Reading the Wind (Silver Ship) by Brenda Cooper Read Free Book Online Page A

dangers and the rituals. But only I knew both Kayleen and him well, if I really knew Kayleen anymore. I spoke softly, trying to reach past his anger. “I guess we’re going to go back and eat her feast. The only way to get home is to try and reach her, to make her want to take us back.” I squeezed his hand and leaned into him, looking sideways to where Kayleen sat, still huddled over her preparations. “Her mood has shifted a hundred times today. Remember when we were little, and she and I and Joseph always made sure we found you on Trading Day?” I turned my face up to his. “Maybe it’s our turn to find her.”
    We stood face to face, hands still clasped, and he looked into my eyes. I looked back at him, feeling a wave of tenderness. We’d set out this morning hoping to find time to make love in the cave.
    He spoke, his voice as soft as mine had been. “Are you saying you forgive her?”
    I shook my head. “I’m saying I love her. I’m saying she’s our family.”
    Water gleamed in the edges of his eyes. I’d had my cry, but he hadn’t, and I knew he wouldn’t do it yet. He cleared his throat. “My family is back on Jini.” He held a hand out and brushed a stray lock of hair from my face. “And you. You’re my family.” He glanced toward Kayleen. “She’s not. She’s someone I see twice a year, and I don’t understand her. I don’t trust her. I don’t see how you can.”
    “I spent almost every day of my life with her before I went with the band. I’ve always been the oldest, always been the one who had to keep us together, at least until the last few years. That matters to me.”
    He blew out a long, slow breath, looking away. “I’ll eat her feast for you. But I can’t do it for her. That will have to be enough.”
    I nodded.
    “And tomorrow,” he continued, “tomorrow, I’m going to make getting the skimmer ready to fly my highest priority.”
    I leaned into him, holding him, trying with all my being to tell him how much I loved him, needed him.
    As we turned back to eat a feast we didn’t want, the sun dropped below the low hills. I left my hand in his as we came into camp, unwilling to drop my connection to him just to make Kayleen feel good. She handed us our plates, her eyes shining with unexplained tears. We sat one on each side of her, awkward, each of the three of us alone. As the last light faded from the sky, the light from Kayleen’s cooking fire danced brightly in the cold night.

5   

DOG DAYS
    W indy and I shared the last watch. She noticed the silence before I did. She lifted her long neck, sniffing the air, her nostrils extended, her stubby tail straight up. I stood, arms tucked close to ward off the night chill, the hair on my arms rising. Behind me, Kayleen and Liam slumbered in the darkened tent near the end of the ramp. In front of me, dark trees and rocks stood silent sentinel, washed lightly by starlight.
    When Liam and I hunted djuri for the band, the world around us silenced. That same silence surrounded us now. Earlier, night birds and small animals had skittered from bush to rock to tiny tree, each sound slightly different from home. Now, no birds called and no little jumping animals moved. The light of two moons paled as it fell through clouds. The wind had even died. I stepped close to Windy’s side, whispering, “What do you sense?”
    Her skin quivered, but she didn’t move or shift her attention to me. She smelled or saw something that I didn’t. We stood, silent, straining to hear anything. I reached for her lead and untied it, holding it loosely in both hands.
    Gravel crunched.
    Something—not us—breathed out.
    Windy exploded. She reared back, jerking me with her as I tightened my fists on her lead. Her eyes widened in fear as she yanked the lead line tight.
    The perimeter bells peeled danger.
    I screamed. “Liam!” and raced the few steps between me andWindy, tugging on the line, trying to get close enough to grab her halter.
    A single