The Queen of the Cicadas
Page 21
“I’ve crossed borders to be here. Would you like to take me in, officers?”
The two men stumbled in the dark with their faces twisted in dread.
“Get away! What are you?”
“Holy shit! Holy shit, it’s true! God help us!” screamed one of the officers.
Both women laughed. “Your god hears and sees and your god is not pleased, hence the silence. You are now left with me.”
The woman in the bandana and the skinless one ignored the mother and child as they cornered the officers. Before one could reach for his firearm, the woman in jeans pulled down her bandana, releasing insects into the air. Mommy crouched, making a shield with her body, but Manuela could still see. Out of the stinging horde that attacked the wailing, thrashing men, a butterfly and chicharra flew away to rest on her mother’s knee.
“Look, Mama,” Manuela whispered. “They aren’t scared, so we shouldn’t be scared. They will protect us.”
Her mother looked at her through puffy wet eyes, then at the butterfly and the chicharra. The creatures playfully fluttered together. “I will always protect you and your sister inside of me. I think we should call her Mariposa, to remember this day.”
The ICE officers pulled and beat on the front door until suddenly it opened on its own, releasing the insects. Manuela could hear a woman scream outside, then screeching wheels. Good. They were safe again.
The woman in the bandana and jeans looked back at Manuela. Without moving her lips, she spoke to her inside her head. “I will see you soon. I will be one of you again.”
Manuela felt warm inside of her tummy and heart. She thought it might be what adults called hope.
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This is a FLAME TREE PRESS BOOK
Text copyright © 2021 V. Castro
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HB ISBN: 978-1-78758-603-1 • US PB ISBN: 978-1-78758-601-7
UK PB ISBN: 978-1-78758-602-4 • ebook ISBN: 978-1-78758-604-8
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