Page 121 of Tiger's Dream
I peered over at her to find a happy blush creeping across her cheeks. “I remember everything you taught me.”
“You were an excellent student,” he said. “Much more moldable than this one,” he added, nodding to me. “Perhaps by now you know how stubborn he can be.”
Ana laughed and I found I liked the sound so much I forgot to be irritated that the joke was on me. After we’d eaten, I said, “Tell me what I must do.”
Kadam pushed away his crumb-filled plate and steepled his fingers. “You must guide me in finding Kelsey and leading her here, where I, as Phet, will counsel both her and Ren to find the Cave of Kanheri.”
“So, I tell you where she is?”
“No. Not at all. Your main purpose here is to give me hope. To give Ren hope. After seeing Phet and discovering that there is a prophesy, I will visit Ren over the years, and though I cannot free him, I will tell him that there is a way to break the curse if we are patient enough to wait for it.”
“You mean wait for her.”
“Yes, exactly. I have already whispered the idea of a shaman in this jungle to a few of my old contacts, and they shared the information with my other self. I plotted courses and searched this jungle for many years before I discovered this hut. It lies far away from any road, even in Kelsey’s time.”
I blew out a breath. “Okay, so why me?”
“You know as well as I do the dangers of crossing paths with yourself. It will be safer for me not to encounter a future, or past, version of myself. Speaking of which, don’t forget to tell me that after the chosen girl is found, she and her tiger must come here alone. I must stay far away as I will be posing as Phet at that time.”
“Got it. So, when will you be here?”
“Within a few moments of my restarting time.” Kadam rose and placed a hand on my shoulder. “The two of you are doing well. I wish you luck in completing the rest of your list.” He leaned down to my ear. “And don’t forget to bring that scroll on your next few adventures.”
I grimaced at the wordadventuresbut nodded. He restarted time, then disappeared with a pop and we were left alone.
“May I borrow the scarf?” I asked. “If Kadam is arriving soon, I’d better change.”
“Can I stay and watch?” Ana asked as she wound the scarf around my neck. I’d bent down and our faces were very close.
My eyes drifted to her lips, and when she inched closer, I backed away and cleared my throat. “I suppose you can. Just make yourself invisible.”
She phased out of time, her body shimmering and then disappearing while the threads of the scarf went to work, transforming me into the stooped man called Phet. When it was done, I plucked at my homespun robe. I ran a hand over my bald head and licked my lips, feeling the gaps in my mouth where teeth should have been.
I heard a giggle come from the corner of the room and turned, nearly stumbling on my scrawny legs. “You don’t look like yourself at all, Sohan,” she remarked.
Giving her a wide, gap-toothed smile, I asked, “Do you miss my hair more, or my teeth?”
A ghostly hand touched my arm. “Hmm. I’d have to say your muscles.” Ana shook my arm slightly. “You’re as scrawny as a chicken.”
I laughed and snuck a hand around her waist, surprised to find her waist higher than it normally was. Apparently, I’d shrunk in height as well as muscle. “I think I’m still strong enough to wrestle with a goddess.”
She shrieked and pulled away. I was about to seek her out by scent when I heard a voice. “Hello?” someone called from outside.
“Come in,” I hollered back in my normal voice. Then I remembered Phet didn’t talk like that. “Come! Come, young man,” I said in a singsong tone and pushed open the small door.
A younger Kadam poked his head in. “Thank you,” he said. “It’s been a long time since someone called me young.”
Peering at him in the way I guessed an all-too-fake wise man would, I said, “I perceive you are aged past your years and are, as yet, young in the ways of this world.”
“I suppose I am,” Kadam said. “I’ve been traveling a long way.”
“Travel far. Ah, yes. Phet see. You are”—I paused, trying to channel Phet—“you are most welcome. Drink for you?” I asked.
“Please and thank you,” he answered as he took a seat.
I turned to the non-kitchen and wrung my hands for a moment but then felt something pressed into them. Anamika had made a steaming mug of tea. I patted her invisible hand and headed to the table, plopping the mug down in front of Kadam.
“There,” I said as he sipped. “Drink all as good for you. Now tell Phet of your travels.”
