Mind Thieves by Julie Rollins

Author:Julie Rollins [Rollins, Julie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gyroscope Books
Published: 2020-01-04T22:00:00+00:00

7. Stalling

Travis poked at the fire, stirring up a storm of glowing embers in the hearth. “I can’t believe the Kelshi let you into their group so easily.”

“I’ve met Steve before,” Andrew remarked. “And Betty put in a good word for me previously. She prepared the way for me in case she was compromised.”

“So, why did you come to Esther’s when you were looking for Betty?”

Andrew stretched his feet toward the fire. “Esther’s cottage is a safe place for Orion hunters to stay. We visit her from time to time to check up on her.”

Travis eyed Esther’s sleeping form on the roughhewn wooden bed. “Why does she call Vadelah David ‘yarama’?”

Andrew glanced at Esther as if to reassure himself she really was asleep. “When Esther was born, her parents discovered she was mentally deficient. She was slow. Well, they didn’t want a ‘damaged’ child, so they decided to leave her in the woods near Jason Peak for the scavenger animals.”

“That’s terrible!” Travis breathed.

Andrew nodded. “Castulshep would be an appropriate word too. But the practice was legal on Nama. Well, an Orion hunter happened to catch the couple abandoning the child, and he confronted them. They threatened to turn him in for interfering with their childbearing rights.”

“Bancrek spawn!” Travis fumed.

“The Orion hunter begged them to give him the child. They agreed provided he took her to a place far away from any human colonies. As long as they lived, they must never see or hear about her again. The hunter had a family of his own, and he needed to stay at his post on Nama, so he sent word up the chain for help. Another hunter came and took the baby away. Esther lived on Dalena with Vadelah David.”

Travis drew in a sharp breath. “Dalena? The phantera planet?”

Nodding, Andrew stroked his graying beard. “By the time Esther was grown, both her parents were dead … and childless. They’d sent away the only child they ever had. So, Vadelah David had Esther brought back to Nama. The resident hunters built this house for her and looked after her needs—although as you can see, she’s pretty self-sufficient.”

“But where did she come up with the tea?” Travis asked.

Andrew chuckled. “Remember, Vadelah David knew Todd Fox, the warrior-cook, personally. The vadelah knows more secret recipes than any man alive. He showed Esther how to grow and blend teas.”

Travis stared into the flames as he pondered this. “I hope the other Kelshi workers are doing all right,” he said eventually.

“I sent word this morning to the other towns, asking for help.” Andrew shifted his weight in the stiff wooden chair. “I heard Dylan got Betty.”

Shuddering, Travis buried his head in his hands.

“It’s not so bad,” Andrew hastily amended. “She’s shook up, but her mind is clear. I watched as she talked with her friends at the Naharam Alliance Meeting Place.”

Travis released his breath like a leaking balloon.

“The landing strips are pretty quiet,” Andrew continued. “Only domestic flights are allowed. No one can come in or go out.

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