; ; The villagers had not gone so far as to give the statue a name, ; perhaps because they were unable to think of one that would do justice ; to her charm and grace. Yet for some strange reason none of the ; villagers could regard the statue as a mere object, and so “the ; Maiden” she had become. Indeed, to the villagers she almost seemed ; like another member of the community. They would sit upon the edge of ; her pedestal as they would sit with a friend, and tell her the latest ; gossip without feeling the least bit foolish for doing so. Late at ; night, by the light of Silvermoon or Goldmoon, lovers would lie upon ; the winegrass knoll before her pedestal and ask her to bless their ; unions. Some of them were shyly exploring each other’s bodies for ; the first time. Some were fully experienced. Some were of the same ; gender. Some, indeed, were more than couples. Yet all had one thing in ; common: they were seldom disappointed by the Maiden’s ; blessings. Indeed, it was common for lovers to climb upon her pedestal ; and thank her by making her a part of their lovemaking. Curiously, ; this treatment never caused the statue to become stained or worn. Her ; marble surface, if indeed it was marble, always remained as clean and ; smooth as the day she had first appeared.
; ; Jaskri had always known that she possessed a special bond with the ; Maiden, and though she did not understand the nature of that bond she ; happily accepted it. Whatever it was, she knew it could not be bad for ; her, or for her village. Since the day the statue had appeared, the ; village had enjoyed peace, prosperity and finer harvests than it had ; ever known. Some villagers claimed that they could feel a kind of aura ; radiating from the statue into the village, its fields and its people.
; ; Nobody knew where the statue had come from. She had simply been found ; one morning, standing on a hill overlooking the village, the marble or ; alabaster image of a beautiful maiden of perhaps twenty years. She was ; poised gracefully upon a pedestal, naked and dignified, with a ; beatific smile upon her face. The villagers, seeing her for the first ; time, had been enchanted by her beauty - perhaps, some suggested, ; literally.
; ; How she came to be there was a mystery. One man suggested that a ; merchant with more wealth than sense had discarded her. “If so,” ; another replied, “the man’s a blind, or a fool, or he really ; hates women. Who could possibly want to throw out such a treasure? ; Why, I’ll wager there are royal palaces that don’t house such ; wonders as her.”
; ; Already they were unconsciously thinking of the statue as a person ; rather than an object.
; ; “Anyway, she couldn’t have been thrown out of a coach or ; whatever. We’re on a hill, a good hundred strides from the ; road. Can’t imagine anyone being daft enough to cart a heavy statue ; all the way up here in the middle of the night.”
; ; “I didn’t hear any coaches on the road last night.”
; ; “Me neither. And it would have taken at least two men to lug her up ; here. Surely someone would have seen ’em or heard ’em.”
; ; “Well, she got here somehow, and now we have to figure out what to ; do with her.”
; ; The villagers had debated the matter for some time. “We can hardly ; keep her, can we? Like you said, she’s worth an emperor’s ; ransom. She must belong to someone.”
; ; “Well, what are we supposed to do then? Cart her off to City ; Dravinye and sit in the market square until the owner comes looking ; for her?”
; ; To this, nobody had an answer.
; ; Three people who were unavoidably absent from that gathering were ; Jaskri’s expectant parents and the town midwife. That morning as ; the villagers were waking up and preparing for their daily tasks, they ; had heard two cries simultaneously. One was the astonished cry of the ; farmer who had risen early to feed his vorniks and discovered the ; statue. The other was the lusty bellowing of a newborn girl.
; ; In the end it was decided to keep the statue until such time as her ; rightful owner might be found. This was hardly stealing, after all, ; they told themselves. They were merely holding her in trust, as it ; were. And surely no one would object to the statue being given pride ; of place in the village square until then. Yet despite discreet ; enquiries as to who might have lost or had stolen such a treasure, no ; owner could be found. The discreet enquiries were eventually abandoned ; and the villagers came to think of the statue as their own. Surely ; after the passage of so many years no one would come looking for her.
; ; From as early an age as she could recall, the Maiden had held a ; particular fascination for Jaskri. Once while she was learning to ; talk, her mother held her up before the pedestal and told her, “Say ; hello, Jaskri. This is the Maiden. She’s our own very special ; statue. In a sense, she’s the same age as you.” Her mother ; smiled. “I suppose that more or less makes you sisters.” She ; turned toward the Maiden. “What do you think?” she ; asked. “Will you accept her as your sister, and guide and protect ; her?” It was surely just her imagination that made the statue seem, ; for a moment, to smile even more sweetly than usual. But little Jaskri ; had reached out a hand to the statue’s face and shyly murmured, ; “Mai’en.”
; ; Jaskri grew to be an exceptionally pretty and intelligent young ; girl. Fortunately she also had the knack of making friends ; easily. Unlike many who consider themselves beautiful and intelligent ; she never felt the need to make others feel ugly and stupid. Some ; years earlier, when the improved harvests began to yield surplus ; revenue for the village, it had been decreed by the council that extra ; funding should be allocated to school teaching. As a result Jaskri ; learned to read and write. Although some of the older villagers still ; considered these to be useless skills, the general consensus was that ; they would come in useful. Why, if she was really as bright as she ; seemed she might even be enrolled in Dravinye College one day, and ; that would surely be a first for their little village.
; ; When Jaskri was about thirteen, a newcomer moved into the village, a ; single woman of about thirty summers. The villagers treated her warily ; at first, like any small community encountering a stranger, but she ; seemed harmless enough and they gradually warmed to her presence. It ; seemed she was called Diann - a strange-sounding name whose origin ; nobody could identify. She also claimed to have healing skills, which ; helped soften the villagers’ attitudes toward her. Their village ; was generally a healthy place, but accidents can always ; happen. Meanwhile Jaskri, with her characteristic extrasense, believed ; that Diann’s arrival was significant both for her and for the ; Maiden. Some day, somehow, the destiny of all three would be woven ; together.
; ; So she was not surprised when one day she and her parents encountered ; Diann as they were walking by the Maiden. The healer was studying the ; statue with a curious expression. “Good morning to you,” said ; Jaskri’s mother. “I see you’re admiring our most honoured ; resident.”
