Fifty-nine…sixty… sixty-one…
Kirra inched across a limb, so focused on being quiet that she was holding her breath. She maneuvered into position directly above Red Streak and her brother. Moving as quickly as she dared, she looped one end of the rope around the branch and fastened it with a knot that Paja had taught her.
Below, Tiko grunted, shifting his hips and shoulders as he swung the weapon at Red Streak with all of his might. The hulking man took a surprised step back but easily got a thick leather boot up in time to kick the heavy instrument out of Tiko’s hands. Yellowgrass bent and picked up the weapon.
Kirra positioned the rope as carefully as she could. There would only be one shot at pulling this off.
Eighty-three… eighty-four… eighty-five…
“Aaahhh!” There was a scream in the distance. But this one was defiant, not pained. That guy must have been a fast counter.
Every head in the camp, including Red Streak’s, snapped toward the source of the noise. At that exact moment, Kirra let the rope fall. It dangled just in front of Tiko’s face. A perfect drop.
Tiko’s head craned up at the rope, and Kirra made frantic gestures for him to grab it.
There wouldn’t have been enough time for Tiko to climb—he would have been noticed and plucked off the rope immediately—had Yellowgrass not yelled and pointed in the direction of the scream. He rallied everyone, including Red Streak, to pursue the escaped prisoner.
“Hurry!” Kirra hissed fiercely as Tiko took the rope with both hands, wrapped his knees around it, and started clambering up.
Red Streak was a few yards away when he automatically reached for his weapon. Realizing he’d left it behind, he turned back to his little spy and—
“Arrgghh!” There was a cry of surprised rage as the big warrior spotted Tiko halfway up the rope. He dashed over, and Kirra saw that Tiko wasn’t going to make it. He wasn’t high enough.
She hooked her knees around the tree branch and let herself fall upside down, her hands reaching for Tiko as her hair hung in her face, obscuring her view and making the panic flood back into her mind.
Red Streak jumped up, his fingers grasping at Tiko’s foot.
Tiko let go of the rope and lunged for Kirra’s hands, grabbing them tightly. He latched on, and the momentum sent him sailing through the air, his sister’s arms acting as a swing. Kirra gripped the tree with the back of her knees, wincing in pain as her legs twisted around the branch and the rough bark rubbed patches of skin right off.
Tiko slammed into another branch, let go of Kirra’s hands, and hooked his armpits over the limb. He was out of reach, at least for the moment.
Red Streak had missed Tiko’s foot, but he grabbed the rope and began to hoist himself up, his boots climbing the trunk. Kirra, still dangling upside down and swinging back in his direction, was only a few feet away from his powerful hands.
But she heard the branch start to crack under his weight. As she swung backward, she flailed out with her hands and grasped at another limb.
Taking one arm off the rope, Red Streak lunged for Kirra. He came mere inches from reaching her leg…and the branch broke. Kirra, her heart racing, watched as Red Streak’s eyes went wide. He seemed to hang suspended in the air before he dropped and crashed to the forest floor, landing squarely on his back.
For an agonizing moment, Red Streak and Kirra were locked in a death gaze. She could feel anger radiating from him like heat waves off a desert rock.
Red Streak tried to summon his clan, but the wind had been knocked out of him. Kirra reacted quickly. She hopped up on the limb, raced over to Tiko, grabbed him by the hand, and pulled him higher up the tree until they were totally concealed by the foliage.
Red Streak got his voice back and started shouting for his warriors to help. Or he may have been cursing—Kirra had no way of knowing.
A few men ran back and tried to scramble up into the trees after them, but their bulky clothing and the awkward, heavy weapons still belted to their waists made climbing difficult. Plus, even with their long limbs, they looked awkward and unfamiliar with climbing—Kirra knew that there were very few trees in the desert. She felt a quick burst of confidence that she and Tiko, being much lighter and more nimble, had the advantage.
“Come with me,” she whispered fiercely, yanking her brother along a thick and sturdy branch. He followed without a word.
Kirra had learned from her experiences in Outside woods that she could travel more quickly above the forest floor than people could on the ground, where they would run into brush, logs, swampy patches, and other obstacles.
So they fled through the middle of the trees, the horrible sounds of the camp fading behind them.
As they neared the plains, the noise dwindling to nothing, Kirra finally felt that they could stop for a moment. She turned to Tiko and asked breathlessly, “Why did you come to me when I told you not to?”
Tiko’s lip trembled as he looked at her with big, moist eyes. “I heard bad noises,” he said. “And I wanted to protect you.”
Kirra couldn’t be angry with him for that. “You truly are a birdbrain. But I love you.”
They made their way through one last screen of trees and finally spotted the ocean of wild grass that stood between them and their home. “Now, follow me. We need to run faster and farther than we’ve ever run before.”
They dropped from branch to branch until they were back on the ground. Then they entered the plains in the tallest patch of grass they could find, and disappeared into the night.
BY GOD, THE GIRL WAS FAST.
Cobar the Red had not been forced to run this far in a long time. He shook his head in disgust as he pounded through the tall grass in heavy boots he wasn’t accustomed to. Back home, there were horses when someone needed to cover this kind of distance.
