Download - Unspoken - Short Story

7/31/2019 Unspoken - Short Story

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A LynburnLegAcye-original short story

SummerBeforeI MetYou

The

Sarah Rees Brennan


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I go to you ceaselessly along dream pathsOnono Komachi

The rst thing Liz thought when she saw themwas: Those girls look like they stepped out o amovie.

Liz had agreed to be the coach or the cricketcamp on a whim. Shedplayed cricket or years, inschool, through college,and shed been a teachingassistant and a residentialassistant at college too.

Now it was time to bedone with college

and make a decisionabout her lie, andshe didnt want

to go into Mumsbusiness right away. TheFeatherstonehaughswere amily riends,

albeit amily riendsnobody in the amilyactually liked.

The news that

they were lookingaround or a nice,responsible girl to

coach thirty kids incricket near a cute little

town in the Cotswoldsseemed like a sign romabove. Or at least like anexcellent opportunity to

put o any decisions or one last long summer.Liz had been promised two local assistants;

when she arrived and saw the Sorry-in-the-Valewoods, lush and green and going on or miles,

with promise o hidden lakes and elds o lavendersomewhere, she made a private selsh resolution topush o as much responsibility as she could on thegirls and go hiking.

This was beore Clarice Featherstonehaugh hadtold her that the girls were arriving that evening andshe would have to manage the kids alone all day.

Sitting on the steps o one o the kids cabinsthat evening, listening like a rightened rabbit orone o the tiny horrors to make any noise, Liz nowthought she knew what war elt like. When the car

drove up, she had to restrain hersel rom throwingher body on the hood and crying out Saved! Imsaved! My deliverers!

The impulse to all on them with embracesaded as soon as the rst girl got out o the car.

She was intimidatingly and unquestionablybeautiul, hair a shimmering black veil, scar ascarlet trail that streamed out and mingled with herfying jet-black locks. She was wearing sunglasses,and she leaned against the car as i she ound theprospect beore her atiguing.

Liz had known the two girls were coming inthe same car, but shed expected a mix o theiramilies; instead, ater a moments puzzlement, sherealized that the rst girl, the beautiul one, wasalone. The amily was all the second girls: an olderAsian woman with a deeply lined ace and a severeexpression; an Asian guy and a gorgeous womanwith bronze-colored hair who Liz thought were theparents; and two little boys, one with black hair and

TheSummer Before

I Met You


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one with bronze. Liz stiened at the sight o them;shed had enough children or the day.

The second girl had climbed out with therst but then proceeded to perorm an elaborategoodbye dance with every member o her amily.

When the two girls stood together, they really

did look like something rom a movie. The secondgirl looked like the gooy sidekick, short and alittle plump, more colorul and less dignied thanher riend. She was wearing a hat that looked likea daisy, yellow on top with a plastic white-petaledbrim, and a yellow skirt covered in daisies.

Liz got up and introduced hersel as ElizabethWatson, shaking hands with the adults and tryingnot to look too young or overwhelmed.

Im Jon Glass, said the Asian guy, who lookedyoung to have a teenage daughter. This is my

mother, Megumi, and my wie, Claire.Thanks so much or bringing the girls, saidLiz. I cant wait to get them settled in and tell themall about the camp and the kids here.

The beautiul girl pushed her sunglasses araction down her perect nose and gave Liza supremely unimpressed look. Im AngelaMontgomery, she drawled, barely making theeort to part her impeccably glossed lips. And Imnot interested.

The second girl chased the boy with bronze hair

like his mothers, a lovely light brown mingled withrusset and gold tones that looked better on ClaireGlass than on a skinny little kid. Once the girl hadcaught him, she kissed him soundly our times onhis ace until his glasses were lopsided.

Bye, brat, she said, and then turned to Lizwith a smile, sunshine that thawed Liz rom thedeep reeze o Angelas regard. Im Kami Glass.

Im pleased to meet both o you, Liz said, andKami took Lizs hand and shook it rmly.

I have so many ideas or the camp, she said.

Seriously. So many.Under the daisy hat was a small, pretty ace,

a pointed chin and dark eyes that were slightlystrange, dreamy and giving the impression o beingocused elsewhere. But over all o it she wore anexpression o enthusiasm and determination thatLiz ound almost as intimidating as Angelas chillydemeanor.

Shes going to be a great help, said Claire

Glass.Plus its nice to be rid o one o them, Jon

Glass added. I was araid wed have to put them alldown the Hope Well to get some peace and quiet.

Megumi, the older woman, shook Lizs handwith the same rm grip as Kamis.

I have no doubt Kami is going to be a greathelp, she said. But you should watch her everyminute.

Obaasan! Kami protested.Every minute, the grandmother insisted. She

means well but she should not be let out alone.All right, everybody, go away, I have things to

do and Im tired o your aces, Kami announced.She captured the other brother with more ease thanthe rst; he turned his ace up or a kiss with a grin.She saved the goodbye to her grandmother or last,

holding on to both her hands. You take care oyoursel until I get back,.Take care o your spirit, Kami, said Megumi.

