Eye of the Ocean Book 3 Ji'jin Station

Eye of the Ocean – Book 3: Ji’Jin Station
Her lips drew back as she gasped, her tongue between her teeth, the red tip
showing. “No, that's not true.” She started to shake her head wildly. “This false
Lady is a lie sent here to divide us, weaken us. The Sasi'can is inside us...”
Breathing was a hiss between the words, the sound thrown out by the snapping
movement of her head. Then she stopped, her eyes rolled back and she collapsed
against Eunni.
“You handled that really well.”
He had. “From what she said, I'd have to say that she does know where she
is.” Bolda's constantly evolving analysis said the same. He shook his head. “I
don't know what we're going to do with her.”
Eunni looked up from stroking Peecit’s hair. “Other than scaring her half to
death? If it was Ulanda's call to bring her here, then let her decide.”
Except that Ulanda had shown no further interest once the original order had
gone out. “There's the immediate problem of security,” he reminded Eunni.
“Ulanda is either something very much approaching this woman's god, or...” He
tried to remember what Peecit had said.
“A lie,” Eunni said. Still cradling the girls' head, she gently smoothed Peecit's
hair. “It's much easier for them to think she is a lie.”
“Was what she said that simple?” he asked, startled. Surely something much
more complex.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps on the marble outside.
Bolda's link died just as Alicia poked her head in. She wasn't alone, Silassic was
at her shoulder, two additional security - Rilla's people - further back.
Dressed in the pants and tunic she had favored since leaving Wilni, her Clan
Zimmer rifle was in a harness attached to one leg, the knife she'd gotten from
Gennady on the other. She wore both openly, even the Spann tops on occasion.
She moved to let Silassic get by then crossed her arms as though planning to
wait exactly where she was. When the medic carried the Zimmer girl out, she
followed, still blocking Rilla's two. Rit followed her, carrying the books, Eunni the
muffins.
The two Blackmouth ti'Linn who had come in with Garm were waiting at Kori's
pavilion and Alicia seemed content to trust them, politely dismissing the Temple
Military guards to return to their posts.
Silassic and Eunni stayed with the girl, he and Alicia continued on through the
commons towards the Brambles. Overhead, a warm breeze moved the ribbon
leaves of the ni’at tree.
As they passed under the tree, he pulled one of the long leaves free and
wrapped it around a finger. “Did Ulanda send you?”
Alicia stopped and looked up at him, squinting in the sunlight. “As you said, it’s
a matter of security. And security here isn’t your problem.”
Laurel Hickey www.2morrow.bc.ca