Why The Sister Moons Swallowed Rage (eBook)

2. The Lomaz Frost-coat

With urgency, Bray gripped the gate wire next to Sabienn and implored to the woman. “Ma’am, please. We need to show you something.”

The woman before them was done with convincing. She turned and shouted again, “Police!”

From his pocket Bray retrieved the photo of the girl and Sabienn hit the photo with the light of his torch. “Ma’am, please,” called Bray. “Look at this.”

The woman turned to them and squinted her eyes to see what was held. When she realized what was in the photo, Sabienn watched her face recoil in disgust. “You’ve been spying,” she said. “You weird little creep.” She turned again. “Police!”

“This photo,” called Bray, “is thirty years old. It was taken from a Captain. He was killed in the Bol War.”

Before them the woman’s resistance seemed to soften a little as Bray continued, “There’s a note with it.” He produced the paper of soft words from a young girl and waved it for her to see.

“Anyone can make a letter,” said the woman.

“Signed Troot,” said Bray holding the paper.

There was an audible gasp from the woman. As she came in closer, the words were illuminated for her perusal. “Where’d you get this?” she said.

“From the pockets of the man who killed him,” said Sabienn. He had a clear memory of the vision he had of Sergeant Oololo killing the Turr Captain and remembered the moment the four of them dug up Oololo’s buried body from the shooting pits.

“I’ll ask you one more time,” said the woman now up in Sabienn’s face. “Where did you get this?”

Sabienn looked into the eyes of the woman. They were tender brown eyes with laugh wrinkles but she was not to be trifled with. “I wouldn’t believe us either,” he said. “But everything we said is true.”

“Ma’am,” said Bray bringing the paper up to read. “These words are at the bottom. “Lit a candle. Whole family. Theatre closed. Kept people out on Crate Street. All Port Leer up in arms. You know my sister.” Bray paused briefly to note the police were making quick time up the alley towards them. He continued, “Shake had another litter. More cats, no food, all happy. Changed hinges. Door opens wider. Come home.” Does that make any sense?”

The words still ringing in the air left the woman dumb-struck. Her eyes were wide and her mouth was open as she faced the boys.

The first policeman arrived puffing and trying to keep his cap in place. “You called?” he said reaching the woman’s side to secure her from harm. His eyes moved to the occupants of the cage and in the dim light of the torch he made out the features of Bray. “Oh.” He turned to the woman. “Looks like you’ve done our work for us.”

Sheepishly the woman looked to the ground and cleared her throat. “There’s been a mistake,” she said quietly.

“I caught them, officer,” said the young girl excitedly. “I got them for you.”

“Well good for you,” said the second officer, patting the girl on the head.

At that moment, a shot was fired from behind the officers. The bullet struck within the enclosure Sabienn was standing in and split a cardboard box above his head. A can of fruit must have been split as a spatter of something thick and liquid hit him in the back of the head.

The reaction was immediate. The officers dropped to the ground to take cover. The woman grabbed her girl and pulled her to the side of the alley and fell on top of her. It left the four men in the cage to crouch with nowhere to hide and no shield to save them. Sabienn could see they were like fish in a barrel waiting to be skewered.

Another shot rang out. Sabienn saw the flash of the barrel at the street end of the alley. The bullet struck again above his head. This time a metal on metal clang as it hit the sturdy shelving.

“This guy’s a terrible shot,” said Sabienn.

“You hoping for improvement?” said Stork.

“Wish I had a rifle,” said Deep.

“You and me both,” said Sabienn and turned to the woman shaking on top of her daughter. “Let us out.” The woman was in her own zone of abject shock. “Hey,” called Sabienn again.

At the side Bray found boxes which he quickly pulled to stack before them. He was mechanical in his actions and Sabienn watched hopelessly as a protective barrier of toilet paper got built between them and the prospect of a hard metal death.

Another bullet hit the metal shelf, this time closer to their heads.

They all reacted by dropping closer to the ground. “Better,” shouted Stork, as if not to wound their assailant’s self-esteem.

One of the Turr police officers then found his sidearm. Sabienn watched the man roll over on his paunch, take aim at a harmless bin and shoot its lid off.

