A map is an example of how the ancient laws of imitation and correspondence operate. A map is an imitation of a place. Spots on the map correspond to the actual places. If there is a Master known to be in a particular place, having a map of that place and putting one’s hand on it will link one closer to any Masters in that place and make the connection with them surer.

But what iffen I ain’t got a map? she thought with frustration, feeling as far from the answer now as she had been before she began to read. She was just about to close the book and put all her mind to her sewing, but there was still good light—so she carried on.

But what if one does not have a map? Pavel wrote, startling her with how that echoed her thoughts. Then one uses the scrying bowl to attain the view from above like that of the eagle, and moves that view steadily in the direction of the person that one wishes to scry. The landscape will roll beneath at a fearful pace, until the view is that of the place where the Master resides. Then one makes one’s own map. From there, one can even use a pendulum to pinpoint the Master’s location on the new map down to the actual house. From that, contact is but a trifle.

By this time her head was spinning. But a trifle—! First Pavel said to somehow make the mirror show you everything from the air, like a bird. Then you were supposed to know what direction to “go” in to find the place where the person you wanted to see lived. How did you do that? And then you were supposed to draw your own map—she didn’t even really know how to draw!—and then you could, maybe, use that map with a pendulum—what was a pendulum?—and—and—and—

Now she truly got some idea of the scope of her Great-Granpappy’s knowledge. All these things were second nature to him! And as easy as making a neat line of stitches was for her!

Now she shut the book, and devoted the remaining light to finishing her corset cover, trying not to feel absolute despair. Today had been a good one, after all. She’d managed to call to the Little People. And the Little People had introduced her to Granny Spider. And Granny Spider was willing to teach her. So, maybe she couldn’t learn all of Great-Granpappy Pavel’s ways, but she could at least learn some of the ways of the Cherokee along with what Aunt Jinny, and maybe even Jolene, could teach her.

So that wasn’t so bad.

She set the last stitch just as the light went all blue, and it became too dim to see anything. She carefully set the needle in her needle-book and went to put the hens up.

When she came back, Aunt Jinny was done with the basket of cuttings. “Y’all gonna set a spell an’ watch them fireflies?” her aunt asked her from the door.