Ghosts of Koa, The First Book of Ezekiel by Colby R Rice Read Free Book Online Page B

loosely on the wall was a mini chalkboard where the children could use colored chalk to draw pictures. A few adult-sized chairs were scattered around, but besides those, the thinning gym mat on the floor was the only soft spot in the cave for sitting.  
    In the center of it all, a group of about ten barefoot kids all moved in unison. They were following the motions of the head daycare teacher, Denise, a rock in womanly flesh.
    Julie dropped her arm and straightened, as though she'd just remembered something. "Got news," she whispered. "Didn't want to hit you with it when you first stepped in, but I'm not sure now's the best time either--"  
    "Shoot."
    "We just got a call from some parents. We've extended daycare hours. Town meeting."
    Zeika felt her skin prickle, and she broke her gaze from the group of kids, looking to Julie for confirmation. Jules nodded, her expression serious. The explosion, along with the gnawing dread that had come with it, crept back into Zeika's mind. "Meeting about what?"
    "The influx of refugees into the Protecteds." Jules sighed. "We can't house them fast enough. That, and the explosion. Apparently, the target was an Azure summit, and Koa hit the bullseye. Real bloody. And it happened within ten meters of Demesne Six's border. On the inside ."
    As the words sank in, Zeika felt her lips part. "But, how? The borders--"
    "It could have been a mistake," Julie reasoned with a shrug. "I mean, it's easy for a rookie Koan to fudge the demesne boundaries by accident..."
    Zeika looked at her, helpless. The world really was just going from ass to toilet.
    "Try not to worry about it," Julie said, trying to be upbeat. She put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Just keep it in mind."
    "Yeah," Zeika muttered, embittered by the words. "I'm just not sure how much more I can keep in mind."
    "Form one!" Denise's command barreled across the room, drawing their attention.
    "HAI!" The group of kids stepped forward with their right feet and crouched. As they did, they lifted one arm over their heads and circled the other arm down as though drawing an imaginary air circle. Their right legs were extended, each child balancing on his or her toes like dancers.
    "Like swans, children! Keep those toes straight! Arms up and loose, hands and fingers like butterflies!" Denise instructed. She walked around, fixing each child's form as necessary.
    "Swans and butterflies are girly!" One boy complained as Denise came around to him.  
    "All right then, be graceful like a ninja. Toes straight like a ninja. And arms up, loose and free. Hands and fingers like-- er-- like worms ! Yes! Like limber, sneaky worms!"
    "Cool!" The boy whooped. His stance improved immediately.
    "Gonna start packing..." Julie muttered, and she moved off.
    Zeika set her bag down onto one of the tattered love seats. She scanned the crowd of kids, finally relaxing when she spotted one four-year-old in particular. Manja was focused, her eyes hard, an adult-like seriousness on her mahogany face as she held her stance as still as possible. She was just as short as her peers, but the thick crop of kinky hair and stark blue eyes were almost impossible to miss in the crowd.
    Denise barked again. "Form two!"
    "HAI!" They pivoted, completing the air circles with their arms, ending the move in a step forward.
    Zeika held back a small laugh as the kids straightened up like mini soldiers. The sight was enough to push her fatigue and worry and lingering disgust to the bottom of her thoughts.She clapped softly, stepping forward onto the mat.
    "Very nice, you guys! All of you will be experts in no time!"
    "ZEEKY!" Manja whipped around. Giggling, she made a beeline for her. "Zeeky, I missed you!"
    The girl's smile knocked the chill out of Zeika's bones, and she knelt, scooping Manja up in her arms, snuggling her nose into her cheek. "What's kickin', Commander? How was your day?"
    Manja let out a dramatic sigh. "Tiring. Her Highness is sleepy."
    Zeika snorted. "Her Highness? It