Wilom stayed at home the next morning. He drank his coffee with Marc, and then took up position at the dining room table as Cathlin and Jilli got ready for the day and left. Cathlin was insisting on walking Jilli to school before she ran her errands. Wilom’s shoulders had been tense the entire time, the incriminating lists hidden under innocuous ones, explanation ready just in case he was asked. But he needn’t have worried. Jilli was too concerned with a book she wanted to borrow from the school library, and Cathlin was too concerned with getting her to stop chattering and put on her shoes. Continue reading “Decisive”
Planning
When Wilom met Vanda to go and meet with the Heads, there was a tense silence between them. Wilom was expecting Vanda, as usual, to continue as if nothing was wrong, but instead she seemed to be still mulling over their conversation about leaving. Vanda had a bag with her, just a simple traveller’s backpack. Continue reading “Planning”
Commitments
Wilom waited for Vanda, for once, when they met for tea to talk through their next meeting with the Heads. He had brought a book to read, and sat at the tea shop, periodically telling the waitresses to give him “just another few minutes until my friend gets here” until Vanda arrived. Continue reading “Commitments”
Release
Vanda woke Wilom up sometime after midnight.
“Want to come for a walk?” Continue reading “Release”
Tokay and Lemon
Mr Treene opened the door barely half a minute after Wilom knocked. Yes, looking at the finances for the plan was Rytel’s job, but Wilom hadn’t been able to help running a few numbers on his own, and he didn’t like them. Continue reading “Tokay and Lemon”
Checking In
Finally, before Vanda dropped Wilom back at Marc’s house, Wilom and Vanda passed the house where Rickart, Inushi and Keri were hidden. Vanda whistled as they got close, and the corner of the curtains tweaked. Continue reading “Checking In”
Surveyors
Vanda met Wilom early in the morning the very next day.
“You know,” she said, “Just because you wake up this early, doesn’t mean you have to inflict it on the rest of us.”
“You agreed,” Wilom said. Continue reading “Surveyors”
Pudding
When Wilom eventually got back to Marc’s house, Cathlin was already there, but Jilli was not. Wilom had been far too preoccupied that morning to remember whether Marc had had anything planned with her, or whether she was at Sarit’s that afternoon, but he put it out of his mind. Continue reading “Pudding”
Suspicions and Theories
Vanda was very quiet as they walked away from the meeting. Wilom waited for her to speak, but when she remained in brooding silence, he said, “I think they’ll accept the plan.” Continue reading “Suspicions and Theories”
A Modest Proposal
Wilom and Vanda waited for a while outside the door. Rytel was the only one inside, and though he was as ready as he would ever be to present his idea to the Heads, Wilom wasn’t particularly sold on the idea of being stuck alone in a room with of Rytel or Vicdra. Thankfully, it wasn’t too long until the others arrived. Continue reading “A Modest Proposal”
Whimsy and Metaphor 