And Eternity Part 10

"Oh, look at that!" she exclaimed farther along, stooping to peer at a delicate flower. "It looks just like a-"

"Lady slipper," Roque supplied. "Indeed, that is its name. It is one of many ornamental plants cultivated here and in other roof parks."

"Gee, I wish I could be here forever!" she exclaimed.

"I understand the feeling. When I am amidst a hard day at court and I feel my temper fraying, the image that pacifies me is this one, especially the pond ahead."

"There's a pond?" Vita literally skipped ahead, casting off five years in her delight.

I walked such paths with Norton, Orlene thought wistfully. Her own nostalgia and emotion were riding along with Vita's joy.

And I with Parry, Jolie agreed, similarly charmed.

The pond was lovely. It had mossy banks and clear water, and ducks glided on its surface. The males had heads with iridescent green. They turned and swam toward the visitors.

Roque touched another tree trunk. A panel opened to reveal a chamber containing slices of bread. He took out two, handing one to Vita. "You tear it into bits, like this, and toss it to the ducks. Only one slice per person, per visit, so that the birds do not become obstreperous." He nipped a piece to the leading duck.

A mother duck with four little ones appeared. "Oooo!" Vita cried, tossing her fragments to them. The ducks took them eagerly, but headed back into the water the moment they were gone. They knew better than anyone that it was no use importuning a visitor for seconds.

"They don't really like us, just our bread," Vita said, disappointed.

"This is another truism of life. I, as a judge, find few who like me personally, but many who cater to me because of my position. You, in your past life, found many who cared nothing for your personality, only for the pa.s.sing use of your body."

"Gee-you mean a judge is like a wh.o.r.e?"

"I would not have expressed it quite that way, but perhaps that is the essence."

"And both are like ducks!" she concluded. "No, wait, that's backwards. The ducks are the others, the ones who just want something, and you gotta be smart and catch on to them and not be flattered, no matter who you are."

"Agreed." And with that simple indication of approval of her rationale, he sent her floating again.

They walked on. "There is something I have been meaning to mention," Roque said.

"Me too!"

No! Jolie thought, alarmed by the girl's swell of excitement and love.

"Oh? You have a concern. Vita?"

But the girl, heeding Jolie's threat to take over, demurred. Vita now respected Jolie's judgment and would give her the body on demand, rather than risk in some way offending the Judge. "You first, Roque." She liked the privilege of calling him by his first name.

"There has been a grace period, but now it is necessary to arrange for your resumption of schooling," he said. "By law you must remain in school until you are sixteen, and it would be better if you continued until you are qualified for adult responsibilities. Your time as an outlaw is past."

"Gee, was I an outlaw?" she asked, intrigued.

"You certainly were. Had you been arrested in the course of your business, I would have had to fine you and remand you to the juvenile authorities."

"My pimp would have lied about my age and gotten me off."

"True. But I shall not misrepresent your age, or allow you to be mistreated while you are in my charge. You must undertake schooling."

"I can't go home for that!"

"Not yet. But there is an adequate local school in this building."

"You mean I'd have to quit going to court, and go sit in dumb cla.s.ses all day instead?"

"lam afraid so."

That prospect did not appeal to Jolie or Orlene any more than it did to Vita. This was a temporary situation for them, which was extending because of the difficulty about getting Vita back home, and they did not want to suffer through material with which they were long since familiar.

"Say-maybe Jolie could tutor me!" Vita suggested. "She's lived forever and knows a lot, and so does Orlene."

"Tutoring-by a pair of ghosts? That had not occurred to me!"

"And they could do it all the time! You could test me, or something, to be sure I knew the stuff! And I'm learning a lot in court, really I am! Maybe if you got them registered as tutors-"

"This is irregular, but you may have a point. Are they amenable?"

Yes! Jolie and Orlene thought together.

"They say yes. Should I put them on?"

"No, I will accept your word."

"But my word's no good! I lie all the time, to get what I want. You can't trust me!"

"Are you lying now?"

"No! I wouldn't lie to you, Roque!"

"Then perhaps your word to me is good. You are developing a new standard, in keeping with your present situation."

She was taken aback. "Yeah, I guess maybe so."

"I shall see what can be done."

"Gee, thanks, Roque! I love you!" As she spoke, Vita threw her arms around him, hauled herself in and up, and planted a kiss on his startled face.

No! Jolie thought, way too late. She had been caught off guard.

But Vita, aware that she had transgressed, retreated, leaving Jolie in charge by default.

She quickly disengaged. "Jolie here," she said. "I must apologize for allowing-"

"Jolie, we must talk," he said, frowning. He led the way to a park bench and sat.

She joined him. "I can a.s.sure you that this will not happen again."

"What is the girl's emotional state?"

"Roque, she's young, and she has not had experience with a truly decent man before. You have treated her neither as a juvenile nor as a black prost.i.tute, but as a legitimate person in her own right. She is recovering from H addiction, and I think has sublimated that discomfort in emotion. It is hardly surprising that-"

"She was not speaking figuratively, then."

Jolie sighed. "She was not."

"This places me in an awkward position. You know I cannot afford to have an amorous, underaged girl in my household."

Now, that's not fair! Orlene objected. We agreed to remain in charge while she remained here.

"You know that these things happen," Jolie said carefully. "Schoolgirls get crushes on their teachers, but the cla.s.ses go on, and in due course they graduate to more serious involvements."

