Interlude 5, Part 1
Tober, like others before her, arrived somewhere she'd never been before. What was the strange stuff on the ground? It rang a bell somewhere in her head, a memory of some kind.
Grass?
Grass. That's why the floor was green, it was covered in grass!
"Congratulations, kiddo."
"What?" Tober span round.
"Hehehe. I love being able to mind-read."
"Lexa, behave."
"That's no fun if I have to behave, is it? You've already spoilt this for me by deciding on the environment and coming along to enforce the stupid flowers and whats-it-calleds and..."
"Gazebos, Lexa. That's what they're called. And I think Tober may appreciate the fact I'm here if she ever gets the joy of seeing what kinds of environments you like to create for meetings."
"I hate gazebos."
Tober had stayed silent throughout this. The more surreal the situation got, the harder she found it to intervene. The bickering was worse than at home, she thought.
"And that's quite an achievement with four kids," Hazel said. "Lexa, be a darling and explain to Tober what's going on."
"Lexa? Mum? Is it really you?"
"More's the pity, yes, it's me."
"Where is this place? How did I get here? Who's she?" Tober pointed to Hazel, who could be seen in the corner of the garden staring intently at a small screen. "And you can mind read?"
"One question at a time would be enough, surely?"
"You try having one question at a time in my situation."
"I was in your situation not all that long ago. To start with the easy one, you got here by dying. It's the afterlife, so that's why I'm here and your Grandma Hazel's here," Lexa pointed to Hazel, now looking at the screen in shock, "and lots of your other relatives too. And Kris, who we're not quite sure how he got here."
"Kris! When can I see him?!"
"Soon. There's a bit more to explain first. Oh, and to answer your last question, we'll teach you to mind read. It's well easy when you get the hang of it, I don't know why I didn't figure it out ages ago."
"So the afterlife is some kind of island?"
"Lexa." Hazel had put the screen away and with a look of concern on her face was approaching the two of them. "You're going to have to get a move on. There's been an issue up at base."
"Base?"
"Eurgh. If I thought being Empress of Evil was bad for being called into work at ridiculous hours, this is worse. And you'd think the afterlife was relaxing. Oh no. No rest for the wicked."
"And that phrasing is apt for you, so get a move on."
"Yes sir."
"So you're my grandma?"
"Great-grandma technically, but we lose the greats round here. There's seven generations of us up here now you're around, too time-consuming." Hazel paused. "Talking of time. In a second I'm going to set you a teleport. Here's your security pass. I'm afraid we've had to move the grand meeting forwards a few days, so there won't be much of time to show you around because we'll all be busy. You'll find your grandad Sam and grandma Abbie in the control centre, just buzz for them on this pager when you get to base. I suggest asking any serious questions to Abbie, though."
"Teleport? Control centre? Pager?"
"Sorry, no time to explain now. See you at the grand meeting."
