Journey by Marta Randall

Author:Marta Randall
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 1978-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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Dr. Hoku sat in a place of honor, convenient to the punchbowl, and observed her patients with a quick, exacting eye. She considered everyone in Haven her patient, including the kasirene from the neighboring village, and she watched them all. Old Ved Hirem stumped by and nodded to her; Ved was still convinced that he suffered from arthritis, although if he had arthritis, she had wings. She dosed him with analgesics and harsh words, both of which he took with ill humor. She nodded back to him and grabbed a passing child.

"You're Kridee, aren't you?” The child nodded. “Right. Go fetch me more punch."

The child took the cup and scampered toward the table. Born on a cold winter's night, Hoku remembered. Rain on the roof and his father moaning and gnawing at his fingers. Healthy baby. Kridee brought her punch, and she ruffled his hair and sent him on his way.

Hart and Gren entered, and Hoku watched them, her face calm and her mind suspicious. Gren was negligible, had been for the past five years, and she suspected that Hart had something to do with the old man's incessant drinking and cringing demeanor. She'd have given a lot to discover what the two of them were up to, there in Hart's basement, but suspected that she'd just as soon not know. Gren's mind was so befuddled by alcohol and what tasted like fright that she could not read him, and Hart projected a cold sarcasm that kept her at bay, as his earlier, total hatred had blocked her. Gren and Hart walked to the table and took plates of food, then faded into the crowd. If this BeginningDay was like others, they would eat together, sit making unpleasant comments about the celebrants, and leave well before the dancing started. Hoku grunted and turned her attention elsewhere.

Hetch getting fat again, and fatter before the night was out. Second helping piled on his plate, third or fourth stein of beer, and the party barely started. She considered summoning him, then decided against it. He could fast next week; let him enjoy himself tonight. Cagy, space-bound old bastard. She liked him.

Jes glided by, dressed in finery, and Hoku nodded. Expectations confirmed. He would be out to impress Taine. And where was Taine? There, by the tables. She, too, had seen Jes enter, and, to Hoku's surprise, she left her circle of admirers and crossed the barn to Jes, touched his arm, and smiled at him. Hoku frowned. Something had changed in Taine. The young woman had become even more unhappy beneath her layer of frosty reserve; then within the past day the unhappiness had changed to something with the flavor of intense resolution—something to do only peripherally with Jes, Hoku guessed. She wished that she could talk with Taine, but Taine avoided Hoku whenever possible and refused even the smallest attempt at intimacy. Hoku wondered whether Taine remembered those two weeks at the Great Barrier camp, remembered Hoku's forcible besmirching of her face and hair.

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