Page 165 of Tiger's Dream
“Dry cleaned.” She said each word slowly. “Yes, I supposed such a definition would work. Are you ready to go?”
“Yes. Take us back to our home in the future,” I said. “It must be during the time before we met him at the temple where we fought. Just after that, he’s—”
“He is dead,” Ana says softly. “He told me of it once when I was very young. I thought it was a story of another man, but it was about himself.”
I put my arm around her and she leaned into me. When we disappeared, she phased us out of time so that we couldn’t be seen. The scents and sounds of the house were familiar. Nilima was cooking something, and Ana and I snuck pastries, glistening pieces of tropical fruit, and I snatched a jar of peanut butter from the cupboard along with two spoons.
When my old self came in and kissed Nilima on the cheek, Ana took my arm and drew me away, whispering a warning not to come into contact with myself. I was already way ahead of her. We sat in the dining room, where we could see everything but weren’t likely to be bothered, and ate our stolen breakfast. Ana’s eyes widened when she tasted peanut butter for the first time. Kelsey came in and filled a plate, followed by Ren.
“Is he around this morning?” Ren asked. Everyone knew who he was talking about.
“He had another late night,” Nilima said. “He’s sleeping in.”
“It’s not like him to distance himself so much,” a worried Kelsey added.
My old self shrugged. “Maybe he’s just getting older.”
How callous I’d been. Kadam had literally made it possible for us to not only survive but to have an inheritance. It smacked of ingratitude. He would be dead and gone in a matter of weeks. He’d been through terrible things. Why hadn’t I ever taken the opportunity to tell him I appreciated him? That I loved him?
Immediately, I rose to do just that, taking our half-empty jar of peanut butter with us. Ana followed me as we ghosted through the house. When no one was looking, we opened Kadam’s door and quickly closed it behind us. His old clock ticked rhythmically and it made me think of how time was so very important. He wasn’t in his bed, and the stack of notes on his dresser was about the prophecy they were working on. But underneath it, I pulled out a last will and testament.
“What is it?” Ana asked.
“A paper that lists his final wishes upon the event of his death.”
“I see.”
Such a thing was not unheard of in armies such as Ana’s, but last letters were usually a farewell to loved ones more than distribution of property. There was a disturbance in the air behind us and Kadam materialized as Phet. He was phased out of time as we were and we both found it interesting that he could see us.
“Kishan, Anamika,” he said. “What brings you here?” He glanced nervously at the door and checked to make sure it was locked. Using the scarf, he changed back to his usual form.
“Teacher,” Ana said, “in my temper, I have done something wrong.”
Kadam raised an eyebrow. “I well remember your temper, my dear. Tell me what has happened.”
Ana launched into an explanation of summoning the Lords of the Flame and of creating Bodha before she created the world of the dragons. Her hands twisted and she hung her head. I knew she felt guilty and, more than anything else, wanted to please the man who’d taught her for so many years. I reached out and took hold of her hand. She stepped closer to me and continued.
Kadam noticed our clasped hands and glanced up at me briefly. A small smile played on his lips. When she was finished, he stood and cupped her shoulder. “Do not worry over this slight change. I knew it was one of the possibilities. As a result, you met Eventide, instead of Brightbill, but Eventide liked you, and he has smoothed over the rough patches in time. If you now proceed in the proper order with the rest of the list, you should be fine.”
“Thank you, teacher,” she said demurely.
There was a knock on the door. “Mr. Kadam? I’ve brought you some breakfast.”
“Thank you, Miss Kelsey,” he said through the door. “I think I’ll just have some tea. Will you join me in the library for tea in an hour?”
“Yes, of course,” she answered. I knew that tone. She was disappointed. Kelsey probably sensed something was wrong though she didn’t know what it was.
After she left, I said, “You should have spent more time with them. They’re heartbroken when you…” I couldn’t make myself say it.
“When I die?”
I nodded. “We were all heartbroken. You closed yourself off at the end. Nilima thought you were ill. You never gave us a chance to say good-bye. To figure out another way.”
“Ah, son,” he said, sitting down wearily. “There was no other way. I didn’t stay away because I wanted to. There was much to be done. There still is, in fact.”
“But could you not rest before you returned to your time?” Ana asked.
“Traveling in such a way is difficult for me. It’s different for you. The amulet is a part of you now, isn’t it?”