And dont burn the place down.The girls collected their suitcases, and Jon Glass

gave Angela a arewell shoulder squeeze; Liz hadto admire his courage. Kami grabbed both thesuitcases and headed or the cabin she was sharingwith Liz and Angela. Liz walked with her, and ontheir way Kami stopped.

My Sobo was exaggerating, she said earnestly.

There have been very ew res.

*

It was not an auspicious beginning, butseveral days passed and Kami did the work othree assistants, which was excellent becauseAngela declined to do any work at all.

This our-hour space or activitiesevery second day, Angela said. I ndthe wording suspicious. Activities besidescricket, and nature walks, and play time?

I suspect a conspiracy o activity.She was lying down on a bank,

regarding the summer eld ullo children with disdain. Shelooked deeply relaxed,and her clothesmoreexpensive than Lizsclothes, and Liz hadalways thought


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she wore pretty nice clothesseemed immune tograss stains. Possibly the grass was araid o Angela.

Liz was tempted to join her, but it seemed meanto leave all the work up to Kami, who was runningaround with hoops and skipping ropes, yellinginstructions and darting between them at intervals

to join in the conversation.So why did you sign up to assist at cricketcamp, Angela? Liz asked, standing uneasily on thebank.

Kami made me, Angela said. Crossing her ismore trouble than doing what she wants. Shes veryannoying.

And Angela is my very best riend and wantsme to be happy, Kami put in, throwing a plastichoop like a lasso.

And I am her only riend on account o she is

peculiar in her brain, Angela said disdainully. Andshe is my only riend because I hate everybody.Kami bit her lip at the rst part o the sentence,

but ater an instants pause she smiled. Liz didntthink Angela even saw the instant o dismay; Kamibounced back rom anything and came at it twiceas hard.

Except or me, Kami said.Well see, Angela remarked darkly.Kami avored Angela with a smile o especial

aection, as i Angela had said something nice to

her, and then turned to Liz. Do you have any ideasor activities time? she asked. Because i youdont have a preerence, I have a ew. I was thinkingwe could get the kids to record their time here indiaries to be shared. Sort o like a public record: thecricket camp dailies, i you will.

That sounds okay, Liz said doubtully.Great! said Kami.Angela covered her eyes. Someone stop her,

she moaned. Can nobody see shes a monster?Kami gave her nger guns.

I cannot believe you just did that, Angela saidater a pause. Apparently she could see through thebarrier o sunglasses and her own arm.

Finger guns are okay i theyre ironic, Kamiclaimed. Which those were. At least seventypercent ironic. Thats irony maths.

Some o the Sorry-in-the-Vale kids, who werea pretty tight-knit bunch, seemed to be playing askipping game. Liz heard them chant as they kept

time with two girls jumps.

Forest deep, silent bellsTheres a secret no one tellsValley quiet, water stillLynburns watching on the hill

Apples red, corn goldAlmost everyone grows old.

Whaaaaaat? said Liz.Its better than the one where ater a hundred

jumps everyone gets to pull Sara Mannings pigtails,Kami said. Loads o kids in Sorry-in-the-Vale singit.

Its one o the quaint town customs, Angelasaid. Like inbreeding.

My grandmother is rom Japan, Kami pointed

out. Chances are, Im less inbred than you. Angelathinks shes ancy because she was born in London.I think Im ancy or so many reasons, Angela

murmured.Whats a Lidburn? Liz asked.Lynburn, said Kami. Lynburns watching on

the hill.The town the camp was closest to, Sorry-in-the-

Vale, was set in a valley. From certain points at thecamp, they could see most o the town rom above,but when Liz looked in the direction Kami was

pointing, she saw that one house was higher thanthey were, set on a rise and looking over the valley.Liz could only see the back o it, gold stone andglinting windows, but she could tell that it wasmassive.

They were the towns leading amily.Until the two Lynburn sisters disappeared,Kami said with satisaction. Its a mystery.Aurimere House has stood empty oryears.

Except or miscreants who break

in, said Angela.Angela, I would never, Kami

exclaimed. I tested a ew doorsand looked in a ew windows.There are no laws againstthat, I am pretty sure.

She saw thatsomeone had becomei n e x t r i c a b l y


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tangled in her skipping rope and ran o to rescueher.

Sometimes Kami said disquieting things, butshe was undeniably ecient and enthusiastic. Lizbegan to relax.

That turned out to be a mistake.

*

Nature walks sometimes extended to Marchton,the town next to Sorry-in-the-Vale. I the kidsbehaved in an exemplary ashion, they were allowedto buy one sweet each.

There were more than thirty kids to keep tracko. Liz was distracted enough that she didnt noticeany warning signs, didnt even notice the guy in thethick coat near the cash register until she heard oneo the children scream.

