At dawn, Aven eased aside the slated door cover and entered Krista’s reed lodging. Krista was sitting up. Moogy in her arms.  

     “Thirsty?” Aven asked, parting delicately woven curtains from the window openings.

      Krista nodded. “I have a lot of questions.”  

     “I’m sure you do. But first, you eat.” 

     “First, I pee.” Krista laughed. “I'm still pretty wobbly.”  She held out her hand. Aven took it and easily lifted Krista from the bed. “I’m impressed. You’re quite strong young Lady.”

     “Joeng women have to be.” Aven laughed pointing down an arched passageway.  “Lift the tube. It’s a gentle wash.”

     As Krista wobbled away, Aven laid a satchel on a table and began withdrawing items. “First 

for Moogy.” A fish odor swept through the room as she set down a braided tray and placed eight squares of fish on top. Moogy mewed with pleasure. 

     “Much better,” Krista said, returning with a smile. . . “I’m sorry. But if I remember correctly, I heard them call you, Avian. Is that right?”

     “Close. . . It’s Aven. But that’s pretty good. You were awfully sick.”

     “From what I heard you saved my life.”

     “I wouldn't have without Moogy.” 

     Moogy mewed and lapped up a square of fish. 

     “One night four turns ago he bounded in here screeching. No one had ever seen a real cat. Only a few of the Originals remembered what sounds a cat could make. And your cat was screeching. Scared everyone.” 

     Moogy forced a tiny screech and lapped up another piece of fish. 

     Aven turned to the cat.  “Yeah, like that only louder. . . Can Moogy hear us?”

     Krista shrugged, “I'm starting to think so. Please continue.”

     “Most of the Joeng were gathered at the Night Fires. For some reason, Moogy singled out Ste, Nos, and me. He kept making this pitiful sound. Then he'd take off and come back. He even pawed my leg.” Aven lifted the hem of a beaded indigo tunic and showed Krista the scratch marks below her knee.

     “Sorry about that,” Krista said. 

     “It’s okay.” Aven filled a bowl with bits of white and yellow morsels, added a milky liquid, and handed it to Krista. “Anyway, it was Ste who got the message to follow Moogy. We found you on the beach. You were a mess. Disgusting.” Aven pinched her nose. “Covered in your own m—”

     “Yeah. Okay.” Krista pointed to the bowl on the table. “I have the visual.”

     “Sorry.  Anyway, Ste made a litter. He can build anything. The three of us dragged you back up the Sling. Would you like something else?” 

     “Sling?”

     “That’s the name of our. . .How about finishing your meal and we’ll see if you’re up for a tour of the Joeng?” 

     “Joeng?”

     “Joeng. People of the ocean.” Aven ran her fingers through her copper hair. “You have a lot to learn.”

     That's why I'm here, Krista thought. 

  #

Still fighting bouts of nausea, Krista loved the stroll through the Joeng village. Moogy darted between their legs and mewed at Aven’s different comments and observations. “Look carefully and you’ll find – though each building is made of the same basic materials – each is unique. Personal. Notice the doorways and windows.”

Krista admired the variety of triangles, ovals, rectangles, and diamonds. “Aven, how do they create those shapes?”

Aven pointed to a violet flower that seemed to grow everywhere. “We call those ‘hairy-heads.’ We use the smaller tendrils for a thread to sew tunics and other types of clothing. The larger tendrils are used to tie back the reed stalks of each living space and community building into those different configurations.”

“Why are some of the homes so much higher than others? And why so many extensions?”

“Because” Aven lifted an arm high above her head, “some of us are very tall.” Aven laughed. “And some have more children than others.  I'll try to explain pairing — “

Squealing chirps and soft whistles broke Aven's trend of thought as they turned a corner where a flimsy cage stood. Inside, gazbags of various sizes and ages roosted.

“Gazbags,” Krista said. 

“You, know about gazbags?” Aven was impressed.

“I saw them in Lakal and when I was in the shut — ' Krista stopped in mid-sentence. 

Aven turned to Krista with a puzzled look. “Yes?”

