FIFTY-FIVE: the Beautiful Fountain

            “Oh.” Arous was not having a good run of it and she felt sweat pop out on the back of her neck. She couldn’t think of anything clever to say so they just stared at each other.  If she couldn’t control her breathing her skin-dance would break down and she’d be there in all her mercury iridescent glory.

            The woman smiled.

            “That’s a beautiful fountain in the courtyard,” said Arous. “That balcony just above must be the Abbot’s office. Nice view.”

            “I’m the Abbot and it’s not my view,” she was not smiling again.

            “I’m sorry, you were dressed like the other Ministers, I didn’t-”

            “I like to blend in,” said the Abbot, then continuing about the fountain, “It was donated by the family of Ricci once he was elected to Ephor Canadí.  The family requested that it be left on all the time to bring serenity to the HaleSpa’s residents even while they sleep.”

            “The other nurse mentioned there was another person who,” Arous began.

            “Who upset Jason?” the Abbot finished her sentence as if she tired had of playing with a mouse. “She’s a Lunese. She excites many of the residents.”

            “She’s still here then?” asked Arous, remaining calm.

            “What do you mean still here?”

            “Oh, I’d just heard-”

            “Oh, they all hear but there’ll be a new Idelle to take her place. Besides, it doesn’t have anything to do with you now, does it?” The Abbot was smiling again.

            “I just thought it was odd, that’s all,” said Arous.

            “Lunese are odd,” said the Abbot. “And, that one attracted more attention than most.  They say she’s one of the last ones left.”

            Mother, Arous thought, then said, “Oh, I’m sure she’s the last one.”

            “Are you?” said the Abbot with that stupid smile spreading across her face.

            “She was a celebrity? I bet she gets a lot of visitors.”

            The nurse laughed and it made Arous jump. She couldn’t break down now, she was too close.

            “That one?” said the Abbot still laughing a little. “Doesn’t that warmer climate you were at have DE-Walls?” She kept laughing but Arous didn’t respond.  “She was accused of treason. She’s on lock down. No one goes in, no one comes out. No one but her Spartan Guard and Ephor Ricci.”

            “Ephor Ricci?”

            “Evidently a friend of hers.  If you ask me, the fountain was for her.”

            Arous felt herself coming apart; she couldn’t do the Dance any longer.

            “It looks like he’s going to be out for awhile. I should make an appointment for another time,” said Arous.

            “He’ll be lucid in a few minutes. Why don’t you wait?” said the Abbot.

            “There’s somewhere I have to be,” Arous had already stood and started walking away with only a nod to the nurse for good-bye.

            “I suppose adoption ties aren’t so close after all,” the Abbot called after her.

            Arous had broken into a cold sweat before she had even made it out of the front door of the HaleSpa.

            The pastel dressed receptionists watched her walk out while they whispered. Arous shook off their suspicion and smiled, giving them a little wave.  She kept breathing and hoped that she was as good at Skin-Dancing as she had always thought.

            “Oh, she’s full Amalgamese. You can tell, it’s in those tawny eyes,” she heard one of them say.

            “I don’t know,” another answered. “There is something about her that is iridescent like the Lady.”

            Arous had found her. She had confirmed that her mother was at the HaleSpa and still alive.  Now all she needed was a plan and a little help from friends she didn’t have.