Sorry, I know I’m rambling. I just don’t know where I want to go from here. Right now, I’m not sure I want to be here at all.
Eyas
Eyas fidgeted in the corridor outside the unfamiliar hex. What if this was a bad idea? What if this screwed things up? She’d entertained both those possibilities, and was entertaining them still, but this was the only course of action that didn’t leave her feeling restless. This was the only thing, right then, that made sense.
She walked forward into the common area. Eyas had thought, on her way here, that she’d have to approach a stranger, introduce herself, bring a third party into this exchange. But her timing was perfect. Sunny was kneeling right there in a planter square, a gardening apron tied around his neck and waist, a palette of leafy starters abandoned by his knees, a young boy clinging to his back and wrestling him from behind. Sunny could’ve easily thrown the kid off, but he swayed and moaned in mock defeat.
‘Oh, no!’ Sunny yelled. ‘Oh, no, you’ve got me! Help, someone help, there’s a monster, a horrible monster’s got me—’
The kid giggled. ‘I’m not a monster,’ the boy said. ‘I’m a lion. I’m from Earth!’ He made a . . . well, he made a sound. Whether it was actually lion-like was anyone’s guess.
‘I’m very sorry, I should have realised,’ Sunny said. ‘Please, M Lion, don’t eat me.’
‘I am gonna eat you!’ the kid said, noisily play-biting Sunny’s shoulder.
Sunny gave a wicked grin. ‘Or maybe . . . I’m gonna eat you!’ In one fluid sequence, he grabbed the kid, hauled him around to his front, pinned him down, and made chomping sounds as he mercilessly tickled the now-shrieking boy’s tummy. ‘Oh, no, a dramatic reversal! Nom nom nom nom nom—’ His eyes flicked up and saw Eyas for the first time.
Eyas had her knuckle against her mouth, a smile spreading behind it. She gave a little wave.
Sunny was surprised, no question, but took it in stride. The ticklefest ended abruptly. ‘We gotta take a break, buddy. We’ve got company.’ The kid looked over as Sunny stood up. ‘This is my friend Eyas,’ Sunny said, cocking his head. ‘Hi.’ It was a question.
‘Hi,’ Eyas said. She smiled at the boy. ‘What’s your name?’
The kid scrutinised her. ‘Kirby.’
‘My nephew,’ Sunny said, pushing his own hair back into place, brushing his hands on his apron. Was he self-conscious? Did he mind her seeing him like this – unshowered, dirty palms, ratty work clothes? Had she crossed a line? Having sex was one thing; entering someone’s home was another. Maybe this was an intimacy she shouldn’t have assumed.
‘I’m sorry,’ Eyas said, ‘I hope I’m not—’
‘No.’ He meant it. ‘No, not at all. Please.’ He gestured to one of the dinner tables. She followed.
‘Hi there!’ someone called. Eyas turned. An elderly woman had stuck her head out the front door of her home, no doubt curious about the newcomer. She waved as if they were fast friends.
‘Hello,’ Eyas called back.
‘Friend of mine,’ Sunny said. ‘From the Asteria.’
‘Oh, welcome!’ the old woman said. She nodded with approval – approval of what, Eyas could only guess at – then went back into her space.
‘That’s M Tsai,’ Sunny said, sitting at the table. ‘She’s very sweet, and very nosy.’
Eyas laughed as she sat opposite him. ‘I gathered.’ She looked around the hex. Kirby had abandoned lioning and was now digging haphazardly through Sunny’s neat planter rows. If Sunny noticed, he didn’t seem to mind.
‘So.’ Sunny looked at her, the question unanswered.
‘Right,’ she said. She’d had the entire ferry ride to think about this, but now she didn’t know where to start. ‘I was hoping I could – that is, if you have the time to talk—’
‘Yeah, I’m not— hey, Kirby, you can play in the dirt all you want, but leave the shears alone, yeah? – sorry.’
‘Don’t be. Kids are kids.’
‘I’m not busy, is what I was saying.’
‘Cool. Okay, well . . . I’ve been stuck on this idea, and I thought—’
Her attempt was derailed by M Tsai, who had reappeared with offerings in hand. ‘I thought you two might like some iced tea,’ M Tsai said, setting down a full pitcher and a pair of glasses. ‘My own special recipe. I always keep some around in case guests show up.’ She filled Eyas’ glass. ‘Are you one of his clients?’
‘M, you know you can’t ask that,’ Sunny said. ‘That’s confidential.’
‘It’s okay,’ Eyas said. She smiled at M Tsai. ‘I am.’
‘But she’s my friend, too,’ Sunny said. He locked eyes with Eyas. Something passed between them. He’d seen her every which way, and yet, somehow, this – a shared pitcher of tea, a confirmation of friendship, a secret smile – this was the most vulnerable she’d ever felt around him.
‘How nice,’ M Tsai said. ‘And what’s your profession?’
Sunny transmitted an apology through his eyes.
‘I’m a caretaker,’ Eyas said.
‘Oh! Oh, my goodness. Well.’ She looked at the now-filled glasses, trying to find an excuse to stay now that her previous one had ended. ‘You know . . . biscuits. I got a packet of quick dough as trade a few days ago, and a bunch of herbs in my home that aren’t going to last much longer. I think this kind of company deserves a proper snack, don’t you?’
‘M,’ Sunny said, ‘that’s really—’
‘It’s no trouble!’ M Tsai said, already on her way. ‘It won’t take long!’
Sunny gave an apologetic sigh as soon as M Tsai’s door shut. ‘I’m sure this isn’t why you came by.’
‘Not quite,’ Eyas said.
He folded his arms on the table. ‘Start at the beginning.’
‘I’m still thinking about Sawyer.’ She’d reserved a whole night with Sunny after the funeral, instead of the usual half. Neither of them had commented on it, or needed to. She’d taken care of someone else. He’d done the same for her.
Sunny folded his mouth sympathetically. ‘That had to be pretty . . . I dunno. Traumatic.’
‘Not his body. It was . . . unpleasant, yes. But I don’t mean that. I mean Sawyer. I mean the man I spoke with for five minutes.’ She frowned. ‘I wasn’t very patient, and I wasn’t very kind. But he was so grateful for what flimsy advice I gave him. He looked so happy. He wrote me a letter. I think I may have been more patient and kind to him than most, and that’s . . . that’s why he’s dead. He got taken advantage of. He didn’t know how things worked. But he wanted to. I know I only had that one short conversation, but . . . I think his heart was in the right place.’ Eyas sipped her iced tea and paused. ‘This is delicious.’