‘I thought I’d call Hulle tonight. I’d like to talk to him about us spending some time, oh, only a week or so, in the Blue Mountains. It’s just an idea—’
‘The Blue Mountains!’ She held to the canopy rim with one hand, turning swiftly towards him.
‘Oh, it’s just a suggestion.’
‘When do you want to go?’ she asked, trembling.
‘I thought we might leave tomorrow morning. You know, an early start and all that,’ he said very casually.
‘But we never go this early in the year!’
‘Just this once, I thought—’ He smiled. ‘Do us good to get away. Some peace and quiet. You know. You haven’t anything else planned? We’ll go, won’t we?’
She took a breath, waited, and then replied, ‘No.’
‘What?’ His cry startled the birds. The canopy jerked.
‘No,’ she said firmly. ‘It’s settled. I won’t go.’
He looked at her. They did not speak after that. She turned away.
The birds flew on, ten thousand firebrands down the wind.
In the dawn the sun, through the crystal pillars, melted the fog that supported Ylla as she slept. All night she had hung above the floor, buoyed by the soft carpeting of mist that poured from the walls when she lay down to rest. All night she had slept on this silent river, like a boat upon a soundless tide. Now the fog burned away, the mist level lowered until she was deposited upon the shore of wakening.
She opened her eyes.
Her husband stood over her. He looked as if he had stood there for hours, watching. She did not know why, but she could not look him in the face.
‘You’ve been dreaming again!’ he said. ‘You spoke out and kept me awake. I really think you should see a doctor.’
‘I’ll be all right.’
‘You talked a lot in your sleep!’
‘Did I?’ She started up.
Dawn was cold in the room. A grey light filled her as she lay there;
‘What was your dream?’
She had to think a moment to remember. ‘The ship. It came from the sky again, and the tall man stepped out and talked with me, telling me little jokes, laughing, and it was pleasant.’
Mr K touched a pillar. Founts of warm water leapt up, steaming; the chill vanished from the room. Mr K’s face was impassive.
‘And then,’ she said, ‘this man, who said his strange name was Nathaniel York, told me I was beautiful and – and kissed me.’
‘Ha!’ cried the husband, turning violently away, his jaw working.
‘It’s only a dream.’ She was amused.
‘Keep your silly, feminine dreams to yourself!’
‘You’re acting like a child.’ She lapsed back upon the few remaining remnants of chemical mist. After a moment she laughed softly. ‘I thought of some more of the dream,’ she confessed.
‘Well, what is it, what is it?’ he shouted.
‘Yll, you’re so bad tempered.’
‘Tell me!’ he demanded. ‘You can’t keep secrets from me!’ His face was dark and rigid as he stood over her.
‘I’ve never seen you this way,’ she replied, half shocked, half entertained. ‘All that happened was this Nathaniel York person told me – well, he told me that he’d take me away into his ship, into the sky with him, and take me back to his planet with him. It’s really quite ridiculous.’
‘Ridiculous, is it!’ he almost screamed. ‘You should have heard yourself, fawning on him, talking to him, singing with him, oh gods, all night; you should have heard yourself!’
‘Yll!’
‘When’s he landing? Where’s he coming down with his damned ship?’
‘Yll, lower your voice.’
‘Voice be damned!’ He bent stiffly over her. ‘And in this dream’ – he seized her wrist – ‘didn’t the ship land over in Green Valley, didn’t it? Answer me!’
‘Why, yes—’
‘And it landed this afternoon, didn’t it?’ he kept at her.
‘Yes, yes, I think so, yes, but only in a dream!’
‘Well’ – he flung her hand away stiffly – ‘it’s good you’re truthful! I heard every word you said in your sleep. You mentioned the valley and the time.’ Breathing hard, he walked between the pillars like a man blinded by a lightning bolt. Slowly his breath returned. She watched him as if he were quite insane. She arose finally and went to him. ‘Yll,’ she whispered.
‘I’m all right.’
‘You’re sick.’
‘No.’ He forced a tired smile. ‘Just childish. Forgive me, darling.’ He gave her a rough pat. ‘Too much work lately. I’m sorry. I think I’ll lie down awhile—’
‘You were so excited.’
‘I’m all right now. Fine.’ He exhaled. ‘Let’s forget it. Say, I heard a joke about Uel yesterday, I meant to tell you. What do you say you fix breakfast, I’ll tell the joke, and let’s not talk about all this.’
‘It was only a dream.’
‘Of course.’ He kissed her cheek mechanically. ‘Only a dream.’
At noon the sun was high and hot and the hills shimmered in the light.
‘Aren’t you going to town?’ asked Ylla.
‘Town?’ he raised his brows faintly.
‘This is the day you always go.’ She adjusted a flower-cage on its pedestal. The flowers stirred, opening their hungry yellow mouths.
He closed his book. ‘No. It’s too hot, and it’s late.’
‘Oh.’ She finished her task and moved towards the door.
‘Well, I’ll be back soon.’
‘Wait a minute! Where are you going?’
She was in the door swiftly. ‘Over to Pao’s. She invited me!’
‘Today?’
‘I haven’t seen her in a long time. It’s only a little way.’