; ; The healer turned toward her. “Oh...yes,” she ; replied. “It’s a...fascinating work of art.”
; ; “She’s my sister,” said Jaskri. “We both appeared at the ; same time.”
; ; Jaskri’s parents laughed at this. “Yes, but you didn’t appear ; from nowhere,” said her mother. “You spent three seasons growing ; in me. Although,” she told Diann, “she didn’t make too much ; of a fuss about entering the world. Say hello properly, Jaskri.”
; ; Jaskri curtseyed as politely as you please and said, “Good morning ; to you, lady. My name is Jaskri. The Maiden’s blessing be upon ; you.”
; ; “Good morning to you too, Jaskri,” replied Diann, studying ; Jaskri’s face almost as intently as she had studied the ; statue’s.
; ; “We were just taking some torva-fruit to my grandmother,” said ; Jaskri. “I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if you had one.”
; ; Diann smiled. “Well, if you’re sure...” Jaskri’s mother ; nodded in confirmation. “Then I should like it very much. You grow ; some marvellous produce in this district.”
; ; “We like to think the Maiden blesses the harvests,” said ; Jaskri’s father.
; ; “The Maiden, yes...do you consider her a goddess, then?”
; ; Jaskri’s parents seemed taken aback by this.
; ; “Well, no not a goddess, exactly...,” her father spoke ; hesitantly, stumbling as he searched for the proper words, “... I ; mean, that would be idolatry, wouldn’t it...but we’ve always had ; the feeling that she’s watching over us...looking after us ; somehow...it’s hard to explain.”
; ; Jaskri joined in. “It’s true. She’s not a goddess, and ; she’s not a woman, but somehow she does look after us. I can feel ; it.”
; ; The healer looked thoughtful. “Well,” she said, “whoever or ; whatever your Maiden is, she certainly seems to be...unique.” She ; paused as if about to say more, but seemed unable to find the right ; words. Finally she muttered, “Well, then. I must be getting along ; now. Thank you for the fruit. I’m sure we will talk again soon.”
; ; Jaskri and her parents nodded politely and turned away. As they ; departed, Diann took another lingering glance at the statue. This is ; bizarre, she thought, unprecedented. In all my experience I’ve ; never heard of such a thing. And yet the evidence is ; incontrovertible. As for what it means for the girl...Diann scarcely ; knew what to think. After another searching look at the Maiden she ; shook her head and walked away.
; ; The healer’s arrival came to seem fortuitous less than a moon ; later. One warm spring afternoon Jaskri was out harvesting when, ; reaching beneath a zalberry bush to pick some particularly large and ; ripe berries, she was bitten by a jalga that had been sheltering ; there. Ironically the weather that brought the village’s good ; harvests had also brought the poisonous lizards that normally would ; not venture so far north. Jaskri’s screams brought her mother and a ; dozen other harvesters rushing to her aid, but when they saw what had ; happened some of them exchanged despairing glances. A jalga’s venom ; was quite potent enough to kill a fully-grown man, let alone an ; adolescent girl. It seemed as if the Maiden had withdrawn her ; blessings from the village.
; ; By the time the harvesters had carried Jaskri to the healer’s house ; she was already in a high fever. When Diann heard what had happened, ; her face became grim.
; ; “Please, healer, you must save her,” her mother sobbed. “She ; is everything to me. She cannot die.”
; ; Diann’s expression was unreadable. “No,” she ; muttered. “That would be...unthinkable.” She placed a hand upon ; Jaskri’s forehead, as if she needed proof of the girl’s ; condition. Then she took Jaskri’s mother by the hand and looked her ; in the eye. “You must trust me now. Leave your daughter with me and ; I will do everything that can be done for her. I swear it upon my ; life.”
; ; Jaskri’s mother swallowed. Then, wiping ineffectually at her ; tear-stained face, she nodded. “Yes,” she whispered. “I trust ; you, healer. May the Maiden’s blessing be upon her, and upon your ; healing skills.”
; ; “Yes,” said Diann. “Somehow, I believe it will. Go home now ; and try to rest. I must get to work immediately.”
; ; The villagers reluctantly departed, leaving Jaskri in the healer’s ; care.
; ; Jaskri scarcely saw or heard any of this. She was aware, when she was ; aware of anything, only of the fever raging within her and the aching ; in her bones. In her delirium she seemed to hear Diann conversing in ; an unknown tongue with somebody whose voice could be heard clearly, ; yet who was nowhere to be seen.
; ; “Subject is class six-three humanoid female, age approximately ; equivalent to fourteen Earth years, bitten by class one-four-seven ; venomous reptilian. Uploading subject’s DNA sample and specimen of ; poison for immediate analysis. Administering broad-spectrum ; anti-inflammatory nanos to combat immediate threat from fever and ; tissue damage. Priority Alpha download full repair nanoprogram.”
; ; “Query Priority Alpha status.”
; ; “Subject is focus of Quadrant Seven temporal anomaly. Temporal ; vortex is destabilising rapidly. Imperative, repeat, imperative this ; be prevented. High probability death of subject would create ; catastrophic temporal collapse, extent potentially infinite. Therefore ; subject must be healed. Failure not, repeat not, option. Download ; nanoprogram immediately.”
; ; There was a brief pause before the bodiless voice ; replied. “Downloading as requested.” Another pause. “Tell me, ; Diane, what makes you so certain she’s the one?”
; ; “The statue is emitting kilo-electron-volt neutrinos. This entire ; village is bathed in them. They’re interacting with the environment ; somehow, enhancing growth and fertility and even affecting the ; climate. And the local people can feel them. They call them the ; ’Maiden’s blessing’. Do you know what that means? ; KeV-neutrinos are the only things that can penetrate a temporal stasis ; field! What more proof do you need?”
; ; “Even so...could so much really be hanging on one girl’s ; life?”
; ; “I’ve been over the figures dozens of times. I couldn’t ; believe it myself, but it’s true. She’s just a teenage ; farmer’s daughter, yet she could save the entire universe! As to ; what that will do to her....” Diann sighed. “Well, it’s ; unavoidable. But if she knew what I was saving her for....”
