Part 27 (2/2)

The dismal procession continued. Nish was looking for someone who had been in authority and was still strong and capable. He planned to ingratiate himself, which was not going to be easy people would be more suspicious than ever. Failing that, after his accidental success with Colm he would try to find a child to befriend, in order to get into the good graces of the parents.

Hours went by. He kept watch for Colm and his family but did not see them. Nish saw few people who looked more competent than himself. However, around midday his eye was caught by two girls, about twelve years old, coming up the road arm-in-arm. They looked to be identical twins. Both had the same coppery-brown wavy hair, the same dark eyes and st.u.r.dy figure. Each was dressed in plain green blouse and pants, their faces s.h.i.+elded by broad-brimmed hats. Their little packs were identical. Superficially they could have been any children on the road, but their clothing was of fine weave and well cut. But they were alone, and that was no good to him. No point, if they had already lost their parents.

One of the girls was limping. She sat down on a stone at the edge of the road, not far away. Taking off her boot and sock, she inspected a blistered heel.

'I don't think I can go much further, Meriwen,' she said. 'My foot really really hurts.' hurts.'

'Remember what father said. If we were separated we must keep going, and never never stop, until we get to Kundizand. He will find us there.' stop, until we get to Kundizand. He will find us there.'

'My foot is killing killing me.' me.'

'It's not far, Liliwen.'

'It is! It'll take us all day and half the night.'

'The sooner we start the quicker we'll get there.'

'You sound just like Mother,' said Liliwen crossly.

Another group of refugees, wearing straw hats and labourer's drab, pa.s.sed by. No one gave the twins a pa.s.sing glance. The world was full of lost children.

'They'll be really really angry if they can't find us. You know Father has to go back to the army tomorrow.' angry if they can't find us. You know Father has to go back to the army tomorrow.'

'If there is is an army,' Liliwen muttered. an army,' Liliwen muttered.

'Of course there's an army! There will always be one.'

'The beasts might have eaten Mother and and Father,' said Liliwen, clearly the pessimist of the pair. Father,' said Liliwen, clearly the pessimist of the pair.

'Stop it!' shouted Meriwen. 'Don't talk like that!'

Nish, desperately thirsty and in considerable pain, could see no better prospect. Cutting through the scrub, he came out behind the girls, who were still arguing as he limped by. The wound in his leg was agonising. He walked on a dozen steps, then perched on a boulder. Pulling his trouser leg up, he began unwrapping the bandages.

The rents in his calf muscle had been healing, but one had torn open with the night's exertions and was trickling blood. The tooth marks were red, swollen and filled with pus.

The twins were walking towards him. As they came by, Nish probed the wound, groaned and looked up. 'I don't suppose you've got any ointment, have you?'

The first girl stopped. They weren't absolutely identical. Liliwen had thicker eyebrows than Meriwen, a rounder face, and the beginnings of a bosom. 'I'm sorry,' said Liliwen. 'Mother has some but she's ... not here.'

'Is she coming?' said Nish, looking down the road. 'My leg is killing me.'

'Liliwen!' hissed Meriwen, standing some distance away. 'We're not allowed to talk to strangers.'

'That's very wise,' said Nish, knowing that he must look a fright. 'There are all sorts of wicked people on the road. My name is Cryl-Nish Hlar, but everyone calls me Nish. Actually, I hate that name,' he said confidentially, 'but it doesn't seem to make any difference.' He held out his hand.

Liliwen took it in a way that suggested she had never shaken hands before. 'I'm Liliwen. This is my sister, Meriwen.'

'h.e.l.lo, Meriwen,' said Nish.

'h.e.l.lo,' she said grudgingly, keeping well away. 'You sound strange.'

'I come from the other side of the world. I'm not very good at your language.'

'Come on on, Liliwen.'

Nish rose and limped beside Liliwen. Meriwen kept to the other side of the road.

'Do you live in Nilkerrand?' Nish asked.

'Yes.' Liliwen looked up at him. 'At least ' She suppressed a sob.

'What happened?'

'The enemy came, those horrible flying beasts. Everything was on fire. Our lovely house was burnt, and all my toys, and ...' she began to sob, 'poor Mixy.'

'Who was Mixy?' he asked gently.

'Her old tomcat,' said Meriwen, still uncomfortable with him.

'I'm very sorry. I lost my cat too, when I was a kid, about as old as you.'

Liliwen wiped her eyes. 'What happened to him?'

'Her,' said Nish. 'Finn was her name. A cart ran her over in the street. I cried for days.'

'Did you?' Meriwen thawed a little. you?' Meriwen thawed a little.

'I loved my old Finn,' said Nish. 'She used to sleep on the end of my bed at night. She kept my feet warm in winter. I can still hear her purring sometimes, when it's dark.'

They continued along the road. 'What's the matter with your leg?' asked Meriwen.

'I was attacked by a nylatl,' said Nish. He showed them the wounds. 'It nearly killed me.'

'What's a nylatl?'

He explained, and though it was a bright day, both cast a glance at the undergrowth and moved closer to him.

'Have you lost your parents?' Nish asked a while later.

'They're going to meet us down the road,' Meriwen said quickly.

'They're not!' Liliwen wailed. 'We've lost them and we'll never see them again.'

'How did you become separated?'

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