Eye of the Ocean Book 3 Ji'jin Station

Eye of the Ocean – Book 3: Ji’Jin Station
Biting her lip, she shook her head. “Dreams.” Seeing fleeting images from her
own dreams. Warnings or simple worry? Or recalling a past that now existed only
in her mind?
- 23 -
The pace of work was accelerating, the kitchen warming with a final burst of
preparation for dinner. Except for approving the service, her work here was just
about done. Eunni asked Hic'lic to open the screens to the garden and at once,
the gentle scent of sun warmed herbs blended with the cooking odors. Sunshine
reached through the doorway almost to her feet where she stood at the work
counter.
Hic'lic stopped with the wood frame of one screen held in the pincer with a
single tip broken, the others scored and nicked. Staring out. The brown of his
chitin was speckled with yellow, the facets of his eyes, usually dull, were like
shining glass. Several facets were missing, and each hole looked like the mouth
of a cave.
They shared something, Eunni thought. He craved the feel of the sun the same
as she did, taking every opportunity to warm himself. A 'poverty', he had said to
her the other day, the word coming out surrounded by others, and which like
obedient sun dogs to the first, had proved as difficult to translate. That the
sunlight wasn't real, she thought he might have meant. What she understood
better was the list of names that followed. Worlds he had seen.
“Borrow the sunshine,” she told him now, speaking in plain-tongue. “Just leave
me some for later.” He tic-ticed something as he turned back.
And skittered in place, his worn eyes darkening briefly. A very low bow
towards the front of the kitchen and he signed a request for allowance to attend
to his duties.
She gave it and then gave the same to Adela who was staring at Rit with the
carrot shaving she had been nibbling on like a rabbit hanging motionless from her
lip. Eunni clapped her hands: “Get to work!” she said when the signing didn't get
the girl moving. And had to motion to Siodopolous that yes, she still wanted the
tray she had asked for ten minutes ago.
Rit leaned against the counter and then had to move before Sio would put the
tray of dishes down. “I was willing to share the sunshine.”
She hadn't expected to see him until the mealtime. “Did you just come in here
to be in the way?”
Laurel Hickey www.2morrow.bc.ca