; ; Jaskri was convinced that Diann and the invisible speaker had been ; discussing her fate. Jaskri was certain that Diann knew what her ; destiny was, and she was convinced that it was not to die from a ; lizard bite. What, then? Perhaps the Maiden knew...
; ; As she was lapsing into unconsciousness once more she seemed to feel ; something sting her arm. No, she thought, not another jalga! But then ; she thought: Oh, well, one jalga bite’s so bad that a second can ; hardly do any more damage...in her delirium the thought was highly ; amusing, and she would have laughed if she had not felt so tired...so ; very tired....
; ; Just before her consciousness departed, Jaskri seemed to hear Diann ; speaking more incomprehensible words: “Temporal vortex beginning to ; stabilise. Thank God. We were just in time. If you’ll pardon the ; expression.” And then she heard no more.
; ; As dawn broke, so did Jaskri’s fever. She woke feeling cold and ; damp with sweat, but though she was still weak her bones no longer ; ached. Diann was sitting beside the bed. Had she been keeping watch ; all night? Jaskri tried to sit up, but lacked the strength. “Would ; you fetch me some water, please?” She croaked. The healer did so, ; raising Jaskri’s head to help her drink.
; ; “Thank you,” said Jaskri. Not just for the water, they both ; knew.
; ; Remembering the strange stinging sensation she had felt the night ; before, Jaskri felt her arm. There was a sore spot there. An insect ; bite, perhaps? But Jaskri suspected it had something to do with ; Diann’s healing sorcery. The healer had given her nothing to eat or ; drink - she had been far too ill - let alone anything that might have ; had medicinal powers. So just how had Diann cured Jaskri from an ; incurable bite? Her instincts told her that asking Diann would not ; elicit an answer. And the healer surely knew other secrets concerning ; Jaskri, and the Maiden as well....
; ; “I’ll go and tell your parents you’re awake,” said ; Diann. “Meanwhile you just lie here and rest a while. It’ll be a ; moon or two before you’re fully recovered.”
; ; “Wait. Before you go...I thought I heard you talking to someone ; last night.”
; ; For the briefest of instants, a guilty look seemed to cross the ; healer’s face. “There was no one. How could there have been? ; I’ve been alone looking after you all night. It was just a ; fever-dream, that’s all.”
; ; Jaskri was unconvinced, but decided to let it go. What could be gained ; by calling the woman who had saved her life a liar? Nonetheless, as ; Diann made for the door, Jaskri said: “Diann, what is it that you ; know? I know that you are somehow bound up with my destiny, and so is ; the Maiden. But what is my destiny? What is it that connects us? ; Please, healer, I have to know.”
; ; Diann sighed. So perceptive for one so young...finally she said, ; “Jaskri...you are right. You do have a destiny, but I cannot tell ; you what it is. Not yet. The time is not right. I promise you that ; when the time comes you will know everything you need to know. Please, ; Jaskri, I only ask you to be patient until then.” And before Jaskri ; could argue Diann left, returning shortly afterward with Jaskri’s ; rejoicing family and friends.
; ; It was generally agreed that Jaskri’s recovery was a miracle, one ; that was attributed in roughly equal parts to Diann and to the Maiden.
; ; “The Maiden couldn’t have healed her without Diann’s ; help,” one villager was heard to remark.
; ; “Well, that’s as may be,” another replied. “But I reckon ; Diann couldn’t have saved her without the Maiden’s help, so that ; makes them even.”
; ; Jaskri’s grateful family had offered to reward her, of course, but ; the healer had asked for nothing but their friendship, and some of ; their wonderful fruit. Jaskri of course made a full recovery and ; within two moons was back with the harvesters in the fields. The ; village now employed beaters to spot and drive off any jalgas or other ; pests that might be lurking in wait for the pickers, but many of them ; in spite of this had taken to wearing thick gloves while ; harvesting. Sweaty hands were a small, if conspicuous, price to pay ; for safety. The only reminders of Jaskri’s ordeal were a small scar ; above her left hand where the jalga had bitten her, and a smaller, ; circular blemish just below her right shoulder where the mysterious ; sting had occurred.
; ; So village life returned to normal. The healer became accepted as a ; member of the community, though Jaskri wondered if she still spoke to ; her invisible friend when there was no one to hear.
; ; As the moons turned to years, the pretty girl that Jaskri had been ; turned into an exceptionally beautiful young woman. It was whispered ; that all the young men in the village were in love with her, and half ; the young women too. Since their early childhood, Jaskri’s closest ; friend and confidante had been Viréni, the wool-merchant’s ; daughter. The two of them often slept over at each other’s ; parents’ homes, and it was not entirely surprising that on one such ; night, Viréni leant across the bed, kissed Jaskri and whispered, ; “Come on. I know you’re ready for it.”
; ; “Maybe I am,” said Jaskri, embracing her, “but are you ready ; for me?”
; ; They both did their best to find out. But somehow, although Jaskri ; thought she was making the right movements, the experience was not as ; exciting as she had expected. She sighed. It must be her fault. She ; could not blame Viréni, who had been hinting at her feelings toward ; Jaskri for several moons.
; ; “What’s wrong?” asked Viréni. “Would you rather do it with ; a boy?”
; ; “No...I mean, yes, I’d like to try it with boys, but I do love ; you and I want to make you happy. I just...I’m sorry. I don’t ; know what’s wrong with me.”
; ; “Is it me? Is there something I’m not doing to please you? Come ; on, you can tell me, I’m not made of stone.”
; ; Jaskri made a sound that was halfway between a sigh and a ; laugh. “To be truthful...I think that might be the problem.”
; ; Viréni laughed out loud.
; ; “Quiet,” said Jaskri, “you’ll wake your parents! Anyway, ; what’s so funny?”
; ; “I think you’ve just solved your problem. Come on!” And ; grasping Jaskri by the forearm, Viréni dragged her out of the room.
; ; “What are you doing?” Jaskri demanded as Viréni led her to the ; outer door. “Viréni! We can’t go outside! We’re both ; naked!”
; ; “So what? It’s a warm night. And she certainly won’t ; mind. Honestly, Jaskri, I don’t know why you didn’t think of ; this yourself!”
