BooksBarbecue
Back Bleak Seasons Save as PDF
Chapters (102)
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The racket outside increased again. Thai Dei! I leapt over the bodies, flung a foot that glanced off Thai Deis behind. If you dont get your ass up and get organized were not going to help anybody. I spotted a couple more kids cowering in the back. One of them had lighted the lamps. Other than Sahra and her mother no adults appeared to have survived. Sahra! I snapped. Get up! I slapped her. Round up those kids back there. They were too terrified to trust me even if they knew me.

I was still an outsider.

A little yelling was all Thai Dei and his sister needed. Their universe suddenly regained structure and direction, though they could not see its sense. They just needed somebody to get them started.

We found only one more living child and no more surviving adults.

Thai Dei. Can you keep these kids together if we make a run for the alley? The Taglians would cease to be a problem if we made it that far. In there one man could hold off a horde till help arrived.

He shook his head. They are too frightened and too badly hurt.

I was afraid of that. Then well carry them. Can you settle your mother down? Shell need to help. Sahra. Take the baby. Ill carry the girl. On my back. I want my hands free. Tell her to hang on tight but to keep her hands out of my face. If she dont think she can do that let me know now. Well tie her wrists together.

Sahra nodded. She was past her hysteria. She knelt beside Hong Tray, held the old woman for a moment, then removed her jade bracelet. With a deep sigh and evident reluctance, she slipped the bracelet onto her own left wrist. Then she turned to Ky Gota and began trying to calm her.

Thai Dei talked to the children, translating my my instructions. I realized that Sahra never spoke at all, not even in a whisper.

The girl I was going to carry was about six years old. And she did not want to go.

Tie her on, then, damn it! I snapped. I had begun to shake. I did not know how much longer I would retain full control. Were running out of time.

Only the baby was unhurt. A boy of about four looked like he would not make it. He for sure would not if I did not get him to One-Eye in a hurry.

Water splashed and a man shrieked right outside. A body slammed against the door, which creaked and gave a little. Sahra swatted the girl to calm her, fitted her onto my back. I asked, How about your mother?

Never mind. The Troll was with us now. She had a two-year-old of indeterminate sex riding her left hip and the business end of a broken spear clutched in her right hand. She was ready for Taglians.