needed doing with a numb surprise that hell had bloomed up in the world.
The men in their improvised leather armor and sharpened fire irons could
no more fathom that there would be no tomorrow for them than Liat could.
And so they were capable of walking, of speaking, of eating food. If
they had been given time to understand, the Galts wouldn't have faced
half the fight that was hefore them now.
"Mama-kya!" a man's voice said close at hand. Nayiit's. Liat's eyes flew
open.
lie stood in the aisle between beds, his eyes wide. I)anat, paleskinned
and frightened, clung to her boy's robes.
"What are you doing still here?" Liat said.
"Eiah," Nayiit said. "I can't find Eiah. She was in her rooms, getting
dressed, but when I came back with Danat-cha, she was gone. She isn't at
the cart. I thought she might he here. I can't leave without her."
"You should have left before the sun rose," Liat said, standing up. "You
have to leave now."
"But Eiah-"
"You can't wait for her," Liat said. "You can't stay here."
I)anat began to cry, a high wailing that echoed against the high tiled
ceiling and seemed to fill the world. Nayiit crouched and tried to calm
the boy. Liat felt something warm and powerful unwind in her breast.
Rage, perhaps. She hauled her son up by his shoulder and leaned in close.
"Leave her," she said. "Leave the girl and get out of this city now. I)o
you understand me?"
"I promised Kiyan-cha that I'd-"
"You can't keep it girl fourteen summers old from being stupid. No one
can. She made her decision when she left you."
"I promised that I'd look after them," Naviit said.
"'Then save the one you can," Liat said. "And do it now, before you lose
that chance too."
Nayiit blinked in something like surprise and glanced down at the
still-wailing boy. I Its expression hardened and he took it pose of apology.
"You're right, \lother. I wasn't thinking."
"Go. Now," Ifiat said. "loo don't have much time."
"I want nay sister!" I)anat howled.
"She's going to meet its there," Nayiit said, and then swept the boy up
in his arms with it grunt. I)anat-eyes puffy and red, snot streaming
from his nose-pulled back to stare at Nayiit with naked mistrust. Nayiit
smiled his charming smile. His father's smile. Otah's. "It's going to he
fine, I)anat-kya. Your mama and papa and your sister. They'll meet its
at the cave. But we have to leave now."
"No they won't," the boy said.
"You watch," Nayiit said, lying cheerfully. "You'll sec. F,iah's
probably there already."
"But we have the cart."
"Yes, good thought," Nayiit said. "Let's go see the cart."
lie leaned over, awkward with his burden of boy, and kissed Hat.
"I'll do better," he murmured.
You're perfect, Hat wanted to say. You've always been the perfect boy.