Stranger

by Sherwood Smith

  Jennie glared at him. “Yes. Now go!”

  She yanked on the fire bell beside the door. Everyone tore into the kitchen. “Where’s the fire?” asked Yolanda. A gust of wind rose up in emphasis.

  “It’s not a fire. There’s a pit mouth in the chicken coop.”

  Every face stared back at her with the same disbelieving expression.

  “Yes!” she shouted. “A pit mouth! Never mind how it got there. Everybody, out of the house. Tonio, Dee, go warn the neighbors, and stay with them when you’re done. Yolanda, go tell the sheriff and the watch commander. I’m getting Mia, because I know what they’ll want done.” She glanced at her grandmother.

  Grandma Riley nodded. “Good plan. I’ll tend the little ones.”

  Jennie ran.

  When she reached Mia’s cottage, she flung open the door without knocking, and stood on the threshold trying to catch her breath.

  Mia stood in the middle of the room in a dress that seemed composed entirely of pink ruffles. She had a smear of black dust across the tip of her nose. A bewildered-looking Ross was perched on the bed, between two engines.

  “It looks nice?” he was saying.

  While Jennie caught her breath, she noticed that he looked much better: eyes bright, body relaxed. Like he’d actually gotten a good night’s sleep. “You better take the dress off,” she said. “I have something for you to blow up.”

  “Wow!” Mia clapped her hands, then rubbed them together. “A dance and an explosion on the same day! What is it?”

  Jennie was already sick of the reaction she knew she was going to get. “There’s a pit mouth in our chicken coop.” And she was not disappointed. Both Mia and Ross gave her that look.

  “I’m on it.” Mia fluffed at her skirt, sidling a desperate glance at Ross, then at Jennie, who jerked her thumb at the door.

  “Oh. Right.” Ross ducked out, and then stopped. “Need any help?”

  Jennie laughed. “With the dress?”

  “With the explosion?” Mia said. “Sure!”

  “The dress looks great,” Jennie called as she closed the door behind Mia. “Ross, so do you. Feeling better?”

  “Yes.” He glanced at the people bringing decorations and dishes to the tables set up around the square. “I needed a little time to, um, rest.”

  Mia’s door banged open while she was still buttoning her overalls. “I’ll need my wagon, and . . .” She stopped. “Did you say it was in the chicken coop?”

  “What’s happening?” Ms. Salazar rushed up from the table she had been decorating, leaving a trail of sparks in her wake.

  Before Jennie had a chance to speak, Sheriff Crow strode to the front of a gathering crowd. Everyone was pelting Jennie with questions, at least half of which she could have answered with, Yes, the chicken coop.

  The sheriff clapped her hands. “We’ll hear the story once. At the site. If you have business there, come along. Otherwise, back to whatever you were doing.”

  Hordes of people trailed behind them by the time they got to the Rileys’, where they found an aggravated José fending off busybodies with the rake.

  “Glad you’re here!” he said. “Aunt Flora went to get Ma.”

  The onlookers scattered at the sight of Sheriff Crow. Soon Mr. Preston arrived, leading helpers from the armory who pulled Mia’s demolitions cart.

  “Now’s the time,” Sheriff Crow said. “Jennie, what happened?”

  Jennie gave her report. The sheriff listened closely, then said, “What was it that you noticed first?”

  “In retrospect, maybe that no chickens were on the ground. They didn’t even jump down when they saw us coming with the grain. Though I only realized that now.”

  Sheriff Crow gave a firm nod. “Excellent observation. You were right to trust your instincts.”

  “Observation?” Mr. Preston shook his head. “You had a pit mouth in the chicken coop, eating your chickens for weeks, and nobody noticed until now?”

  José said politely, “Mr. Preston, the pit couldn’t have been there for weeks. I was inside the coop feeding them yesterday morning.”

  “It must have built the pit overnight.” Jennie eyed the coop. “But the pelt I saw was small. My guess is that it was hiding in the straw or even buried in the dirt during the day, and coming out to eat the chickens at night. Until it metamorphosed.”

  Mia waved her hand wildly. “Where is that pelt? Can I have it?”

  “If you want it. I sure don’t. Where did it go?”