; ; And so Jaskri’s friend led her down the lane toward the village ; square where the Maiden stood. They were in no danger from jalgas. At ; night any that might be lurking in the village would be sleeping under ; rocks or trees.
; ; “Viréni, suppose someone sees us? What will they think?”
; ; “They’ll think we’re having sex! After all, we’re hardly ; the first, are we? Now do come on, Jaskri. There’s nothing to be ; afraid of.”
; ; It was a fine night for love. Goldmoon was a narrow crescent low in ; the west, but Silvermoon was full and cast its pale light over the ; square. “Perfect,” said Viréni. “She doesn’t have any ; other visitors tonight. Well, you’re the one who’s always saying ; how much she loves us. It’s time we thanked her properly.” And ; without further ado she stepped onto the pedestal. Jaskri hesitated ; but saw that she had no choice but to follow.
; ; The idea of embracing the statue seemed strange and embarrassing at ; first, although Jaskri knew that almost all of the adults in the ; village had done so at one time or another. Of course she had often ; fantasised about giving her love to the Maiden, but somehow had never ; expected to actually do so. When she finally wrapped her arms around ; the Maiden’s stone torso there was a brief moment when her marble ; surface almost felt like warm, living flesh. Viréni was already ; rubbing her genitalia against one of the statue’s buttocks and ; gasping quietly with pleasure.
; ; As Jaskri began to caress the marble body she began to feel a kind of ; excitement that she had not experienced with Viréni - nor indeed when ; giving herself pleasure. As the girls continued to make love to the ; statue and each other, Jaskri felt astonishing sensations growing ; within her, slowly but inexorably. This truly was the Maiden’s ; blessing, and Viréni was feeling it too. When Jaskri finally achieved ; orgasm it was as if golden lightning flashed from the Maiden into her ; body and then leapt into Viréni’s, paralysing them both in an ; ecstasy so intense it was almost unbearable. For several long minutes ; three statues stood upon the pedestal, but two of them were moaning ; quietly.
; ; When at long last it was over the girls leant against the Maiden, ; exhausted but euphoric. “Thank you, sister,” Jaskri muttered.
; ; “Sister?” said Viréni.
; ; Jaskri grinned sheepishly. “Oh...yes. The Maiden appeared the day I ; was born, you know, so I’ve always thought of her as a kind of ; sister.”
; ; Viréni chuckled. “Well, considering what we just did it’s ; probably just as well you’re not a boy!”
; ; “Yes, well...it’s silly, I know, but...Viréni? Where are you ; going?”
; ; “No, just stay there for a moment.” Viréni had stepped down from ; the pedestal and walked back several paces to get a good look at ; Jaskri and the Maiden. In the silvery moonlight Jaskri’s flesh had ; taken on an almost marble-like appearance, allowing Viréni to see what ; only her subconscious had known until then. “Jaskri...it’s ; true. She really is your sister.”
; ; Jaskri was taken aback. “What do you mean?”
; ; “You’re twins, Jaskri. You and the Maiden...you’re ; identical!”
; ; Jaskri could hardly believe what Viréni was telling her. The thought ; made her dizzy, and she leant against the Maiden for support...and was ; even more stunned when her hand encountered a small circular flaw just ; below the statue’s right shoulder. It was identical to the ; mysterious blemish upon her own arm. Scarcely daring to believe it, ; she gingerly reached for the statue’s left wrist. And there it was: ; another flaw in the marble, twin to the jalga-bite scar on Jaskri’s ; own wrist.
; ; “What does it mean, Viréni? What does it all mean? She doesn’t ; just look like me, she even has the same scars as me. How is that ; possible, Viréni? How?” Jaskri seemed close to tears. Perhaps, ; thought Viréni, she was just emotionally drained after their strenuous ; lovemaking. But the girl’s perfect resemblance to the statue was ; both wondrous and yet somehow almost frightening. “Oh, Maiden,” ; said Jaskri, “If only you could tell me. If only Diann would tell ; me! I’m sure she knows what it all means. Oh, why won’t she TELL ; me? Why?” By now Jaskri was indeed in tears.
; ; “Hey, now, come on, love,” said Viréni, stepping upon the ; pedestal once more and taking Jaskri by the arm. “It’s been a ; long night, and it’s been full of surprises for both of ; us. Haven’t you always said that whatever the Maiden means to you ; it can’t be a bad thing?” Jaskri nodded, wiping her ; eyes. “Well, then. Accept it as a blessing. The Maiden has not only ; favoured you with her beauty but has also tutored you in the ways of ; love. I’m willing to bet you won’t forget her lesson in a ; hurry!” At this, Jaskri laughed. “There,” said Viréni, ; “that’s better. Now come on. Say goodnight to your twin sister ; and let’s go back inside.”
; ; And so they returned to Viréni’s home and went back to bed. Later ; that night Jaskri embraced Viréni once more, and though their ; lovemaking was slower and less intense it was clear that indeed Jaskri ; had not forgotten the Maiden’s lesson. Afterward, before they fell ; asleep, Jaskri muttered, “I wish I could go back.”
; ; “Back where?” said Viréni sleepily.
; ; “Back to the day the Maiden first appeared. The day I was ; born. I’d go back and stand on that very hill so I could see where ; she came from.”
; ; “Tha’s crazy,” yawned Viréni. “Ev’one knows you ; can’t go back t’ what was. ’Less that Diann’s go’ some ; sorc’ry that c’n do it...”
; ; “What did you say?” Demanded Jaskri. But Viréni was asleep.
; ; Diann again, thought Jaskri. It always comes back to Diann. Why? And ; then, exhausted by the night’s activity, she too fell into a ; blissful slumber.
; ; The next day, tongues were wagging in the village. The lovers’ ; tryst with the Maiden had indeed been seen, and had aroused a great ; deal of comment. As a result Jaskri found herself engaged in frank ; discussions with her parents concerning responsibility and safety and ; the proper way for a young lady to behave (although in truth they were ; proud that their girl had become a woman, and happy that she had found ; love). These talks also brought her into contact with Diann once more, ; as her parents felt the healer could give her the best advice on ; protecting herself from disease or unwanted pregnancy. And so she did, ; in an efficient, businesslike manner, as she had done for tens of ; other village girls and boys. She even gave Jaskri a canister ; containing a substance she claimed would deter any unwanted male ; advances. “Throw some in his face and he’ll be in too much pain ; to even think about rape. Throw it in his crotch and he’ll be limp ; for a tenday! Be careful with it, now.”
