The Blending Time by Michael Kinch

Author:Michael Kinch
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: young adult, teen fiction, fiction, teen, teen fiction, teenager, drama, fantasy, urban fantasy, dystopian fiction, speculative fiction
Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
Published: 2010-09-30T16:00:00+00:00

HOUSECALLS

“If we do not change our direction, we are likely to end up where we are headed.”

—Chinese proverb

When the camp men went on their daily raiding missions, Mai-Lin began to pay visits to their women. Although Chinese New Year had passed two months ago, she announced that it was this week and carried a tray of rice cookies and a pot of tea from house to house. She did this with great caution—sipping tea, letting the women talk, and gently edging the conversation to the real topic.

Zetta Cristobal whooped when Mai-Lin finally revealed the plan she and Reya had devised. “’Bout damn time some girl got brave ’nough for this. What do you want me to do? I can shoot a gun. Drive a lorry, or I—”

Mai-Lin’s eyes brightened. “You drive?”

Zetta nodded furiously. “I worked on ostrich ranch when a girl. Before wars I drove lorries to market. I am a good shot too. Kill many hyenas.”

“Can you drive Crawler?”

“Lorry, Crawler all the same. Gears gonna be different, but I don’t sweat.”

Mai-Lin approached Flora Andula with greater caution. A tall, regal woman, Flora bore tribal scars like chevrons on her cheeks. Camp rumor said she had been a village shaman before being taken. Flora rarely smiled or mixed with the other women.

Mai-Lin found Flora out back taking laundry from the line. Flora looked at the plate of rice cookies. “What do you want?” she said unsmiling, tossing undershirts in a basket.

“It is Chinese New Year. Cookies are big tradition.”

Flora unpinned a sheet and folded it. “I see you making many visits in camp.” She put her fists and on her hips and glared down at Mai-Lin. “What do you really want?”

“You tell me first. What do you want, Flora? What you do want most of all?”

Flora glanced behind her and hoisted the basket onto her head. “Come. We better talk inside.”

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