Free The Wind From a Burning Woman: Six Stories of Science Fiction by Greg Bear Page A

Then it opened. It was dark for a moment, and the breath went out of me. Two pairs of eyes stared from the black. They seemed a lot taller this time. Come in, boy, Jack whispered.
    Fireflies lit up the tree in the living room. The brambles and wildflowers glowed like weeds on a sea floor. The carpet crawled, but not to my feet. I was shivering in earnest now, and my teeth chattered.
    I only saw their shadows as they sat on the bench in front of me. Sit, Meg said. Listen close. Youve taken the fire, and it glows bright. Youre only a boy, but youre just like a pregnant woman now. For the rest of your life youll be cursed with the worst affliction known to humans. Your skin will twitch at night. Your eyes will see things in the dark. Beasts will come to you and beg to be ridden. Youll never know one truth from another. You might starve, because few will want to encourage you. And if you do make good in this world, you might lose the gift and search forever after, in vain. Some will say the gift isnt special. Beware them. Some will say it is special, and beware them, too. And some
    There was a scratching at the door. I thought it was an animal for a moment. Then it cleared its throat. It was my great aunt.
    Some will say youre damned. Perhaps theyre right. But youre also enthused. Carry it lightly and responsibly.
    Listen in there. This is Sybil Danser. You know me. Open up.
    Now stand by the stairs, in the dark where she cant see, Jack said. I did as I was told. One of themI couldnt tell whichopened the door, and the lights went out in the tree, the carpet stilled, and the brambles were snuffed. Auntie Danser stood in the doorway, outlined by star glow, carrying her knitting bag. Boy? she asked. I held my breath.
    And you others, too.
    The wind in the house seemed to answer. Im not too late, she said. Damn you, in truth, damn you to hell! You come to our towns, and you plague us with thoughts no decent person wants to think. Not just fairy stories, but telling the way people live and why they shouldnt live that way! Your very breath is tainted! Hear me? She walked slowly into the empty living room, feet clonking on the wooden floor. You make them write about us and make others laugh at us. Question the way we think. Condemn our deepest prides. Pull out our mistakes and amplify them beyond all truth. What right do you have to take young children and twist their minds?
    The wind sang through the cracks in the walls. I tried to see if Jack or Meg was there, but only shadows remained.
    I know where you come from, dont forget that! Out of the ground! Out of the bones of old wicked Indians! Shamans and pagan dances and worshiping dirt and filth! I heard about you from the old squaws on the reservation. Frost and Spring, they called you, signs of the turning year. Well, now you got a different name! Death and demons, I call you, hear me?
    She seemed to jump at a sound, but I couldnt hear it. Dont you argue with me! she shrieked. She took her glasses off and held out both hands. Think Im a weak old woman, do you? You dont know how deep I run in these communities! Im the one who had them books taken off the shelves. Remember me? Oh, you hated itnot being able to fill young minds with your pestilence. Took them off high school shelves and out of lists burned them for junk! Remember? That was me, Im not dead yet! Boy, where are you?
    Enchant her, I whispered to the air. Magic her. Make her go away. Let me live here with you.
    Is that you, boy? Come with your aunt, now. Come with me, come away!
    Go with her, the wind told me. Send your children this way, years from now. But go with her.
    I felt a kind of tingly warmth and knew it was time to get home. I snuck out the back way and came around to the front of the house. There was no car. Shed followed me on foot all the way from the farm. I wanted to leave her there in the old house, shouting at the dead rafters, but instead I called her name and waited.
    She came out crying. She knew.
    You