She looked over aisles o cereal and babysupplies and saw the glint o a knie. She also sawKami and Angela immediately pushing the childrenback.

So ar, so good in a terrible situation, but thenLiz saw Kami catch Angelas eye and raise hereyebrow. She saw the shallow dip o Angelas headin response.

Kami few at the guy. He stumbled backwardand into Angela, suddenly on her hands and kneesand providing a trip wire. He ell fat on his back.

Angela, rom her position on the foor, placed ahand on his chest. Kami planted her oot, wearinga pink rubber sandal tied at the ankle with blackribbons, rmly on the wrist o the hand that heldthe knie. Then she stooped and conscated it.

These arent toys and nobody should play withthem, Kami told the kids. Now, whos going towin the race to get to the phone and call the police?

It all ended well. But Liz had thought or aminute that she was going to have a heart attackat the age o twenty-three, right in ront o the

cornfakes.

*

You two have to know things dont alwayswork out, she told Angela the next day. You cantjust do stu like that.

I dont do anything o my own accord, Angeladrawled. Thus I dont know why youre talking tome.

Liz looked over at Kami, who had just steppedup to the wicket and was swinging the cricket batand laughing.

Come on, she called, dark hair gleaming inthe sun and eyes bright with a challenge. Come atme.

Best to let her have her way, Angela said.Now, i youll excuse me . . .She opened a ashion magazine and started to

read it. Eventually the concentrated orce o herdisregard caused Liz to get up and help Kami.

Liz was not the only one worried by Kami andAngelas little escapade.

It was evening, and the kids were all drawingtheir most memorable moments o the day. Liz wasmystied by the amount o glitter guns required; ithad been a day largely without glitter.

Sara Manning put up her hand. Can I draw myinvisible riend? she asked.Uh, well . . . , said Liz.Yes, absolutely! said Kami. Important part

o your day, am I right?Here we go, murmured Angela, sitting at a

table. She had orbidden any o the kids to sit withher, though a couple o ten-year-old boys werestanding at a distance observing her with respectulawe.

Dont listen, Kami said, and smoothed a

protective hand over Saras pigtails, her dreamyeyes even arther away than usual. I you careabout him and he makes your day better, whatdoes it matter what anyone else thinks?

Sara gave Kami a puzzled look. Mindy isa girl, she said. Also, she is a giant invisibledragon who watches me always and waits tofame rom her mouth at all my enemies.

Well, o course, Kami responded,unazed. Sounds very useul. Cant thinkwhy I dont have one like that. A dragon

is undeniably the most awesome animal.Flames and fying. Two great tastes thattaste great together. Far superior toman.

Im going to need alot o orange, said Sara.Like, a lot.

Liz was worryingthat Sara was


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a bit o an Angela in the making, when she hearda car outside. She didnt think much o it, as theFeatherstonehaughs were always making weirddrop-bys to use the printing roomthey seemedto be printing a ton o fyersexcept that Angelastood up, looked out the window and let the room.

Angela doing something even vaguely activewas noteworthy enough that Liz went out too.The car outside was battered, not one o the

Featherstonehaughs cars, and the two boys besideit were denitely not the Featherstonehaughs.

One was short, wearing a Che Guevara T-shirtand eyeing Angela with interest. The other, tall andextremely handsome, had his arm around Angelasshoulders. Previous to this, Liz would have imaginedthat to be a quick way to lose an arm.

The boy looked like Angela, except that he

had a red glint in his dark hair and a riendly,approachable expression.Who is this lovely lady? he asked, and smiled

a smile that made Lizs knees liquey in a gentle,pleasant sort o way. And wheres Cambridge?

Rusty, you didnt tell me your sister was sostunning, said the boy in the Che Guevara shirt.

Rustys terribly orgetul, Angela purred.Her smile suggested a tigress that had somehowacquired lipstick. I bet he also didnt mention thatI stick pins into the eyes o everybody who annoys

me. In the land o the blind, the one-eyed man is theman who was wise enough to only annoy me once.

My sister Angela, my riend Claud, said Rusty,looking amused.

I never like your riends, and I dont know whyyou keep collecting them, Angela announced. Itsnot like you get a prize with every dozen.

I got the charm gene, Rusty said.And I got the brains, Angela retorted.Rusty grinned again and kissed the side o

her head. Seriously, though, he said. Wheres

Cambridge?Oh my God, Rusty, said Kami rom behind

Liz. What are you doing here? Go away.Cambridge at last, Rusty said. How many

times must I tell you not to attack armed elons withyour bare hands, young lady? Come to my arms.

Kami strode past Liz, over to Rusty, and punchedhim in the arm.

Youre meant to be in Kingston getting settled

in, she said. You cannot ail out o another year,Rusty. You cannot be a college dropout.

But why not? Rusty asked her plaintively. Icould nd a kind, intelligent lady to keep me in astyle to which I could quickly become accustomed.

No intelligent lady is going to get mixed up

with a guy who dropped out o college due to sheerlaziness and having the drive o a broken tricycle,Kami told him sternly.

