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Then there was the problem of rehiding the phone. While she’d never seen a chiton, she had a funny feeling it wouldn’t be rife with pockets. So she’d have to stash the phone somewhere where Luke wouldn’t spot it, and without him noticing she was doing it.
The hurdles seemed impossible.
But impossible trumped death anytime.
When Luke returned, he was carrying a tray and a small gym bag. He put the tray down beside Sloane on the mattress. There was a bowl of tomato soup, a mixed green salad, and two grilled cheese sandwiches.
“I’m sorry it took me so long,” he said. “You must be starved. It’s five-fifteen and you haven’t eaten in twelve hours, since you wolfed down that power bar before your run. I truly apologize.”
The details he knew about her were getting eerier and eerier.
“No apology necessary. I assumed that whatever kept you was important.” Sloane gave him a worried look. “Is it Gaia?”
He sank down on the chair, steepled his fingers. “One minute she’s practically incoherent, and the next minute she’s begging me for a bath. She can’t hold down food, her lucid moments are fewer and fewer…” He interlaced his fingers and tightened the grip. “I’m not equipped—”
Abruptly, he broke off, realizing he was revealing far more than he wanted to. “Anyway, I hope that meal is suitable. I remember that you like cheese. Especially Cheddar. So I bought a block of imported white Cheddar. That’s what I made your sandwiches with.”
“That was very thoughtful of you. Thank you.” Sloane leaned forward, instinctively attempting to reach for the tray. This time she couldn’t stifle a whimper. There was no blood circulating in her wrists and ankles, and her palm was beginning to throb badly. “Delphi, please, can we unlock my shackles first? I’m losing feeling in my limbs, and my hand is in excruciating pain.”
One look at her white face confirmed she wasn’t lying.
“Of course.” Luke knelt down beside her and unzipped the gym bag. “It’s just as well that we’re dealing with the shackles. You can’t eat or change clothes with your hands chained together.”
The first thing he took out was a pistol, which he tucked loosely into his belt. “I don’t want to use this. But I’m an excellent shot. So, please, for both our sakes, don’t make me prove it.”
“As I told you before, I have no intentions of it.”
Nodding, he pulled out a key, unlocked and removed her arm and leg shackles. “There. Better?” he asked.
“Much.” She rubbed feeling back into her limbs, flexed her fingers, and did a few quick hand exercises Connie had taught her. “Thank you. I was starting to get frightened. After all I’ve been through with my hand, I’m very protective of it.”
“I understand. But there’s no need to be frightened or protective.” He smiled faintly, that faraway look that gave Sloane the creeps reappearing in his eyes. “Your injury will be healed when we get to Mount Olympus. There’s no pain there. Only joy.”
With that, he pulled a shapeless, white linen, tuniclike garment out of the gym bag. “Your chiton,” he announced. “Please put it on before you eat.”
“All right.” Sloane took the garment and rose, unzipping the hooded jacket of her jogging suit.
Instantly, Luke rose and turned his back, rigidly facing the opposite wall. “Let me know when you’re finished.”
“I will.” Interesting. Luke’s regard for the goddesses extended to honoring their modesty and virtue as well.
That could work very well in her favor.
If he couldn’t watch the goddesses change, then how could he ever bring himself to bathe his mother? He couldn’t. Which explained why Lillian had been begging for a bath.
The idea began to take shape. By the time Sloane was belting the chiton with the white rope Luke had provided, it was a full-fledged plan.
She set aside her running clothes, placing them at the very bottom of her mattress. “I’m dressed,” she announced.
Luke turned, smiling in approval. “Excellent. Now sit and eat.”
Sloane did as he asked, taking a sip of her soup. “This is delicious. Will you join me? I’ve always enjoyed our lunches together.”
He smiled. “As have I. But I’ve already eaten.”
“Then tell me about the ascension while I enjoy this lovely meal you’ve prepared for me.”
He sat down again, propped his elbows on his knees, and stared straight ahead. “Gaia is drifting closer to the end of this life and the beginning of eternity. When the time comes, all the goddesses will be summoned to the ritual room, where they will bathe and dress in ceremonial robes. They will be brought upstairs so they are gathered around Gaia’s bed as she ascends. There will be spiritual music and goblets of wine. All of us will drink and bless Gaia as she rises into immortality. Then, one by one, the goddesses will join her, in the order in which they arrived. By the gift of my knife, they will be carved with the requisite exalted symbols, leave this wretched planet, and move on to the wonders of Mount Olympus, where they will serve Gaia and be rewarded with joyous eternal life.”