It had the effect of a massive clang that made the shooting stop. In the distance at the alley mouth, the shadows of two figures retreated to the road. The second officer looked to the safety of the woman before being summoned by the other to make cautious tracks toward the alley mouth.

The woman roused and spirited her weeping daughter to the doorway of her premises. The door slammed and the alley was silent.

“Hey,” cried Sabienn. He looked towards his fellow three captives who were just as stunned as he was.

“Secret Police,” said Deep quietly looking toward Sabienn. The recipient of Deep’s glowering look was expecting another Sharpen up. But the big man just turned and looked to the brick wall.

All of a sudden, the theatre door opened again and the woman reappeared. Sabienn watched her shocked face half in shadow. With heavy breathing and quick glances, she rattled a chain of keys and walked quickly to the cage. The lock clanked open. She then retreated quickly to the safety of her theatre and the door closed. All was quiet again.

“Thanks,” said Stork to his friends, watching where the woman had gone. “It was nice chatting.”

Sabienn worked the gate open and with the others following went to work the door where the woman disappeared. It was locked.

“Let’s go,” said Stork. “I’m sick of it.”

“We need to move,” said Deep.

“I still have this,” said Bray, holding the thirty year old photo.

“Someone’s coming,” said Sabienn. The men pressed against the wall. They looked at a figure moving towards them along the alley. It was a diminutive figure fully cloaked carrying something in both hands. From the dim light, Sabienn made out that it was the woman’s daughter. And she was carrying a big white cat.

When she met them, she was no nonsense. “Everyone, please,” she said. “Hands out.”

They looked at each other but obliged. She was configuring the cat for them to pat it. Each man took turns to extend their hand to the large feline’s coat. Sabienn rubbed the cat’s neck, followed by Deep then Bray. When Stork stretched his hand out, the cat in a majestic gesture jabbed its paw out for the hand to go no further.

“Thank you,” said the girl. “All of you follow.” She turned to Stork. “Except him.”

The friends looked at one another. “Are we miffed?” whispered Sabienn to the man rejected by a cat.

“Suits me,” said Stork. “I’ll keep watch.” He shook his head. “Cats.”

The three chosen ones followed the girl back through the front of the premises. She led them through a door which opened to the glow of a myriad of lit candles. They entered the room and saw a pathway through the burning.

“Please,” said the girl. “Follow me.” She urged them to let her take the lead through the well-lit path. She still held the big cat which appeared asleep and Sabienn could see the girl’s features were clear and strikingly pretty. “We need to burn the bad luck off you,” she added and walked towards another door.

As he passed through, Sabienn looked around and saw pictures interspersed within the candles. They were framed photos of Turr people in portrait. Many sat stoically staring at some camera with their resplendent ears on display. As his eyes made a quick search, he saw a man whom he recognized through his vision. It was the Turr Captain in full uniform whom he had seen be killed by Sergeant Oololo at Second Best Hill. The face within the photo was smiling toward the side and seemingly content with his world.

The door opened and as they entered, Sabienn saw the girl’s mother seated and weeping softly into her hands. She looked up in shock at the presence of the intruders.

“What’re you doing?” the mother cried out to her daughter. “No, Lim. No. They shouldn’t be here.”

“It’s OK, Mama,” said the young girl with wisdom. “It’s like what you said about the air. When the hot wall meets the cold wall, the rain must fall. You have the sadness. I’m bringing the wall. They’ve been chosen.” The young girl lifted the cat. “Spill likes them.”

There was a tap on the door jamb to the rear of them. Sabienn turned to see a worried Stork. “Hey,” said Stork. “Police are back. Move.”

With a quick move, Lim placed Spill on the floor and moved to face Stork in the doorway. “Sir,” she said as she grabbed the door. “You’re not allowed.”

“What?” said Stork. But the door shut on his perplexed face and was then locked secure.

Sabienn looked to his friends and they looked back in concern. The police would be here in a minute and he knew they needed to move.

“Ma’am”, said Sabienn in his best Turr. “Why’re we here?”

“I don’t want you here,” said the woman.

Bray held the photo from his Oololo package and Lim noticed it. “That’s...