; ; Jaskri eyed the container as if afraid it would explode in her own ; face. “Have you...ever had to use it?”
; ; “A few times, in my travels. Some of the places I’ve been...” ; the healer’s face darkened. “Let’s just say, there are places ; where women are not treated with the respect they ; deserve. Well...there are a lot of places where people don’t get ; treated as they deserve. Not like here. You villagers really don’t ; know how lucky you are. Anyway, here and there I’ve had to teach ; people some respect, and the stuff in your little tin was only a part ; of it.” She spoke so earnestly that Jaskri could not help but ; believe her.
; ; Not a word passed between them concerning Jaskri’s destiny, or her ; mysterious resemblance to the Maiden. Jaskri felt certain that Diann ; must have noticed it, but as always the healer said nothing. “When ; the time comes,” she had said. Jaskri wished the time would hurry ; up and come.
; ; It was not surprising once the news of Jaskri and Viréni’s liaison ; got about that both of them would attract the interest of potential ; suitors. Jaskri’s miraculous resemblance to the Maiden had also ; attracted attention. Jaskri did find herself politely refusing ; numerous requests, some of them from married men older than her ; father, who really should have known better. At least she never had to ; resort to Diann’s canister. But there were some boys, and one or ; two girls, that Jaskri liked, and over the course of several moons she ; engaged in sexual experiments with all of them. To her delight, Jaskri ; found she was able to summon the Maiden’s gift - the “golden ; lightning”, as she still called it - and confer ecstasy upon her ; lovers in whatever degree she chose. As a result, and somewhat to her ; chagrin, she gained a reputation as the best lover in the village, ; which only served to attract even more unwelcome advances. It was not ; quite how she would have chosen to be known, however enjoyable her ; experiences. After all, she could also sing and dance and recite ; poetry, but for some reason those were not the talents her friends and ; neighbours chose to discuss....
; ; Despite her embarrassment, however, Jaskri was convinced that by ; unleashing the golden lightning she was doing the Maiden’s ; work. The ecstasy that the lightning conveyed was somehow akin to the ; Maiden’s blessing upon the harvests. In the long run she knew that ; somehow the whole village would benefit from it.
; ; This seemed to be proven in the year following Jaskri’s sexual ; awakening, when several of the village girls became pregnant almost ; all at once. Jaskri was the first to realise that all of them had ; either been her lovers, or the lovers of her lovers. It seemed that ; just as the Maiden brought fertility to the fields, so her golden ; lightning brought fertility to couples. And once the babies were born ; they were all bright, lively and healthy. Though the village suddenly ; found itself with several new mouths to feed, even there the ; Maiden’s blessing prevailed, providing even more abundant ; harvests. It seemed the only exception to this sudden outbreak of ; fecundity was Jaskri herself. Despite trying for several moons with ; her favourite boyfriend Jeruvin, she was disappointed. In the end ; Jeruvin, although happy, was so exhausted that he had to beg Jaskri to ; give him time to recuperate. She was perhaps not entirely surprised ; when, four moons later, Viréni told Jaskri she was going to have ; Jeruvin’s baby. Jaskri tried not to feel jealous. She was happy for ; Viréni, yet it hardly seemed fair that she had not been blessed with a ; child. After all, she had been the first recipient of the Maiden’s ; sexual gift. She even went to Diann and asked if the jalga bite or ; Diann’s cure could have rendered her infertile. Diann seemed ; somewhat reticent as usual, but told Jaskri she could see no reason ; why that should be so.
; ; Jaskri, of course, found no shortage of baby-minding opportunities, ; and while she played and sang to her friends’ toddlers, she tried ; not to be too jealous that they were not her own. Perhaps, she mused, ; her destiny did not involve having children. For a moment she was ; chilled by a thought. Perhaps it was her fate to die young. Perhaps ; the statue’s looks predicted the way Jaskri would appear on the day ; of her death - and just now she and Jaskri looked to be of an age.
; ; No, she thought. It could not be. The Maiden’s gifts brought life, ; not death. Whatever Jaskri felt from the Maiden, death was not a part ; of it. But the time was drawing near when she would finally ; understand. She could feel it.
; ; One evening in her twenty-first year, after spending an afternoon ; singing and dancing to entertain Viréni and Jeruvin’s little ; daughter Jevríni, Jaskri found herself becoming especially ; restless. (She had long since forgiven her errant lovers in the best ; way she knew, by embracing them both in the company of the Maiden.) ; She felt almost as if a storm were approaching, but a benign storm, if ; such a thing could exist. The sun was setting and Goldmoon rising as ; her footsteps carried her through the village, past the Maiden’s ; pedestal, to Diann’s house. She hesitated before knocking, but some ; instinct told her the time was finally right. It was now. And when ; Diann opened the door she showed no surprise at Jaskri’s arrival, ; but merely invited her in. Diann was dressed in a belted robe, and to ; Jaskri’s surprise was barefoot. For some moments no words passed ; between them. The healer merely beckoned Jaskri to sit at her table ; while she brought mugs of herbal tea for both of them. Finally Jaskri ; almost whispered, “Diann...it is time. I can feel it.”
; ; The healer’s response was astonishing. Loosening her belt, she let ; the robe slip to the floor and stood naked before Jaskri. “Show me, ; Jaskri,” she said quietly. “Make love to me. Let me feel the ; golden lightning. That is the price. Do this and I will tell you ; everything I know about your destiny, and why the Maiden is so ; important, not only to the village but to all the worlds.”
