Breathe the ocean in

4

MARI

Women warned me yesterday that Kiram would be coming no earlier than late night, that is why I am wandering restlessly round riad during the day. My mood switches from "we all will die" to "I can do everything" numerous times. I'm flipping through the pictures in my tablet and blubbering, then all of a sudden calming down and considering my chances to escape Palera. While I breathe, I hope. And if I lose it, things will never work out. Let's be clear, my chance to get out from this trap on my own is very slim at the moment. I can't manage alone for sure and I need an ally. But where can I get one? I can try and put pressure on Jahiza, as far as she doesn't like my candidacy, not in the tiniest, but... The thing is women are so deprived here, she hardly will be able do anything for me. Well, I shouldn't discount this option anyways, I need an auxiliary plan. Scheme with the boy looks much more perspective still. He's a teenager driven by hormones and should be not that skilled in manipulating people. And I know how to be damn sweet. All I need is to talk him into taking me out of the country. Anywhere. I can't even guess how long it would take, more than one month probably. The main point here is that I should be thinking less about my family and how they feel, because the emotional roller-coaster wouldn't help. I'll get back home, no matter how long and difficult my path will be.

It's sunset already, though the day seemed to be endless. Palera is close to the equator, so it's pitch dark outside at seven p.m. Hopeless despair falls on me in the darkness that is why I'm absolutely annoyed and wicked by ten o'clock. Such a first meeting is certainly not going to end well, I need to recover my temper urgently, and nothing unwinds better than favorite music. It's good they gave my earbuds back together with the tablet. I'm turning on my relax playlist and start to sing along with the meditative song without even realizing it. I'm calming down little by little.

Jahiza ordered me to wait for the boy on the doorstep actually, but I'm not a dog so I settle comfortably on a soft couch by the pool. I dive into cushions and almost fall asleep nearly missing the appearance of "the big white gentleman". My luck I heard the noise of the engine in between the songs. Samir and his son are leaving the car by the time I leap out the house. I stand at the doors watching them approach. I would never go along with telling this guy is blind if I didn't know the truth in fact. He's walking so confidently beside his father, he's making only one step closer to me when his father stops. As a whole the boy moves pretty naturally and stoutly staring straight ahead. Samir tells him something in their language, they hug each other shortly, and the father goes back to the big black vehicle with a polite nod in my direction. I'm trying to get out of the stupor unsuccessfully while following this man with my gaze not able to remember how I wanted to start the conversation. As soon as the roaring of the engine dies down behind the corner, the kid is the first one to start talking. And I can't get a heck of that Jabberwocks. The sound of his speech bewitches, feels like some kind of an intricate spell. It's beautiful. God, I was so sure he speaks Aranian. What am I here for if he doesn't? I precise just in case:

- I don't know the language of Palera but I talk Quirian. Do you understand me?

He's turning my way a bit, small grin is touching his lips when he switches over to Aranian easily:

- I am Kiram. And what is your name again? – Hallelujah, we found the common language. Only literally for now but it's awesome anyways.

- My name is Mari, – I'm breaking off not knowing what to say next. He's not pushing it on either.

I'm examining the boy in a dim light of the street lamp and slowly starting to realize that it's not going to be easy. First, he looks a bit older than I expected. Second, he's perceptibly taller than me and his t-shirt doesn't mask the steel muscles. If he decides to use force, I won't be able to deal with him, it's obvious. His face is quite surly giving away a person who's not used to laughing, and it's very unlikely I can get to him with my favorite manner – the humor. But I have to cope with him. Kiram subtly reminds me of the sculpture of great ancient emperor who said that the best defense is a good offense. That's why I am speeding to seize the initiative: