Jayce let out the deep breath he’d sucked in without realizing it.
“Actually, I can appear to be any age I like. Of course, the truth is I’m older than dirt…literally. One of my muses said that to me—and I let her live. I must be mellowing.”
Jayce turned to Kristine. “You don’t seem very alarmed. You’re not even nervous.”
Kristine shrugged. “If this was your big secret, I’m not really worried. Mother Nature has been very kind to me.” Kristine rose and walked over to the deity. “I never had the chance to thank you. I appreciate how you helped us when Jayce was in trouble.” She reached out her hand, and Gaia just looked at it.
The goddess rolled her eyes and then took Kristine’s hand and shook it. “You should know, dragon, that when you do something to impact nature, there’s always an effect.”
Kristine straightened her posture. “Oh? What did I affect?”
One side of Mother Nature’s lip rose. “Well, now you owe me a favor.”
Jayce worried.What kind of favor will she be expected to do for a goddess?Whatever it was, it was his fault. Hopefully, he’d be able to help her with it.
“As a matter of fact, phoenix, you can help by encouraging her to take the job I’m about to offer her.”
“Job?” Kristine asked.
“Yes, yes. As you know, I’ve recruited a few modern muses to take care of technology that didn’t exist when the original nine, now useless, muses were created millennia ago.”
“Amber told me something about that.”
“And you were able to keep all of that a secret. I believe I can trust you, dragon. I’m prepared to make you a modern muse.”
Kristine took a step back. “Me? What can I possibly help you with?”
Jayce rose and put his arm around Kristine’s shoulder. “Whatever it is, she gets a choice in the matter. Right, Goddess?”
Mother Nature crossed her arms and frowned. “Shedoes. You don’t.”
Okay then…
Gaia clasped her hands behind her back and began pacing. “Getting back to my current problem. I have noticed that everyone seems to be walking around blathering on these little rectangular devices. What the hell are those things?”
“Smartphones?” Kristine asked.
The Goddess looked impatient. “This isn’t a quiz. Just tell me.”
Kristine cleared her throat. “It sounds as if you’re describing a mobile phone…or a radio. Firefighters use radios to stay in touch with each other during a fire. Cops use them in a similar way. But if you’re talking about something more common, it seems as if everyone has a cell phone.”
“Yes. I’ve noticed you using both devices expertly. That’s why I would like you to become my muse of wireless communication.”
“Really?”
“No. Not really.” After a brief pause, Mother Nature snorted. “Of course, really. Do you think I recruit muses for sport?”
“No. Not at all. I’m just—overwhelmed. It sounds like an awesome responsibility, and I’m flattered, but what would I have to do?”
“Damned if I know. It seems that everyone is delighted with the thing until it doesn’t work. Especially during emergencies. Then they throw them across the room.”
Kristine blanched.
“Maybe you could keep them working just a little bit longer until the emergency is over or inspire inventors to make better ones… And not only that,” Gaia continued, “I notice they can be quite a problem when concentration is required. They can distract a driver and cause an accident. You could whisper, ‘Hey dumbass. Put down the phone and pay attention!’ Or—you know what I’d really like?” Her lips thinned, as if her frustration were growing simply by discussing the subject. “If people would set them down once in a while and have a conversation with the person right in front of them. You can just whisper in their ear, ‘Turn off the damn phone and pay attention to your date, idiot.’”
Kristine quickly covered her mouth and looked like she might be hiding a smile.
“Can she think about it, Goddess?” Jayce interjected. Even if the deity got mad at him for interfering, he was going to look out for his bride-to-be. Like it or not.
