Section 3/B/A/B

Kestrel paced back and forth. She couldn't lose that letter. She just couldn't. The bed creaked as she sank down onto the coverlet, but she immediately stood up again. If she stopped now, if she let herself sag in any way, then she might never get up again. Now, before she could change her mind, she had to go back and get it.

When she went downstairs, her mother was in the kitchen chopping carrots. There was already a big bowl of diced potatoes in water. "Kestrel," she said, "come to lend a hand?"

"I'd like to, but I have to run a quick errand," she said as she took a carrot slice and bit into it.

"You're not just going off to waste time with Daisy are you?" her mother asked.

"No, Mom. Though I should be spending more time helping her study."

Her mother snorted. "It's a good thing I know you've spend a good bit of time studying on your own, that's what. I wouldn't give a penny for the time you've spent with her doing your test scores any good."

"Oh, she's all right, really," Kestrel assured her. "She's just not as interested in doing well at the EI as I am."

"She's not interested in school at all if you ask me. But that's neither here nor there. Go run your errand, but then do you think you can watch Mallee while I get the rolls shaped and help me with the mending?"

Kestrel nodded. "Of course. I'll be back soon." She took one more carrot slice and disappeared out the door.

She ran quickly in spite of the clumps of grass or flowers, abandoned lumps from prairie dog tunneling, and occasional rocks jutting out of the ground. She was used to twisting and even jumping as she ran, and she enjoyed it.

Her running slowed to a more lady-like walk when she noticed someone up ahead of her. She was pretty sure that she knew him. She stopped walking and looked hard to make sure that she was seeing the right person, but she was sure now. It was Barium, and he was holding some kind of box or small crate. She didn't know him well, but she always had one or two classes with him at the EI. She had just made up her mind that he would think her rude to pass so close without saying hello when she heard the sound of horse hooves hitting the ground. She turned toward it, and found that there were three young men, all the same age or a little bit older than Barium riding towards him. They were moving too quickly to be sure, but she didn't think that she knew them.

They rode right up to him and then dismounted. All four began talking, heads bent together. Kestrel wished she could hide. There was something about the way they talked, the way they looked over their shoulders, that said that they didn't want anyone to see what they were up to. There wasn't anything very close, and she knew that the best way to stay hidden was to hold still. If she made a quick movement, they would see it for sure. So she stood frozen, trying not to wobble or to scratch her nose. She reasoned that if they saw her, she could always tell them that she was just on her way for a walk when she had run into them by accident. And actually, she reflected, that really was the truth. So why did it feel like she needed to get her story straight?

Kestrel tried to make the faces of the riders be Barium's friends, but they weren't. She wanted to step closer, but she didn't dare, though she couldn't say why. Two of them got up on their horses. One took the box and then Barium climbed up behind him. The third rider put a foot in the stirrup, and just for a moment, Kestrel got a clear view of his face. It was the driver that Boron had sent for her.

The four of them rode off unmistakably toward the Domini House, leaving Kestrel standing all on her own, wondering what to do. 


1) Kestrel puffed out her cheeks, exhailed, and looked around. Her mother was right. She did have exams coming up. There wasn't anything that she could do about Boron at the moment, and now it looked as though chasing after her grandmother's letter was a bad idea too.

http://kestrelbook.blogspot.com/2012/03/chapter-1baba.html


2)  After waiting another minute to make sure that they were far enough ahead of her, Kestrel continued on toward the Domini House.

http://kestrelbook.blogspot.com/2012/03/chapter-1babb.html