“I... don’t know,” Temi said. “It sounds ludicrous. I don’t really believe...” She frowned toward the parking lot. “But if there’s even a chance...” Her hand drifted to her knee.
“You have to take it.” I kept myself from adding that the only way we’d get our questions answered was by having further contact with that pair. That wouldn’t likely be Temi’s driving motivator.#p#分页标题#e#
“The idea of having my leg back is appealing,” she said. “Fighting monsters and risking my life every day is less so.”
“I’m sure you’d make a fine Xena Warrior Princess,” Simon said and smiled, proud perhaps to have offered this compliment without stuttering.
Temi’s brow furrowed. “A who?”
“Xena.” Simon’s smile faded. “From the... uh, did you not ever see that show?”
“No.”
“Oh.”
While Simon studied his socks, I told Temi, “Think of it this way: today you killed a creature that was killing innocent people. You’re being given the opportunity to save more lives in a way nobody else can. I’d think that’s a much more important contribution to the world than entertaining people by playing a sport.”
Temi’s lips flattened. “Have you been talking to my parents?”
“Nah, they’d tell you to wander off the grid, plant a big garden, and have a small carbon footprint. This is way better. You get to wield a magic sword.”
Simon had grown tired of studying his threadbare socks and lifted his head to nod at this notion. “That would be the selling point for me.”
“Because you’d want the honor of defending your world and making this a better place for your fellow man?” I asked him. “Or because you think a glowing sword would be a chick magnet?”
Simon grinned. “Absolutely.”
Temi traced a finger along the runes engraved in the blade. “Perhaps it would be a chance to be... somebody again.”
With a wistful sigh, I wondered if I’d ever get that chance. All I said was, “Yes.”
THE END