Chapter Text
Kate shivered as she followed Mrs. Whatsit out of the house, to the large flat rock she and the other Murrys used for star-gazing on clear nights. Grass and a few fallen leaves crunched underfoot.
"Something I don't understand...Why did Alex end up on Camazotz in the first place? If it's so hard to tesser onto a dark planet, him ending up there accidentally seems odd. Particularly when he didn't even know it existed!"
Kate didn't try to hide her nervousness. She rather thought that nerves were preferable to overconfidence or lack of knowledge.
"Tessering means letting go of one's normal perceptions, in some ways. For those of us who think in three dimensions, it's
hard to grasp and think clearly through. As for the dark planets, it's not going there that's terribly difficult, dearie, it's the leaving." The woman paused, and made a strange face. "Oh sweet light, you didn't think I was asking you to go there, did--Yes, you did. I...see where Meg gets her courage from," she said softly. "No, Kate. Thank you, but he's not there--we brought him away, to Ixchel. My sisters are watching over him for now."
Kate fingered the toy in her pocket. "All right. Whatever I can do, I will."
There was a wild gust of wind, and everything went dark.
She stumbled and almost fell as they emerged in a gray, dimly lit landscape.
The other two Mrs. W's were kneeling a short distance away. An unmoving little figure lay beside them.
Kate's heart twisted as she looked at him. Dear God help me...he barely looks older than Charles Wallace.
She crouched by them. His hand was ice-cold when she checked for his pulse.
He opened his eyes--and began to scream. "No! Please, I'm sorry, I'm sorry--"
Kate jerked back, cursing herself silently. She'd seen people who'd been abused before, she should have knownbetter than to touch him without any warning.
"It's all right, Jeren," Mrs. Who soothed. " She's here to help."
He gulped hard, tears slipping down his face.
"My name is Kate, Jeren. I think you met some of my family not so long ago, do you remember?" She kept her tone casual.
He blinked. "The boys and the angry girl. Y-you sound like her. D-d-did IT put them away too?"
"No. They're at home. They're safe. So are you. I'm sorry I frightened you."
She peeled off her jacket, offering it to Mrs. Who. The woman nodded approvingly. Jeren let her drape the cloth over him. "It's warm. It smells...nice. Like burnt bread."
Kate chuckled wryly at that.
"Arrrre you hunnngry?" Mrs. Which asked.
"Um. A little. Could I have some water?"
He let Kate help him to sit up, while Mrs. Whatsit left and returned quickly with a bowl of food and a cup. The food was an odd purplish color, but it smelled delicious.
He ate a few bites, watching them nervously as he did. His hands were bruised from fingertips to wrists, and the front of his shirt still held a half-dried bloodstain.
"Are--do I have to go back soon?"
Kate nearly exploded as the meaning of his question sank in. She held onto a poker face with grim determination, and said, "You don't have to go back. Ever."