But consider my beauty and charm, Rustysaid. Could I not be a gorgeous trophy or hershel?

I bet she could nd a gorgeous trophy with acollege degree, Kami said. Ladies love graduates.

Are you okay? Rusty asked. Are you bothokay?

Fine, were ne, stop yammering on about it,

we used all the sel-deense moves you taught us,and besides, it happened yesterday, leave the past inthe past and stop obsessing. Since youre here, willyou help me with some ladders?

I dont know, Rusty said. Ladders are heavy.What will you do or me i I do? Can I stay ordinner?

What do you want to do with ladders? Lizasked uneasily.

Its a surprise, Kami told her. A surprise withlots and lots o ladders. Youre going to love it, Liz.

She looked disappointed by everyone elses lack ovision.

Claud, whom Liz had noted noticing thearrival o a cute Asian girl who was beingdismissive toward his handsome riend, at thispoint raised a hand. I could help you withyour ladders, he volunteered. I you want.

Thank you, said Kami. That isexactly the kind o spirit I like. Who areyou, helpul stranger? My names Kami.

Im Claud, said Claud. Rusty

didnt tell me he had such pretty riendsback home.

Rusty and Angela both lookedoutraged. Kami, who had notbeen present to hear Claudsrst version o this lineor his rebu, lookedsurprised andpleased. Faint


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pink crept into her cheeks.I can help with the ladders, Rusty oered

hastily.No, no, said Kami. I have Claud now. Claud

and I have it well in hand. Wouldnt dream obothering you.

She pulled Claud around the back o a cabin.But what are you doing with all those ladders?Liz cried ater her.

I told you that your having riends was a badidea, Angela told Rusty. But would you listen?No.

*

Rusty and Claud came back several times overthe next weeks. Rusty did not appear to be settlingin at college, and Claud, in Lizs expert opinion, was

the kind o guy who dated girls a bit younger, girlswith less experience who would buy his act morethan girls his own age.

Liz wasnt sure i it was Claud ollowing Rustythere, or Rusty ollowing Claud, but Claud wasat least getting Kamis attention out o his visits.Rustys only net gain was the company o his sisterand the acquiring o many, many miniature cheese-and-cracker boxes.

Rusty was crazy good-looking and only threeyears younger than Liz; being honest with hersel,

Liz had to admit i hed tried he could have gottenher ull attention. But Rusty seemed to have a policyo never trying at anything; he drited through lielike a handsome cloud, lazily firting and neverollowing through.

Kami was reading a book Claud had given her:Ayn Rands Atlas Shrugged. Not sure about thephilosophy o slaughtering all the useless people inthe world, was her verdict. But I enjoy the pirate.

Her new romance was not holding Kami backeven slightly rom her projects with the kids. Which

was why Liz had to spend a day listening to thereports on what kids considered newsworthy items.

I believe what youve just described, Sara,is attempted murder, Kami observed as SaraManning sat down. Well done! Strangulation witha skipping rope is denitely news. In act, I believeits a headline. However, its also a crime; pleasedont do it again.

Sara preened. A boy with red curls, who at nine

years old was the youngest kid in the cricket campand called Clive Green, stepped up to his audience.Kami, undaunted by sixteen reports so ar, sat upstraight and gave an anticipatory futtering clap. Liztried to look attentive. Angela was already sleepingon the desk, black head cradled in her arms.

Hem-hem, said Clive. Last night I woke upand needed some water. But we are orbidden toleave the cabins and go to the kitchens during thenight. But . . . I needed water.

A dilemma o our times, Kami murmured,making a note.

I went out to get the water, Clive summed up.I knew it was wrong and I didnt care! While I wasout with my waterand okay, Kami says we haveto disclose details that might be pertinent, so Illadmit I got a ew crackers while I was thereI saw

two cars drive up near the cricket pitch. A lady gotout o the car and it was Mrs. Featherstonehaugh.I gured she was here to print more fyers becauseshe always does, so I hid. But she didnt print morefyers. A man got out o the car and she gave him apacket and said, These passports look better thanthe real thing. Then he gave her a packet. It waslike a really boring game o Pass the Parcel. Theyboth got into their cars and drove away, and I wentback to my bunk with my water. And my crackers.I also brought some cookies. This is the story o

how I escaped detection, and you cant punish meor it now because Kami said she would treat thesereports as under the seal o the conessional.

Clive looked expectantly toward Kami orapplause.

Kami had dropped her pen. Liz wasclutching the side o the desk. Even Angelahad lited her head rom her arms and waslooking slightly dazed.

Huh, Kami said at length. Guys,remember that un game we played

beore, about who could be the astest tocall the police?

