The Child Goddess (34 page)

He smiled back at her, a pleasant smile in a gentle, wrinkled face. “I’d like to. Do you think your companions would welcome me?”

Oa glanced at Isabel, who stood close at her elbow. It was very strange, almost overwhelming, to think of this stranger going to the island, and not Oa herself, not Isabel. But she knew Isabel had a new assignment, and she herself . . . well, she had decisions to make.

“Oa thinks . . .” she began, and then stopped in confusion.

“Oa?” Isabel said gently. “I think you could use the pronoun now.”

Oa took a deep, trembling breath. It was true. She was a person now. She had a soul. It had been proclaimed by Mother Alexander, in the chapel. She knew what Isabel meant.

“Yes,” she said, nodding to Father Raymond. “I think the anchens will welcome you.” She glanced again at Isabel. “I will go, too, Isabel,” she said. “The anchens will need me.”

AUTHOR’S NOTE

There has been much controversy regarding the Biblical and historical figure of Mary Magdalene, with little agreement even on the meaning of her name. Her identity is clouded by a confusion of translations, traditions, rejected gospels, and myths. There are several excellent websites devoted to research and study regarding Mary of Magdala, and also a number of books that interested readers may wish to investigate. Please visit the author’s website at www.louisemarley.com for a list of resources devoted to this fascinating and mysterious woman, who is variously reported to be a prostitute, a priestess of an ancient cult, a mystical figure in eastern religions, or the very first apostle and an active, preaching disciple of Jesus Christ—a female disciple.