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Hotaru no Hikari
April 08, 1983
'So you really haven't seen your Uncle William and Aunt Leila since your accident?' Allan asked Miriam as they passed their time in her void while they were physically in the back of her mother's new Porsche. They were on their way to Langley, which was an hour's drive from their home on the side of Mt. Seymour in North Vancouver. Even a year since she was revived, Miriam was unable to muster the courage to ride conscious in any car, or even get in one by herself. (I would eventually like Miriam to get over this. I'm just not sure when though. Even if she does someday, I imagine there will always be some lingering nervousness she will have to deal with.) So on these trips Allan had to spend his time with her in her void, keeping her from thinking too much about where her body was at the time.
'No, they are so busy with their farm that sometimes the only way to see them is to come out and visit them yourself.' Miriam told him. William was Miriam's mother Beverly and Aunt Natasha's older brother. Time always seemed to pass quicker in Miriam's void, (It's not on it's own temperal cycle, there's just no indication to judge how much time has passed.) so it wasn't long before Allan heard Jeremy beckoning him and Miriam back to their bodies (Allan keeps a slight connection to his body's senses so he doesn't lose total contact with the ouside world.). They woke up outside the car, which was parked in the farmhouse's long driveway. They walked up the front porch stairs where Beverly rang an old bell hanging on a rope by the door. The door was opened by a red-haired lady who smiled brightly at the sight of her guests. She embraced Beverly and said, "It's so good to see you again, Beverly!" "It's great to see you too, Leila." Beverly told her.
Leila gave Jeremy a big hug and then moved on to Miriam. "And look at you, you've grown so much. I haven't seen you since your accident. I was so relieved when Natasha told me you had come out of your coma. I guess that was almost a year ago already! William and Jeanine are in the back yard, getting their chores finished up." They went through the house to the backyard just in time to meet the others coming in. William, unlike his small, slender sisters, was a huge bear of a man. He was tall with curly blond hair and a big bushy beard. When he saw the Nixon's come through the door he came over and scooped up Miriam with one burly arm and embraced Beverly with the other. Behind him came Miriam's cousin Jeanine. She was slightly younger than Allan, had her mother's hair, but a girlish version of her fathers build. William set Miriam down next to Jeanine who was elated to see her cousin.
It took Jeanine's keen eyes to notice Allan, who had been using his best tricks to remain out of sight. Until now. "This is Miriam's friend Allan, Jeremy introduced him now that his cover was blown. "Ah yes." William said, "Andrew and Natasha have spoken very highly of you." He leaned down and shook Allan's hand and was impressed by his grip. He smiled at Allan, as did Leila. Jeanine was not impressed at all and just glared at him. "C'mon Miriam, let's go play." Jeanine said and dragged Miriam off as the adults made their way inside to visit. As Allan followed behind, Jeanine turned around and shot him a dirty look that momentarily stopped him dead in his tracks. (Uh-Oh. Looks like Allan has found a nemesis. Jeanine is not too impressed by Allan or his role in Miriam's life (which she doesn't know the true extent of). No doubt she sees him a an obstacle to her time with her cousin.) She showed them around the pig barn, the chicken coop, and the main barn where all sorts of equipment was kept. They worked their way though the paths between the equipment which formed a confusing maze around the barn. Soon Jeanine was cutting around corners faster than Allan could track her and he was soon lost behind them.
Jeanine had pulled Miriam reluctantly through a few shortcuts and out of the barn. They had only made it halfway from the barn to the house when Miriam collapsed and Jeanine screamed. She was heard clearly inside the house and the adults came running out just as Allan found his way out of the barn. After a quick telepathic conversation with Allan, Jeremy knew what had happened and was able to cover. He comforted Jeanine and told her "Miriam still suffers from fainting spells because of her accident. Allan can tell when they are going to happen and how to prevent them, so you cannot let him get separated from her." Jeanine grudgingly accepted this, but was still not happy about having Allan around. So for the rest of the afternoon Allan kept his distance and Miriam kept from involving Jeanine too much with him. (A ceasefire but definatly not a truce.)
When they were back in the house two new arrivals showed up at the door. "Grandma, Grandpa!!" Jeanine and Miriam raced to meet their grandparents who had come to visit from their home up north in 100 Mile House. "How are my two favorite girls?" Grandpa Bill said as he hugged them. "Great, Grandpa!!" "I do believe I have something for you." he said as he pulled out two quartz crystals on fine silver chains. The girls thanked him and fastened the necklaces on each other. They continued to visit as Leila, Beverly and Grandma Rose made supper. Bill told them stories of the old gold mine he and some friends had found and were now resurrecting. (This next part is blatant indulgence on my part. I am interested in BC Gold Rush history and geology. I could let Bill ramble on for hours about his mine and it's history. But that's not what this story is about, so I tried to reign him in one the point of his story had been made.) "At it's peak between 1889 - '97, this section of Hetfield Creek (Fictional creek named in honour of James Hetfield of Metallica.) yielded one of the highest concentrations of gold in the area. It was abandoned in the winter of '98 and has rarely been touched since."
