Balance

Chapter 7

7

Eleanor tried to walk as fast as she could without stirring any suspicion. She waved away friends who wished to speak or coworkers blocking her path. She needed to find Life and Death before the situation in Knotweed worsened.

Running across a snowy field, she tumbled into Olive, who had appeared from behind a mound of white.

“Hello, Eleanor,” She greeted her with less than a smile. “Where have you been lately? I haven’t seen you around The Heavens.”

“Uh, I’ve had a lot of stuff on my mind, and just needed to be alone.” She tried to sidestep her friend.

“Do you want to round up everyone and go soul collecting? I hear there’s been a nasty epidemic in—”

“Not now, Olive.” She grunted impatiently. “I have to go. Do you know where Life or Death is? It’s urgent.”

“I think Life is in her office, and maybe Death is in the library? Why, what do—” the dark-skinned Sister was stopped once more by Eleanor.

“Thanks!” She hitched her skirts above the snow and scurried off toward the library.

Her bare feet were numb from the snow, rocks, and other elements she had trampled on her way to find Death. The library was an expansive place with floor-to-ceiling shelves that were stocked endlessly with books and binders and manuals and monographs. The Sister skittered across a cool granite floor in search for her superior. She found the tall being in a large black armchair stationed near the middle of the room. Death was studying a particularly thick volume that came from a stack of equally large books sitting just to his right.

“Death!” Eleanor exclaimed.

He was startled by her outburst in the hushed expanse. “Eleanor,” he snapped. “What have we told you children countless times? Do not bother Life or I while we are working.”

“Come with me,” she jumped at his side. “It’s urgent. It’s horrendously urgent.”

            The bald man rolled his eyes. “What could be so important that you must interrupt my reading?”

She wasted no time explaining. Instead, she yanked him out of the chair by his wrist, sending the stack of books tumbling.

“Look at the mess!” He complained. Death allowed himself to be dragged along by the girl through dark chambers and winding hallways.

“Where is Life?”

“In the office. Why? What do you need for the both of us to hear?”

She kept running. The two burst into the small, quiet room where Life had been dozing. Eleanor slammed the door shut behind her and ignored the shouts from both gods.

“Oh!” Life jolted awake.

“Sleeping on the job again?” Death smiled.

She frowned at her brother. “Don’t act like you weren’t napping in the library. I saw you doing it yesterday, too!”

“I was not.”

“Yes you were!”

“Eleanor saw me working,” he turned to the Sister. “Eleanor, wasn’t I working when you found me?”

            “No matter what she says, I know you were slacking.”

            “Shut up!” Eleanor burst. “Stop fighting and listen! Please.”

            The gods were silent for a moment. Death seated himself behind the desk, next to Life. “How disrespectful,” he muttered to his sister.