Page 38 of Sparktopia
Haryet joins me and I speak low now, my words only for the Maiden next to me. “Haryet, I’m so sorry. I’m just… so… sorry.”
I don’t know what my father told the Maidens as they stood up here next to him. That wasn’t in the manual. It just said‘words of encouragement.’ An apology isn’t encouragement, but it’s all I’ve got. So that’s all I say.
“It’s OK, Finn.” Haryet pauses to breathe and lift her chin up a little. “I told you. I’m going in, I’m gonna find out what’s happening, and I’m going to send back a signal.” She looks up at me now, meeting my gaze. “I will do everything right inside there. I will do everything he tells me. Clara will not be called. I promise. She won’t.”
A short burst of air comes out of my mouth and I nod. “I know. Because… if anyone can do it, Haryet, it will be you.”
And I find that I mean this. Really, really mean this. Also, I realize that her words have comfortedme. I believe her. “I believe you.”
This is the right thing to say because Haryet actually smiles. All the way up to her eyes.
Suddenly the bell tower bells are tolling, because they are ringing up midnight. A short song of only four notes. They sound completely different than God’s Tower bells. Softer tones. More harmonious.
Haryet lets go of my hand and I have an almost uncontrollable urge to grab it back. To take her, and turn, and run down the line so bright. Which doesn’t even make sense because it’s water and I do not walk on water.
And anyway, she’s already stepping forward towards the big black doors. So it’s over. It’s just over and I stay right where I am, eyes fixed as the doors begin to open. Leaning forward, like everyone else in this city, desperate to see past the darkness.
But it’s no use. Even from here—mere steps away—there is nothing to see but black.
Sometimes the Maidens will look over their shoulder one final time before they step through, but not Haryet Chettle. She is afraid, but not scared. And I find, though it is the worst time to realize this, that I respect Haryet’s resolve and I wish I’dtaken the time to know her better. Because she is someone worth knowing.
It is in this same moment of realization that the clocktower bell reaches twelve gongs and Haryet Chettle steps across the threshold of the God’s Tower.
All Spark Maidens display when they walk through the doors and Haryet is no different.
She glows bright blue like she’s made of spark itself.
I stand there, unable to process it. What happens here on this stage isn’t natural. It’s not right. But I’ve seen it so many times and it’s such a part of my life that I can’t imagine a world where a god in a tower at the top of your city doesn’t steal women.
Then she’s gone.
And the moment she disappears, the bells stop ringing.
If we, the people of Tau City, are a line so bright, then what comes after the bells stop ringing is a silence so loud.
“Finn?” Clara has been saying my namesince we left, but I have not answered her. “Finn, talk to me. Please.”
She’s gripping my hand so tight I want to shake it off, but I find that I cannot let go. So instead, I just say nothing as the elevator doors open. We step in. Turn. Face the doors. And without comment, the liftman takes us up to the dome.
When the doors open we exit into the hallway, walk the short distance to the doors of the actual palace, and then I open them and wave her in.
This is the first time I’ve looked her in the eyes. I expect her to start back in, asking questions and trying to get answers outof me. But she must see something unfamiliar in my eyes when she looks back, because she doesn’t even try. Just walks forward with a swish of her elaborate silk and linen gown.
And it’s funny, I think. Well, not funny, actually. But… weird. Because I predicted this. The change in me. I knew I would be someone else after Haryet.
How could I not?
I step in after Clara, close the doors, and as she turns to look at me, I have an almost uncontrollable urge to be inside her.
She doesn’t say anything. Just stares at me with bloodshot eyes, and downturned mouth, and… disappointment, I think.
I don’t like to see her sad, of course. But the part about this look that stings is the disappointment. It feels like an accusation of failure.
I have so many things to say about this look she’s giving me. I want to explain that it’s out of my control, that I have no real power here, and anyway, isn’t this what Haryet signed up for? Isn’t this what theyallsigned up for? In exchange for pretty dresses, and luxurious quarters, and being invited to the best parties to rub shoulders with Tau City’s most influential people, they promised to walk through those tower doors if the god called them in.
Not only that, they promised to do it as poised, proper, polite ladies.
I have to hand it to Haryet. In the end, she did her part. She tipped her chin up, squared her shoulders, and marched through those doors determined to… to save people. To saveClara.