“. . . But I don't know anything about them.” Krista peeked through the slots of the cage as a distraction. 

“Well”. . . Aven gave Krista a sideways glance.  “You can train them to come to you. Or to a place. We use them to send messages.  They can —”

Moogy poked his head through the slots. Gazbag Squeals and chirps greeted his intrusion.

Aven took Krista's hand. “Come on. I'll tell you more later.  Our gazbags don't seem to like your cat.”

Moments later they stopped before a particularly beautiful pathway to the door of a large reed building. There were two entrances, each a mosaic of polished stones and sea and river shells. Beams of sunlight darted in every direction. 

“It’s almost hypnotic,” Krista whispered.

“And it took a long time to create,” Aven said. “And still, we are mobile people. We can dismantle bridges, homes, and water wheels in a single turn to follow migrating fish or . . .Any other reason.” Aven’s added hesitantly. 

“Other reasons?” Krista tried to ask.  

“Oh —” Aven pointed to the Joeng nursery. “My friend Xeko just had a baby girl.  Would you like to meet them?”

“I’d love to.”

 #

Krista was tired from the hike along the Sling River to the ocean.  As a dutiful guide, Aven pointed to local points of interest and gave names to the creatures and fauna they passed on their journey. Still recovering from her ordeal, only a few names and functions stuck in Krista’s mind. 

“I love learning about your world,” Krista apologized and pointed an index finger to her temple. “But nothing seems to be sticking in my brain.”

“I talk too much anyway,” Aven laughed. “We can turn back if you like. . .But today is kind of special. Some of the Unders I’ve trained will be taking their first glide, and I thought you might like to see it.”

“Sounds interesting.” From someplace within, Krista mustered up energy. “Let’s do it.” 

Billowing clouds, salty air, and the ocean's roar greeted the duo as they climbed over the top of a bluff above the sea. Below them, three adults wandered between two dozen excited boys and girls,  giving suggestions, and carrying the heavier materials from one side of the promontory to the other. 

Waves and shouts of greeting came from the group, but when Krista started down the path Aven held her back. “Today we cannot interfere. It’s a competition and a test.”

Aven tried to explain the abundance of kites on the ground and why some children were flying smaller ones. “Now, almost everyone learns to fly a kite,” Aven said pointing to the far edge of a cliff where a group of boys and girls were assembling three of the largest kites Krista had ever seen. “I mean really learn to fly a kite. When you are feeling stronger—" 

Krista put her hand on a small boulder and eased herself down. “Sorry Aven, I think I've had enough for right now. Okay?”

“Of course.” 

Krista's eyes closed. She never saw the contests that transpired below.  She slept and had no memory of the hike back to the Joeng village.  

#

That night, having trouble sleeping, feeling stronger, and intrigued by the sounds of music, laughter, and drumbeats, Krista rose from bed and dressed. She followed the revelry through the Joeng village to a vast clearing where she found Aven, Moogy, and a dark-haired boy sitting by one of the communal Night Fires. They didn't notice her approach.  Along with the rest of the gathering, they were rapt. On the stage, a muscular blond man with a matching blond beard made various objects appear and disappear from above his head and behind his back. 

Moogy was the first to acknowledge Krista's presence. And did so with a mew, but he did not leave Aven’s lap. 

     I'm losing my cat, Krista mused. 

     “Hi, Krista!” Aven cried. “Feeling better?”

      “I am. Much better.” Krista looked at the young boy who stared up at her with his mouth wide open. “Hi.”

     “You the Cat Lady?”

     “I guess I am.”

     “His name is Nos,” Aven explained. “He's quiet. He doesn't say much.”

      “Yes I do,” Nos said defensively. 

      “No, you don't.”

      My doctor is finally acting her age. Krista stifled a chuckle and then pondered.  How old is she?

      From the far side of the middle fire pit, a group of women chanted.  “STE —  THE VOLCANO!  WE WANT THE VOLCANO!”

     “YES STE!” Aven and Nos yelled and clapped their hands. “THE VOLCANO!”

