Chapter 56: Strange Carnivores

Every time I died, it was a different experience. I floated with Bubba and Sherry in my arms until I got to a clearing. It looked a little like a clearing in the swamp, only this was more welcoming.

The oldest man I've ever seen was sitting on the other side of a tiny creek that ran through the clearing. He, or maybe it was a she, was smiling and watching me. He wore woven clothes of the brightest colours. Her hair poured down her back in a silver fall.

"Excuse me," I said, "are you a man or a woman?"

"Yes," she said and he grinned toothlessly at me.

I decided that I was going to stop trying to figure what was going on. At least I still had Bubba and Sherry here.

"Where are we?"

"We are here," the elder said, "in the place between."

"Between what?"

"Life and death, desire and need, will and submission."

"Now what?"

"You choose."

"Choose what?"

"Life or death."

I looked at Bubba who had aged to be almost as old as this elder, and Sherry who slept peacefully.