"After exploring the area we found that the creek has shifted course frequently over the years and may have left deposits in other parts of the valley that have not yet been found. We are currently comparing the current geography of the area with some old maps and photographs we borrowed from the private collection of historian Richard McPherson from Cache Creek..." "Hey, that's my Grandfather!" Allan said. "Really, it must be a small world then. I was at his place only yesterday when he mentioned he had a daughter and grandson living down here. Your grandfather is a good man, as you should know." "Actually, I have never met him." Allan said. "That's too bad." (Bill has just planted his foot firmly in his mouth and like him, I never know how to deal with awkward moments like this.) Bill said and then moved on with his stories.
Outside another car pulled up to further crowd the driveway. Out of it stepped Natasha and her boyfriend Toru Andrew. "You look nervous sweetie." "Well I should be, I'm only meeting your parents for the first time. It's a big step in our relationship, what if they don't like me?" "You don't need to worry about that. All I had to say was 'Dr.' and they had already started making wedding plans." Andrew laughed, but said "Still, in situations like this I'm likely to loosen up and blurt out something stupid about our sex lfe or something equally appalling." (Originally TA's joke waqs a lot cruder. I didn't think it fit in so I toned it down.) Natasha laughed, "Trust me that wouldn't surprise them. Back in Grade 11 my father caught me in bed with my boyfriend at the time. Surprisingly he didn't freak out, but ever since then every boyfriend has been put through a long sermon on sex and how exactly he wants his daughter to be treated. And he still does, even up to this day. Beverly's boyfriends got it too, even Jeremy. So you have been warned."
They went up the stairs, rung the bell and William answered the door. "Andrew, good to see you again!!!" he said and invited them inside. By the time everyone was introduced it was time for supper. Afterwards they cleaned up and settled in for a card game in the living room. All except for Andrew who was invited out onto the porch for a cigar and a conversation with Natasha's father. As the night drew to a close Andrew and Natasha left to stay at her apartment in downtown Langley and the rest settled into the guest bedrooms at the farm.
Later on in the night Allan stirred Miriam from her sleep. 'You have to see something.' He told her. 'What is it?' 'You'll see when we get there.' They slipped quietly out the bedroom window and flew out over the field toward a small forest at the edge of the property, Miriam's ki glowing brightly in the moonlit night. Allan looked over to Miriam and noticed something strange about the chain dangling from her neck. 'Miriam, your necklace... it's glowing.' Miriam stopped and took a look at it. Sure enough the fine silver links were glowing white but appeared to be staying intact with no heat coming off them. 'The silver must be reacting to your ki. (It's iffy whether or not this is realistic, but hey, realism is not exactly the point here... For fucks sake they're FLYING!!!!!!) We'll have to check that out later.' They continued on to the forest and flew in as Allan said, 'I couldn't sleep so I went for a flight and came across this place.' The trees opened up over a small gully where Miriam could see hundreds of flickering points of light around her.
'These are...'
'Yes, fireflies. Aren't they beautiful? I know you had never seen any in person, so I just had to bring you here.' Miriam dared to fly down amongst the swarm. She cupped her hands around one and copied the flickering it made with her ki, delighted when several others responded. It was then that Allan flew down to join her, sitting down on a nearby log and enjoying the view as Miriam played amongst the fireflies. 'Do you remember back in October the night you first channeled your ki?' Miriam took a break, sat down beside him, 'Yes I do.' 'I said that you looked as beautiful as a firefly when you channeled your ki. I really do think the name suits you and you should use it as your handle, the nickname other inner circle know you by.' (Later on when Allan & Miriam join the 'Inner Circle' other characters nicknames will be revealed.) 'Sure I will. What's yours Allan?'
'I don't know yet. I still have a while to find one. But if you don't come up with one for yourself, one will be chosen for you, and it is usually not very flattering.' Miriam thought for a moment and said, 'Well I have chosen mine. You thought of it for me, how about I do the same for you?' 'That would be great, but we should be heading back now. I don't think we'd be missed till morning but now I'm finally feeling tired.'
'So am I, it has been a long day. I'm glad you bought me here!' she said. Allan and Miriam took one last long look at the fireflies dancing in the moonlit forest, reluctant to leave such a wonderful place. Then they took each other's hands and flew off to bed.
