Rise of the Evening Star

He looked to be in his twenties, at least ten years116 117 younger than Dale. Even with pale skin, white hair, andempty eyes, Warren was unexpectedly handsome. Not quite as tall as his brother, Warren had broader shoulders and a firmer jaw. His features were more finely sculpted. Looking at Dale, she would not picture his brother handsome.

Looking at Warren, she would not picture his brother plain.

And yet seen together, a family resemblance persisted.

Hi, Warren, Seth said.

Pat him on the shoulder, Dale suggested. He’s more aware of touch.

Seth patted Warren. The action elicited no response.

Kendra wondered if this was how people acted after a lobotomy.

I like to think that in some corner of his mind, he might be aware of us, Dale said. Although he doesn’t show much recognition, I suspect he absorbs more than it seems.

Left to himself, he curls up into a fetal position. Does it faster if things get too noisy.

I’ve tried some doses of different emotions, Tanu said.

I was hoping something might pierce the fog. But that style of therapy looks like a dead end.

Kendra gently patted his shoulder. Hi, Warren. Warren turned his head and looked at her hand, a slow smile creeping onto his face.

Would you look at that! Dale gasped.

Kendra left her hand on Warren’s shoulder, and he kept staring at it. He was not smiling with his eyes, they still appeared far away, but the grin on his face was as wide as it could be. He lifted a hand and placed it over Kendra’s.118 In all this time, this is the biggest reaction I’ve seen,Dale marveled. Put your other hand on his shoulder.

Standing in front of Warren, Kendra rested her other hand on his other shoulder. The action caused Warren to take his eyes off her hand. Instead, he looked up into her face. The grin appeared artificial, but for an instant, Kendra thought she saw a flicker of life in his gaze, as if he almost focused on her.

Dale stood with his hands on his hips. Wonders never cease.

She was fairystruck, Tanu said. It must have left a lingering effect that Warren can sense. Kendra, come stand by me.

Kendra walked over to Tanu. Warren did not follow her with his eyes. He stared directly ahead, unmoving, as if the flicker Kendra noticed had been only her imagination. Once again, Warren looked utterly mindless-except tears were welling up in his eyes. It looked peculiar, those vacant eyes brimming with tears above a slack expression. The tears overflowed and streamed down both white cheeks.

Dale had a fist in his mouth. Warren’s tears stopped flowing, though his cheeks remained damp. Warren made no move to wipe the tears away, showed no evidence he knew he had cried. When Dale pulled his fist from his mouth, there were teeth marks on his knuckles. What does this mean? Dale asked Tanu.

Kendra transmitted something to him by touch, Tanu said. This is very encouraging. Somewhere deep inside, I

believe his mind is intact. Kendra, take his hand.118 119 Kendra approached Warren and took his left hand in herright. Again, he came half to life-glancing down at her hand, the dazed smile returning.

See if you can pull him to his feet, Tanu said.

Kendra did not have to pull hard before Warren arose.

I’ll be jiggered, Dale said. He never moves so willingly.

Lead him around the room, Tanu said.

Keeping hold of Warren’s hand, Kendra led him around the room. He followed wherever she went, taking shuffling steps.

She didn’t have to move his legs to get him walking,

Dale murmured to Tanu.

I noticed, Tanu replied. Kendra, lead him over to that chair and have him sit. Keep hold of his hand.

Kendra did as instructed, and Warren complied woodenly.

Tanu came and stood beside Kendra. Would you mind giving Warren a kiss?

The thought of it made her feel shy, mostly because

Warren was nice-looking. On the lips?

Just a peck, Tanu said. Unless it makes you too uncomfortable.

You think it might help him? she asked.

Fairy kisses have potent restorative powers, Tanu said.

I realize you’re not a fairy, but they did work a change in you. I want to see how he responds.

Kendra leaned in toward Warren. Her face felt warm.

She hoped desperately that she wasn’t blushing. She tried to120 think of Warren as a catatonic patient who needed a strangecure, tried to make the kiss something detached and clinical.

But he was cute. It put her in mind of the crush she’d had on a teacher, Mr. Powell, a couple of years ago.

How would she have felt about kissing Mr. Powell, had circumstances ever called for it? About how she felt right now. Secretly excited in a very embarrassing way.

They all crowded around as Kendra gave Warren a quick peck on the lips. He blinked three times. His mouth twitched. He tightened his grip on her hand for a moment.

He squeezed my hand, Kendra reported.

Tanu had Kendra stroke Warren’s face and lead him around some more. Whenever she stopped touching him, all signs of life would vanish, but he never wept again.

Whenever they were in contact, he wore the smile, and occasionally he made simple fidgety motions, like rubbing his shoulder, although all his actions seemed to lack deliberateness.

After having experimented with how Warren reacted to

Kendra for more than an hour, they stood outside, watching the albino perform jerky jumping jacks. Dale got him going by patiently moving his arms and legs until Warren began repeating the action on his own. Warren was wearing the sombrero. Dale had explained that Warren sunburned easily.

This is not what I expected, Tanu said. I’m hoping this response to Kendra will help us as we seek a cure. It is the first real breakthrough we’ve had so far.

What did those fairies do to me? Kendra asked.121 Nobody has been fairystruck in a long time, Kendra,Tanu said. We know of it-we don’t know much about it.

What about when the fairies attacked Seth? she asked.

Was he fairystruck then?

That’s different, Tanu said. Fairies use their magic all the time, sometimes for mischief, sometimes to beautify a garden. Being fairystruck is when fairies mark you as one of their own and share their power with you. We can’t even be sure that is what happened to you, but the evidence looks very suspicious. The Sphinx should be able to tell you more.

I hope someone can, Kendra said.

You really think this is a breakthrough? Dale asked.

Figuring out what Warren’s condition is, and what variables affect that condition, will be the key to curing it,

Tanu said. What happened here today is a big step in the right direction.

He’ll just keep doing jumping jacks forever? Seth asked.

Eventually he’d collapse, I guess, Dale said.

Otherwise, he’ll go until I stop him.

You just leave him out here alone? Kendra asked.

Many nights I stay with him, Dale said. Some nights