Here was the last place I wanted to be, but I could not be anywhere else. That was the trick that had been played on us.

Leave it to my mother to take the stranger’s place just in time. Swollen eyelids and mouth the wrong shape, but definitely hers, and her warming voice. Not the words but the music of her voice I’ve been hearing forever and ever.

“Water, please.”

The head was positioned. The mouth made a circle to suck.

“As much as you want, Maddy. Just say.”

Thirst was huge and without end. Water alone would not quench it. But for now I could ride the cool column down, past clouds colliding with their reflections, and lopsided trees where what was stunted on one side grew lavishly on the other, down to the stage where, dressed in black, they were adjusting their valves and barrels, getting ready.

“Mama . . . ?”

“What is it, Maddy?”

“Go over there.”

“I’m right here. Can you feel my hand?”

“No, over there, Mom! By that cloud. I’ll swim to you.”

“Feel her fur, Maddy? She’s looking at you. Does it hurt?”

No pain. That’s all they could give us. A talented one could draw blood painlessly, regardless of the number of times or the condition of the veins. Most of them were talented in every way. Powerless, as we were, but never heartbroken by it. We were on our own now. Gently lift the cat with both hands, so soft and light, knowing nothing, and set her on the rug.

Pressure on the shoulder, pressure on the ribs. Could have been the shoulder and ribs of anyone. Ragdoll kittens go like this. The limp thing she was fastened to came up into the air with her—let me go, Mom, I’m cold!—before being curled down again and covered. Once the wings came off they were done for, but if I carefully removed the spiderwebs the dragonflies flew away, shimmering and forgetting me instantly. I’d forgotten something. What had I forgotten? Thoughts were being thought and body parts were being moved, but where this was happening and to whom it was hard to say.

“Take that end, Eve. I’ll tuck in this side.” Wobblier voice than my mother’s, but strong underneath because of the backup she had.

“Better, Maddy?”

“Warm enough?”

Warm eyes. The closer you went, the further away they got. Bravo! He was proud of me. Always had been. Wherever he was, he made me strong. Bass clefs and quarter notes perched on the wires, and the light tried to force its way in. Easy to scare them off. Any movement and up they would lift to the sky, a giant flap of marks, black on one side, silver on the other when they turned.

“Close the curtains. Is it nighttime?”

“No, it’s morning now. The sun’s out.”

“He doesn’t know, Mom.”

“Water, Maddy? Just a sip?”