     Krista found a place in the row behind them. Moggy turned, abandoned Aven, and hopped on Krista's. “Having mixed loyalties are you Ca – Moogy?” The cat looked up at Krista, blinked twice, pawed his whiskers, and turned his attention back to the stage. 

     Ste leapt from the platform and circled the campfire once. Then a second time more dramatically. He reached over the fire drawing imaginary flames to his chest. 

     So, that is Ste, Krista thought. The man who built the litter and brought me back to this village. Probably saved my life.  Damn is he. . . Well. . . just damn. Must be feeling better. . . I’m already . . . well . . . considering,’ Krista laughed quietly.  

     Ste leaned over the fire and opened his mouth pretending to swallow the flames. He gulped. The crowd cheered. Ste fanned his throat, then scooped up handfuls of dirt, and climbed back on the stage. The crowd went quiet. On a large, waist-high table, he spread the dirt then pushed two sides into a mound that grew as he added more soil from a reed basket and molded the sides with his hands.  

     “FROM THE BOWELS OF IUAMA.” He added a handful of soil.

     “FROM THE BOWELS OF IUAMA.” The crowd echoed. 

     “FROM THE OCEANS BED.” He added more dirt.

     “FROM THE OCEANS BED.”

     “FROM THE CAVES OF MAGNON.” Ste whirled down and around gathering more dirt. The cone grew. 

     “FROM THE CAVES OF MAGNON!” The crowd cheered. 

     “FROM THE BOILING GEYSERS OF THE ROCK FOREST.“

     “THE GEYSERS OF THE ROCK FOREST!” This time Krista joined the crowd. 

     Ste whetted the tips of his index and middle fingers and drilled them down into the cone of mud and soil.  “LET THE LAVA FLOW!” 

     “LET THE─” Krista shouted. The crowd was silent. Heads turned to her voice, but only for a moment. Silence reigned.  Only the Night Fires crackled.  Then followed a thud and another louder THUD. The platform started to rise. Ste waved his hand over the cone. Another THUD.  The tip of the cone began to glow. Ste cried, “LET THE LAVA FLOW!”

     “LET THE LAVA FLOW!” The people of the Joeng cried as one.  

     The platform rose and rocked left and right. Backward and forward. Explosive bangs rumbled . Grew in volume. Louder and LOUDER until the cone erupted and spewed molten lava high in the air then dropped straight down covering Ste’s hair, dripping across his forehead, his eyes, nose, mouth,  

“I need my med kit from the shut─” 

     Aven and Nos grabbed her legs, “Krista, it’s magic.” they said in unison. “Ste does this—”

     Krista tried to shake loose from their grasp. “Aven, that man needs help. Get your— ”

     Gently, Aven put her hand on Krista's arm “It’s an act, Krista.” Aven said calmly. “Just an act. Would you like something to drink?”

     “An act?” Krista took in a big gulp of air. “That’s not funny.”

     “Yes it is,” Nos laughed. “Ste’s a good magician. Huh? And he can make his voice sound just like you.” 

     Krista looked to Aven for confirmation. “Are you certain that ending was just an act?” 

     From behind her came a voice identical to Aven's.  “Ah, are folks talking about me?” Ste appeared walking around the side of the fire wiping various particles off his bare chest with a chamois-like cloth.”

     The man glistens, Krista thought. “You had me fooled in more ways than one.” She held out her hand.  “I thought there were two Avens. I’m Krista.”

     “I know,” Ste said in his natural voice.  “I’m the one. . . well one of the ones who found you on the beach.  Your cat is amazing.” Moogy mewed.  “I’m glad you’re feeling better. If you have some time in the next few turns, I’d like to show you more of our Joeng. But right now, I must clean off this mess and I’m on trunk duty tonight.” Ste disappeared as quickly as he’d arrived.

      “He’s handsome, huh?” Aven nudged Krista. 

      “He is. What’s trunk duty?”

      “I’ll show you tomorrow.  Right now, you should be resting.”

      “Can I show her too?” Nos whined.  

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