; ; Jaskri was momentarily taken aback. In all the years she had known ; Diann, the healer had never been known to show any interest in ; lovemaking. There had been offers, of course. She was a very ; attractive woman. But she had always refused, politely but firmly, and ; Jaskri had no doubt that if anyone had become too persistent Diann ; would have used her canister of noxious liquid against them. The ; reason for her celibacy was a matter for speculation. Some suggested ; that she had taken holy vows, though unlike a nun or priestess she ; never spoke of religious matters. Others wondered if some illness or ; injury might have damaged her sexually. Many believed she had had a ; bad experience and did not wish to be reminded of it. Considering what ; she had told Jaskri of her travels in lands where women were not ; respected, this seemed the most likely explanation. Yet Jaskri had ; sometimes wondered if Diann’s invisible companion might not also be ; an invisible lover. How would it feel to be embraced and caressed by ; someone you could not see?
; ; Would it feel any stranger than embracing a marble woman?
; ; But here was Diann, standing naked and inviting before ; Jaskri. Curiously, she seemed no older than when she had first arrived ; in the village. And she was indeed an attractive woman. Sometimes when ; Jaskri was with a lover, the image of Diann’s face would apear in ; her mind’s eye, and she would find herself wondering....
; ; Answers or no answers, Jaskri realised she did want to make love to ; Diann. She wanted it very much. And so she disrobed, and allowed Diann ; to lead her to her bed, and embraced her. And slowly, gently, and with ; infinite patience, she allowed the golden lightning to well up within ; her and spill over to her lover as she had done so many times in the ; past. If Diann had indeed been celibate for so many years, she was ; more than making up for lost time, if her sighs and gasps of pleasure ; were anything to judge by. Very well, thought Jaskri. It was what she ; asked for....
; ; Over the course of what seemed like hours Jaskri repeatedly brought ; Diann close to the peak of ecstasy but drew back at the last ; moment. Finally, when Diann had reached a state of almost frenzied ; anticipation, Jaskri began to unleash the golden lightning to its ; fullest extent. It was like that first night with Viréni all over ; again. Jaskri and Diann simultaneously climaxed again and again, each ; orgasm seeming more intense than the last. Diann’s eyes repeatedly ; grew wide with astonishment before spasming shut. Celibate or not, it ; was clear that she had never experienced anything like it ; before. Their final, stupendous climax froze them both into statues, ; honouring the Maiden’s perfect immobility, for several endless ; minutes.
; ; When at last it was over, Jaskri lapsed into a deep, dreamless sleep.
; ; Jaskri woke feeling light-headed and euphoric. Golden moonlight ; streamed in through the window onto her naked body. It took her a ; moment to remember where she was. Diann was no longer beside her. Gone ; to tell her invisible friend, perhaps?
; ; Soon, Jaskri thought dreamily. Soon I will have the answers I have ; waited a lifetime to hear. I have paid Diann’s price, and she can ; scarcely claim I have not paid her in full. Whatever else she may be, ; she is a woman of her word. Now she will tell me my destiny. She must.
; ; At length Diann returned, wearing her robe once more, and sat on a ; stool opposite Jaskri, who felt no embarrassment at still being ; naked. Jaskri glanced out at the moon and muttered, “That’s ; appropriate, I guess. Golden moonlight, golden lightning...is it real ; gold, I wonder?”
; ; Diann smiled. “The moon? No. If it were it would be much ; brighter. It’s actually quite dark, but it looks bright because it ; shines with reflected sunlight. It’s covered with red and grey ; dust, and that’s what gives it its gold colour. It’s the same ; with Silvermoon, only its dust is dark grey. One day I suppose your ; people will have mines and observatories up there.”
; ; Jaskri chuckled. “I don’t know whether to believe you,” she ; said, “but at least it makes for a good story. I’m beginning to ; think you know everything there is to know about everything.”
; ; “Not quite,” said Diann. “I’d heard about the golden ; lightning, but I never really knew about it until just now. I ; haven’t always been celibate, you know. I confess I’ve been ; keeping myself apart from you and your people for fear of...becoming ; too involved, I suppose. But I’ve always watched you from afar, ; Jaskri. You’re very beautiful. But of course I don’t need to ; tell you that.”
; ; Jaskri chuckled.
; ; “The truth is that you remind me of someone I once loved, a long ; time ago. She was kind and generous and honest like you, and I...” ; Diann sighed. “Well, I...I lost her. That’s all.”
; ; “I’m sorry,” said Jaskri, reaching up to place a hand on ; Diann’s shoulder.
; ; “Thank you, Jaskri. I’m sorry now that I never approached you ; earlier. When we made love tonight...I never would have believed I ; could feel so...” She shook her head. “At last I ; understand. It’s ironic, isn’t it? In all the years I’ve ; lived here I never truly understood what the Maiden’s blessing ; meant to you villagers.”
; ; “Any of us would have been happy to show you, if only you’d ; asked,” said Jaskri. “But what does the Maiden mean to me, ; Diann? You cannot keep it from me any longer.”
; ; “No,” sighed Diann. “You’re right. I will tell you all I ; know, Jaskri, although I’m not sure you’ll understand all of ; it. I’m still not sure I entirely understand it myself.” She ; took a deep breath, as if composing herself, then continued. “The ; first thing you need to know is that this is not the only world. There ; are countless other worlds in this universe, and I came from one of ; them.”
; ; Jaskri was not sure whether to believe this, but she still felt ; lethargic and euphoric and in no state to argue. “Does your ; invisible friend come from another world as well?” she said.
; ; “Invisible...? Oh...that. Yes, but actually he never left his ; world. We simply have devices that can project our voices and images ; across space and time. What you heard that night was me discussing ; your condition with him...and yes, your destiny as well.” Jaskri ; was a little disappointed to learn that Diann did not have an ; invisible lover. But the healer continued: “You see, the world ; where I come from is one that has devoted itself to the study of other ; worlds, and the universe in general. We have devices that can show us ; the nature of time and space themselves. Your world had attracted very ; little attention because it had no great machines as we do, but about ; twenty years ago - yes, about the time you were born and the Maiden ; was discovered - we noticed that time was beginning to behave ; strangely in this part of the universe.”
; ; Jaskri was puzzled. “Time? But time just...is. Today will become ; yesterday and then the day before yesterday. How can time change its ; behaviour?”
; ; “Ah, but the reason we perceive time as unchanging is that we exist ; within it. Within its warp and woof, do you see?”
; ; “I...I think so.”