  José lifted an overturned bucket, revealing the crumpled lump of fur. “It was giving me the creeps,” he said apologetically.

  Mia picked up the pelt with a pair of tongs and tucked it away in a gunpowder bag. “Dad will want it. The first ever pit mouth specimen! Too bad it’s only the skin.”

  Jennie’s pa pushed through the crowd, pulling a drooping Dee with him. “Sheriff, I believe my daughter has something to tell us all.”

  Dee unhappily explained how she’d found “Princess Cloud.”

  “Where are Yuki and Meredith?” the sheriff asked.

  Meredith stepped forward. “I’m here.”

  “Go fetch Yuki,” Sheriff Crow ordered. Meredith ran.

  Mia and the demolition team, assisted by Ross, began to set up their equipment. Jennie watched the two of them having an intense discussion over the explosives.

  “What’s he doing here?” snapped Mr. Preston.

  Mia and Ross both started. Mia said, “Ross has experience with explosions in confined spaces, when you don’t want to bring down other parts of the structure. I’ve only blown up things out in the open.”

  Ross pointed at the house with his slide rule. “The chicken coop is pretty close. Since we don’t know how deep the pit mouth is, we have to use enough explosives to make sure we get it, but direct the blast so the house doesn’t come down.”

  “Please!” Jennie exclaimed, not caring if it sounded like she was begging. “Let him help! We’ve lived in this house for generations.”

  Mr. Preston waved his hand. “I’d forgotten that prospectors use explosives. Back to work.”

  Meredith had returned, with Yuki in tow. Both of them looked apprehensive. “Did you see Dee pick up a strange animal on patrol?” Sheriff Crow asked.

  “Yes,” they said together.

  “We meant to make Dee take it to quarantine, but the snakes attacked, and I forgot all about it.” Meredith elbowed Yuki. “You forgot too?”

  He gave a brusque nod, his mouth a tight line.

  Mrs. Callahan spoke up. “This is why we have quarantine rules. My children are trained to obey—”

  Sheriff Crow clapped again, the sound sharp and loud. “Everyone who doesn’t have business here is dismissed.”

  Mr. Preston frowned, but didn’t object. The crowd began to disperse in twos and threes, still chattering.

  The sheriff glanced from Yuki to Meredith. “You two will help the Rileys fix any damage caused by the explosion.”

  Meredith and Yuki agreed fervently.

  “Dee!” Sheriff Crow continued. “I’ll leave your punishment to your parents. This is why we’ve raised the age for patrols. It’s too easy for little mistakes to grow into big ones.” She glanced from the tuft of white fur sticking out of Mia’s bag to the chicken coop. “In this case, literally.”

  Then she glanced at Mia, who waited beside the plunger. “Ready, Mia?”

  When Mia nodded, the sheriff ordered everyone farther back.

  Jennie fought the instinct to yell “Wait!” so she could run inside and get just one thing, but she didn’t even know what that one thing would be.

  Mia counted down from ten. Nothing moved except for the shadow of a passing hawk.

  Jennie closed her eyes. The shock wave rocked her backward. Bits of dirt stung her face and hands. There was a mo
ment of silence.

  Then her pa’s arm slid around her shoulders. “It’s okay, Jennie. We didn’t lose the house.”

  She opened her eyes. The chicken coop had been replaced by a giant hole, but the house stood. Three bedroom windows had shattered, and the wall next to the shed had a crack in it, but it stood. The only real wreckage was the supply shed that had been between the house and the coop.

  “Our decorations!” Jennie exclaimed, remembering what that “one thing” was. “Our table for the dance! Everything was in the shed!”

  She ought to be happy that the house was safe, but all she could think of was the work that had gone into the Riley table: her ma’s playful carved animals, her pa’s crocheted place mats, her own embroidered pillows for the benches . . .

  Dee began to sniffle. “My doilies! I decorated each one!”

  Her father patted her comfortingly. “Tom, I’d like to make certain there’s no structural damage to the house.”

  “I’ll tell Julio to send an alternate team on the afternoon patrol,” said Mr. Preston.

  “Rileys!” her father called. “Nobody goes inside until the carpenters and I have made sure it’s safe. Not even to get your dancing clothes.”

