Strange Noises Fiction by Rachel Greenham

"Sam..." She's sitting by the stove in the kitchen. I've sent Asuti on into the house. "I'm really sorry, okay? I didn't mean to---" "I know." She's still angry then. Do I go to her, plead with her? Would it just make her angrier, saying that I was 'doing the bishoujo thing' again? "You're not going to... go away, are you?" I ask; my real fear. *Don't leave me.* My voice shakes.

The sloop was fine, of course; but by the time we'd satisfied ourselves of that it was too hot to do anything or even contemplate walking back up the hill so we put up the awning and flaked out under its shade on the cabin roof. "We could sail away right now, just us." Asuti suggests dreamily. I chuckle. "I'm tempted." It's not like we're Bound to port after all. All paid up. Let the wind pull on the sails and let the deep draw us on forever.

The next morning Sam and I round up the kids and take them shopping for new clothes; and for clothes for us too; in the daily market. I get the impression Beni and Jalsone and the other mothers are glad to have some time alone away from the kids for a while. Before too long we split into two groups, with Asuti and Ateis coming with me and Garelan and the twins going off with Sam.

Lemior really came through for us. Less than an hour later we're settling into a lovely little boarding house with a courtyard. It's even got a proper bathroom, for Jeodine values of. There are no other boarders. Lemior introduced the middle-aged woman who seemed to own the place as his aunt Jalsone, which was immediately reassuring, especially as it also meant he was happy to stay and keep her company while he waited for us to get ourselves settled in.

At least this time we have some money, as Sam said. Even better, at least this time we have some clue. "No!" Sam calls out to the guy in the robe approaching the bows. "No binding! We're paying fees in advance. Be useful and tie this off." She throws him the bow mooring line. I climb over the side in time to face the official who's come down to the marina portion of the harbour to greet us. Not the harbourmaster himself, by his dress. I've changed into my more formal wear, that I last wore to interview Lotan, I remember. "Welcome to Jeoda," he starts. "Mistress..."

Not only did we sight land, I see when I get on deck, but we're in sight of a pretty sizeable city port. Tall watchtowers stand over the harbour mouth, and terracotta walls and arches and verdigris domed rooftops and trees and pleasant-looking green spaces stretch away from the hidden quayside up and over the valley walls, where it looks like palaces and temples are surveying their domain. "Whoah," I comment. "Anyone know where we are?" I still feel shaky, and try to keep it out of my voice. The view looks familiar. I've been here before, in Taniel's former life.

Tim Manor is torturing my hands again tonight. The cold aching pain as the clamps are pressed shut around my fingers is, as ever, only the harbinger of what follows. I plead. I beg. But I don't resist. There was never any question of resisting. Later I remonstrate. "You're so weak," I tell my parents. My voice is shaking. "You always let them do it. You're so... weak. And you're weak too," I say to Tim Manor. "You're such a weak little _bureaucrat._" I put so much disdain into that word I can't believe it doesn't make him at least flinch.

Three minutes later everyone is on deck. Then Beni goes downstairs again, because her baby is crying. "But we've got to go to Taka'utuk!" Chirasel is insisting. "The Satthei will go there!" Sam just looks at me. I point forward. "The falcon bears a message. I have to follow where it leads." "Is it sent by the Satthei?" Chirasel asks, full of hope.

"What are _you_ doing here?" That's Ateis's voice, up on deck, calling me into wakefulness with the incongruity of what she just said. I'm in my bunk, and it's very early in the morning. "You're not supposed to be here!" *Who's she talking to?* I think, sluggishly. I look around. Sleeping forms, but there's Sam waking up as well. We look at each other, then she turns herself over and starts opening the forward hatch from the inside, quietly. I get up and move aft to the cabin door, then look back at Sam as she stands up slowly through the hatch, then squats down again.

Sam emerges out into the cockpit again a little later. "Asutan, get below. Beni says it's your bedtime." Asuti groans. "Go on," I say. "I don't need you now." I smile. "Sorry." She sighs. "All right." And goes below. Sam sits next to me. "You still need to be up here? Can anyone else hold course?" I think about it. "I guess they could, as long as the wind holds up. How are things downstairs?" "Settling in well. They've made up a bunk for you. You're sharing with Ateis, just starboard-aft of the bow bunks. Beni and I are in there." "Oh. Okay. Ateis being good?" "Yeah."