"I know," he said. Morosely, he snaked a hand out of his blanket and held it up before her face. "Lichen, could you breathe on my fingers? They feel like frozen sticks."
She took his hand and held it to her lips, breathing steadily. Flycatcher shivered with delight.
"Lichen, what did the rocks say to you this afternoon?"
"Oh, nothing much. They just talked about the Beginning Time." She decided not to mention the part about how she needed to give up her human soul.
"You could hear them, really?"
"Sure. Wanderer made a rope for them to talk through . . . though it sounded more like Singing to me than words."
"He's weird. Lichen. I don't think I like him."
She lifted her eyes to study Wanderer. He stood a head taller than anyone else in the village, so it was easy to spot him. Also, his raven mask glinted in the flames. He looked skinny, the way he twisted in the Dance. He had been Dancing next to her mother all night, which Lichen found very odd since her mother didn't like Wanderer either. "I might go live with Wanderer for a while, Flycatcher."
He shot up out of her lap to peer at her nose to nose. His eyes looked like huge moons. "What for? You might never come back!"
I might never come back as a human, you mean. "Th^e are things he needs to teach me. And I don't think I can learn them from anyone else."
"What things? You mean Dreaming things?"
"Mostly." She drew her blanket more tightly around her shoulders. "And stories. He knows lots of stories that nobody else does. I think it's because he's so old."
"And he talks to rocks."
She nodded.
"Do you want to go live with him. Lichen?"
"I don't know. I miss Wanderer when I'm not around him, but I think I'd miss my mother more. She's taken care of me my whole life."
"Wouldn't you be scared to live around somebody who wasn't human?"
She shook her head valiantly. "No. I Hve around birds and raccoons and other animals right now. They don't scare me. Do they scare you?"
"Well, no, not when they're in their own bodies," Ry-catcher replied sarcastically. "Why can't he come and teach you down here . . ."He paused and scowled. "No, that would never work. Somebody would whack him in the head before long, and you'd probably feel bad."
"Yes." She sighed glumly. "I would."
Flycatcher rolled the edge of his blanket between his fingers, as though thinking hard. "You know what, Lichen? I'd miss you if you went away. I don't want you to go live with Wanderer. Is your mother going to make you? What if—"
They both started when Wood Duck let out a shrill cry of joy. Awkwardly, he tried to Dance as he shook his gourd rattle in time to the pounding of the drum. The Dancers separated, falling back, splitting into two groups to line the way from the temple at the eastern side of the plaza.
"Here they come!" Flycatcher said excitedly. He jumped to his feet and ran out to stand by old man Wood Duck. Lichen raced behind him, eager for this final moment of the ceremonial. All around the edges of the plaza, old people and children roused to look.
It began slowly. A rumble like an earthquake trembled on the cold air. From inside the temple, a chant echoed, deep and powerful, hailing softly the Spirits of the plants and animals.
Lichen lifted her voice to join that somber call. People all over the village added their voices until the resonant chant rose like thunder over the fire-lit plaza.
The temple door-hanging was swept aside, and twelve Com Dancers emerged into the pewter flood of Moon Maiden's light.
Lichen's voice faltered as they Danced into the plaza on whirling feet, their masks glowing as though cut from Father Sun's rays. Pounded copper covered their faces, reflecting the flames in spectacular patterns. Ears of last cycle's com hung from their necks and bounced against their naked, intricately painted bodies. They carried eagle feathers in their right hands.
The lead Dancer spread her arms and spun like a wingseed, circling around and around as if spurred by the wind. She dipped sideways to bmsh the ground with her fingertips, and Lichen knew the Dancer reached for the Power that lived in the roots, summoning it into her body.
The other Dancers followed, touching the ground and Singing as they twirled.
When they reached the central fire, they formed into a circle and began spinning around the flames, darting and leaping like wayward moths confused by the light.
The people rushed to join in. Dozens of outspread arms spiraled in the flickering light as people Sang their thanks to First Woman and Mother Earth.
Lichen whirled alone, watching the Star Ogres rotate above her. The longer she Danced, the more their bodies ceased to be made up of points of light but melded into gigantic, glowing circles—wrings of silver. Music sounded in her ears, rising and falling as the rings slid over each other. It rang like a hundred bells struck all at once. Thank you. Star Ogres, she prayed, for sharing your music with me. Someday, if I learn enough and if I can find Bird-Man, maybe I'll grow falcon wings and I can fly up to Sing for you.