Free Shimmer by Jennifer McBride Page B

‘And live where?’ His voice rose shakily. ‘Not here?’
    â€˜Now, David, calm down,’ said his mother. ‘I know it may take you some time to get used to the idea, but it will be for the best.’
    â€˜For the best? How can you say that?’ David glared at his mother. ‘When is he moving in?’
    â€˜This weekend.’
    â€˜And what about Dad?’ yelled David. ‘What about when Dad comes home?’
    Marcia sighed. ‘Now, that’s exactly why it is for the best,’ she said, her voice gentle. ‘Rodney and I thought it might be best for you … that is, I mean to say …’ Her voice cracked and broke. She smoothed her blond pony tail nervously. Taking a deep breath, she plunged on. ‘The truth is we thought it might be nice for you to have a father figure in the house.’ She smiled nervously at Rodney as she spoke.
    Rodney’s face was a picture of compassion as he nodded at David. ‘Your mother thinks it might help you accept that your father isn’t coming back.’ He reached his hand out to pat David’s arm.
    David jerked his arm out of Rodney’s reach. His chair scraped violently against the floor. ‘How can you say that?’
    â€˜David, please. Be reasonable.’ Marcia reached her hand out towards him.
    David stared numbly at her for a long, long moment. Then his voice dropped to a whisper. ‘You don’t know, Mum.’ He shook his head in disbelief and despair. ‘You don’t know he isn’t coming back.’ David glanced at Rodney and then turned his burning blue gaze back to his mother. ‘How could you do this to Dad?’
    Marcia stood silently gazing back at him, her eyes full of sadness and pain until David turned and left the room.
    Kora’s eyes met Amurru’s. ‘I had no idea.’
    He nodded. ‘There is much we have to learn about humans.’ His round, yellow eyes blinked at her. ‘Especially your human.’
    She wiggled her fingers and the portal vanished. She could hear David clomping down the passage. ‘I wonder if I should go out and see him?’
    Amurru stood. His great yellow eyes seemed to cloud over for a moment. When they focused again he bowed his head to her. ‘I have been summoned, Empress.’

Storm clouds
    Kora woke abruptly.
    â€˜You dreamt again, Empress?’
    â€˜Yes.’ She would never admit it but she was glad of Amurru’s company.
    â€˜The same as the night before?’
    She nodded. Her father had summoned Amurru on Friday night. Vennum’s power had increased significantly. Extra guards had been placed around her little brother, and the castle was on highest alert. Of course Amurru had told her father about her close call with Vennum. Amurru said her father had merely been anxious for her safety but she knew Amurru well enough to suspect that her father had been furious and had most likely vented that anger on him.
    â€˜They are just dreams, Empress.’ Amurru’s yellow eyes rested on her. ‘It is natural for you to be worried.’
    Worried. What a small word to describe all that she was feeling. She sighed, and conjured up breakfast for them.
    Amurru sipped his juice. ‘Perhaps David will summon you out of your globe today.’
    She, too, wondered if David would be in a better mood today. The dinner on Friday night had gone from bad to worse for him. After being told that Rodney was moving in, David’s boss had rung and told his mother that he was sacked from his job. He worked at an electrical store in Panda Rock and his mate Hammer had been caught by the police with stolen goods from the shop. His boss believed that David had known about the theft and had kept it a secret to protect his friend. Rodney had then questioned again all the prizes he claimed to have won in the raffle.
    It had all unravelled terribly for David after that. His mother, ranting and waving her