Eye of the Ocean Book 3 Ji'jin Station

Eye of the Ocean – Book 3: Ji’Jin Station
Eunni shook her head. “He's bowing.” She put her hand next to Rit's and
waited until the lizard moved over, then stoked it with the tip of her finger.
Ulanda took a turn at the stroking. One tiny red eye looked down to stare at
the movement of her braid ends. “He only looked at me... or is it Hic'lic that he's
impressed with?”
She turned her head to nod towards the Wa'tic and that's when the lizard
made his move, jumping into her braid ends. Ulanda shrieked and flung her arm
out. The lizard let go, flying with legs spread out and landed on Rit's nose. Gently,
he picked it off and it ran back out along the length of one finger, regarding the
others one at a time. Then it yawned, showing a mouthful of needle sharp teeth
as transparent as glass.
Mirwin was laughing so hard he had trouble staying upright.
- 25 -
Ulanda checked the Net for Alicia and found her just arriving. The second play
finally ended with Heana scoring again. Black moved up six points for the single
play. Everyone’s attention was on the post.
“Filthy things,” Alicia said with a sour look at the lizard and without looking
towards her husband or Eunni at all. She was dressed for playing and had
remembered to bring Ulanda's baggy pants and short robe as promised.
The third play had been as short as the first and the fourth was setting up
already. Heana allowed her position to Ge'on'ni and stepped out. The woman's
beaded uniform was glazed with sweat and when she reached the wall, she bent
over, her hands on her knees, breathing heavily. No one approached her.
Ulanda looked around a moment, waiting to see who the replacement would
be. One of the Ji'jinlini Temple aides had filled Ge'on'ni's spot and Ulanda decided
that she could wait another play.
But Cici was waving at her, already coming over. “You can take my place.” Her
opposite, a Blackmouth caste ti'Linn wearing red, approached them as well.
Op'ki'na, one of the guards they had acquired after the trouble in the Library
common. It watched Eunni for directions, not her. That ti'ti'sinici had close
contacts with a Station breeding group, a merchant contact that Eunni had
cultivated by using their services for supplies.
Ulanda nodded to Cici. “Black. How not?” She had intended it as a joke but it
hadn't come out as one.
Laurel Hickey www.2morrow.bc.ca