"I am not a teacher in a cla.s.sroom with many students. I am a judge, and this child is residing in my suite. Considering her history, it would be inappropriate for such an arrangement to continue."

No! Vita thought in anguish. I can't live without him!

Jolie considered the complications of moving the host to some other facility and of dealing with the host's hurt. She wished she had intercepted Vita's rash action in time, so as to have avoided this problem. But now she had to tackle it directly.

"Roque, I deeply regret that this thing happened, but it is a reflection of the existing state. I feel that it is best for all concerned that the arrangement we had just settled on be allowed to stand. Orlene and I will tutor Vita and see that she qualifies to the necessary standards. We will remain in charge so that you are not embarra.s.sed by this sort of foolishness again. You will not be left alone with the girl."

' 'Still, it is essential for a judge to avoid the appearance of impropriety, as well as the reality."

"I think you are being as foolish as the girl," Jolie said tartly. "The appearance is in the eye of the beholder. Your behavior has been impeccable, and hers will be so in the future. The impropriety occurred, as it were, offstage-and what was it? A girl impulsively kissed her guardian, who in no way sought or encouraged such attention. Even a judge should see no impropriety in that."

"What does she say about this?" he asked, wavering.

"I shall put her on again," Jolie said. Then, as she did so: Vita, just sit straight and apologize for embarra.s.sing him, and be in control. That will show him that you have learned your lesson.

Jolie returned the body to the host. "Vita, here. I, uh, I wish to apologize, and-oh, Roque, please, please don't send me away! I love you, I want to be with you always, I want to have s.e.x with you, I want to be your mistress for ever and ever, but I'll behave just perfectly, I'll do anything you want, only I beg you, please just let me stay!'' Her tears were flowing as if turned on by a faucet.

Ouch! Orlene thought.

Vita tried to retreat again, but Jolie refused to take over. Get yourself out of it this time! she snapped.

Roque was looking at her, his face neutral.

"I'm, uh, not adult," Vita continued with difficulty. "I know I've got a lot to learn. I'm just a silly juvenile girl. I know my emotions get out of control. But with Oriene's guidance, and Jolie's, and yours, I hope to become what I should be. I really respect you. So-whatever you decide."

"If I allow you to remain . . ."he said. She bowed her head, her shame at her outburst bringing her the control she had lacked before. "Whatever you decide," she repeated.

He nodded. "I think I perceive improvement already."

He stood.

Don't question him! Jolie shot. He's testing you. Vita, chastened, continued their walk, silent.

The Judge let it pa.s.s. Jolie and Orlene maintained strict control, and there were no other untoward incidents. Vita labored a.s.siduously, and did indeed make progress in her education; she took standardized tests, and Jolie and Orlene refused to help her at all, but she gained. She was a bright enough girl, as should have been the case, considering her mother's proficiency as a researcher.

Time was pa.s.sing pleasantly enough, but Jolie knew it could not last. Orlene recovered her equilibrium and resumed her interest in recovering her baby, but that had to wait until their present mission with Vita was resolved.

Orlene took it with surprising grace. I know my baby is safe with Nox, and there is no aging in the Afterlife, so it can wait. When we finish here, I will be better prepared to resume that quest.

It was not that she had lost interest in her baby; Jolie could tell by the ghost's thoughts that it remained strong. There was something else-and one day that other thing manifested to Jolie's considerable dismay.

Judge Scott was due for his annual vacation. He planned to go to the northern mountains, where a section of wilderness had been preserved as a giant park. "Have no concern; Vaasta will see to your needs, as usual," he told them.

I want to go with him! Vita thought urgently.

"I don't think that's wise," Jolie murmured.

I wish to second the motion, Orlene thought. I identify with the wilderness, because of Norton. That's over, of course, but the delight remains. If we could accompany him, perhaps tending to the cooking or other ch.o.r.es that Vaasta does here . . .

Roque glanced at her. "Your brow is furrowed, Jolie. Is there a problem?"

"I'm afraid there is. The other two want to go with you."

"I doubt that would be appropriate."

"I agree."

Now look, fair's fair! Vita thought. Isn't Orlene supposed to be the one helping me, and you're just along to help her?

"True, but-"

So Orlene should have a vote, shouldn't she? I mean, she's adult, she knows what it's all about.

Jolie looked up. "They wish to put it to a majority vote-and they are two to my one."

His mouth quirked. "Perhaps I should talk to Orlene."

Jolie turned over the body, uncertain what would come of this. "Orlene, here. No offense to you, Roque, but Vita and I feel that you do us an injustice by leaving us behind. We would be prepared to handle routine ch.o.r.es and try to pay our way, for the pleasure of the experience and your company."

"But much of this will involve hiking and camping alone. There would be an impropriety in having along a female below the age of consent."

"The host may be so, technically, but I was of age when I died; indeed, I was married and had borne and lost a baby. I am adult, regardless of the body."

"But it would be impossible to avoid the suspicion that we were in some manner involved with each other!"

"I hope you do not take this amiss, Roque, but I would not be averse to that suspicion."

What are you saying! Jolie thought, aghast.

"I am not certain I follow your implication," the Judge said carefully.

"Then I will clarify it. I have come to hold you in deep respect, and though it would be inaccurate to say that I care for you in the fashion that Vita does, I would by no means object to getting to know you better. I hope this is not cause for alarm on your part."

It is cause for alarm on my part! Jolie thought. How can you, responsible woman, make such a proposition?