Whatever Gods May Be by George P. Saunders Read Free Book Online Page A

someone had aided the boy along since his escape from the Redeye City, and furthermore had instructed him to remain in the oasis until Zolan's arrival.
    Was it possible, he wondered uncharacteristically, that she had actually returned?       
    Thalick quickly disengaged himself from such ridiculous notions.  He could not believe in such phenomenon.   The dead could never return.  Zolan was either deluding himself, or was truly mad, and such infectious diseases of the mind were affecting even the Stinger.  Thalick had always rejected the concept of supernatural transpirations.  Mysticism, magic, and even the primitive and ridiculous rituals that were performed by the people of this world to honor him were secretly beneath the level of merit to even incur a hiss of scorn from the Stinger.  Apostates of either a heaven or a hell, like Angels or Devils, simply didn't exist.
    No, this angel was no ghost, Thalick insisted to himself.  If it existed, it would corroborate under a careful probe antennae and have a definite origin other than the cloudy parameters of either heaven or its fiery counterpart.
    Still, so many questions remained.  And these unanswered questions made the Guardian, the Great Thelerick - sometimes known as Thalick, the Stinger, very, very nervous.
    The sky gradually grew lighter, and Zolan's face was eerily silhouetted against the backdrop of brush and palm trees.  Thalick could tell that his friend was in much greater pain now, though his face outwardly remained passive and calm.
    Zolan turned his head towards Thalick when he heard the familiar buzzing rumble through his brain that told him his friend wished to communicate.
    "Yes, Bug?" Zolan thought in question.
    PAIN BAD?
    Zolan closed his eyes.   "Bad," he nodded.
    Thalick kept his hisses muffled, so as not to awaken the sleeping boy curled up against his side.  For a moment, Zolan and Thalick only stared at one another, their minds completely open to the other.  At last, the Stinger broke the peace.
    SHE IS DEAD, ZOLAN.  SHE NO COME BACK     
    Zolan turned away and refocused on the Little One peeking over the horizon.  Thalick also snatched a glance at the half dome of fire hovering over the dunes.  For the first time since its creation, the old Stinger actually feared and dreaded the Little One's arrival this evening.
    "She promised she would come back, Thalick," Zolan smiled, "She promised five centuries ago, and now she has promised again through the boy."
    VALRY DEAD, FRIEND ZOLAN, Thalick transmitted softly.  Zolan could detect a rare quality of compassion in the Stinger's thoughts, and it touched him deeply.  He had almost forgotten how much Thalick had also loved her, too.
    "She will come back, Bug," was all Zolan said.
    "She'll come back," a refreshed voice concurred near Thalick.  Tom was stretching and leaping to his feet all at the same time.  He squinted, looking into the face of the Little One rising into the sky.
    "Very soon.  She promised."
    Zolan felt a chill pass through him as Tom spoke.
    "Were you talking to the Guardian, Master?" the boy asked curiously.  Zolan walked slowly back to where Thalick lay.  For the moment, the pain in his chest had subsided, so such movement was not terribly uncomfortable.
    "Yes, I was.  As a matter of fact, we were talking about you.  How do you feel?" Zolan asked.
    The boy was instantly absorbed with his new, giant playmate.  Where he had been numb with terror only a few hours before, Tom was now perfectly content in the Stinger's close company.  Youth, Zolan thought suddenly, and chuckled.
    "Fine," Tom answered off-handedly, clearly more interested in Thalick than talking with Zolan, "What does he eat?" he asked, test kicking one of the giant claws in front of him.
    Zolan was amused and just a little envious.  He had not adjusted as quickly to the Stinger's presence so long ago, as the boy was now doing.
    "Not much, really.  He's totally self-contained.  Maybe a