*

I didnt cause this,Kami said. Im nota master criminal.I havent beencountereiting


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papers using a cricket club as a ront.I didnt say you had been, though I wouldnt

put it past you, said Angela. I said that ocourse this happened. Because this kind o stualways happens around you. You are a beaconor weirdness. You are fypaper or reaks. A bird

bearing weird tidings fies over your head.Kami, unusually or Kami, did not respond. Liz,Kami, Angela, Claud and Rusty were all sitting atthe kitchen table, watching the news report o theFeatherstonehaughs arrest.

Liz had never been so embarrassed in her lie.She just hadnt wanted to be an actuary quite yet;shed wanted a last summer o. She hadnt wantedto be mixed up in a crime. She was such an idiot;her mother was right, she didnt know what wasgood or her, and she had proved she couldnt make

adult decisions.The cricket camp wasnt ocially closed yet,though some parents had taken their kids away.

Its possible you were a little impulsive, honey,said Claud, reaching out to squeeze Kamis hand.Next time maybe call me and ask or some advice.

Dont, Kami said absently, pulling her handaway and rowning at him.

Rusty and Angela were both glowering inClauds direction. Kami didnt seem to be payingmuch attention. Her strange eyes were more dreamy

and distant than ever; she seemed removed romthem all.

Liz supposed that was how it was with peoplelike Kami: either all the way switched on, or all theway switched o. Liz was disappointed and sorrytoo.

But she wasnt going to let a twerp like Claudmake Kami eel bad, and besides which, she wasworried about Angela and her brother committingmurder.

She reached over and touched Kamis shoulder

lightly. You did the right thing, Kami.I know I did, Kami said, still absently. But we

have to gure out how to turn that to our advantage.We have to gure out how to make the story ours.

Apparently by we she meant I, or at leastdidnt mean any o them, because a second later herace lit up and she darted out o the room.

Claud had the expression o a man who had notonly bitten o more than he could chew, but had

bitten into a stick o peppermint that he was nowworried might be dynamite.

Serves you right, Rusty told him.Clauds mouth was turning toward something

like a pout. I thought we were riends.Well, Rusty said, Ive taken against you.

*

I dont know, Liz, said Kami the next daywhen Liz asked her what activity shed like to dowith the kids. Why dont you pick? What do youeel like doing today?

Liz clutched at her empty cereal bowl. Angelacradled her coee mug to her chest as i it were herbaby.

Kami sat with her cup o coee and a piece otoast spread with strawberry jam. She was wearing

a headband with plastic strawberries attached, anda pink T-shirt with an upside-down rainbow on it.The big rainbow smile looked menacing somehow.

What have you done? Angela said.Not sure what you mean, pal, Kami said.They heard the sound o a car outside. Liz and

Angela both scrambled to their eet and ran to thewindow.

Liz glanced over her shoulder and saw Kamismiling happily as she ate her toast.

Once Kami was quite done with breakast she

came outside into the chaos she had created. Liz wassitting in the dirt trying to calm Sara Manning,who was in tears and pulling out the hair in herpigtails.

Please dont let them take away ourcricket camp! she said. It and dragons areall I live or!

And then Kami and Angela tackled acriminal, said Frank Fairchild, lookingover to Kami or approval. She gave him atiny nod. They are tireless in their purse

suit o justice, he added.Pursuit, Kami murmured.Thats what I said, Frank told

her.Did you and this other

girlAngelaactuallyapprehend a criminal?

Oh yes.Angela, come


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here and tell them!Angela came, looking homicidal but undeniably

photogenic. Kami linked her ngers with Angelasand smiled.

There are police records, Angela grated out.Go away and check them.

We only did what we had to do, Kami saidearnestly, swinging Angelas hand. We had toprotect the kiddies.

Liz was still staring in horror when a dierentreporterapparently several had received exciting-sounding anonymous tipscame over to her andsaid, Several o the children have described you asa mentor and an inspiration.

They what? said Liz.She wondered i they had been sning glue, but

she knew glue was not the real culprit. She knew it

was Kami.Though it was a black and midnight hour,I sensed something was aoot, and my cricketinstructors and my mum taught me to be a bravecrusader in the ght against evil. So I went out anddiscovered Mrs. Featherstonehaughs dark deeds. Iwouldnt call mysel a hero. Clive Green lookednoble. But you could call me a hero. Like Batman.You could write that down in your newspaper i youwant.

Did you prepare those childrens statements

or the press? Liz asked in despair once thejournalists had let, many hours later. Everyone waslying around in heaps except or Kami, who lookedas i she had had a marvelous time and couldnt waitto do it again.

They were sitting outside the cabin. Angela waslying on the steps above them, either very graceullypassed out or making a beautiul corpse.

I told them they had to tell the press the truth,Kami declared. And I might have made a ew smallsuggestions about how they wished to present the

truth.Small? Liz asked.Kami held her ngers a raction o an inch apart,

and then threw her head back and laughed.Truths important, she said. So is

presentation.Some o the journalists had already talked about

sponsorship or the cricket club so they could nishup the month. Liz would look something like a hero

instead o a screwup.She elt ashamed worrying about how she

looked, when this kid who was still in school haddone something about it.

