Page 106 of Earthbound

She could see the set of his jaw as he looked back at her.

‘Understood,’ he said.

He stepped out into the light, Yeeran in his shadow. The first thing Yeeran noticed was that the sunlight still looked strange to her. She looked up and realised that the mouth of the tunnel was entirely encased in cloth, as though funnelling anyone who entered and exited.

Smart, she thought. It allows them to control Mosima’s entranceway. Though cloth isn’t exactly the most robust material.

A squad of soldiers stood in front of them, their hands poised above their drums. It was such a strange sight with the cloth draped above them. It reminded Yeeran of the travelling players in Gural who would erect temporary stages.

She imagined the soldiers launching into dance and an unbidden smile split her face. It froze a moment later as a projectile of drumfire whizzed past her cheek and she felt a sharp sting.

Yeeran! Pila’s panic was as bright as Yeeran’s pain.

She put a hand to her cheek. It was hot and wet, and when her hand drew back it was red.

Something, no, someone, rushed past her and out towards the soldiers.

Pila, stop!

The obeah growled and bared her teeth in front of the soldiers. Thirty drums ready to strike her.

‘Do not fire!’ Malak shouted.

‘General Malak?’ one of the soldiers called out. ‘Is that you?’

‘Yes, Colonel, and former Colonel Yeeran, who has been granted immunity by me in exchange for my freedom.’

Yeeran knew Colonel Reena, her glossy white hair recognisable even at a distance, though she’d been a lieutenant when Yeeran last saw her. To rise through the ranks so quickly in a single year said a lot about the state of Waning. They had come up together in the army’s training regime. Reena had been good at drumfire, better than good. But Yeeran had been exceptional.

‘What about the obeah?’ Reena asked.

‘Do not harm the obeah,’ Yeeran and Malak said at the same time.

There were titters amongst the soldiers, and Reena hesitated before asking them to stand down.

Pila was still growling softly.

Come stand with me, Pila, Yeeran said. I’m all right.

They hurt you.

They did. Yeeran could still feel the blood trickling down her face.

I kill them now?

No, Pila.

Just one?

No, Pila.

Just a bite?

No, Pila.

A nibble?

No, Pila.