Part 5 (1/2)

”Oh, that sort of payments,” Diego said in a tone of voice that Bunny had never heard him use. But she knew what he was leading up to. ”And all your troubles have disappeared with his help?”

Universally solemn nods answered the query.

”And the planet doesn't mind you digging hard down into itself-Diego made a savage downward thrust with his hand, then gave a mean twist to his imaginary tool as it threw its imaginary contents onto the floor-and making big sores on its surface?”

There was a stunned rumble at his harsh words.

”You, young Diego, are a stranger, not of this planet. How can you pretend to know its wishes? How can you pretend to know our needs? You have no understanding of the planet, of us, or of how it is at Shannonmouth,” Miuk said sternly, s.h.i.+fting his legs into an aggressive stance.

”Quite possibly I don't,” Diego said, staring back at him so unafraid that Bunny was as proud of him as she was scared. ”But I have a song to sing . . .”

Bunny breathed a secret sigh of relief. Diego was sure catching on fast. Out of inbred courtesy, everyone in the tiny house relaxed just that little bit that showed they would be receptive to a song, but not to more words that went against their shanachie. Of all the tense faces, Bunny noticed only one, that of the light-haired boy, Krisuk, that did not wear the same defensive, half-frightened look. She had mistaken Krisuk's expression for sullenness at first, but as Diego talked, the other boy's face relaxed and she saw that he was angry-and not at them. Diego, as if he'd been doing it all his life instead of just the past few months, lifted his head, half closed his eyes, and sang the song he had composed for the Kilcoole latchkay.

”I am new come, in storm, here.

A storm of heart and mind and soul.

I sought and found storm with Lavelle.

She saved me when the sled crashed down.

With the heat of her body she saved me.

With the wit of her mind she saved my father, too.

Saved me to see the cavern that all say I didn't see.

”But I saw the caverns and the water and the carving Of wind and water.

I saw the gleaming snow, like jeweled cloth.

I saw the branches waving, the water talking.

The ice answering, the snow laughing. I saw The animals of water and earth and they were Talking, too.

They were kind to me and answered all my Questions But I do not know what questions I asked.

I do not know what answers I heard.

I know the cavern, the branches, the talking water.

The speaking ice and the laughing snow. I know That you know it, too. So hear my song And believe me. For I have seen what you have seen.

And I am changed. Hear my song. Believe me.”

”Diego is no stranger to Petaybee. The planet has spoken to him,” Bunny said quietly in the respectful silence that followed a true song. For she could see by their reception that the Connellys could recognize the song for what it was. ”The planet speaks to few,” Iva said, nodding her head.

”But here,” Miuk said in a harsh voice, ”the planet speaks to Satok and none other, and it is he we must obey in the name of the planet.”

”Well spoken, Miuk.” There were gasps of astonishment as Satok stuck his head through a carefully opened window. ”Well sung, young traveler.”

Iva quickly rose and opened the door. She was red with the embarra.s.sment at the shanachie having to listen through a window to hear something going on in her house.

Immediately it occurred to Bunny that that might be how he knew so much of what went on in his village. Inside, he made straight for the bed on which Bunny and Diego sat. But Diego, acting quickly, s.h.i.+fted so that Satok would have to sit next to him instead of Bunny, as had been his very obvious intention.

”Then young traveler, do you think the planet says one thing for one town and something else for another?” Satok asked, his eyes glistening, his mouth set at a derisive slant.

”Your town is near mines, Kilcoole is not.”

”But Lavelle was searching for mines, was she not, when your group became lost in white out?”

”We were, but well east of Kilcoole and well north of here,” Diego answered calmly. Bunny thought he was much cleverer than the shanachie, who was obviously trying to catch him out.

”What else did the planet say to you that you made such a song?”

Diego looked up at the intimidating face of Satok. ”The planet gave me words to sing, which I have sung. Now my mouth is dry, and we have come a long way to see Iva Connelly and thank her for gifts, bringing gifts in return.”

”Bah!” Satok said with a scornful glance at the seedlings. ”There will be no time for growing things when the company sends orders.”

”There is time now,” Bunny said, encouraged by Diego's att.i.tude. ”The days grow long enough and the soil here will soon be as ready as it is in Kilcoole. It takes nothing from the company to supply fresh food. The company only gives cans and dried stuff. Our people need fresh food.”

Satok jumped to his feet. ”I will tell what is good for my people, not you strangers.” He whirled on Iva. ”You will not accept these gifts.” Iva's expression was terrified and shocked, but he ignored her. ”When the planet feels that you are worthy of them, the planet will provide.” Then, at his full and imposing height, he glared down at Diego and Bunny. ”You were not invited.” His thick fore finger pointed ominously at Diego. ”You come here and try to tell my people what is proper.” He pointed at Bunny, and a most curiously avid expression fleeted across his face. ”The planet speaks through me, and I am the best judge of who and what is good for these people I will decide which gifts are acceptable for this portion of the planet. Your shanachie means well, but she is ignorant of our true needs. I will instruct you tomorrow, when you have rested.”

With that he stalked out of the little house, pausing briefly to eye the curlies, leaving everyone nervous, staring at nothing, or actively trembling. Bunny shook with fury, and Diego had clamped his teeth down on his lip to keep from speaking. He gave Bunny one long look, and his shoulders sagged just like everyone else's did.

Iva could barely manage to be civil after that. She had been embarra.s.sed in front of them by the shanachie's behavior, and embarra.s.sed in front of the shanachie by theirs. She was furious with her husband, as well. She did not, however, refuse the provisions Bunny and Diego had brought in their saddlebags to augment the evening meal.

Bunny had little appet.i.te. She was angry and, actually, somewhat shocked. She had never been so rudely treated in her life-not even by her nasty cousins. She had certainly never thought she'd see Clodagh's careful gifts spurned.

Diego was as silent and ate as little as she, and his eyes had a wary quality to them.

They bedded down that night on the floor, between the two bunks farthest from the fire. They were cold, since they had not brought their warmest winter gear with them. Back in Kilcoole, where it was so unseasonably warm, they had been unable to imagine it being quite so cold here.

Diego s.h.i.+vered, hugging himself and managing to look resentful as he did it.

The blond boy, Krisuk, was in one of the beds beside them, and he threw a quilt down to Diego. ”Here you go,” he whispered.

”Don't you need it?”

”I can put on my parka. I just wanted to tell you, it was great hearing you tell off that blowhard.”

”You mean you don't think he's the heart and soul of the planet like everybody else here seems to?” Bunny whispered.

Krisuk made a rude sound, but quietly.

Just then, from outside the cabin, came a series of furious barks.