“Yes?” Rachel said.
“Could I talk to you for a minute?” Daneh asked, waving at her office. “It’s not… I just need to ask you a question.”
Rachel furrowed her brow quizzically but followed her mother into the office.
“You’ve been talking to more people than I have,” Daneh said, when the door was closed. “One of the things that should be done about the women who were raped is they should talk about it.”
“I wasn’t, Mother,” Rachel said, looking at her with a frown. “Or… do you want someone to talk to?” she said with a worried tone.
“Well, yes, but not you, dear,” Daneh said with a chuckle. “I was wondering if you knew… anyone who might want to talk.”
Rachel thought about it for a moment and shrugged. “Yes. That is, I know some girls who… had a bad time on the trip. I haven’t tried to draw any of them out about it. Should I?”
It was Daneh’s turn to frown in thought but then she shrugged. “Talking about it is very important for healing. But what I was wondering was, could you ask some of them to maybe meet me in the evenings? One of the important things I learned from Bast is that… there are odd thoughts and feelings that are lingering presences of the rape. I think it’s about time that some of us who have had that experience share it with each other and start to try to… heal.”
“Oh,” Rachel said. “I’ll… see what I can find out.”
“Thank you,” Daneh replied with a smile. “Do you have any idea how much you have changed… grown, since the Fall?”
“Sometimes I feel a thousand years old, if that’s what you mean,” Rachel sighed.
“You know,” Daneh said, leaning back in her chair. “I’m your mother. We can talk about things other than work.”
“It’s okay, Mom, really,” Rachel replied. “It’s nothing as… big as what you have to work through. Just the same problem everybody has. I keep wishing that it would all go back the way it used to be, you know?”
“Yes, I do,” Daneh said, sadly. “Do you ever whisper ‘genie’ to yourself? I know I do.”
“Sometimes,” Rachel replied with a nod. “Sometimes when I can’t get to sleep I just imagine that we’re all back the way we used to be.” Her face worked for a moment and she shook her head. “I hate this world. Sometimes I wish I’d never been born!”
“Don’t wish that,” Daneh said, shaking her head. “I love you and the world would be a sadder place if you weren’t in it. Know that. It’s okay to grieve for what we’ve lost. But don’t wish you hadn’t existed. You have a long life to live and there is still joy to be found. Friends to cherish and love. Maybe even a boyfriend, hmmm? Edmund and I would like a grandchild some day.”
“I’m a little young for that, Mother,” Rachel said.
“Aren’t we all,” Daneh said, rubbing at her belly. “It’s odd to know that there’s something growing inside of me. I’ve been awfully tired lately, and I think that’s part of it. But, even knowing that half of it is… from them, half of it is from me. And… I cannot find it in me to hate the child unborn.”
“So… you’re going to keep it?” Rachel asked.
“Well, even if there weren’t some very serious dangers involved in getting rid of him or her,” Daneh said, “I think the answer is: Yes. I’m going to keep him. Or her. I don’t think I could do anything else. It’s a child and I can’t find it in me to kill a child.”
“Okay,” Rachel said. “If that’s how you feel. I’m a little… intimidated by the whole idea. You know there are risks to you, right?”
“They’re risks that women have faced for countless ages,” Daneh shrugged. “Just because we were rid of them for a while, doesn’t mean I should run away from them. And… neither should you.”
“I have to find the right guy,” Rachel replied with a frown. “That hasn’t happened, yet.”
“Herzer is… nice,” Daneh said, carefully.
“Herzer is… Herzer,” Rachel said with a frown. “And… he’s not what I’m looking for. He’s a good friend but… just a friend.”
“So was your father,” Daneh replied. “Until I got over thinking that I had to have something besides a friend. I’m not telling you to throw yourself at Herzer, but don’t ignore an opportunity because the person is a ‘friend.’ ”
“Okay, Mom,” Rachel replied then paused. “Can I ask a question? And I know it’s none of my business but…”
“Your father and I are… getting along,” Daneh said, frowning slightly. “It has been… difficult. The first time… after was hard. Probably as hard on him as it was on me in a way.”
“I’m not sure that I’m up to details about my parent’s sex life, Mom,” Rachel said in a choked voice. “I’m sorry. I was just wondering if you guys were okay?”
“We’re okay, now,” Daneh said with a chuckle. “And, I can see we’re reaching the end of this little chat . Seriously, talk to me from time to time. I need a friend, too.”
“I will, Mom,” Rachel said, getting up and going around the desk to give her mother a hug. “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay? And I’ll always be your friend.”
Edmund had just composed himself in his favorite chair when Sheida appeared.
“Ready?” she asked.
“Let’s get to it,” Edmund said and was immediately, apparently, transported to a large room filled with about ten other members. Some of them he recognized immediately; others were strangers.
“Thank you all for volunteering your time to this,” Sheida said, waving her lizard away. The reptile took off from her shoulder and then apparently vanished as it left the zone she was broadcasting. “I think this first meeting should cover general principles of what we’re trying to do. I think I’ll let Edmund speak to that first. Edmund, please introduce yourself.”
“I recognize some of you and others I don’t know,” Edmund said. “So I’ll give my general background. I have what was once referred to as a doctorate in political science and another in military affairs. My specialty is preindustrial societies and militaries. In addition I have been a reenactor for much of my life. I’m currently the mayor of Raven’s Mill, which is a growing survivor society in the Shenan Valley. Working under their aegis and agreement I’m here to propose that the original Constitution of Norau be enacted with minimal amendments and with all rights of the citizens kept intact. All rights.”
The rest were introduced and most of them were from similar communities although two were working directly with the Council in projects. All agreed, in principle, that the original Constitution be enacted, but all had some reservations.
“Edmund,” Sheida said, coming back to him again. “What changes would you enact?”
“The first that I would suggest is a stronger wording of the right to own weapons. That it be added that it is for self-defense, defense of the community and for protection from unconstitutional acts of the government. Furthermore it should be the duty of all citizens of military age to own and show capability of use of weapons.”
“I have a strong objection to that,” the delegate from Chitao town said, frowning. “We’ve had homesteads burned out by brigands already. I don’t see why they should have weapons or the right to them.”
“Are they citizens of the community?” Edmund replied. “Furthermore, it is not their ownership of the weapons that is at fault but the use to which they put them. In the codes section the first portion of the code should be a strong prohibition against illegal use of weapons with strong penalties. But in Raven’s Mill we are arming our citizens. They are a strong proponent of the defense of the town. This particular position is what they used to call a ‘litmus test’ for us. We will not have our citizens disarmed by the government under any circumstances short of active rebellion and then only on an individual basis.”