Kith and Kin (2)
Nondula Ch 10 (2)
Everywhere, scholars could be seen with adventure books in their hands. They read at desks, under trees, as they walked, and as they ate. They no longer talked of auric mingling, but of heroes and heroines, deeds and daring, beginnings and endings. There was a change in energy that kept the scholars grounded for long periods of time. It was strange to see Per perched in a window seat, holding an adventure book and – Gritty swore this was true – biting his thumb nail.
Alas gave them time to read, then he called for a meeting. The elders gathered on the hillside in an old talking circle, roughly built before the time of the Arcann. The walls were half buried and greened over. Goats and sheep grazed quietly around them.
First to speak was Benet: ‘We have read the books, and discovered the way of action. It has been our way to do right, and to accept that others choose wrong. To fight it is to move out of jensis, and... what was I going to say?’
‘The Kith,’ said Deven. ‘How can our children grow in jensis without the Kith? It must be saved.’
‘The Kith, our land and library,’ said Benet. ‘What are we without any of these?’
Blesum was the only scholar who had rejected the adventure books. ‘We would still have wisdom,’ she said. ‘Everything is as it is.’
‘Oh please,’ said Alas. ‘Can we stick with Oy. What are we going to do about Oy?’
‘Alas is right,’ said Per. ‘We must think of Oy first. He has gone to Fellund for our sake. We will act for his sake.’
There was a long wait. The scholars didn’t seem to mind if they waited forever.
‘Well,’ said Alas. ‘What’s it to be, this act?’
‘The act,’ said Per vaguely.
‘Our turn, Gert.’ Alas nodded at Gertie.
Gertie stood up. ‘If you ain’t brought up to action it can take a while to get the hang of it. We’ve been reading and doing adventures longer’n you and we got an idea. We need to get into Fellund to find out exactly what they want with the healers and to give Oy all the help we can. I see you looking alarmed. We ain’t asking you to fight your way in. You ain’t got the strength, the numbers or the... well, the fight. Better to send in a single spy.’
‘Scriberd does what he can,’ said Emberd.
‘And I’m sure we’re all grateful,’ said Gertie, ‘but we need someone who’s willing to take risks to get Oy out of there.’
‘I been over to Fellund already,’ said Alas. The scholars looked closely at Alas, as though he were an unknown species. ‘I went among the Chee and listened. These are the ways into Fort Offel: on a meat barge, as a serf or as hunt quarry. Fort serfs all come from the same families so that’s out. I’m willing to try the meat barges.’
‘It would mean hiding under piles of rotten meat in salts that would sear the skin off you,’ said Emberd.
‘Hunt quarry then. I’ve witnessed some of what goes on. What else is known?’
‘It’s Bominata’s favourite sport,’ said Emberd. ‘The Runner Out pits their fastest quarry against the Pack Maker’s horses and dogs. Husbeaus put up prizes as a way to impress her, and high wagers are placed.’
‘What happens to the children if they are caught?’ said Alas.
‘At best injury. At worst...’ Emberd trailed off.
‘And you let this happen.’ Alas looked at the scholars around him. They were silent but their eyes were pained.
‘Some things are beyond us,’ said Per.
‘It isn’t hopeless,’ said Emberd. ‘If the children beat the dogs three times they are freed.’
‘Where do the quarry come from?’ said Alas.
‘They are chosen in the camps. The Felluns hold trials with food prizes. Many children take the risk to feed their families.’
‘I would try for it,’ said Alas, ‘but I heard that the next quarry trials are a long way off.’
‘And you might end up shredded,’ said Gritty.
‘I reckon I can outrun some mangy dogs,’ said Alas.
‘It’s not a good idea,’ said Gertie.
‘Well, the only other way in is as a Chee tumbler,’ said Alas
‘A tumbler, why didn’t you say before?’ said Gritty.
‘It would be our best bet,’ said Alas, ‘but it’s girls only.’
‘I’m a girl,’ said Gritty.
‘No!’ Gertie marched over to her side. ‘I’m older ’n you, and I say no. Ma would say no and I say no.’
‘Ma gave up her right to say no when she put me on a raft.’
‘Ma did but I didn’t.’
‘Well maybe it’s time I started thinking for myself!’
‘I’m only looking out for you.’
‘I know you are.’
‘There’s Nondul dancers here,’ Gertie argued. ‘Let them go.’
‘They’re too tall, and them violet eyes is a dead giveaway. They’d never pass for Chee.’ Gritty turned to the scholars. ‘You’re clever, but you ain’t got the sort of wits for this. It needs gumption. Anyway tumbling is nothing like Nondul dance. It’s a running and flipping and flying sort of dance. Like this.’ Gritty ran over to a stretch of grass and tumbled, her legs flashing over her head, her body arcing and flicking upright. She finished with a flying leap into the air and stumbled into a sheep. Her fingers sank into it’s fleece. It was inert, untroubled. She nestled her cheek against it, then turned to face the scholars. ‘And it’s clear as day that I should be the one to go.’
‘You are a little fair to pass for Chee,’ said Emberd.
‘That’s it then,’ said Gertie. ‘We’ll find another way.’
Bonifes raised a finger ‘We can use disguise – I have read about it.’
‘An adventure staple,’ said Deven.
The scholars began to discuss the classic elements of adventure. At any other time Gertie would have pitched in with relish, but now she stood silently with clenched fists and cursed the adventure books. Her shoulders were unyielding as Alas led her away.