  Jennie ruefully plucked a feather from her overalls.

  Brisa ran up. “I’ll get you replacements!”

  As she tore off, Dee wailed, “I don’t care about replacement chickens!”

  Mrs. Callahan said loudly, “I doubt the Preciados have any chickens to spare.”

  Meredith and Yuki came up next. Neither of them could look Jennie in the eye.

  “I’m so sorry,” said Meredith.

  “It’s okay,” Jennie replied, trying to mean it.

  “It’s not okay,” said Yuki glumly. “I wish there was some way we could make it up to you. Besides cleanup.”

  Meredith smiled. “Why don’t you take a look at my new dress? It’s not finished yet, so you can alter it to fit yourself. It’s dark red cotton. I think it’ll be gorgeous on you.”

  32

  Ross

  MIA TWIRLED IN THE MIDDLE OF HER COTTAGE, HER skirts flaring out. Ross liked the contrast of the petal-pink of all those ruffles with the blue-black silk of her hair.

  “Still looks good,” he said.

  “You look good too.” She peeked out the window. “While we’re waiting for Jennie, tell me what happened while you were in the infirmary. Every time I looked in, you were asleep.”

  “That’s because I slept the whole time, except when your father woke me for meals.”

  “I meant with the singing tree. Did your deal work? Did you have nightmares, or did it leave you alone?”

  “No,” said Ross, after a pause.

  “No, which?”

  “I didn’t have nightmares, but it didn’t leave me alone. Not completely.” It was hard to put feelings, intentions, and images into words. “I did dream about it, but it wasn’t scary or awful. Actually, it was kind of interesting. I guess while I was figuring out how to talk to the tree, it was figuring out how to talk to me.”

  “That’s amazing,” Mia said. “And a little bit creepy.”

  “It’s a lot less creepy than what was going on before.” For the first time since he’d come to Las Anclas, he felt as strong as he had before Voske’s soldiers jumped his claim. His left hand still couldn’t grip, but he was getting used to that, and working around it. He wasn’t tired, he didn’t hurt, he had more than enough to eat and drink, and when the dance ended tonight, he wouldn’t be afraid to fall asleep. It was such a relief that he couldn’t bring himself to worry about what his dreams might mean.

  Jennie knocked and came in. Her dress was the color of red wine—and it had obviously been made for someone much smaller. Every beautiful curve strained the seams, especially in the low-cut front.

  “You look great,” Ross managed, knowing he shouldn’t stare, or at least not at the places where he was staring. He tried to keep his eyes on her face, on the matching threads she had woven into her braids.

  Jennie sighed, stretching the dress even tighter across her breasts. “It’s Meredith’s dress. I altered it, but—”

  “It looks better that way,” Ross blurted out. “It’s great.”

  Mia burst into giggles. A beat later, Jennie joined in. Embarrassment burned through him, but then he realized that neither of them was laughing at him. Or, at least, not in a mean way.

  “Can you breathe?” Mia asked.

  “It’s a challenge,” Jennie admitted. “Come on, let’s go dance!”

  She and Mia each held out an arm and waited, smiling. Ross slowly stepped into the space between them. He slid one hand into the crook of Jennie’s sleekly muscled arm, her skin like silk. His other hand tucked into Mia’s arm, which was as light-boned as a bird’s wing.

  They set out, easily falling into step. As much as seeing his tree for the first time had been a nightmare come true, walking arm-in-arm with Mia and Jennie felt like a dream. He couldn’t help smiling as they entered the square.

  Under bowers of vines, streamers, and hanging baskets of flowers, elegantly dressed people sat at beautifully decorated tables. The biggest and most elaborate was by the town hall, where the mayor and defense chief and their family sat, with Henry Callahan sitting beside Felicité. But though the entire town seemed to have turned out—except for the unlucky handful stuck on sentry duty—none of them were Rileys.

  “My family must still be trying on other people’s clothes,” Jennie said with a rueful glance at the bare table that was obviously theirs. “Let’s go visit yours.”

  Mia’s relatives applauded when they walked up.

