Page 47 of Far From Center
Chapter 18
“Inever thoughtyou’d be a shopping kind of guy,” Nyalla teased.
“I’ve never had to purchase anything before,” Gabe admitted. “It’s actually quite enjoyable viewing all the different products that humans create. I’m amazed at how important ornamental items are — both for the body and for the home.”
“And for the car,” Nyalla picked up a pair of bright blue castanets with red hibiscus flowers sloppily painted on the sides and waved them at the angel.
He cocked an eyebrow. Even if I had a vehicle, I wouldn’t decorate it with those. They’re hideous.”
“Then how about this?” She grabbed anIBusted My Nut In Arubabumper sticker, knowing the angel would have no idea about the slang reference.
“I can bust a nut anywhere. Why would I need to advertise that I’d done so here?”
She giggled. “I’m buying you this. You can put it on your harp or whatever you have up in Aaru.”
“Trumpet. I have a trumpet that is used to herald in the apocalypse.” He hesitated, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. “And I will most definitely put that on my trumpet. Can you imagine Micha’s face when he sees it?”
“Actually it’s Sam’s face I’m imagining. Staid, pious old Gabriel telling the world that he ‘busted a nut in Aruba’. That alone would herald in the apocalypse.”
“Probably. I’m not finding what I’m looking for here. Is there another place that sells items crafted from natural materials?”
“Tiffany’s. Or Little Switzerland. Or Gemani.” Somehow she managed to say that with a straight face.
He hesitated. “Is that another one of those stores with glass cases filled with overpriced polished rocks?”
Such a man. “Yes. And they’re very pretty polished rocks. Women like polished rocks.”
“So I’ve read.” Was that an ironic note in his voice? Couldn’t be.
“I’m looking for stores that have items made of natural materials like coconut, and Kukui. Terrelle told me that there is a plant that produces hard pseudocarps that are used as a bead in necklaces. They’re called coixseed or hato mugi. They’re also called by the name Job’s Tears, and look very much like the artifact. I think it’s native to certain Asian countries, so they may not have it here.
Nyalla typed into her cell phone. “They’re often used in rosaries. And given the percentage of Catholics on the island, I think we may be able to find one.”
They couldn’t find a religious supplies store, but after wandering through the backstreets of the city, Nyalla spotted an eclectic shop which had rosaries, religious statuary, and prayer books nestled among the potpourri and custom-engraved charm bracelets.
And luck was with them, because the store did have several rosaries that were made using the beads known as Job’s Tears.
Gabe picked one up and held the item in his hand, the silver-linked beads spread across his palm, the plain crucifix draped over his wrist. He frowned. “Are you sure? I’ll admit the beads do resemble the actual artifact, but I don’t think I can purchase this.”
“It’s not very expensive,” Nyalla commented. “Do you have the money? I know you probably only had so much when you became human. I can buy it if you need.”
“It’s not that.” He shot a quick look at the shopkeeper who was hovering nearby. “It’s a holy item, and I feel like I’d be desecrating it to tear it apart. Maybe he has some of the unassembled beads in the back that we can buy.”
“They’re not made here,” the man said. “If you just want the beads, and it would make you feel better, I can take it apart for you after you buy it.”
“Terrelle can take it apart,” Nyalla volunteered. “Or Snip. They’re demons. I’m sure they’ve been desecrating religious items for centuries.”
Oops. She shouldn’t have said that because now the shopkeeper looked downright uncomfortable. “Just kidding,” she laughed. “We’ll take three of them.”
She pulled out her credit card and noticed that Gabriel seemed distracted. “Is this okay? You’re not going to get all weird and we’ll be stuck with three rosaries, right?”
He blinked, then gave her a quick smile. “No, I’m fine. Can you head back to the hotel with these and I’ll meet you there? There’s something I forgot to pick up.”
The idea of Gabriel wandering around a marketplace, even one directly a straight shot on the main road from the resort hotels, was frightening. She felt the urge to put a tracking device on him, or one of those giant bicycle flags so she could find him if he got lost. But he was a grown angel and four billion years old. This island wasn’t so big that he would be lost for any amount of time before managing to stumble across the hotel or at least someone who would give him directions.
“Sure. Don’t be long, though. There’s something I want us to do before dinner.”
She left him, pretty certain that this was how parents felt the first time their teenagers took the car out to meet their friends, then hurried back to the hotel, making a quick stop at the concierge desk first. Once in the room, she changed into a bathing suit went to pull the one Terrelle had bought for Gabe out of the dresser drawer and lay it on the bed.
