Eye of the Ocean Book 3 Ji'jin Station

Eye of the Ocean – Book 3: Ji’Jin Station
“We could have dinner there,” he said, holding her against him, running his
fingers into her hair in a soon-abandoned attempt to braid it.
“We could.” She might play at that, except she would have to get changed.
Mirwin would be tired tonight, a sore but lazy exhaustion of body that she
wouldn't mind matching.
“Is there anything else?” Alicia asked.
“No.”
When she had gone, Mirwin tried Ulanda's hair again but with more success
this time. “Should she worry? “
I don’t care. She took a deep breath to quell her frustration. She did care.
“Why mention it?”
“Should I mention it further by answering your question?”
“No.”
Mirwin bent over to pick up her shawl and tied the length of cloth around her
waist, tucking the ends in smoothly then squatted to fix the hang of the tassels.
As he moved the twisted silk cords, Ulanda listened for the tiny bells in the
tassels. The shawl was a gift from him and he was pleased with his choice and
that she wore it often. He eyes were on what his hands were doing. “Will you
play, then?”
“I might.”
His and Eunni’s shortcut had led them to the flitter bay, dripping water and the
echoing sound of chittering and shouts. Roots hung from the ni'at tree in the
center of the common above, water was allowed to drip unimpeded to the Station
Center. In the middle of this, the ti'Linn version of team break-ball was just
starting to group, individuals still warming up. One of the balls was being fought
over by several still unassigned players, the action well away from the post. The
games down here were significantly rougher and faster than the ones set up in
the common. The entire flitter bay became the playing field and the players used
an odd shaped ball that bounced and rolled erratically.
“It’s Rilla,” Eunni whispered into his ear. “Do you want to go around the other
way?”
“Too late.” Rilla had already spotted him and was walking over. Under the
shadow of her claw sheaths, fingers made a shape that Rit didn't pull Net to see
more clearly. Garm followed close behind the E'kalt.
Heana was already in the game, stationed in the dripping roots, a black scarf
tied around her right upper arm. And she was in her uniform where she more
usually wore a plain tunic or robe while working on the security grid. The wet
beads glistened in the cold white light. She looked at him again, as he thought
she had in the Net.
Laurel Hickey www.2morrow.bc.ca