2. DANIEL
Avice pulled off her apron, ran her fingers through her short rough cut blonde hair, washed her hands one last time and wearily left the makeshift hospital. Sixteen hours straight, she was beyond tired, beyond exhausted, beyond hope. Despite all that her pace quickened as she made her way home. Her entire body ached from the top of her head to the end of her toes. It didn't matter. What did matter was that she didn't want to miss her visitor. He'd be here soon. They'd talk and for a little while the horror of reality would recede. Let him come. Let him come.
"Hey Avice."
"Hello Daniel."
"How are you doing?"
"Not good. Four more died today."
"I'm sorry."
"How many more have to die Daniel?"
"I don't know. Many. None. But how are you?"
"Do you mean am I sick yet? The answer is still no. Not yet."
"That's good," Daniel smiled. "You look tired."
"Tired," Avice laughed bitterly. "Tired he says. Why can't you finish our suffering Daniel? Why can't you help us, help me?"
"You know why," he replied patiently. Always she asked, always he gave the same answer. "I can't interfere."
"Daniel," hot tears slid slowly down her cheeks. "I don't know how much longer I can do this."
"You'll be fine," Daniel instinctively reached out to offer comfort, only to draw back when reality kicked in. He couldn't touch her; he couldn't offer any form of physical comfort to the poor woman. "You are strong Avice, you've come this far, I know the journey hasn't been easy but you just need to hold on a little longer."
"I thought good spirits were sent to help us," Avice said, sadly.
"It's complicated," Daniel smiled again.
"Yes, it's always complicated."
"Put it all behind you for a little while. Sit. Let's talk of the old days, tell me more of your history, you know how much we both enjoy it."
"For a little while," Avice sank into the only comfortable chair the sparse little room possessed.
Since the epidemic struck anyone with even the most basic nursing skills and more recently anyone not affected had been drafted to work in their chronically over full hospitals. Avice's home was many miles away, a small village far beyond the city where, in a former life she had been a teacher, and as a result she had been billeted in tiny, very basic accommodation near the hospital.
The only upside to the whole epidemic situation for Avice had been meeting Daniel. She had first come across him sitting by the bed of a young woman, talking quietly to her, trying to ease her pain in the last moments before death. When the woman died Avice watched the pain on his face and then witnessed a miracle. He turned into a glowing mass of brilliant light for a fraction of a second before disappearing. At first she put the whole experience down to a waking dream, the kind of thing that happens when you haven't had more than a stolen hour or two of sleep in days. But there was something, a moment of clarity, of recognition as he'd looked her in the eye before vanishing.
And look at them now. Daniel was her one constant friend when all around her world was falling apart. How ironic. A spirit was the only person she could really talk to, express her fears and anxieties to, get angry with that such a plague should be wiping out her world, miss so badly when he wasn't around. He tried to be there most nights and for that she was grateful. If he wasn't Avice didn't suppose she'd even bother to come home any more. Every day she lost someone. Avice didn't want to lose him as well.
Daniel watched as sleep gradually overtook her, smoky grey eyes closed and breathing slowed. He had never meant for anyone to know he was watching what was happening on this particular planet. Their pain and suffering had affected him deeply and not for the first time Daniel found himself questioning the validity of his kinds 'hands off' policy. So much death, so much loss. The young woman he had been speaking to when Avice first saw him had been so scared, so unprepared to die. He had spoken gentle words, eased her passing and when he looked up there was Avice watching.
Of course he shouldn't have returned, of course he shouldn't have spoken to Avice, shouldn't have kept on going back. But she was an extraordinary woman, completely unfazed by what he was, simply glad of his companionship. Sometimes being alone in the universe still overwhelmed Daniel, he missed the simple interaction of the friends he'd been forced to leave behind. And when Avice smiled, which was becoming rarer, the pleasure still took his breath away. And so he would carry on offering what little comfort he could and pray the plague didn't take her.
"Goodnight Avice," he murmured. "Sleep well."
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One day merged with the next. The numbers dieing slowly diminished simply because there were so few people left. Those who hadn't succumbed lived in daily fear that they would be next. The entire structure of the planets economy, of its civilisation had been destroyed. Food was scarce, there were no farmers left to grow more, water supplies were becoming contaminated and there were no workers left to fix it, heat, light, all were failing. And Daniel kept on visiting, helping Avice the only way he could by forgetting the horror of her life for a little while, helping her believe that one day the nightmare would be over and life would find a way to continue as before. Some hope.
Then came the day she had dreaded since the first time she had seen her friendly spirit, the day he would say goodbye and she would truly be alone.