You always believe in yoursel, dont you? sheasked a little enviously.

Kami smiled, her eyes looking strange again.Someone believes in me, I guess.And nothing deeats you.I dont know why anything should, Kami

said. I dont see why anything should even slowme down.

*

Liz wasnt there when it happened. Theywere doing a project where they stuck leaveson cardboard and hung them all over the walls,

making their rooms orests. Kami and Angela weresupervising the sticking and Liz was escorting thekids on lea-collection duty. This mostly meantwatching everyone like a hawk to make sure theywould not climb trees.

When she got back to the cabin, the phone callhad already arrived. Kami had already hung up thephone.

The rst thing Liz heard as she and the childrenclimbed the cabin steps was Kamis voice, cold andalmost shrill in a way it had never been beore..

Dont touch me! she said. Dont comeanywhere near me.

Liz bolted up the remaining steps and threwopen the door, but the only ones in the roomwere Kami and Angela. Kamis hands werethrown up, protecting hersel, and Angelasace looked helpless and young.

It was Kamis ace that was the mask,still and cold. She turned toward Liz andthe children and Liz saw her eyes gleamin that mask, living and hurt, but no tears

ell.I cant be near any o you right

now, she said. I cant bear it.I want to beI want to bealone.

She pushed her waybetween Liz and thekids, hardly evenhaving to push


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because they were all so stunned by the changein her. Her wet eyes were somehow piercing anddistant at once, looking over a thousand cold milesand never at you.

It was ridiculous: this was small, sweet andslightly absurd Kami, but something about her at

that moment sent a chill coursing through Liz, likea ghost whispering the time o your death in yourear.

The door slammed and Kami was gone.Angela, pale and still looking vulnerable, as i

only she or Kami could remain guarded at a time,said, Kamis grandmother is dead.

Kami had seemed utterly beyond comort, socertain that she wanted none o them. Liz wouldnot have thought that it would be Angela who wasless sel-sucient in the end, Angela whom she

wanted to take in her arms.Angela remained Angela, and a moment latershe gave Liz a look that suggested she certainlywould not welcome any embraces. She went andstood at a window, looking across the way, into thedepths o the woods where Kami had disappeared.

*

Kami was gone or a long time, so long thatthe sky was going a little dark over the trees, as isomeone had spilled black ink into its clear pale

blue. Night and clouds were both closing in, andKamis amily was coming.

Rusty got there rst, driving as i he was in ahurry or the rst time Liz had ever seen, his carsailing in on a cresting wave o gravel. He was outo the car almost beore it had stopped, and in thecabin a ew moments later. Rusty could move whenhe wanted to.

I thought that car was Clauds, Angela saiddistantly, still at the window.

It is, said Rusty. I requisitioned it. Where is

she?She said she wanted to be alone, Liz told him.Kami might need time alone, but her amily was

coming and they would be rantic i they couldntnd her. And Liz was the adult here; she wasresponsible or Kami and Angela, just as much asshe was responsible or any o the kids.

Ill go get her, Liz said, and was surprised tohear her voice so rm that neither Angela nor Rusty

argued with her, but instead gave her lost looks as ithey were glad she was in charge.

O course, that meant that Liz had to leave thecabin and company to go into the woods under thedarkening sky.

She had taken the kids on nature walks a dozen

times, but she had never walked through thesewoods alone, and never so near to night. Liz wasmore o a city girl, used to the clean lines o a worldbuilt to order, and she ound hersel uneasy underthe whispering shadows o the trees.

She had always thought o hersel as a naturelover. But there was something about the woods aslight was dying. The sunset made a cluster o darkleaves above Lizs head look dipped in blood, andin the stretches o space under the leaves the lighthad turned gray and green, every hollow a pocket o

darkness, like seeing underwater.All she could see, all that let her know the woodswere not the whole world, was the high goldenshape o Aurimere House beyond the trees.

Lynburns watching on the hill.She called out Kamis name a ew times, but the

leaves seemed to hush her, and she walked on insilence.

She stumbled on Kami almost accidentally,as she might have discovered a fower or a plant,something that belonged there and would not

answer her.Kami was sitting in the shadow between the

curve o a quarry and the rush o a river. She hadher knees drawn up, her long white skirt poolingaround her and her eet tucked beneath it, herace in her hands.

She was crying, but ar more disquietingthan that she was talking. Sot pieces owords slipped out between her ngers, andLiz only caught some o them.

She was talking to somebody who was

not there.Liz elt the shock o it strike through

her, ollowed switly by anotherthought: that it was normal,that it was sad and sweet,ollowed again by deepunease as she listenedand realized thatKami was not


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talking to her grandmother.The things Kami had said over the last weeks,

little careless things, came together in Lizs mindand ormed a terrible picture. Liz thought o Kamiseyes and their blind and distant look.

Blind to what was real, she thought, pushing

back people to go and indulge in madness in thewoods. This brave, smart, unny girl, and when shewas pushed to extremity, this was where she oundhersel.