; ; “Except that my people had found a way to view the fabric of time ; from outside, and what we saw disturbed us greatly. That fabric was ; beginning to fray, and if it had torn completely then we - that is ; everyone in the whole universe, woven into the fabric as we were - ; would have ceased to exist as living beings. When we investigated more ; closely we found that the disturbance was coming from this very ; village. We were puzzled. A major change to the nature of reality was ; taking place in a small village of farmers and growers on an ; unremarkable little world. It soon became clear that matters would ; come to a head in thirteen years’ time. I don’t have to remind ; you what happened when you were thirteen.”
; ; “The jalga,” muttered Jaskri.
; ; “Exactly. That was part of the reason I came here, Jaskri. To save ; you from the jalga.”
; ; “But why? If, as you say, I was just one little girl, in one little ; world that was only one of many worlds...”
; ; “The disturbance in time, Jaskri. It was centred on you! I could ; hardly believe it myself, but it was true. Jaskri, if you had died ; from that jalga bite, your death would have created what we call an ; unsustainable temporal paradox. Believe this or not, Jaskri, but on ; that day you were the most important person in the entire ; universe!”
; ; Jaskri laughed. “Now that really is unbelievable!”
; ; “But it’s true, Jaskri. If you had died that day, time would ; have come to an end. Everywhere. Jaskri, your death would have meant ; the death of the entire universe!”
; ; It was really too much. Jaskri began laughing ; hysterically. “Must...” she spluttered. “Must I live forever, ; then? I don’t want to be a goddess, with the fate of whole worlds ; hanging on me. That’s more like...like...”
; ; She broke off. A sudden thought had struck her, and somehow Diann’s ; story did not seem quite so funny.
; ; “More like the Maiden’s responsibility?” said ; Diann. “Yes. I was coming to her. You see, it’s all to do with ; time, Jaskri. You, the Maiden, her blessing...and my presence ; here. Time has played some strange tricks, and yet it will be my task, ; who should be working to protect the integrity of time itself, to set ; those tricks into motion.”
; ; “I still don’t understand half of what you’re saying. What is ; the maiden? Why does she look like me? Diann, she even bears the same ; scars that I do. The Jalga bite, and the mark on my shoulder - that ; was your doing, wasn’t it? You knew about the scars, didn’t ; you?”
; ; “Yes, Jaskri, to both questions. When I saw the needle mark on the ; statue’s arm I knew that was where I had to inject you. There was ; no conventional antidote to the poison, so I injected millions of tiny ; machines into your arm through a hollow needle. They sought out and ; absorbed every atom of poison within you and bound them to other ; atoms, rendering them harmless. Then, when they were finished, your ; body simply disposed of them in your urine.”
; ; “This gets more fantastic by the minute,” muttered ; Jaskri. “Tiny machines?” Jaskri, like all her people, had never ; seen a machine more complex than a windmill. “Well: I can’t deny ; that you did heal me, but you still haven’t answered the most ; important question of all. Why does the Maiden look like me?”
; ; By way of answer, Diann reached into her robe and pulled out a small ; silver tube, which she pointed at Jaskri.
; ; Jaskri found herself becoming dreamy and light-headed once more. It ; was a pleasant sensation, almost like floating. She was vaguely aware ; that Diann was taking her by the arm and leading her from the ; bedchamber to her small living room.
; ; “Just stand there for a moment,” said Diann, leading Jaskri onto ; a broad platform in the centre of the floor. Jaskri was happy to ; obey. In her euphoric state she would have gladly done anything Diann ; commanded. “You see, Jaskri,” the healer was saying, “had you ; died, the statue would never have been found, because it came from ; your future. Yet it was found, and was standing in the village at the ; moment you would have died. Thus it would have both existed and not ; existed simultaneously. And that is the paradox that would have ; destroyed the universe.”
; ; Jaskri murmured, “Now that I really don’t understand.” But it ; didn’t seem important. There would be plenty of time to understand ; later.
; ; “The poison-eating machines weren’t the only things I injected ; into you that day. There were also devices that would help to prepare ; you for your transformation.”
; ; “Transformation?” said Jaskri. Had she been in a normal frame of ; mind the thought of being transformed would have alarmed her, but in ; her hypnagogic state she found the idea fascinating.
; ; “Yes, Jaskri. It’s ironic, but we’ve had to use technology ; that was forbidden because of the potential danger, in order to save ; the universe. And my making love to you wasn’t for my pleasure, ; although it was better than I could have imagined. I did it to ensure ; that after your transformation the golden lightning will always cause ; you pleasure.”
; ; Jaskri was beginning to feel a little cramped, so she adjusted her ; position slightly. It occurred to her that she was unconsciously ; mimicking the Maiden’s pose, and the thought brought a smile to her ; lips. But before she could comment on this, Diann pointed another ; device at her and she suddenly lost all sensation in her body. As her ; senses reeled, she heard Diann saying, “Jaskri, the reason the ; Maiden looks like you is that she is you. Jaskri...you are the ; Maiden!”
; ; And then Jaskri was enveloped by light....
; ; The woman the villagers called Diann looked around the empty room and ; sighed. It was done. Temporal stability was restored. At least until ; the next paradox...peering out of her shuttered window she could see ; two young men, painted gold by the moonlight, embracing the statue and ; each other. Another ordinary night in the village. But in the morning ; the village would find its favourite daughter gone.
; ; Diann sighed again. How simple it would have been to replace Jaskri ; with a perfect android replica. A replica that could act and speak and ; sing and dance and embrace indistinguishably from the real ; Jaskri...that would in fact think of itself - of herself - as the real ; Jaskri. But no android could ever summon the golden lightning as ; Jaskri could. Besides, even if no one else could tell the difference, ; the Maiden...Jaskri...would know.
; ; And so would Diann.
; ; In the years she had dwelt in the village, she had come to love its ; people. They were good, simple, hard-working and honest folk, ; unaffected by the petty jealousies, rivalries and politics that beset ; her own world and so many others. It would be hard to leave, ; especially since she would be blamed - rightly in a sense, even though ; there was no alternative - for Jaskri’s disappearance.
