The Fortunes of Temperance - Laura Resnick, ebook
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======================The Fortunes of Temperanceby Laura Resnick======================Copyright (c)1998 by Laura ResnickFirst published in Lamps on the Brow, July 1998Fictionwisewww.Fictionwise.comScience Fiction---------------------------------NOTICE: This work is copyrighted. It is licensed only for use by the original purchaser. Duplication or distribution of this work by email, floppy disk, network, paper print out, or any other method is a violation of international copyright law and subjects the violator to severe fines and/or imprisonment.---------------------------------It was a lovely morning in Tarotville as I strolled down Celestial Avenue the other day, heading towards the center of town. After buying a couple of cosmic reminders and a minor magic potion in Destiny Square, which was seething with shoppers, I spotted my old friend Strength in the distance and waved her down."How lovely to see you, Temperance!" Strength exclaimed when we embraced. "But how ever did you pick me out of this crowd?"I warily eyed the animal which has been her constant companion for as long as I've known her. "How many other people go around town with their hands clamped over a bad-tempered lion's mouth?""Oh, yes, of course," she said absently, releasing me to regain control of the beast's jaws before he could maul a passing shaman.Strength was looking as ... well, as _strong_ as ever. She told me she's still seeing the Hierophant -- which means they've been together for nearly a year now! They're not talking marriage yet, but they're making plans to rent a citadel together, so it's a pretty serious relationship. Things are generally going well for her, though she got very animated at one point and nearly lost her grip on her frisky lion's mouth while complaining about the Devil, who's _still_ involved in that property dispute with her over the Tower.Just before we parted, she warned me to keep a low profile, since Death had recently been seen riding into town."Rumor has it that he's come for the ex-King of Pentacles, who just hasn't been himself since losing the last election. However," Strength pointed out, "it's never wise to be complacent about Death, so we should all watch our step today."Keeping this good advice in mind, I hurried towards my destination: a modest purple-trimmed cottage in Zodiac Street, which is right next to the renovated castle where the Magicians Guild meets on the second night of every full moon. Madame Rabinowitz, my Tarot Reader, rents the cottage from the Hermit at a very good price, though after nearly twelve years in this location, she has yet to meet her landlord in the flesh.The small waiting room was crowded, as usual. Some Tarot Readers have been losing business to the latest craze, psych-o-therapy, which has caught on even faster than most fads. _Some_ Readers, I say; but not Madame Rabinowitz, whose calendar is usually filled weeks in advance.Sure, I know that some Readers just go through the motions, tell seekers what they want to hear, and collect their fee. It's true that some people without sufficient training or proper credentials call themselves Readers and try to make up for their deficiencies by charging lower fees. Me, I figure you get what you pay for, and I have no sympathy with someone who realizes too late, as did the Fool, that they made a tragic mistake in making major decisions based on such bogus Readings.Madame Rabinowitz, on the other hand, graduated with honors from the Academy of Divination with specialties in Tarot and Palmistry. Upon completing her studies, she interned with the now-famous Intuitive Arts Institute. Five years after setting up her own practice, she became the first woman ever to be elected President of the International Society of Divinative Practitioners.However, credentials alone don't make a Reader as successful as Madame Rabinowitz. It's a client-oriented business, after all. In addition to her academic achievements, Madame Rabinowitz possesses a sympathetic aura and ease of manner which almost always ensure that a client returns to her, rather than abandoning her for some newcomer offering brash guarantees or lower rates.I first went to see Madame Rabinowitz when trying to decide whether or not to end my relationship with the Page of Cups. He was sweet, faithful, and usually brought good news, but he simply refused to grow up. I just didn't know what to do. Several Readings with Madame Rabinowitz, however, revealed how my own fears of loneliness kept me clinging to a dead-end relationship and castigating my partner for an immaturity which, to be fair, was an essential component of his nature. So I dumped my lover and have been consulting with Madame Rabinowitz ever since.Oh, sure, loyal as I