Juno of Taris by Fleur Beale Read Free Book Online

and perfume. I picked up a petal. Red velvet. How I would love to wear velvet. To see it even, in something other than a historical documentary. Then the cooking smells distracted my thoughts. I was hungry. I raced into the kitchen, grabbed an oat biscuit and bit into its hard stickiness. ‘Have you heard yet?’
    Grif tapped a finger on a loaf of bread, testing it, then set it back in the oven to cook some more. ‘All in good time, young Juno. Don’t be in such a rush.’
    Everyone was on edge, but even so, Leebar hadn’t forgotten about the swimming lessons and she dragged me off for another one.
    We returned before the end of the recreation hour.
    ‘Well,’ said Dad, smiling at Mother, ‘shall we go? Might as well get it over with.’
    None of us had any hope left that the decision would be for them. They came back before we could start to worry. Dad shook his head. ‘They say it will be later.’
    We went to our afternoon work, where the talk was all questions and no answers.
    We were to dine together at Grif and Danyat’s house that evening. I helped prepare the meal and worried about my parents, waiting to be called into the Governance Office to be given the news.
    The meal was ready, but still they didn’t return.
    Neighbours dropped in. I was pleased to see Vima, who grinned at me, but didn’t add her voice to the questions filling the room.
    ‘Have you heard yet?’
    ‘Most unusual.’
    ‘Why is it taking so long?’
    Questions we couldn’t answer.
    Vima winked at me and stood up. ‘I’m going home to eat,’ she said, her clear voice cutting through the speculation.
    One by one, the people followed her. Would I have such presence, such authority when I was just nineteen? Might as well wish to go and live Outside.
    I jumped up as the door shut behind the last visitor. ‘I can’t stand it! I’m going to meet them.’
    Bazin’s voice hauled me to a stop. ‘Juno!’
    I’d got as far as the door. ‘Think,’ he ordered. The others watched me, sympathy in their faces, but determination as well.
    ‘Oh.’ I sank to the floor, all the purpose drained from me. ‘Thought before action.’ I dropped my head in my hands. Living in the ruins of storms, pestilence and war would have to be better than living here where I had to guard every action.
    Grif pulled me to my feet. ‘You wouldn’t like living Outside, you know.’ She dropped a kiss on my bald head.
    Grandmothers! Did they always know what went on in your mind?
    She smiled at me. ‘I’ve done more writing for you. Go and look.’
    The others frowned but I ran from the room and pulled the book out from under the spare bed where Grif kept it. I turned the linen pages, running my hands over them. That was another thing I yearned for – to hold a real book, an Outside book with smooth pages and small, even print. I’d even searched for writing on my computer at school, but had found no other script than the pictographs. Grif’s words were large and struggled on the rough surface.
    Today’s words were difficult. I settled down, concentrating.
    The quality of mercy is not strained,
    It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the
    place beneath.
    It is twice blessed,
    It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
    ‘You shouldn’t do it!’ Danyat’s voice from the other room broke my concentration. I crept to the door to listen. ‘It’s dangerous, Grif. Dangerous. D’you hear?’ Isn’t one enough? Do you have to …’
    Grif interrupted. I shivered as I listened. I never argued when she used that voice with me. ‘Ignorance is dangerous. Juno’s no fool. She’ll guard herself well. And I will not have an illiterate grandchild.’
    Leebar said, ‘Our own children are illiterate.’
    ‘Exactly,’ said Grif.
    A silence, then the door was opened and I tumbled through, a blushing tangle of arms and legs.
    Bazin hauled me up. ‘What have you learned, young Juno?’
    I thought of quoting Grif’s writing to them, but one glance at