“Whatever you like,” Yalda replied. “You can look around and decide what suits you. I’ll take care of you until you find a job.”
“But there’s work for me here; I don’t need a new job.”
Yalda said, “Don’t you want to see more of the world than this?”
“That might be nice,” Lucia conceded. “But I’d miss everyone.”
“You could come back and visit, any time,” Yalda promised her.
Lucia thought for a while. “Let me wake Lucio.” She took a few steps before Yalda grabbed her arm.
“No! You can’t—”
“You’re not inviting him too?”
“No.”
“Are you crazy?” Lucia was baffled. “Why would I go to Zeugma without him?”
“That’s the whole point of leaving!” Yalda said, exasperated. “If you go by yourself, you won’t have to worry.”
“Worry about what?”
“Children.”
Lucia said, “We’re not having children for at least four more years. If we went with you to Zeugma, it wouldn’t be any different.”
“Four years?”
“Yes.”
Yalda sat on the ground, shivering, not knowing whether to believe her. “Aurelia didn’t wait. Claudia didn’t wait.”
“Well, I’m not Aurelia.”
“Don’t you miss them?”
“Of course I do,” Lucia replied. “If you missed them so much,” she added pointedly, “you should have visited more often.”
Yalda was ashamed. “I didn’t think I’d lose the chance so soon.” She searched her sister’s face, determined to uncover the family’s secrets. “What happened? Did Giusto force them?”
“He nagged them,” Lucia said. “But they had their own ideas, it wasn’t all down to him.”
“And you think he’ll let you wait four years?”
“It’s not his decision, Yalda! Lucio and I have everything planned: we’re going to work on the new farm together and save as much money as we can. Then when the time comes, he’ll hire some people to help run the farm for a couple of years while he takes care of the children. If some of the young cousins want to do it, that’s fine, but we’re not going to rely on that.”
Yalda said, “And what if you change your mind? What if you want to wait longer?”
“Then we’ll wait,” Lucia said mildly. “He’s not going to force me.”
“What makes you so sure of that?”
“He’s my co! I’ve known him my whole life.”
“Men are driven to have children,” Yalda said. “It’s in their nature, they can’t help it.” How had Daria put it? “It’s what they were invented for. There are no male insects, no male lizards—because the young of those creatures can look after themselves from birth. The only reason men exist is so they can raise children.”
Lucia said, “Women are driven to have children, too. Do you think I didn’t feel the urge myself, when I saw Aurelia’s? But if I can hold off, so can Lucio. Neither of us are helpless.”
“But you’re the only one who pays with your life.”
“Yes,” Lucia agreed. “But that’s not Lucio’s fault. It’s not in his hands, or anyone’s. However much he cares about me, he can’t take my place—that’s just impossible.”
Yalda sat in silence for a while. The stars were beginning to fade; she’d need to leave soon.
“Do you want to wake Lucio, and ask him?” If she could show them both life in Zeugma—show them both some new possibilities—that would still be worthwhile.
Lucia said, “It’s not the kind of thing we should decide in a hurry. We’ll talk about it over the next few days; if we want to come, we’ll follow you.”
“All right.”
Yalda stood and embraced her. “You won’t let Giusto pressure you?” she pleaded.
“I won’t,” Lucia promised. “Do you think Vito taught his other children nothing?” A thin gray ridge appeared on her chest; at first it was barely visible, but then it strengthened and grew, looping across the skin until it spelt out a shaky sequence of symbols: Safe journey, sister.
“You could use that skill in Zeugma,” Yalda enthused.
Lucia said, “Maybe. Go and catch your truck before someone else wakes and you have to explain why you’re sneaking out on us.”
“Write and let me know when you’re coming,” Yalda said.
“Of course.”
Yalda turned and walked away. She watched Lucia in her rear gaze until they lost sight of each other behind the dying red light of the fields.
“I have a gift for you,” Cornelio announced solemnly.
“A gift?” Yalda had accepted his invitation to the chemistry department as much out of courtesy as curiosity, but she’d hoped there’d be more to the visit than the bestowal of some token of gratitude. “Your success in your work is all the thanks I need.” With her rear gaze, she eyed the glistening vials and bottles on the shelves that lined the workshop, trying to remember how long it had been since the building had last had its roof blown off.
“That’s very gracious of you,” Cornelio said. “But have you forgotten your request?”
Her host sounded more amused than offended, but Yalda searched her memory desperately. She’d spoken to Cornelio for a chime or two after her talk to the school of natural sciences, but they’d discussed so many things that it was impossible to recall the entire conversation, ten stints later.
“I asked you what the one thing was that you’d welcome the most,” Cornelio reminded her, “if we were to repay you with something practical.”
Yalda wasn’t sure how seriously she’d taken the question, but she remembered now what her answer had been. “And you’ve made good on that offer already?”