am, even _I_ have occasionally been seduced away -- only temporarily! -- by intriguing new fads. In fact, I've even tried psych-o-therapy. I know what you're thinking: whacky, fringe-element, superstitious nonsense aimed strictly at the gullible. Now, while I must admit that I decided after only a few sessions that psych-o-therapy really wasn't for me, I have to point out that such narrow-minded opinions are unfair -- especially when voiced by those who've never tried it (which is invariably the case). After all, many sophisticated people believe there is some merit in psych-o-therapy, and there's no denying that some people seem to find genuine comfort in it. So who's to say that there's absolutely _nothing_ of value there?For my part, I found that the psych-o-therapist (that's what they call them) was _much_ more interested in discussing my past than my future, and he seemed utterly fixated on my childhood and my relationship with my parents. I was briefly reassured by his interest in my dreams, but then I was shocked to discover he couldn't interpret them to predict the future. Indeed, it was his bizarre comments about my dreams and what he believed they revealed about my relationship with my father, of all things, that convinced me I should stop attending those sessions!I recognized several of the people in Madame Rabinowitz's waiting room today, including the Queen of Cups, who was looking as prosperous as ever (read: _fat_). I said hello and asked how her dragon is doing; she's an active member of BRIAR (Beast Rescue, Intervention, And Rehabilitation), saving abandoned, abused, or thoroughly misunderstood animals and eventually finding adoptive homes for them. I could tell by her puzzled expression that she had no idea who I was (well, these political wives do meet a _lot_ of people), so I reminded her that we'd sat next to each other last year at one of the Hanged Man's notoriously unique dinner parties -- which was when she'd told me about the dragon she'd recently saved from execution over trumped-up arson charges.It turns out the dragon is fine, but she has yet to find anyone to adopt him, since everyone still clearly remembers the publicity surrounding him last year. I suggested that changing his name, which is Blaze, might be advisable. Meanwhile, she asked me to sign a petition prohibiting the capture, transport, sale, and slaughter of sea monsters. I finished doing so just as she was called in for her Reading with Madame Rabinowitz.The Knight of Swords had been just ahead of the Queen of Cups, so he exited the Reading room as she entered. I was surprised, pleased, and chagrined all at once (the chagrin was because I was wearing an old gown and hadn't done anything with my hair). I had met the Knight briefly on All Souls Night and, in the course of our conversation, had suggested he come here for a Reading. Since he's more into entrail-interpretation and Rune stones, I had the impression he just wasn't taking me seriously. Evidently he'd been more moved by my arguments than I had realized, for here he was.He smiled and kissed my hand. "Temperance! I was hoping I'd see you here.""Really?" I blurted. "I mean ... Hello! I'm so glad you decided to give Madame Rabinowitz a chance."He shrugged in that devil-may-care way which had first attracted me and said, "Well, why not?"Okay, I admit it: I am dangerously drawn to the bad boy type. I mean ... the Knight of Swords! _Everyone_ knows his reputation; but I just can't seem to help myself. Hoping he'd ask for my telewave number before leaving, I stammered, "And how did it go? I mean, do you think you'll be coming back?"He stroked my hand lightly before finally releasing it. "Well, Tarot cards aren't sheep's entrails, that's for sure.""You were disappointed?""Let's just say the experience didn't blow me out of the moat.""Oh. I'm sorry. I hope you didn't find it a total waste of your lucre." Madame Rabinowitz isn't cheap, and knights, after all, don't make that much money.He smiled slowly. "Not entirely," he murmured -- and then asked for my number!Madame Rabinowitz was running late, as usual, so after the Knight of Swords left, I spent the next half hour silently examining the ramifications of getting involved with him. I knew that Strength would tell me to forget about the guy, that any relationship between us was bound to end in tears. However, I always believe that it's important to take a risk now and then, as long as it's a measured one and you don't go overboard or lose your head. After all, a life of caution and reserve is no better than a life of reckless abandon.Now you might think I would consult Madame Rabinowitz about affairs of the heart today, especially after my encounter with the Knight, but I had come here with serious matters to divine, and...
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