City in the tree branches
The branches move like silk through my hands. Like they’re massaging me. One of them turns to look at me and speaks: “Hello there.”
I smile even though it scares me some, to talk to this branch that is clearly now a snake.
“Hello,” I say. Then I feel impolite. “I’m William.”
“Yes, I know that,” the snake says.
I watch their bark skin turn into scales white and brown at first, then golden and white, then just white.
“You’re quite magnificent,” I say.
“Why, thank you,” the snake says.
“May I ask your name?”
“It’s Najwa,” the snake says.
“Oh. Well it’s very nice to meet you Najwa.”
“You don’t remember me then, William?”
I feel embarrassed that I don’t. “No, I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I don’t. I seem to be having a bit of amnesia.”
Najwa seems to smile at me. I’m not sure how one can see a snake smile, but I feel like I do.
“What do you remember?” they ask.
“Not much. Waking up in this house. What Pem calls the Station. Oh! And Pem, of course.”
“Yes, of course. Pem. How is Pem?”
I feel some start in my scalp and then a panic in my chest. I look around for Pem. “I’m, um, not sure. She was here just a moment ago …”
“Oh, don’t worry,” Najwa says. “I’m sure she’ll be along shortly.”
Don’t know how they know that. “Well, okay.”
“So you really don’t remember anything else?”
“No. Are there things you think I should remember?”
Najwa moves slow and rhythmic through my grasp, winding tall and long. “Oh, who’s to say? But I thought you might remember me. And where we’re from, at least.”
“Where we’re from?”
Najwa moves, something like a nod. But I guess snakes can’t nod.
“And where’s that?”
“Why the City in the Branches, of course.”
I look around the tree where we’re talking and see the branches slowly expanding, pulsating outward. I feel the pull toward the center. I point with my right hand. “Is that where?”
More moving from Najwa, like a nod.
“Intriguing,” I say.
“I can take you there,” Najwa says. “If you like.”
“Yes, I think I …”
“William!” It’s Pem. She sounds scared.
“Pem!”
“William! Help me!”
My limbs come alive. I let loose of Najwa and slide down the trunk of the tree. My foot stops me halfway. I look up.
Najwa looks down at me, half-coiled and swaying. “Yes?”
“Can you show me later?”
“Anytime you like, William. I’m always at your service.”
I feel weird in my chest but also better. “Thanks. Be seeing you!”
“Ciao.”
I let loose and slide down below, toward the growling, hissing, and spitting sounds of Pem in trouble.
