LITMIR.BIZ

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community and the auchs are bigger, stronger and faster. They are far more able to do the work, but we help where we can. This leaves us with much free time.”

      Marie served the tea and Camille raised the cup to her lips. It had a sour citrus flavour but was quite refreshing. Something nagged at her about Alayna’s statement. “But what of Aiyu and his family?” she asked. “If auchs need the closeness of the community then why have they isolated themselves from it?”

      “As far as I can tell,” Alayna said, “Aiyu and others like him have volunteered for this isolation as their work for the community. Their stories say that many generations ago an auch known as Ngai the Great led them away from humans to hide in the mountains and for all these generations the auchs have lived with the fear that they will be discovered. Families agree to live above the great cliff they call the Edge and watch for any possible intrusion by humans. I do not know why, but their distrust of lowlanders, as they call us, is a major factor of their lives. Some families may last there for five or six seasons but most only stay for one or two. When they can no longer tolerate the isolation, another volunteers to replace them.” Before she could ask any more questions Camille heard voices outside. The door opened to reveal two more women with arms full of vegetables who were thanking someone out of sight. They shut the door, stopping when they saw Camille. “For pity’s sake close your mouths and come in,” Alayna snapped at them. She turned to Camille. “These are the other two of our little group, Lysandra and Yvonne.” Each of the women smiled as they were introduced. “This is Camille. Now put those down and get yourselves some tea so she can tell us her story. We have waited long enough for you to get back.”

      While they poured the tea Camille watched them. Lysandra was a hard-looking woman with short black hair. Her dark blue dress was decorated with a light blue lace frill at the neck, cuffs and hem. Yvonne was much prettier, with long red hair falling over her shoulders. She wore a green blouse and pants with calf-high boots. The blouse was embroidered with the insignia of a tree on the left breast. When they sat, Camille began to tell her story while the women prepared the vegetables that Lysandra and Yvonne had brought back. They questioned her as she spoke and offered opinions throughout the tale. They offered sympathy at the news of the death of her mother and were surprised at her ability to outdistance and elude the hunters. With numerous interruptions the meal was cooked and eaten before Camille finished with her arrival at Konungssonur and her meeting with Obiri. Her mind was taken back to her mother again because meeting these women raised the problem of her mother’s words. She asked a question of her own. “My mother wore a similar dress to yours,” she said to Marie. “Are you also gifted with healing?”

      “I am,” Marie answered simply.

      “When our powers begin to mature at about your age, someone with the knowledge provides us with the clothing that tells others of these powers,” Alayna told her. “Each of us has different skills and our clothes are representative of these.”

      Camille looked at the women sitting around the table. “Can you tell me what my dress means?” she asked.

      Alayna’s face saddened. “That I cannot do, child,” she said. “If I were to tell you what your powers were, it would restrict your mind to my vision of your abilities. None of us know the extent of another’s powers. You must discover your own path and not restrict yourself to the limitations of other’s expectations. But I can tell you that your powers are becoming obvious to you because you have been given the dress. You must look to yourself and see what is there.”

      Camille knew that, as with her mother, there would be no further discussion on the subject. “Well, can you tell me what your skills are?” she asked.

      “All in good time, child,” Alayna told her. “Now it is time to rest. Tomorrow I will show you Konungssonur. For now you will sleep in Lysandra’s bed. She will share with Yvonne.” Camille protested that she would not put anyone out. “Don’t be concerned,” said Alayna. “She spends most nights in there anyway. I’m sure neither of them will object.” Yvonne and Lysandra both dropped their heads and laughed when each noticed the other.

      True to her word, on the next morning Alayna took Camille walking around the city. She found it bigger than anything she had ever seen or could have imagined, but everything looked the same and she was soon lost. At one point she looked down from the galleries to see that they were above the lake and she could see fish feeding on the weeds and shellfish living on the city’s pylons. At other times they walked above rocks and stones. “How are you finding your way around?” Camille asked. Alayna told her that she had no idea where they were but that she recognised some of the buildings.

      “Don’t worry,” she said. “The auchs will see us home.”

      Time passed slowly for Camille. Life in Konungssonur was uneventful. It seemed to her that the other women spent their lives preparing meals and eating them, or drinking tea. She was becoming restless after being idle for five days. It gave her time to think but thinking only brought back memories that she wanted to forget. She decided that the time had come for her to do something so she rose early on the next day, left the rooms and walked to the nearest junction of galleries where she looked to see if there were any markings to indicate where each led. There were none that she could see so she walked to the next junction. Still she could see nothing to indicate where she was or where the galleries led. She backtracked and returned to the rooms.

      When the others had risen she asked them, “How do the auchs find their way around the city?” Their answers were all similar. The auchs will tell you they just know and they are unwilling or unable to explain it further. “I will find out how,” she promised. Marie’s smile was one usually reserved for small children declaring they can achieve the impossible, and the indulging looks of the other women only helped to make her more determined. She rose and stamped out of the rooms, slamming the door behind her. Standing on the gallery, she wondered what she would do now. She had not stood there long when an Auch appeared and asked her if he could be of help. “Can you tell me if Aiyu is still in the city?” she asked him. The auch didn’t answer immediately but looked around the galleries. Another auch quickly approached and she asked her the same question.

      “Yes. Aiyu still in Konungssonur,” she replied.

      “I am Camille, a friend of Aiyu. Can you please take me to him?”

      “I am Feeta. I take you to home of Aiyu,” the female auch said and turned to leave. Camille turned to thank the first auch but he was disappearing along another gallery so she hastened to catch up to her guide. They had not gone far when Feeta knocked on another plain wooden door. When it opened and Aiyu saw Camille, he smiled a big toothy grin.

      She accepted his invitation to come in and have some minted water while they chatted and thanked Feeta for her assistance. She quickly turned the conversation to the subject of navigating the city. “When I was coming here,” she said, “the first auch I spoke to did not know if you had left the city. Then another was able to assist. From that I assume that auchs do not talk to each other with their minds.” She waited for his reaction.

      “Auchs no able talk with minds,” Aiyu agreed.

      “So how do you find your way around the city?” she asked.

      “I just know,” he told her with a shrug.

      “I know that you just know, but how?” she pressed.

      Aiyu tried to explain. “I want go somewhere. I know I am here. I just go.”

      Camille tried to think of another way to ask her question. “How do you know where your house is? Stop. I know. You just know.” She thought through her question and rephrased it. “If you want to go and see Obiri, how do you know how to get there?”

      Aiyu considered his reply. “I am here. I know where Obiri live. I just go.”

      Camille was becoming frustrated with his answers, or lack of them. “But if I wanted to go and see Obiri,” she asked, “how would I get there?”

      Aiyu’s face lit up as he answered, “I take you.”

      “You will not take me,”

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