And what if they really could kill her?
For a moment, Aviva imagined herself leaving with them, selflessly putting away her own needs yet again, as she had all through her childhood during her mother's illness, and as she had as an adult last year when she'd left Shulamit the first time to save her mother's health. She imagined a loveless existence, up in this floating stone prison, cooking for people she hated, with God for her only companion. She imagined cherishing her loved ones, forever taken from them, knowing they'd never imagine why she'd disappeared. She imagined Shulamit trying to lead the royal seder for the first time tomorrow night with tears flowing down her cheeks, choking her until she couldn't get the words out.
Seder...
"Tomorrow night is one of our biggest holidays," Aviva told the aliens quietly.
"What do you celebrate?" asked the commander.
"I'll tell you the story later," she continued with unnatural calm, "and when I tell you, I will feed you the ceremonial food that all of our people eat with the Passover meal."
"You aren't trying to poison us to get away, are you?" asked the commander suspiciously.
"Because we have your queen in our sights!" the ensign reminded her.
"I can see that," said Aviva. "And no, no poison. I promise. Everyone in our kingdom eats it." Everyone except for Shulamit, but she didn't want to get into that.
She turned to go back into the kitchen-house. "I'll let you know when it's ready."
Gritting her teeth, she set to work. It would mean having to reclean the kitchen, even if it worked, but if that meant getting to be reunited with her family again, it was definitely worth it. And with a wry grin, Aviva realized that, in a way, she was glad that her kitchen would need to be scrubbed clean alongside her fellow countrymen's. She supposed that it was only fitting that she participate in the holiday fully like everybody else.
She picked up the bag of flour and concentrated on her task.
Sometime later, Aviva emerged from the kitchen-house carrying a plate of large, square crackers. "We call this matzo," she told the aliens.
The commander eyed the plate with interest. "What is its purpose?"
"To celebrate Passover," said Aviva. "It's all about freedom. And I promise it's not poison." To demonstrate, she picked up the top square and broke off a corner piece.
When they saw her eat, the commander and the ensign both visibly relaxed. They each took a square off the plate and took a hearty bite.
"Uggh!"
"Is this a joke?"
"What is this?"
"It's the most important food in one of our biggest holidays," said Aviva peacefully, a small smile on her face. Inside, she could feel her heart trying to jump out of her throat, but she hoped it wasn't showing.
"This has no flavor!" the commander shouted.
"My mouth has never been so dry!"
"This is worse than the protein coagulants from the spaceship generator!"
"You really eat this?"
"We all do," Aviva said calmly. "We eat it more than once. Tomorrow is Passover."
"What about the next day?"
"That is still Passover."
The commander and his subordinate looked at each other. One didn't need the language boxes to read their body language, and Aviva knew her plan had worked.
"Get back in the kitchen. We're sending you back immediately. You're fired!" the commander barked. "Ensign, make the calculations."
"Yes, sir!"
Aviva scampered back to the kitchen and shut the door behind her, breathing heavily.
"Sorry, Chef! I'm sorry if I'm breaking your heart," called the ensign from the other side of the door. "But I have to follow his commands, you see. Try to console yourself."
"Don't worry -- I will!" Aviva called back, leaning hard against the closed door in case he tried to come inside.
There was a noise like thunder, and Aviva looked to the window. Once again she saw nighttime and palm trees. She rushed to the window and stuck her head out. The kitchen-house was restored to the palace grounds, surrounded by foliage and vegetables, just as it should be.
Pausing only to write herself a note that she needed to clean the kitchen in the morning, she hurried out of the kitchen toward Shulamit's bedchamber.
Captain Rivka was on guard duty that night. "You're up late," said the warrior in a hushed tone.
"Is she safe?" Aviva's eyes were wide, and she could barely get the words out.
Rivka's eyes twinkled. "Why shouldn't she be?" She gestured subtly at her sword. "But, go in and see for yourself."
Aviva flitted inside and approached the bed. Black, curly hair covered both the pillows; Shulamit had fallen asleep in between them. Her chest rose and fell in the peace of sleep.
Safe.
Aviva waved good night to Rivka, who shut the door, and then she took a moment to scrub herself down in case stray particles of flour had hitched a ride. When she crawled into bed, Shulamit awoke just enough to snuggle into her ample curves.
"I missed you," mumbled the little queen. She smelled of fennel seeds, which she had probably been chewing to freshen her breath just before bed.
"I missed you too," said Aviva. "I'll tell you in the morning, but I almost got stolen by the Pharaoh of Locusts."
"That's what locusts do!" Shulamit said sleepily, burrowing her face into Aviva's neck. "How did you get them to set you free?"
"I visited upon them a plague of matzo!" said Aviva with a chuckle.
Tales from Outer Lands Page 5
