Chapter Twenty-Three
On the twenty-fifth night The Voice was in his room,
asleep, when he was awoken by the door opening, and heard soft
footsteps crossing to his bed. When she laid down beside
him, The Voice knew who it was.
2 "Lord," she wept, "when women say they burn,
I had no idea it was anything like this! Is it always this
bad? Is the need always this great?"
3 "Men," explained The Voice, "are different
from women. We do not burn in the same way you do, but most women agree
the first time is the worst."
4 "Please, Lord...." begged Sweet Blossom.
5 "Must it be me?" questioned The Voice.
6 "That, too," explained Sweet Blossom, "is
part of the bargain. The Children you leave us are pure of body,
are perfect of soul. She wants a body that cannot be corrupted."
7 The Voice held her face. "Poor child!" he
counseled. "You know those are just legends. No material
thing is incorruptible. Nothing that lives can be absolutely pure."
8 "If it is legend, Lord, let it be," she
answered. "Right now I know only my need, and that you must be the one.
It must be your child."
9 The Voice drew her to him, and as gently as
he could, with all his tenderness, knew her. When they were done,
she lay beside him, and he watched inside her body.
10 One strong light glowed in her belly and
hundreds of little ones swam to it. They began to dance about it
frantically, pushing towards it, but something seemed to keep them
away. Each little light flashed with its own rhythm, while the
bigger light seemed to have no rhythm at all.
11 Some of the little lights began to grow
dimmer. Some went out, but one grew brighter. Its dance became
constant as it circled the greater light. Slowly the greater light
began to pick up its rhythm. More and more of the other lights
were going out, but this light danced on, pushing closer and closer.
12 Suddenly it rushed to the greater light.
They touched, flashed together, and when they faded only one light
remained.
13 Sweet Blossom stirred. "It's happened Lord, hasn't it?"
14 "How did you know?" asked The Voice.
15 "She's gone. All the time she has been with
me, she has called me sister, but that last moment, that instant before
she left, she was strong, she was full of life and light. She wasn't
afraid anymore, and she said 'I love you, mother.' Is it like
this every time? Does every woman know this quickly?"
16 "No," explained The Voice, "for most women
it is a secret. They must guess and pray for many weeks.
There are signs that women know. You are far beyond most of them.
You KNOW your child. You have already held it. You have
been closer to it than any other woman could possibly be. The souls of
most children would not even enter the body until just before the egg
hatches. You have it with you now, already!"
17 "I am very frightened, Lord," admitted
Sweet Blossom. "I already love her so much. Will I be a good
mother, or will I spoil her?"
18 "You will do always," answered The Voice, "what
needs to be done. When she needs a hug you'll give her a
hug. When she needs a stick, you'll give her a stick. You
know well how to love."
19 "Oh, dear," cried Sweet Blossom, "what are my men going to say? Will they still follow me?"
20 "Some will kiss you on the cheek,"
explained The Voice, "and wish you good luck. Others will pat you
on the belly and ask if they can get acquainted, but each will love you
just as much and fight twice as hard to protect you! You know you
need a man. You can not raise her alone. Do you have
someone in mind?"
21 She touched his hand. "The one I really
want," she admitted, "I can't have, but I have another in mind. He's a
little older than me, but he's strong and kind, and understands duty."
22 "He will do very well," agreed The Voice. "Now come, let us sleep!"
23 "Will you answer one question for me?" she asked.
24 "If I can," agreed The Voice.
25 "Oh, never mind," giggled Sweet Blossom, "I
know the answer already. You are like any man that truly loves a
woman. I was afraid you knew my fear and was gentle with me. Any man
who loved me would be the same."
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