Murder Recall

Paths Cross

Maya sat beside the lake in the Marhaven park near where Dawn West had been shot. She was reading from Gwen's book, continuing her comparison, immersed in the story about Shea, within the story about Davine and Sindy.

"'You live here?' Shea asked Ratty surprised, 'It's so deadly.'

"'That's why I'm safe here,' Ratty said, 'Danger itself is too frightened to come this way.'

"Then Ratty asked, 'Where are you heading?'

"'To the magnetic north pole,' Shea replied.

"Ratty nodded her head and clasped her little hands together, just like a human would.

"'How did you know?' Shea asked.

"'Others have passed through here going the same way,' Ratty answered.

"Then Ratty continued, 'You may stay where you are and sleep some more. I will give you an ointment I make so bugs won't bite you, like they don't me.' Ratty had a little container of oily stuff which she massaged gently and evenly into Shea's outer clothing which somehow also cleansed away the blood so that it wasn't seen at all.

"Ratty held the pretty little jar out to Shea and said, 'Here, it's yours. It's easy to make. I don't know if you want me to put some on that mat of hair covering your face. It will cut down on how many bugs are easy to eat. Do you eat anything else?'

"'I can eat alot of things,' Shea answered.

"'I'll get you something good. You can try some of my food,' Ratty said and using all fours scampered inside her house, too small for Shea to go inside. After a couple minutes, Shea noticed a wonderful aroma seep outside and Ratty appeared with a pot of tea and two small cups. She sat back on her haunches and poured out a cup of tea, offering it to Shea, who sipped it and loved it. When the pot was done, Ratty made batch after batch and also produced some little tasty muffins.

"Then Ratty reorganized the weaving and branches around Shea so that Shea would be more comfortable and safe and said, 'Best if you sleep here the night.' It was almost dark. Shea was happy and fell asleep quickly.

"Next morning Shea woke well rested and spoke to Ratty about her destination. Ratty asked, 'Why the magnetic north pole? It's so very cold up there.'

"'A group of young women have been urging me there in my dreams,' Shea replied.

"'Yes,' Ratty said, 'Four pregnant human, girl-women, and another one not, but quite similar. Not your usual types.'

"Shea was amazed that Ratty knew something of her dream, so Ratty said, 'They passed through this way too.'

"'How long ago?' Shea asked.

"Ratty smiled, and with a pleasant sort of fun feeling, commented, 'How long, like time was a distance? Whatever, I am no good at judging distances, time or space, in any direction. It was awhile ago, but less than a year ago. Let me see what other details I can recall that might give a clue. The snow had all gone.' Ratty had a puzzled introspective expression on her face. Shea watched her intently.

"Then Ratty continued, 'It was the one who was not pregnant that interested me most. She was different, kind of in a way, like I'm different. I have yet to meet another creature like me. Of course I have chosen an isolated life-style for pretty obvious reasons, sort of the do or die type situation over and over.'

"Shea had 'go on' all over her face, so Ratty continued, 'The different one was proportioned with a larger head for body size than humans. Her eyes were huge. They were almost insect-like. I wondered about her vision. They were black and bulged out a bit and no whites were showing.'