46 Sleep Heaps (1/2)

Fortunately for Nelda, the transformations seemed to rapidly lead to exhaustion.She barely got the transformed humans inside before they fell in sleeping heaps all around the large parlor.

The room was also strewn with copies of a picture. At first glance, the top was reminiscent of the NASA golden record image.Two figures in outline.On the left. [I think that's me?] And on the right. [That's definitely Angry Brenda.]

The rest was a tangle of figures ending with a globe engulfed in fire.

[Maybe that is going to happen, no matter what we do.]

SmithGuild stood in the doorway.He was wearing powder blue scrubs that were tight on his body.It was, as human bodies went, a good one.Tall with a swimmer's build and waving sandy-red hair.

[Probably no consolation if your true shape is an eagle party on the front and some lion business at the back, not weird furless primate all over.]

”You should get some rest, too,” Nelda said gently.”Don't worry, I'll stay here and make sure our… your guests don't get up to any trouble.”

”I…”SmithGuild stopped, surveying the crumpled forms sleeping around the room on the couches and on the floor.He did not manage to locate the rest of his sentence.

A single lapis was perched on the windowsill, her head feathers pressed back in disapproval.

SmithGuild's wander gaze eventually found its way back to Nelda.

”I… come with me to rest,” he said.He blushed. ”It's not that I want to… even though…”

Nelda smiled.”You want someone with you, to help you get some sleep.I understand that and won't make any improper assumption or action.”

”I would never suggest…!”

Nelda raised one hand.”Please assume that I will never take insult from what you say.Because you are kind and honest, and I try not to be a fool.Only ever tell me what you think and what you feel, sincerely, and I will do the same.”

SmithGuild started to cry.He didn't even cry ugly,

[As a human he's barely newborn.God knows what's going on inside that human body he is stuck in.] Nelda scooped up a copy of what must be the prophecy that seemed to be drawn on some kind of tanned leather and brought it along.

#

SmithGuild's room was strangely… spherical.The bottom anyway, was like a soup bowl large enough to count as an apartment in downtown New York or a carpark anywhere else. The base was padded with a variety of pillows, blankets, and furs. There were two lanterns high up on the metal-clad walls but they produced only dim and flickering illumination.

”It's a… nest,” Nelda said.