Spotted Lily (29 page)

Read Spotted Lily Online

Authors: Anna Tambour

Tags: #Fiction, #fantasy, #General

—48—

There are many versions of the rise of me. You might, for instance, have read the version popular in some parts, in which the first premonition came to the villagers of Cherry Hinton, from this notice posted by their Council.

An increase in the sighting of rats by Cherry Hinton residents has been reported by Coun Dryden. Rats have now been seen around Godwin Way, where a resident says he recently saw at least three ... More than 50 members and friends attended the February 12 meeting of the Holywell-cum-Needingworth Gardening Club ... Tomorrow is the jumble sale at the Village Hall. Be there or be square.

The 'be square' part of it is the key, some experts say.

Then there are those who say that all was predicted in the world's ancient writings. And thinking back to my time in the Higher Light, this could well be true. For now I know: everything in my life before my Elevation was only preparation.

Oh, there are many fables of my rise, and as always, many falsenesses (such as being born in Haifa, Seoul, Mecca, Lourdes, and Irthlingborough, Norththamptonshire, and Last Chance, Colorado). There is now, however, only One Truth, and only One by Any Name. There is Only One Omniscient. And She is Me.

The hand that smooshed a dozen flies at once with my little finger, is now Incomparable.

'Her boots are wherefore de biggest'—one of your ditties—makes me laugh. When I smite, as I often must, I often smoosh too many, or miss the ones I meant. Sometimes I move mountains, and still miss. Sorry, but.

But you know the Truth, as was written for you—
Oyah!

Of its writer, he would have died years ago—your years.

As for you—as the
Oyah!
says, love.

I feel your love, of course.

But I
am
bored.

About the author

Anna Tambour
is the founder of The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Bulwer-Lytton. But it is Tambour's role as originator of the rhabarbarum form of metered verse that has perhaps most overshadowed her food, fashion and science chronicles, particularly those involving soft fruits.

Tambour's stories appear in a number of magazines and anthologies; and sometimes, in a fit of impatience, on her sites. Some recent publications with Tambourian tales:
Sprawl
,
Lovecraft Unbound
,
Sky Whales
and
Other Wonders
,
Paper Cities
,
Andromeda Spaceways
,
The Del Rey Book of Science Fiction and Fantasy
,
Interfictions
, and
Subterranean
.

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