pain and scars fading to nonexistence, could feel G.o.d's Presence surrounding and enfolding them.

He was reluctant to release her even when he could drink no more. The unity he'd felt with her, and through her with Sis, was too right for him to want to leave it.

"There will be other times," Jeshua said. "Only one drink is necessary--but once all can partake, she will feed you again and often, both as part of your loving and as a remembrance and renewal of the unity you've just felt." He smiled. "That doesn't mean she won't continue to lactate; she and those who accept her will have special gifts, you and her other staff and priests in particular. It only means that until then, her milk will be no more miraculous than any other woman's. You and Piety are the ones who'll choose those to serve her and give them milk or seed."

That part made sense; Odeon was used to both priestly functions and delegation of authority. It was what Jeshua said about Joanie's milk being part of their loving--with Joanie the Protector, even just temporarily, he couldn't possibly--

Jeshua chuckled. "Of course you can, and will. You don't love her any less because of what you've learned; why deprive either yourself or her of the most powerful physical expression of that love? It's also something both of you want, and I certainly have no objection." He smiled.

Odeon returned the smile, unable to resist the other's charisma. What he said did make sense; he'd wept when Joanie'd lost that pleasure and consolation, and now that she had it back, it'd be unfair for him to deprive her. Not that he wanted to deprive either of them; it just seemed incongruous that he make love to an Aspect of G.o.d. Knowing that she was, anyway; it'd seemed normal enough before. Still . . . "You know I'll do anything she needs--or just wants--me to do."

"I know," Jeshua said. "To your credit, my son, though you don't really need it." He turned to Chang, touching her head gently. "Any more than you do, daughter. You've had the special help you needed; now your suffering is over, and you may conceive whenever and with whomever you wish. I a.s.sure you, your child will have a distinguished family."

Chang bowed to him, her expression at once radiant and serene. "I will leave those choices to the One Who healed me, with grat.i.tude."

"So be it." Jeshua smiled, covered Cortin again, and was gone.

Moonlight in his face brought Odeon awake, frowning. That dream had been decidedly peculiar, not at all his usual type--much too realistic, for one thing, so much so that it seemed he could still taste Joanie's milk. What had gotten into him?

More disturbed by the dream than he cared to admit even to himself, he got up and stretched, then made another tour around the shelter before going in. The activity helped--until he saw Chang's tear-stained face and haunted expression. He joined her at the table, glancing at Cortin--no, nothing obviously wrong--before touching the medic's hand.

"What's wrong, Sis?" he asked quietly.

"A dream, no more," she said. "I should not have let it disturb me--though it seemed so real I find it hard to dismiss as I should."

Two overly-real dreams not only on the same night, but apparently at the same time . . . "I just had one of those myself," he said. "If yours matches, I think we can count on interesting times ahead--tell me about it."

When she finished, he rubbed his scar. "Word for word, and as close to action for action as possible with you in here and me outside. Not a dream, then, was it?"

"No." Chang managed a shaky smile. "To live in interesting times is an ancient curse of my people, did you know that?"

"I'd heard," Odeon said. "This was a blessing, though." He fell silent. "If we can believe the visions, anyway. On the other hand, Shayan is the Father of Lies, and his only absolute limitation is that he can't create life. He could be trying to trick us."

Chang shook her head. "I have felt Shayan's touch, Michael; I would know it anywhere, and that was not he. More, what benefit would he get from such trickery?"

"None that I can think of," Odeon admitted. "And I don't really believe the idea myself--comes from a career of questioning everything, especially when there's no physical proof one way or the other."

"There is a form of proof possible," Chang said. "If either of us can do something we know to be sinful, the vision was false. If not, which I am certain is the case, it seems safe enough to a.s.sume its truth; even in my most cynical moments, I cannot believe that Shayan would render a human incapable of sin, even if such lies within his power."

"I can, under one condition, but since I don't believe he's capable of love--especially where Enforcement people are concerned--I agree with your conclusion."

Odeon thought for a minute, then made the attempt, with a total lack of success. Giving the nun a half-smile, he shrugged. "Can't violate the First Commandment, at any rate. I can consider it intellectually with no problem, but when think comes to do, no way." His attempt at a humorous grin turned into an elated smile. "Sis, it's great! I've been praying for this since I was a boy and learned what the Protector would do--I not only can't sin now, I can't even want to!"

Chang gestured him to quiet down before his enthusiasm woke the rest; it was still well before normal time to get up, and waking someone unnecessarily was rude at best. His pleasure was infectious, though, and she couldn't help returning his smile. "I feel as you do, Michael--though I still find it difficult to fully accept that I am actually living in the Protector's time. I am somewhat surprised that I am able to accept it at all."

"Me too--so I imagine that's part of the help we were promised. We couldn't accomplish a whole lot if we were too stunned to function, and from what he said, we're going to have to start functioning almost immediately."

"True--though we will be able to say nothing about this."

"Not right away, no," Odeon agreed, "but we'll have to tell the rest soon. And anyone else we think should be part of her core group. I've got some pretty good ideas about who I'd like to see in it, too. Brad and Ivan definitely, Their Highnesses--odd as it may seem--very possibly."

"I believe it would be difficult to find better, if they are willing."

"We'll ask when we get the chance. In the meantime--" Odeon hesitated.

"I don't know about you, Sis, but I never expected to be living at the end of one age and the beginning of another, even though the monks who raised me said it was possible and I always wanted to see the Protector."

"My feelings also," Chang said. "I had hoped for such, but not really antic.i.p.ated it either." She smiled. "I always wished to be both a nun and a mother, and that seemed to be the only way it would be possible.

So while I, like you, am frightened, I am also looking forward to the experience."

"From what he was saying, you're going to be more a priest than a nun--but I know what you mean." Odeon studied her carefully. "I gather that being healed means yau'll be able to join the action now--and want to?"

"Indeed, as eagerly as you. Were it not that I have responsibilities to my patient, I would wish to enjoy you immediately." She looked toward the sleepers, then back to him. "I find that strange, considering the circ.u.mstances of my previous s.e.xual experience. But it is also undeniably true. I desire you, and I will undoubtedly desire the others when opportunity presents itself."

"They'll be as glad to hear that as I am, though they might find it a little hard to believe at first. Whatever we tell them later, we'll have to give some sort of explanation for that almost immediately."

"I see no problem there; the truth, in part, should do nicely. All know I have been praying for this; I need only say my prayers have been answered. I need not say how directly just yet, though I agree that we will have to do so eventually."

Odeon chuckled, pleased to find his equanimity returning. "True. It looks like you may not be with us too long, though, if He sends you a child right away."

"It is in His hands--but He said Joan will need us both, so either I will not conceive soon, or He will find a way for me to remain with her."

"Any preference as to the father?"

"Not of the fertile men I know. Were he one, and the choice still mine, I would choose Tiny."

The gentlest of the team, except for Piety herself. A natural choice, Odeon thought, smiling. "He'd make a good father, I think. And it's not completely out of the question, with the same kind of help you've already had."

"True." Chang smiled briefly. "We shall see, when the time comes."