Page 2 (1/1)

Only when he finally addressed thelaise did their eyes li CtheEARS stand, theft to meet his "I have many fine fabrics," he boasted in an effort to draw their attention, and hopefully their wallets "Silks and wools of the finest quality" And beneath his breath, but still loud enough to be heard, "And relanced across the swell of tired faces crowding theback atthe corners of h he couldn’t hear what I said, he understood rinned back atup all over his head I know, he h his left cheek His warolden eyes sparkled

Mylady Watch your language"

I sighed, turning away froe"

"You knohat I mean I don’t want to hear that kind of talk from you, especially in front of your sister You’re better than that"

I stalked inside, taking shelter fro sun My little sister sat at one of the e back and forth as she bobbed her head and pretended to feed the threadbare doll perched on the table in front of her

"First of all, she didn’t hear it," I protested "No one did And, apparently, I’m not better than that" I raiseddown the tables "Besides, he is an ass"

"Charlaina Hart!" My s of Parshon, just as they always did when she lost her patience withwith her towel "She’s four; she’s not hard of hearing!" She threw a glance toward ht pouring in through the s

My little sister never even looked up; she was accustoh for school, she’ll learn better ainst s like that; we both knew Angelina wouldn’t be going to school Unless she found her voice soon, she wouldn’t be pered stiffly "Like you said, she’s only four," I answered in Englaise

"Just get out of here before you’re late And don’t forget: we need you to work after school, so don’t go home" She said this as if it were unusual I worked every day after school "Oh, and make sure Aron walks with you; there are a lot of new people in the city, and I’d feel better if the two of you stayed together"

I stuffeddown in front of Angelina as she silently played with her dolly I kissed her on her cheek, secretly slipping a piece of candy into her already sticky palm "Don’t tell Mommy, B821 Mommy,&8221; I whispered close to her ear, wisps of her hair tickling my nose, "or I won’t be able to sneak you any more Okay?"

My sister nodded at , but she didn’t say anything She never said anything

My o "Charlaina, you have your Passport, don’t you?" It was an unnecessary question, but one she asked daily, every tied at the leather strap aroundthe ID card tucked withinwas as warelina, re her one last time that we had a secret to keep, before I hurried out the door and into the congested streets

I raisedto Aron as I passed his father’s shop, signaling that he should meet me in our usual spot: the plaza on the other side of the h the bodies, re a time--before the threat of a new revolution--when the streets were not so crowded, when the marketplace was simply a place for commerce, filled with the smells of smoked meats and leather and soaps and oils Those sled with the scent of unwashed bodies and desperation, as the e for the country’s unwanted, those poor souls of the Serving class who’d been forced from their homes when trade lines had been cut off by the rebel forces When those they served could no longer afford to keep them

They flocked to our city for the promise of food and water and medical care

Yet we could scarcely house the froht not have noticed it if the ti weren’t so uncanny: "ALL UNREGISTERED IMMIGRANTS MUST REPORT TO CAPITOL HALL"

I clutched the strap ofand kept ed fro in front of the fountain in the plaza, waiting for me For him it was always a race

"Whatever," I rin fro "I refuse to say it"

He tookback at me "Fine, Charlie, I’ll say it: I win" Then he reached into his own bag, which was slung across his shoulder Behind us, the water froIt’s silk"