The Wounded World, a story of Mantra, Chapter 5

By Aladdin 

Edited by Christopher Leeson

The Wounded World

Originally written 2006

Revised and posted Jan. 21, 2019 

Chapter 5

THE ANGEL AND THE APE

When the stars threw down their spears
And watered heaven with their tears
Did he smile, his work to see;
Did he who made the lamb make thee? 

William Blake

After Penelope Lammars had gone off to nap, Evie and I watched The Miracle on 34^th Street for the next couple hours. I was restless, but would have nothing productive to do until I could link up with Barbara Freeman. Once Evie was properly cared for, I could start searching for the means to get back my personal reality. But maybe it would be easier to say than to do; I felt responsible for the Evie and Gus of this world. On top of that, I couldn't get Penny's perplexing condition out of my mind. What had driven her to drink?
 
By the time the movie had ended, it was time to rouse up my friend and take her and my daughter over to the Budget Inn. The traffic in that part of San Francisco was pretty bad, but we manged to get to the motel shortly before Barbara Freeman arrived. After very brief introductions and a few pleasant words, the still-tipsy Penny excused herself and retired to the car. Evie and I then assisted “Mom” to move into a room of her own. Whatever she thought of Pinnacle's sobriety, she didn't bring it up directly, but instead expressed relief that I'd already found a psychiatrist. 

Frankly, I think she would liked me to find one years sooner. The cover story I served her regarding Penny Lammars was that the two of us had been friends in college. I creatively claimed that she had worked with a clinic in the East for several years, and arrived a year before to set up a San Francisco private practice. As soon as I could, I excused myself and left Evie in the care of her grandmother, on the excuse that I was meeting with the doctor for dinner to begin discussions of my problem.

Once I rejoined Penelope, I took her back to her own place.

It was after seven by the time we got there. My overriding thought was to speak to Lauren. I used directory assistance to get her father's number. The phone rang only a couple times before someone picked up.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Mr. Sherwood? This is Eden Blake. May I speak to Lauren?"

"Oh, of course, Mrs. Blake. Lauren told me that you'd moved away from Canoga Park just yesterday. I guess nobody could blame you, after all that's happened. Hopefully we aren't going to lose you permanently."

"I hope not either. But I left town in too much of a rush to get everything done. I think Lauren could help me out, if she has the time."

"Maybe she can. Just a minute!"

I waited tensely. After a minute of quiet, Lauren's voice came on.

"M-- Eden?"

Embarrassing moment. Her stumble reminded me that the Lauren of this world now knew that I was -- or used to be -- Mantra. That meant that the relationship we'd had back home would be radically altered in this dimension.

“Where are you?” the girl asked.

"San Francisco. Lauren, we can't talk over a public line. But I've gotten into a kind of situation and you're one of the few people who can help out."

"Sure."

“Just a minute, Lauren.” I looked back at Pinnacle.

"Penny, I need to ask Lauren to call me back on a secure line. Can you recommend one?"

The melancholy blonde nodded. "My line is secure. I threw out all stops to make it NSA-proof.” She jotted down a number on a pad and handed the page to me. "Here, give her this."

I took the sheet.

"Lauren, I can't say too much just now. When can you get to a phone – a public phone, maybe -- without your dad becoming suspicious?"

"At about one tonight," she whispered.

"Will be you safe on the street at that hour?" I asked.

"Are you kidding?"