Roark (Women Of Earth Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

someone across the street called out, “Good night, Davey,” followed by a snicker of laughter, but when Mira looked, no one was there.
    David ignored the call. “It’s not garbage and if you know what’s good for you and those fucking kids, you’d better be careful who you say that to. Everyone knows you’re all for consorting with the enemy.”
    He pushed her roughly inside.
    Mira pushed him back. “I’m all for feeding my family, you ungrateful little snipe. I’m all for saving enough money to buy fuel for the winter. I’m all for buying shoes and clothing for the children. Children, David, not the enemy, children.”
    All of whom were now standing in the hall by the bedrooms watching the siblings argue as they entered the apartment. Mira took a seat on the recliner that also served as her bed, and beckoned them to come to her. She took a deep breath and moderated her tone.
    “The people I met inside the compound were very nice to me. Yes,” she admitted, forestalling David’s objection. “A couple of the guards hurt me. They were wrong and they were punished for it.” At least it sounded like they would be. “There was a human doctor there who checked my injuries and the two other doctors, healers they call them, were really very kind. They’re brother and sister, and they bickered just like Royal and Rashonda.
    “One of the healer’s names is Vochem. You know how we’ve talked about people’s skin coming in different colors, but it’s still just skin?” She waited for the nods from the younger kids and eye rolls from the older ones. “Well, Vochem’s skin is black, but not like Royal’s and Rashonda’s. I mean black like Royal’s hoodie. His sister’s name is Ahnyis, and, oh, how I wish you could meet her. She’s sweet and pretty, and a lot like Wynne.”
    “Is she black, too?”
    “No, she’s light brown.” Mira leaned in closer and whispered her secret. “You’re not to tell anyone about this because I’m not sure yet if what I saw was real, but I think she has a tail. I know,” she laughed, raising her hands in the air, “Surprising. I’ve never met anyone with a tail before, have you? It doesn’t matter. I liked her and I think you will, too.”
    “Did her brother have a tail?” Royal asked, not bothered at all by the prospect.
    “I don’t know. Healer Ahnyis was wearing a skirt and I only caught a glimpse of something that looked like a tail poking out from beneath it. Healer Vochem was wearing trousers and there was no way for me to peek, but it would make sense, wouldn’t it? That he would have a tail, too?”
    “You could have asked,” the boy reasoned.
    “Royal, that would be impolite,” his sister scolded, “Not to mention embarrassing. You wouldn’t like people asking what you hide in your jeans, would you?” She wrinkled her nose and rolled her eyes, expressing her opinion of her twin. “This new friend of yours, can we meet her?” she asked, and Mira was struck again by how accepting these children were.
    They were old enough to remember the time before the war, but they adapted so quickly to whatever this new life brought them. They didn’t seem to mind the loss of the toys and television that had been taken for granted in their early lives. They changed with the wind and were surprised by nothing.
    The only loss that affected them was that of their parents. Mira and Wynne had spent many a night holding one or another of them while they cried. That was what they needed most and Mira and Wynne tried their best to give it to them. They need to know that no matter what way the wind blew, someone would be there to love them.
    “No, you can’t meet her.” David looked at Mira over the heads of the other children, daring her to disagree. “You can’t meet her again, either. You’ve got to listen to me. You don’t know what’s going on out there. You could be putting us all in danger.”
    His eyes slid to the younger children and Mira understood that