Kami wrung her hands, head bowed, and talkedto the woods and the sky as i they were a person,someone with her and able to oer comort nobodyelse could.

Quietly, hardly daring to trust her voice, Lizsaid her name.

Kami lited her ace rom her hands. Her eyes

still looked dazed, dazzled, a thousand miles awayand sae there, tears marking her ace and hersituation dawning on her anew: bereaved and alonein the woods, young and shivering with shock aswell as pain.

Come on, sweetheart, Liz said. Your amilywill be here soon. Theyll want to see you.

She expected a resh burst o tears, but Kamisurprised her again. She paused briefy, then set herjaw in a determined line and scrambled to her eet.Yeah, she said. Youre right. They will need me.

So I have to be there.When Liz tried to put a hand on her shoulder

as Kami went past, Kami smiled at her but movedaway, her shoulders squared, making or the cabinlike a woman on a mission.

The Glass car was outside the cabin, and Lizand Kami both quickened their pace. Kami gotthere beore Liz did, and by the time Liz was at thedoor she saw Kami standing in the middle o thefoor, hesitating.

The black-haired boy was in Claire Glasss arms,

weeping openly, and the boy with his mothers hairand glasses was in Jon Glasss. Both her parentswere looking up at Kami and Kami was wavering,caught in a moment o obviously painul indecision,as i she was not used to being the odd one out, as ishe had always had someone to go to beore.

Rusty and Angela were leaning back against thewindow. Rustys ace changed when he saw Kamis;he straightened up.

But it was Angelaaloo, superior Angelawho crossed the room like a missile and almostcollided into an embrace with Kami. Kami madea quick, sot exclamation o surprise, but her armswent around Angela immediately, ngers grippingthe shoulder o Angelas shirt tight, Angelas long

raven-black hair mingling with Kamis shorterglossy hair, black shot with brown, even mixed soeasy to tell apart, so dierent. The two girls clungtogether.

Hey, Kami, Angela said. Dont run o likethat. I thought you were lost.

Im sorry, Kami said. No. Im right here.Angela let her go ater a minute, but ater the

embrace Kami seemed steadier, as she had aterher t o madness in the woods. It had also givenJon and Claire Glass the minute they needed to

extricate themselves and bring both their sons overto Kami, so they could all converge.Kami went to her ather, holding on to the collar

o his shirt and smoothing his hair back, more like amother than a child.

Oh, Dad, are you okay?Oh, Kami, said her ather in the same tones

shed used, a sad, aectionate mimicry. Dontworry about me. My girl.

They held on to each other a moment, the boywith glasses between them, Kamis other hand

curled around his thin shoulder. Then Kami wentto her mother, trying to soothe her as well, tryingto manage everything and not getting a momentalone with either parent.

She didnt notice Rusty or a while, andwhen she did her eyes narrowed.

What are you doing here?College is so boring, Rusty said

plaintively.You didnt bring Claud, did you?Nah, said Rusty. But I stole his

car.Fantastic, Kami told him. When

you ail out o college, you can turnto a lie o crime.

She tried a hal-smilethat didnt quite work out,and Rusty punched herin the shoulder.

Thanks or


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coming, Kami said, and turned back to her amily.Ater a while, they let. Kami told Liz thank you aswell and promised she would come back soon.

Actually, Ive ocially quit college, Rusty toldhis sister as the Glass car drove away. He slouchedat the window with the sunset bringing out the

red glints in his hair, his easy drawl belied by thetiny line etched between his dark brows. It reallywasnt going well. And I pine, thinking about youand Cambridge having adventures without me.

*

Liz had assumed Kami would not be back, butapparently Kami always kept her word and liked tokeep busy. Only a ew days ater the uneral, whichthe entire cricket camp attended with a solemnitythat Liz did not have to enorce, Kami came back.

She seemed much the same, resolutely so. I hermoments o distance were more requent and camewith the shadow o sorrow on her ace, Liz wouldhave assumed it was natural, i not or her glimpseat Kami unguarded in the woods.

Liz tried to think o a way to bring it up, butshe didnt know how. Kami seemed all right; sheinstantly threw hersel into preparations or theleaving dance, and was very reproachul about Lizand Angela not thinking to acquire more tinoil,drums and gummy bears. Liz was very concerned

about what she was planning: the words gummybear piata did nothing to assuage her ears.

She held the ladder or Kami as Kami axedthe piata to the ceiling, despite her misgivings.

Nice skirt, Liz said, since she was eye levelwith it; it was black and rilly, done up with brassbuttons. Claud coming down?

Yes, I was thinking wed make out passionatelyon the dance foor in ront o the kids, Kami said.Twining around each other like eels in love. Eelswho have moves. Thats cool, right?