"Why do you have to go away?" Avice demanded.
"Some friends of mine are going to need my help."
"And I don't?"
"This is different Avice," Daniel said patiently. "This could affect so many other worlds, it could shift the whole balance of power in our little corner of the galaxy."
"Which is obviously much more important than my tedious little plague. Go then. Save the galaxy. It doesn't look like I'm going to die, just my world. Nothing special."
"I didn't mean it like that. Please try to understand."
Avice took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She knew fine well she was being petty and stupid and Daniel didn't need that kind of behaviour from her. She smiled," I was being selfish and I apologise. I know I'm not the only person you're trying to help."
"There aren't as many as you think," he returned the smile. "Not everyone is as receptive as you to spirits, good or otherwise."
"And I bet the majority of your followers are women."
Daniel was puzzled. "Why do you say that?"
"Oh come on Daniel. You are lovely to look at, I bet you have a girl on every planet." Avice studied him closely. "Are you blushing?"
"No."
"Yes you are."
"Okay, a little. Girls. Women. I don't… I mean I'm not, what I'm trying to say is you have the wrong idea about me, that's never been something I've been very good at. Women I mean," Daniel stumbled over his explanation endearingly. "These friends are people I knew before I became what I am now. And they don't know it yet but something bad is headed their way. I may not be able to stop it but dammit Avice, I have to try."
"Will you come back?" she wanted to know.
"I'll be back," he promised. "It may take a while but I'll come back."
"I'm going to head home myself."
"Good," Daniel said, and meant it. "It's time to put all this pain and death behind you, focus on something positive."
"Like learning how to grow food in order not to starve," she said sadly. "The city isn't a healthy place, the water supply is failing, everything seems to reek of death. I need to get out. Will you be able to find me away from here?"
Daniel smiled and Avice felt warm all over. "There's nowhere in the galaxy I couldn't find you."
"Sweet words my dearest spirit. I hope your journey is a success, I will pray for you."
"Thank you," Daniel began to fade.
"Daniel," Avice called out, pulling him back.
"Yes?"
"Do you think I might meet these friends of yours one day? I would very much like to know what you were like before you became a spirit."
"You never know," he replied with a gentle grin. "Goodbye Avice."
"Goodbye Daniel."
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There were less than twenty survivors in the village when Avice returned, driving a transport vehicle she had 'borrowed' from the dead city, and filled with all the supplies she could find that might help. For the first time in her life Avice found comfort in the fact her parents had both died long before the plague struck, something she never thought possible. To have lost them as she had in such a freak accident had always been a source of pain, for it now to be a comfort was something she found distasteful. Her house was just as she had left it, a fine covering of dust the only difference, Avice looked around with mounting sadness. How was she supposed to do this? How was her world going to survive?
From sun up to sun down the handful of survivors worked together. They planted fast growing winter crops, dismantled the homes no longer being lived in and distributed what was useful amongst themselves. It was a hard life. Which was good. No time for reflection on what they had lost. All minds were focussed on the future, no room for the past. One day ran into the next, week in to week. Work, work, work. Survive.
And then one night Avice experienced the strangest dream. She dreamt her world was as it always had been, the grass was lush and green beneath her feet, away in the distance a field of golden ripe wheat tossed and swayed in the gentle breeze, her clothes were light and fresh not old and work worn. She scrunched her toes in the cool grass and looked round at her idyllic surroundings. In the distance Avice could see someone else, they were little more than a silhouette against the sun. She found herself drawn towards the figure, further and further from the village and the neat cultivated fields, through the wood where she and her friends used to play as children. As she stepped out of the wood the whole scene shifted slightly. Gone were the familiar landmarks, Avice was somewhere she had never been before. This landscape was bleaker, barer, uncultivated, instead of grass her feet walked on dusty brown earth. The figure was closer, clearer. A woman. Her face a picture of serenity.
"Daniel needs you Avice," a voice spoke inside her head.
"How can I possibly help a spirit?" Avice questioned.
"You will know. He needs you now more than you ever needed him."
"Where is he?"
"I have shown you all you need right here."
"How will I remember?"
Oma smiled. "Trust in yourself and your quest will succeed."
"What has happened to him?" Avice wanted to know.
"Many things. I can no longer protect him."
"Then I will do what ever is necessary," Avice promised.
"Wake now and find him."
