The Mere Tide P71
Several blocks on to Frankel’s CornerShot that observed the intersection with two bulging and meropic billiards balls slotted over the canopy. The pilot turned onto Sumac to the child’s distress who told her not to venture that undiscovered way and the pilot backglancing able to see the sliver of the distant embassy asked if it were her way that she walked a straight line and back.
Moored to less.
The pilot would have them exploring and the child kept to her coattails in that exaggerated stealth walk oft seen upon the jackets of whodunits. Suspicious rightly of scraggly rug pedlar and bums. Of the violinist sawing slowly on his piece while the madam of an antique shoppette swayed to his tune. They passed the National Operatic Museum and Theater. Passed a MaidBorgTM, strutting before its authorized distributor and advertising its plethora of features in five languages. Albin who keeps the fishbowls full nods resolutely to her reptilian majesty from the porch of Deep Trouts where he awaits as for the undead the descension of the rancorous covey of bedlamites who have closed Samtzeit. The soul is a font he mutters to overflow or run dry and by no spirit can it be filled that is not its own only may it be summoned forth. Godfearing bufeiter, his tills never empty. And past Gem’s Haberdashery open from 10-17 and the inlets of underground malls. And let me get you a cut cried a dreadlocked barber.
How do you like city life?
Nice nice.
And how are you?
Dachni slumped into the pilot with her arms wide for maximum hug as she cried.
Anaya lifted the child into her arms. Do you want to stay?
Nor furevered but a lattle levver. Mwarber no dancy turbight. Et gwets ye gwogwie.
The pilot chuckled. For the best. Woe is the wages of too much mirth. Aye the bills highing as tis and who knows how long ere the poison chalice is gived to me?
Poison?
The pilot tickled her side. A bight of seriousness weighed down the upturned curves of her smile. Mayst I tax thee a league further?
Dachni reached into a pocket for the lawyer’s unspent note. Here.
Ssiskva. Nein. Not money.
What then?
A different tax. I want you to meet your sister.
Dachni crumpled the bill away. No.
Shes here you know, in the city.
Dont care. Dont wanna see her. Wanna ferget her always an ever.
You shouldnt say that. Theres not a whole lot of family between the two of you. What do you think Id give to see my sisters again? And my brothers again? You wouldnt have to say anything. I doubt she will but let her see you five minutes. Nothing more.
Fer what?
That she may know you limp the earth. She doesnt know youre alive. Its like not naming your children. She doesnt know youre alive. She did ask you know but I didnt tell. Do you know what that means from kin as yours? Ill tell you something about your family that maybe you dont know and that maybe youll recognize in yourself. What doesnt concern you doesnt exist. She asked for you and thats the first shovel load of dirt on the enmity you share.
Ye had a no.
The pilot’s ears swung high and were hooked back by her tendrils. I understand. You dont have to do it today. Or ever. I imagine this was your last expectation. But next Friday Ill ask again. And the Friday after and after that I wont ask ever again. But it would be a good Friday though when considering the merits you assent.
An no. An dont ask.
