Chapter 1015

As they spoke, seedlings glowed brighter; new shoots burst overnight, reaching toward watchers. Light thickened around the circle. A watcher hovered above Jude. He met its silent gaze.

It dipped its mist-hand, sending droplets to descend like soft rain into his hand. When he lifted it, water retained watcher glow. They repeated for each wife. Laughter and tears mingled in the hush.

They stood in radiant circle. Finally, watchers receded but lingered overhead, forming a dome of light. The wives exhaled. A child giggled and clapped softly. The watchers pulsed in applause and floated away into forest, almost shyly.

They returned to the orchard in silence luminous with emotion. Under fig-glyph tree, they paused for breakfast. Hot porridge, fruit, honey. Children fed flatcakes to watchers drifting overhead, tiny forms skimming between palms of tall trees, accepting crumbs delicately.