; ; Diann walked through the small house, making sure she had not left any ; of her devices behind, and picking up a few pieces of locally made ; cutlery as souvenirs. As an afterthought she also picked up a ripe ; torva-fruit from her bowl. With any luck she could clone it, and have ; an unlimited supply to remind her of the Maiden’s bountiful ; harvests. “Goodbye, Jaskri,” she whispered. “Goodbye, my ; beautiful Maiden. Or perhaps, farewell....”
; ; Then she took a small device from the pocket of her robe and pressed a ; small button upon it. A door-sized opening appeared suddenly in ; mid-air. Diann stepped through it into some other place, and the ; opening just as suddenly closed behind her.
; ; Neither Diann nor Jaskri was ever seen in the village again. The ; following morning when the villagers came to ask Diann if she knew ; where Jaskri might be, they found no trace of either the girl or the ; healer, but they did find Jaskri’s neatly folded clothes lying upon ; Diann’s bed. The house was otherwise empty of everything except ; furniture and cutlery, and there was no sign of how Diann had managed ; to depart so quickly, with or without Jaskri.
; ; Some villagers suggested that Diann had abducted Jaskri and sold her ; into slavery, but that hardly seemed like the Diann that they had ; known. Others believed that they had become lovers and run away ; together, but that too seemed unlikely, especially given Diann’s ; apparent celibacy. And just where could Jaskri have gone, naked? It ; was as if they had both been spirited into thin air.
; ; “Oh, Maiden,” Jaskri’s mother said, “if only you could ; tell us where Jaskri has gone. But I know in my heart that she is ; alive, and that wherever she is, you will somehow see to it that no ; harm comes to her. And it is a great comfort to know that my ; daughter’s beauty will always live on in you.” With those words, ; she kissed the Maiden’s cool lips. And as she walked back to where ; her husband and Jeruvin and Viréni and little Jevríni were waiting for ; her, she looked back for a moment and seemed to see the statue’s ; smile brighten.
; ; On the night of her disappearance, Jaskri had been enveloped by ; light. For a seemingly infinite time she could neither see nor hear ; nor think clearly. When at last the world came back to her, she seemed ; to be standing on a hill overlooking the village. She felt a curious ; tingling in her loins.
; ; A figure was walking up the hill toward her. As he approached, Jaskri ; saw that the man looked like old Zalgren, the vornik farmer. But ; surely he had died four years earlier? When he paused for breath and ; saw Jaskri for the first time, the man gave an astonished cry and ran ; back down the hill. In the distance a baby was crying. No wonder he ; was startled, thought Jaskri with amusement. I’m naked! And even as ; she realised this, the golden lightning began to well up within ; her. The tingling in her loins was turning into a flood of pleasure.
; ; Here she was standing outside, in broad - well, dawning - daylight, ; stark naked, and now she was having an orgasm! But this was unlike any ; orgasm she had ever felt. Waves of pleasure washed over her again and ; again and again, and each time she believed it could not go on any ; longer, it did. The energy flowing through her was too much for her ; body to contain. She could feel it radiating out of her, into the ; fields, the trees, the animals, even the people.
; ; The people! No matter how much pleasure she might be experiencing, it ; was not seemly to remain naked in public. If she took the alley past ; the back of the wool merchant’s, she might make it home without ; being seen by anyone else.
; ; She tried to run...and her legs refused to move. Once more she tried, ; but her feet seemed rooted to the spot. Nor could she move her arms or ; turn her head. When she tried to cry for help, her lips would not ; part. She could not even feel herself breathing. Several minutes of ; panicked effort were equally futile. No matter how she tried, she ; could do nothing but stand like....
; ; Like a statue.
; ; And she realised she was still standing on the platform that had been ; in Diann’s room...the low, flat, pedestal....
; ; And then, at last, Jaskri understood.
; ; Jaskri had once wished she could go back in time so she could see ; where the Maiden had come from. And Diann’s people were able to ; manipulate time.
; ; Jaskri had gone back in time. Diann had sent her back, upon the ; pedestal with its hidden machinery that had caused time, for her, to ; stop. Forever. That was the transformation Diann had hinted at. And ; somehow the power of time had caused the Maiden’s blessing - the ; golden lightning - to begin radiating from her frozen body.
; ; Diann had told her: “the reason the Maiden looks like you is that ; she is you”. That was why the Maiden bore Jaskri’s scars, of ; course. The man who looked like the lamented Zalgren was Zalgren. He ; was not dead yet, in this time. And the baby that Jaskri heard crying ; was Jaskri. She had been born and reborn simultaneously and was now in ; two places at once! In fact she had been in two places at once all her ; life, and had never suspected....
; ; I’m the statue, she thought. I will never move again. Never ; move...never speak, or sing, or laugh, or cry, or walk, or run, or ; dance, or make love. It was a stranger and more terrible fate than ; anything she could have imagined. And yet, all the while the golden ; lightning welled up from within her, carrying wave after wave of ; physical and emotional pleasure through her and beyond her to all the ; surrounding countryside. The golden lightning would make her immobile ; state bearable, not only because of the pleasure it gave her, but ; because of the health and happiness it would bring to all the ; village. (All except one thirteen-year-old girl on the day she would ; encounter a jalga....)
; ; Yes, thought Jaskri. I am the Maiden. It was always my fate to become ; the Maiden. As Diann hinted, there was nothing I could have done to ; change that, because it had already happened! Though I can do nothing ; else I can confer my blessing, and my blessing will enrich this ; village and the people that I love. And someday they will journey to ; the farthest corners of this world, and even to the other worlds that ; Diann spoke of, and they will carry my blessing of peace and ; prosperity with them. Human beings will treat each other as they ; deserve to be treated. War, poverty, slavery and abuse will come to an ; end. She would have laughed, had she been able. Oh. Diann, could even ; you have predicted that such a thing was possible? To save the ; universe you turned me into a helpless statue, yet thanks to you ; I’m going to save the universe all over again!
; ; As the centuries passed, all that Jaskri had predicted came true. It ; was a golden age for beings on a thousand worlds, who could never have ; guessed that their prosperity rested on the shoulders of one young ; woman on a small agricultural planet, who stood forever paralysed in ; an endless, incandescent orgasm. ; ;