There is a deep sense of strangeness when Amahle disappears. Johannesburg disappears. The sunset disappears. And the full light of the two suns return. The half-darkness, was caused by Amahle. Now that I think about it, its creation was also aided by Joy holding Amahle’s hand.
And then there’s silence. Strange, awkward silence.
“What the hell happened?” Colin asks.
Joy is looking at her own hands.
“Joy,” Justin moves closer to her. “Do you know what happened? Do you know what she was talking about?”
Joy shakes her head while looking at her hand. “Maybe my hands are dangerous. I make things stay. I…”
Justin holds both her hands. “Your hands are not dangerous. See? Nothing’s happening to me, right?”
Joy is clearly relieved that her touch is not dangerous in some way.
Joy raises her eyes and looks at Charlie. He flinches. Joy frowns.
“Alors. I am not afraid.” Madelyn rolls her super wheelchair towards Joy. “Touch me.”
Joy touches her hand. Nothing happens.
“Me, too,” Charlie jumps forward like a boy with something to prove. “Touch me.”
Nothing happens. Charlie is relieved and smiles at Joy.
Colin and Yumio are next, the only other Dreamers in this dream.
Nothing happens when she touches any of them.
“I’m not afraid, either,” Suzy says, even though she is not a Dreamer. She hugs Joy and Joy, as always, falls into her hug.
“That was very strange,” Justin says. “We should–”
“The sunless one must have returned to her dream by now,” Master Mind says. “If she wants to return, she cannot get here by herself. I will go and bring her.”
Master Mind does not move. He is waiting for Justin’s approval. Or for Joy’s approval - he’s been known to follow Joy’s instructions at the expense of Justin’s.
Justin looks at Joy. “What do you think? Shall we ask her to come back?”
Joy nods.
“Okay,” he says to Joy. “Okay,” he tells Master Mind.
Master Mind takes one of Joy’s permanent jetpacks lying on the deck, straps it on, and flies towards the suns.
“Come here,” Justin holds her hand. “We’ll figure this out.”
(To be continued…)
—Told by Grampa Walt