Strange Noises Fiction by Rachel Greenham

“Well, girls—” Hajarean starts.

“Watch it,” Sam warns. She’s nearly asleep.

“Hehehe. I need to head back up the hill. If I’m much later I’m going to be early.”

“Okay,” I say. “I’m glad we caught up with you at last. It’s been great talking, catching up on things—”

“Oh, I hope this isn’t it!” Hajarean objects.

“I don’t know what we’re doing, long term. I don’t think we planned on staying here for good.”

“Well, as long as you are here, you must come up for a proper visit. I promise I’ll be more welcoming this time.”

“That’s good to know,” I say. Smile.

“In fact, we’re having one of our semi-regular parties in just a few days. I say party, it’s just family and friends, whoever’s in town, expressly not for politics or business. You’re very welcome to join us.”

“Thank you.”

“And I do mean all of you. Bring the kids, and the girlfriends,” he adds with a sly look towards Sam. “And I am being serious,” he continues. “We three are unique in this world, as far as I know. We should be family. I think you two already are, I’m so glad.” He smiles. “There’s so much more to talk about, there’s so much I want to show you. In fact… Why don’t I send a carriage down to get you? How many of you are there again?”

“Uh, eleven, including the baby.”

“I’ll send the big carriage,” he says, grinning.

“What’s Hanima going to say?” Sam asks, slightly more awake after the last exchange.

“Hani? She’s the one who made me come down here and talk to you after what I did earlier. I’m so glad she did. She knows… about me,” he said. “Well, she accepts it, I’m not sure she believes it, entirely, but I know she’s curious to meet you too.”

“Okay,” Sam says.

“Oh and Sam, you are not to attempt to seduce my wife.”

“Would I do such a thing?” Big wide sleepy grin. “You’re just scared I’ll succeed.”

“Petrified,” Hajarean says dryly. He smiles fondly and gets to his feet. I stand as well and show him out through the courtyard as far as the outer door.

“Are you sure you want to walk home this time of night?” I ask. The first light is touching the sky.

“The city’s never lovelier,” he says. He turns to look at me. “You really did finally learn to make tea,” he says.

Then he’s gone. I lock the door and head back into the kitchen. “Come on, Sam. Go to bed.”

“Mnh, I’m comfy here now.”

“And you’ll have a sore neck in the morning when Jalsone comes down and wakes you up, and you’ll be grumpy at everyone all day. Come on. I’ll help you take your boots off so you don’t wake Beni going upstairs.”

“Ohhhh, I meant to—”

“Yes well, it’s too late now. Foot.”

She raises a foot and I start unbuckling the boot.