Parched by Melanie Crowder

Author:Melanie Crowder
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

21

Nandi

Sarel-girl says, “Come.” Makes pile of water skins. “Nandi, come!”

I turn away. I sit, eyes watching sun-up side.

I do not come.

Icibi, Thando sit, heads swing side-side. Sarel-girl says, “Come,” command of Man-with-whistle.

I say no.

Pups make low whine, uneasy whine.

Sarel-girl flaps arms. Returns water skins to kennel. Sits on ground. Puffs air through nose.

Not anger scent from Sarel-girl. Fear scent. Worry scent.

Buttu bumps water skins with snout. Licks nose. Licks empty trough. Thirsty whine. Buttu lies with Sarel-girl, head on lap. Thirsty whine.

I lift nose, sniff-sniff.

Boy coming soon.

Boy with the water song inside.

Sarel-girl rubs snout of Buttu. Gets up, empties water skin to trough. Pups jump up, old dogs run like pups, slurp-slurp. All drink.

Water gone.

Sarel-girl looks at empty skin, thirsty dogs, throws skin to dirt.

Rustle sound from unwele bush.

Ears prick. Pack all stand and point, hackles up.

Boy steps from bush, stumble-walks. Sun on dark skin, glint-glint.

I stay, tail down, no fear. Chakide, Bheka lie down, ears up. Eyes to me, eyes to boy. Eyes to me, eyes to boy. I lick paw slow, no anger, no fear. Thando, Icibi, Ubali lie down.

Slap-slap-slap. Sarel-girl sees boy, runs to me, eyes, scent, all, fear-fear-FEAR. Shakes like isundu leaf. Points finger, yells, “Attack! Nandi—attack!”

Buttu jumps up, snarls, tail up.

I show teeth.

Buttu lies down, belly to dirt. Bheka whines. Eyes to me, eyes to girl. Eyes to me, eyes to boy.

“Nandi,” Sarel-girl whines like pup.

Boy stumble-walks close. Sour scent, blood scent. Legs thin, wobble like onogola bird.

I stand, walk to Sarel-girl. Look into her fear-fear-FEAR. Walk to boy. Sniff blood at hands, blood at feet. Circle. I stand in front of boy, show to pack.

Bird-legs-boy with water song has come.

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