Avice opened her eyes. Dawn was still long distant. Throwing back the covers Avice rose and dressed with speed, never pausing to question the validity of her dream. If Daniel needed her help then he would get it. Before leaving she pored over an old map of the area, trying to pinpoint the barren place of her dream. Once she was sure of her destination Avice filled bottles with water, threw a few supplies into a bag and took off in the same transport she had used to escape the city.
Dawn's early light was beginning to stain the night sky by the time Avice reached the area she believed her dream had shown her. It was one of the few areas on her world where crops never grew, where the soil was too poor to sustain anything but the most meagre of plant life. Only one or two ancient gnarled trees broke the monotony of the entire area as far as she could see. This was where Daniel was. Now to actually find him.
Which wasn't as easy as it sounded. It was a large area to cover single-handed. Back and forth she went at a slow pace to ensure she missed nothing. Over and over, backwards and forwards. After a fruitless hour Avice eventually found what she was looking for. A small crumpled heap, a body curled into a tight ball. Daniel. Avice killed the transport engine and jumped out. Was he alive? Had she left it too long? Avice touched his neck. Solid. Real. She searched and found his pulse, strong and steady. Good.
That he was stark naked posed a problem Avice hadn't anticipated. At the very bottom of a storage bin on the transport she found a ratty old blanket. It would have to do.
"Daniel," she shook him slowly. "Daniel I need you to wake up now. Daniel it's me, it's Avice. Can you hear me?"
Daniel opened his eyes and they held no recognition. What had happened to him?
With difficulty Avice managed to wrap him in the blanket and get him in to the transport. Before starting the journey back to the village she made him eat and drink, after which he drifted back to sleep and Avice turned the transport toward home.
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"What is this place?" Daniel asked.
A full day had passed. Night was now well advanced. During the hours Daniel had spent sleeping Avice had been busy. From the store of useable goods they had put together when dismantling the homes of their dead friends, she had found clothing of Daniel's size, had requested and been granted extra rations to feed him, after all another pair of hands to help work the land was more than welcome by all of their tiny community.
Now he stood in the doorway between bedroom and living area looking bemused, lost and very confused. "I don't know where I am."
"You're in my home Daniel."
"Daniel?"
"That's your name, Daniel. You remember nothing?"
"Nothing," he replied. "My name is Daniel? Who are you?"
"I am Avice and we are old friends. You were a spirit, you kept me company during my darkest hours."
"Spirit?"
"Come, sit. Let the fire warm you while I fetch food."
Daniel moved toward the hearth where a blaze was burning merrily, casting it's soft glow through the room. He took one of the two seats and concentrated all his thoughts on the dancing flames, trying without success to access some memory, any memory of who he was.
"Here," Avice placed a tray on his knee containing a bowl of vegetable stew and a chunk of fresh bread. "It's not exciting I know, but right now it's the best we can manage."
"We? Spirit?" Daniel dragged his gaze from the fire to her face. "Why can't I remember?"
"I don't know where your memory has gone," Avice told him. "All I know for sure is last night a woman told me in my dream where I would find you and I did. Eat," she urged.
Obligingly Daniel picked up his spoon and ate. "Who are the 'we'?" he asked between mouthfuls.
"The few members of my village who survived the plague?"
"Plague?"
"My world has been all but destroyed by a plague. There are hardly any survivors, little food and winter is coming. We have to find a way to make it through to next spring. The crops we are planting are fast growing, hopefully they will yield sufficient to see us through but there's no guarantee."
"You said your world. Is this not my world?"
"No Daniel, I have no idea where your world is."
"How did I get here?"
"Again I don't know. I'm just glad that you are."
"Really? Why?"
Avice grinned at him. "To have you here with me, real, alive, is a dream come true. I have missed you Daniel. You went away to help some friends in trouble and I was beginning to think you were never coming back. Yet here you are."
"But why am I here?" he persisted.
"I don't know and to be honest I don't much care. I will look after you to the best of my ability. If your memory comes back then that is fine, if it doesn't then that is fine too. We're in this together and together we'll muddle through."
Daniel glanced at his stew, as if tasting it for the first time. "This is good."
"Avice?"
"Mm?" Avice turned in the small bed she and Daniel were sharing. Her home was basic, one bedroom, one bed and with the approach of winter the addition of another persons body heat was most welcome.
"What did you mean by spirit?" he asked.
"That was what you used to be." In the dark Avice smiled to herself. "I like to think of you as a fallen angel. A spirit who broke the rules and received the worst kind of punishment, to be made mortal."
"I wish I could remember what I did wrong," he said with a sigh.
"You will, I'm sure of it." Avice touched his face lightly with her fingertips. "Right now though you need to sleep."