Sounds educational, Liz observed.No, said Kami. We broke up. He came to

see me a couple o times at the house, and it didntgo well, and . . . I think we broke up. He stoppedcalling me, and I stopped calling him and stoppedwanting him to call. It was all a bit anticlimactic. Iwas kind o hoping my rst breakup would involveme slapping someone in the ace with a napkin andpouring red wine over their head.

Someday, Liz oered.I think its or the best, Kami said. He was a

tool, wasnt he? And everybody knew but me.Liz was tactully silent. Kami climbed down the

ladder and gave Liz a bright smile.Its okay, really.

You sure? Liz asked. Its normal to like guyswho seem to like you; its normal to want to beloved.

Kami raised her eyebrows. Im sixteen, shesaid. Im not looking or love.

Oh, said Liz. Uh, what are you looking or?Cheap thrills, mostly, said Kami, and laughed

at the look on Lizs ace.Liz worried that she was becoming a maiden

aunt who was scandalized by the childrens ways.She and Kami walked out o the partied-up cabin

to the eld where Angela was meant to keep thechildren contained; Liz hoped there had been noatalities.

The thing is, Ive got love, Kami said. I guesswhat I wanted was . . . to be chosen. The guys inSorry-in-the-Vale think Im weird. Kami liteda shoulder uncomortably. More than weird, Iguess.

Liz remembered Kami, deep in the woods,talking to someone who was not there. She saidnothing.

Plus standing next to Angela really puts me omy game, Kami said. My gentleman-killer game.But lie isnt as un without Angela, so what areyou going to do?

Take a break rom guys or maybe a week,Liz advised. Always worked or me.

Yeah, relationships arent all theyrecracked up to be, Kami said. All Hey,watch it, busy hands, naughty places.She paused or a pensive moment. ThatClaud was such a prude.

Kami looked very pleased aboutshocking Liz twice in one conversation,and by then they had reached Angelaand the kids.

Its not okay or youto leave me with themor more than twentyminutes, saidAngela.


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Did you lose any o them? Kami asked.I have no idea, said Angela. I have taken

great care to learn none o their names or aces.Good enough! Kami announced. Party

time.

*

Angela, said Liz, could you maybe pretendthat youre at an actual party?

Angela, who was lying back in the dark withsunglasses on and had cruelly turned down ninetwelve-year-old boys or a dance, raised hereyebrows over her sunglasses. This is how I behaveat an actual party.

This is true, Kami admitted. Sad but true.Clive Green, who had been standing at a

distance regarding them with a thoughtul air, came

to a decision and marched over to the group.Kami, he said. Would you like to dance?Kami beamed. Usually I like my men the same

way I like my bank accountin double digits. Butyou take what you can get. Lead on, Sir Clive.

Oh no, here we go, said Angela.Kami danced the same way she did everything,

with boundless enthusiasm and little regard or therules. Liz watched careully in case one o her failingarms hit a child. Angela pushed her sunglasses upher nose and turned her ace away.

Good heavens, Cambridge is dancing, saidRusty rom behind them. Liz barely jumped; he hadbeen haunting the place even more now that he wasocially out o college and back in Sorry-in-the-Vale. Rusty regarded Kami ondly and added, Ihope someone has saeguarded the valuables. Wantto dance?

He was holding out his hand to his sister, Lizrecognized, and was slightly disappointed. Butthey were sweet together, both good and graceuldancers, their perormance considerably more

languid than Kamis. Rusty grabbed Kamis handand twirled her on the dance foor; all the kids werelaughing, Rusty, Angela and Kami included, and Lizcould see several o the girls sidling over to Rusty.Smart money was on Sara Manning.

Everyone seemed okay. Liz went out or a breatho air, sat on the steps and called her mother. I a girlsix years younger than she was could be sure aboutwhat she wanted, Liz could be sure enough to say

what she didnt want.They talked a bit about Liz coming home, about

seeing her sister, and then Liz said, I was thinkingabout doing some work experience next, since Idont want to join the rm.

Her mother hesitated and did not, as Liz had

expected, protest. I thats what you want, sheanswered at last.Yes, said Liz. It is.And there was no more argument, the subject

she had been dreading closed once and orever in amoment. Liz sat on the steps eeling mildly stunned.

Kami poked her head around the door.Hey, she said. Everyones wondering where

you are. Clive has tossed me to one side like a soiledglove and has a gleam in his eye, seeking resh prey.What are you up to?

Nothing much, Liz replied, smiling at her.Just eeling generally good about lie.Kami looked up at the darkening sky. The sunset

turned the irises o her strange eyes briefy scarlet,and Liz wondered i she was talking inside her headto someone who wasnt there.

Lizs worry evaporated when Kami smiled inreturn. Me too, she said. Rusty brought someexciting gossip back rom Sorry-in-the-Vale. Hehears that the Lynburns are coming back. I cantwait. I bet theres a story there.

Liz got up, dusting o her jeans, and walked inwith Kami to rejoin the dancing and the laughter.

Best o luck with your story, she said.

Text 2012 by Sarah Rees Brennan

Illustration 2012 by Beth White


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