  “That’s your mother’s dress, isn’t it?” her aunt asked wistfully. “It looks beautiful on you.”

  “All three of you are beautiful.” Grandma Lee smiled. “Have a seat!”

  “Dante just dropped off his contribution.” An uncle indicated a covered platter. “I’m not sure what it is, exactly.”

  Mia cautiously lifted the lid. The platter was covered with fist-sized balls of transparent gelatin that had fish and flowers of colored gelatin suspended within. “I don’t know what they’ll taste like,” she said dubiously. “But they’re pretty. And they haven’t melted or exploded or burst into flames. Yet.”

  The tables laden with food filled the summery air with delicious smells. “Do people share their food?” Ross asked.

  Mia grinned. “That’s the best part! You’re expected to at least taste as many dishes as you can, and still dance. Try not to explode.”

  Ross swallowed. “When do we start eating?”

  “Not until the dance officially begins,” Jennie said. “I know this one opens with a presentation, because I’ve heard Felicité rehearsing it before school. Oh, there’s my family!”

  The arriving Rileys, in fancy but poorly fitting borrowed clothes, waved back as they made their way to their barren table.

  Yuki hurried up, formally dressed in a black suit. “I owe you for the pit mouth. Take this.”

  He held out a silver statue of a dancer. Ross instantly recognized it as an ancient artifact.

  “Where did you get that?” Jennie asked.

  Yuki pushed the statue into her hands. “It’s the best thing I have.”

  “It’s beautiful.” She admired it, then returned it to Yuki. “I can’t take this. If you help us rebuild the shed, that’s good enough.”

  Yuki gave it back to her. “Just take it for the evening. As a decoration.”

  Jennie smiled. “I would love that. Thank you.”

  Yuki walked away.

  Ross leaned close. “I wonder where he got it. It’s worth everything else here put together.”

  As Jennie went over to carefully set the statue on the Riley table, Mia reached for a dish. “Can I give the Rileys our chili noodles?
They’re Mr. Riley’s favorite.”

  “Of course,” said Grandma Lee.

  “And the fish soup,” said an uncle.

  “And some panchan.” A cousin handed Ross a platter laden with small bowls of kimchi, potato salad, and stir-fried vegetables.

  As they set the gifts on the Riley table, they were joined by Jack Lowell with goat stew and corn tortillas, Anna-Lucia with a peach pie, Ms. Lowenstein with beef brisket, and a sparkling woman with an embroidered tablecloth. Two women in their sixties, one with a crown of white braids and one who looked like she was related to Sheriff Crow, brought a basket of flatbread. Across the square, people rose from every table to offer food and decorations.

  Ross took a step back in alarm as Felicité came up with an enormous bouquet of white roses. She couldn’t expect him to be part of the presentation, could she?

  But she didn’t give him a glance. “Jennie, I’m so sorry about the shed. But you look marvelous. Have you seen Brisa? We should have started by now.”

  Jennie shook her head. “She ran off right after the explosion. She said something about replacements.”

  Felicité headed for the Vardams’ table. Between its canopy of colorful streamers and his embroidered tunic, Mr. Vardam’s chameleon skin made him into a rainbow man. She greeted him, and then turned to Sujata. “Brisa isn’t here. Can you take her place?” she asked. “I can write out her poem.”

  “I hate recitations,” Sujata replied. “Especially unrehearsed. Can I do anything else?”

  “I’ll cut the poem down to two lines. Please?” Felicité said winningly.

  Sujata caved in. “Oh, okay.” They walked away, leaving Ross breathing in relief. It seemed that the visitor’s dance would leave the visitor in peace.

  Grandpa Lee hushed everyone. “It looks like we’re starting. Finally.”

  The musicians played a fanfare. Felicité, Becky, and Sujata walked to the center of the square, each carrying a large bouquet. Felicité’s white bouquet and Becky’s pink one matched their dresses and the straw hats; Sujata was the odd girl out, in a crimson sari and a clashing yellow hat. She held a bunch of yellow roses.

  But the one Ross felt sorry for was Becky, who stood stiffly, her gaze fixed on the ground. Her lips moved, but though the entire town was quiet—the only sound a distant cry of birds—she was completely inaudible.