Heart of Crystal by Shirley E. Watson

Author:Shirley E. Watson [Watson, Shirley E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, mystery, fantasy contemporary
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty Four

Harry could be heard rattling pots in his kitchen and a pleasant smell of cooking drifted out to the two visitors. He called out, "Dinner will be ready in a few minutes. I've had to learn to cook, living on my own. I don't think you'll be disappointed."

He came out of the kitchen carrying a large dish which he placed on the table and waved Zee and Lucinda to sit down. Lucinda, especially, was eyeing the plate which Zee though was a meat pie of some kind. It sure smelled good. Harry used a spoon to put portions on plates and handed them around. Lucinda eagerly tasted a spoonful and said it was delicious.

"Thank you. I'm glad you like it," Harry said, watching Zee also try his dish, then give him a thumbs-up. "I thought you might be hungry by this time. And," he went on, serving himself a portion of the pie, "you're going to need to stay here tonight. Anywhere else would be too dangerous. The Hadad are out there enforcing the curfew."

He looked at Zee and Lucinda, who were watching him. "Yes, curfew. It has come to that. To be out after a certain hour means you will be stopped and your papers examined. And I don't have to tell you that you need papers to prove you belong here and not only who you are but what you are supposed to be doing."

"That's bizarre," burst out Zee.

Harry shrugged. "I can tell you live in a free country. You don't know what our lives are like now. We have little privacy and no rights. The Government, meaning Erebus, has complete power. Of course, to keep down riots, they assure the people that they will be taken care of. That's how Erebus won over the population. He promised them that things would change and be better for them. I don't know who believes that any more, but what can they do about it now? It's too late. Or almost too late." Harry grinned. "They didn't reckon on me, and now you."

Lucinda drew a breath and her eyes looked fearful, Zee thought, glancing at her. He said, "Maybe Lucinda should leave."

Lucinda now looked angry. "Of course not! I'm sorry, Zee, but that's insulting."

Harry was apologetic. "Zee is right. This is not the place for a woman."

Lucinda almost spat the words. "I'm NOT a woman. Well, you know what I mean. I'm a SOLDIER!"

Harry sat back as though to avoid the sparks. "Well, all right, then."

Zee concealed a smile. "Lucinda is my colleague in the Sky Patrol, Harry. I just thought I'd give her an out if she wanted one."

"I DO NOT." Lucinda replied.

"Moving on," Harry said, giving Lucinda a sidelong glance, "I've been thinking for a long time of how to get the better of Erebus."

Zee said, "Just to get it out of the way, aren't people saying that is an impossible task?"

"Well, that's what Erebus wants us to think, so we'll lose hope. I like to think that he's not as clever as he wants us to think.

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