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absorbing the water as fast as they poured it over her. There was no doubt in her mind
that if she opened her eyes and looked down, there would be no water left in the tub.
She was sure she d soaked every drop of it through her pores.
 I remember her trying to get all of the villagers to help her make a stand against
Detroit, her aunt said.
Syndi sputtered water out of her mouth, rubbing her eyes as she looked up at her
aunt.  You re kidding. How did she do that?
Old Margaret laughed.  Oh yes. She was still a young thing when she did that.
Claimed the city actually had more water than they claimed they did. Samantha had
half the villagers convinced if they started digging, they would have water spraying up
around us in no time.
The two women laughed. Her mother had been thought a fool. Syndi s stomach
twisted, and she straightened a bit while the women diligently tried to rinse soap from
her hair. Samantha had known about Undrworld.
It made sense. Syndi didn t have a clue how her mother had learned about the
place, but Tor s words came back to her.
He d believed since she had gills, she wasn t part of the surface. Syndi had been
born in the Undrworld.
 Don t get us wrong, Aunt Mary said, obviously thinking that the frown on
Syndi s face was because she didn t like her mother being laughed at.  My sister was
always ready to take on the world, make it a better place for everyone. Even as a kid she
wanted to do that.
Her voice faded, the pain of Syndi s mother s death obviously still affecting her
aunt.
 Is it true she died because she was bathing me in the public baths without
paying? Syndi asked.
Darkness shrouded them. Standing in the tub, she took the last dry towel and
lightly wiped her body, wanting the moisture to remain on her skin as long as possible.
 That s what we were told, her aunt said, sipping again from the bottle.
 She was always in the city. Old Margaret grabbed the edge of tub.
Syndi quickly pulled her clothes on over her wet body then helped drag the tub to
the side of the tent. Margaret would wash her clothes in it, and any other items she
wished cleaned, the next day. The water would be used for cleaning until every last
drop had been absorbed into clothes and towels.
 Why did she think there was underground water? Syndi walked alongside her
aunt through the quiet village.
They d left old Margaret, who sat contentedly with what was left of her bottle of
wine, and headed toward their own tents.
69
Lorie O Clare
A few tents glowed with light although most were dark. Batteries and candles were
expensive commodities. She stared at her cloth shoes, still dusty from the dead lands.
Water droplets had dried into her skin, taking the tightness away. Her damp hair
would make it easier to sleep. Although with all the thoughts in her head, she doubted
she d do anything but toss and turn.
 She had all kinds of stories, her aunt said, making a tsking sound with her mouth.
 So tell me the story about the underground water?
 Why do you want to know? Her aunt gave her a reprimanding look.
It didn t fool Syndi. Her aunt was hiding something, some old knowledge. She
wanted to protect Syndi from something.
 I want to know more about my mother, she said, sighing, hoping her aunt
wouldn t think she had any other motive.
They slowed their pace as they neared her aunt s tent. A dim light glowed inside.
Her uncle waited up for her. No one would be waiting up for Syndi she hoped. Icy
tingles crept down her spine. Guards from Undrworld wouldn t be able to just strut
into the village would they?
 She told me she knew because that is where you came from. Her aunt crossed her
arms over her chest and gave Syndi a hard look.  I loved my sister, very much. We took
care of each other, until I found my Paul and she found Don. But she had crazy ideas.
And when she didn t want me to know the truth, she told me even crazier lies.
Syndi nodded, unable to say a word. Her mother had known about Undrworld.
More than likely, more people on Earth knew of its existence. The city men showing up
today were proof of that. What she didn t understand, and had to figure out, was why it
was such a well-kept secret.
 Thanks for telling me a bit about her, she mumbled, and then bent so her aunt
could peck her dry lips against Syndi s cheek.
Walking past the quiet tents toward her own, she glanced nervously through the [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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