It was a good thing this land was so rich with resources. Definitely made the whole venture worth it, no question. But still, he missed having a horse.
At least he had his hound. He wouldn’t have been able to track these kids otherwise, because they did not slow, or tire. The dog strained at his leash, practically dragging him right across the plains. The beast might be simple, but at least it was loyal. Could he say the same for Dekker, his so-called right-hand man? That one seemed to be going soft on these natives.
Strange that the kids were running in the opposite direction of the village. Were they confused? Or were they trying to throw him off track? He had to admit they were wily little devils, freeing his captive when his back was turned.…
Now they were making a beeline straight for the dormant volcano. Were they just running in blind panic? Every native in every village for miles around was as superstitious as hellfire about that place. Thought it could erupt at any time and kept a healthy distance always.
Cobar pulled sharply on the leash before his dog could break through the overgrown grass into the open ground at the base of the volcano. He squatted, stroking the slavering beast with his long gray fingers and talking soothingly to keep it quiet. Then he peeked his head through the screen of grass.
He watched for a bit, tracking the children as they made their way up the steep and craggy mountain. He couldn’t believe how fast they were still moving after all that climbing and running. And then, in a blink, they were gone. One moment they were winding through a series of switchbacks, and the next moment they couldn’t be seen. Didn’t make sense.
Unless…
Cobar scratched his leathery chin. The two little ones were well fed, that much was certain, with clothing that—primitive though it might have been—was made with some skill. These were no feral strays. These kids belonged to a community.
He stared up at the crater for several minutes, bright eyes piercing through the darkness. He shook his head slowly. It couldn’t be, could it? But really, there was no other answer.
He chuckled to himself. The dog turned to look at him and started to whimper.
Cobar would never have guessed t
hat any of these natives were clever enough. But they had made a nest within the crater walls.…Hidden away like that, there was no telling what kind of paradise might be inside. He let his eyes drift over the mountain. This was a much bigger operation than that little village by the waterfall. That place didn’t seem worth the trouble now.
He spent a long time marking the spot where the kids had disappeared, memorizing the identifying features of the landscape that would lead him right back to the doorstep.
First he would go back and fetch some help, soldiers he could count on. He was going to need it, because there might be all manner of treasure stashed away in that volcano.
Cobar the Red couldn’t wait to find out.
WHEN KIRRA WOKE UP, bruised and tender all over from the events of the previous night, her secret was a physical presence in the bedroom. It sat on her chest like a pile of stones, making it difficult to breathe. It whispered in her ear about what a horrible daughter and sister she had been to her family, to her tribe, to all Zedu. She couldn’t escape it—everywhere she looked, it was staring her right in the face.
She didn’t even have to debate herself. It was obvious what she had to do. Her mother and father had to know, right away, about the Takers and what had happened. Yes, there would be a punishment unlike anything she had ever endured. Yes, her parents’ disappointment would be so deep they probably wouldn’t talk to her for years and years. And yes—this was the worst part—she might not be allowed to go Outside ever again.
But Zedu had to be protected. So she pushed herself painfully out of bed, trudged through the hut, and made her way to the back porch.
However, the big chair where her mother sat every morning to go over Council notes was empty. Same with the courtyard—the shared communal space was free of the usual morning bustle. Making her way quickly around to the front of the hut, Kirra blinked and looked out at the great ring of terraces that circled the inside of their volcano home. At different points of the day, as the sun moved through the heavens, the various sections of the community received direct light that filtered in through the narrow opening at the top of the volcano. You could always tell what time it was by which terrace was lit up. And if Kirra could trust her senses, it looked like she had slept well past noon.
She raced back into the hut and looked everywhere, but neither of her parents was home. Next she went into Tiko’s quarters and found her little brother still snoring heavily. She thought about whether or not to wake him up and finally decided she couldn’t risk him talking to her parents before she did. The secret would simply be too big for him, and she was going to need to manage the way in which they got this particular message.
Kirra sat on her brother’s mattress and placed a hand on his arm. Immediately, Tiko cried out in terror and bolted upright in bed, eyes wild.
Her heart sank. This was all her fault. By taking her brother Outside, Kirra had exposed him to something that would continue to haunt him for the rest of his life. How could she have been so stupid? So selfish?
“Shhh. It’s okay, Tiko. It’s just me. It’s okay.” She patted him on the arm to calm him down. “We’re home. We’re safe.”
Tiko took a deep breath and slowly relaxed. The two siblings sat that way for several moments, collecting themselves and sinking into the fact that they had, indeed, made it back within the protecting walls of Zedu.
“What are we going to do, Kirra?” Tiko whispered.
“You don’t have to do anything, Tiko. I will tell Paja and Maja what happened.” He nodded as she spoke soothingly. “And then they will go to the Council and discuss what to do to protect Zedu from those awful people. Our part is over—it should have never even started. This problem is one for the grown-ups, understand?”
“But there were so many of them, Kirra. And they were so big, and they looked so…so…” Tiko was staring into the middle distance, eyes unfocused, clearly reliving the events of the previous night and struggling to describe the monstrous Takers. “Those weapons—so terrible. Never seen anything like it. And that horrible leader, with the—”
“Shh.” Kirra grabbed her little brother and held him close when the tears started leaking out of his eyes. “I know it was scary. I know. I was scared, too.” She ran her hand along his back like their mother used to do when they were little. “But we are home now. Safe. No one knows Zedu is here. It’s been that way for many, many generations.” These were her father’s words, and as she said them, they comforted her as well as her brother.
Tiko let out a long breath, relieved. He pulled back from his sister and wiped at his eyes. “Okay, but who are they? And how did you know they would be there? And why didn’t Paja—”
Kirra held up a hand, cutting him off. “None of that matters right now. First I need to find him and tell everything we know.”
“But I can—”
“I know you want to help. For now, though, I just need you to lie low until I can get to him. Maybe take the day away from our terrace and play with your friends. Try to forget about it for a few hours, if you can. Come back at dinner and I should have it all sorted out.”
After a few moments of contemplation, Tiko gave her a sidelong glance. “We’re going to be in trouble, aren’t we?”
“Oh, yes.”
“Big trouble?”
“The biggest.”
Tiko sighed. “Okay, then. I guess it’s a good idea for me to go play with Derain and Miki. Might be the last time I see them for a while.”
Kirra managed a half smile. “Probably a good plan.”
Tiko climbed out from underneath his covers and started to get dressed. Kirra rose to leave the room, then stopped in the doorway.
“Tiko?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m proud of you. You know, for the way you handled yourself last night. Even better than a Zeduan Warrior, if there were such a thing.”
Tiko beamed. “Thanks, Kirra.”
She waved good-bye and made her way down the front steps and across the terrace. It would have been easier to find her mother—Kirra knew she would be in the Council chambers—but she wanted to talk to Taro first. Having spent so much time Outside, he might be slightly more understanding about what she had done. And besides, even though she would never admit it out loud, she had a special bond with her father that made him easier to approach than her mom.
The problem was, Taro could be anywhere. Part of his job was to roam widely throughout the interior of the volcano, staying up on current events and collecting bits of information that he would weave together in his stories of Zedu and her people. He could rarely be found in the same spot two days in a row, which was one of the reasons that Kirra wanted to be a Storyteller. She couldn’t imagine having to go to the same place every day for work.
So she set out to wander along the terraces, asking after him—Farmers, Bakers, Couriers, Herders—but no one had seen her father. The longer she had to keep her dark revelation to herself, the heavier it became to carry.
After several hours—the fading light falling on the eastern terraces signaling an imminent sunset—she gave up looking for Taro. He could be anywhere.
So she would have to approach her mother first. She took a deep breath, tried to summon some courage, and headed back in the direction of the Council chambers. When Kirra arrived, Djiahna was just walking out. She looked tired.
“Oh, hello, sweetheart. What brings you this way?”
“I need to talk to you.”
“Perfect. We’ll walk home together.” Djiahna linked her arm with her daughter’s. “I couldn’t wake you this morning! Did you two have a wild night while the grown-ups worked on the festival?”
Kirra swallowed hard as her stomach flipped, but she could tell from Djiahna’s quick smile that she was just making a joke. It made Kirra’s heart ache to see such a trusting and loving look on her mother’s face. This was going to be even more difficult than she’d been dreading it would be.
“Do…do you know when P
aja will be coming home? I need to speak with both of you.”
Djiahna’s eyebrows scrunched up. “What’s wrong, precious one?”
Kirra looked down at the ground as they walked. “It will be easier to tell you both at the same time,” she mumbled.
Djiahna stopped walking and let go of Kirra’s arm. “Your father had to leave this morning.”
“I know, I’ve been looking all over for him. When will he be back?”
Maja hesitated before answering, and cleared her throat. “I’m not quite sure. He didn’t just go to another terrace this time. He had to…Kirra, he had to go Outside again.”
Kirra’s head snapped up. “What?” So soon? she thought. We just got back yesterday! And he never goes Outside without me anymore. “Why?”
“I’m afraid I cannot discuss that with you.”
“But I’m a Helper now! This is important, and I’m supposed to know what—”
Djiahna put her hand up. “It’s official Council business. You know I’m forbidden to share any details with you.”
Kirra’s head spun. It had to be connected to what she’d overheard them talking about yesterday. Nothing else would take him away from home so soon.
She inhaled deeply. There was no more time for secrets, or hesitation. A horrifying image rose up in her mind of Taro lashed to a tree trunk. She could not let Paja be discovered by Red Streak and the rest of his awful soldiers, no matter what might happen to her afterward. “When did he leave?”
“He was helping me with Council matters for most of the day, so he ended up leaving Zedu about an hour ago, but I don’t see what that has to do with—”
An hour! “At least tell me this, I beg you—did he go to Nafaluu? To see what’s happening there, or to warn them, maybe?”
Djiahna sputtered and didn’t reply right away, but the look on her mother’s face—shock and confusion mixed with the beginning of anger—was all the answer Kirra needed.
If We Were Giants Page 6
