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room was probably storage when it wasn t rented out.
Daegon had to argue with his newfound cousins to accept rent, finally trumping
their steadfast refusal which he found charming at first and then exasperating with a
promise to protect them as much as he could against the acts of vandalism that
apparently plagued the neighborhood.
The bars on the windows. I was surprised to see them, he said. But then, I was
surprised to see the graffiti marring so many walls and buildings. What there s left of
them.
Jenatt nodded with a sigh before turning away for a second. After the militia left
the neighborhood and left us to fend for ourselves
They retreated to the base outside the city, and they still act as the occasional,
intermediate police, Agie added, confirming what the cab driver had told Bosaru. But
they are not here at night, and that is when the graffiti and the roamers all began. We do
not go out at night, not above ground.
41
Eilis Flynn
No one with any good intentions wanders out at night, not around here, not
anymore, Jenatt said. Which is why Dame Mirel sent you here so quickly, before
nightfall.
Daegon glanced at the high window. The light was fading, sending long shadows
across the walls. If the army knows about this, why don t they move the troops back
in?
Jenatt shrugged. They said it was time we dealt with our own problems. I
understand we cannot be overly dependent on them, but we have no weapons, no
training. I, and the others around here, am not certain how we can deal with the
vandals who threaten us.
The burned-out lot down the street& That shopkeeper, he told the roamers to
leave. To get out of the neighborhood, Agie told him. The roamers trapped him in
there and set the building on fire.
Daegon s eyes bulged. And the government did nothing?
Jenatt and Agie both fell silent. They said it was our own fault, for agitating them,
Jenatt said. And that was that. We are on our own. Except for the taxes, of course.
Always the taxes. I think the government itself is at a loss at what to do with the
roamers.
Bosaru looked at her. What do you get for your taxes? You don t have police
protection. I guess you don t have protection against fire. Utilities?
We have power. Most of the time. We have water, more often than not, Jenatt
said. She stood up, and for the first time Bosaru realized she had a game leg.
She noticed his glance. I was caught outside, some years ago, she said. It did not
heal well. Other than that, I was unharmed, so I count myself lucky.
If we can get across town, there is a hospital, Agie volunteered. My mother took
me there when I was small and I was very sick. Her face shadowed. My mother died
that night, and that s when Aunt Jenatt took me in.
What happened?
Jenatt shook her head. Back then we were not quite aware how dangerous it was,
she said. I made a mistake, and it is one I will make sure none of mine will ever make
again. My sister and I set out together to take Agie to the medical center, thinking we
would be safer together. Cousin, we live in wild times. Times of authority come after
the wild times have been tamed. That is always the way. We live in dangerous times.
Bosaru couldn t disagree. But& It shouldn t be like this, he said. He frowned.
There is something wrong here. Something very wrong.
42
Echoes of Passion
Chapter Five
Into Darkness
By the time they got back to the dining room, only a couple of customers were left
and they too were readying to leave, their glances at the lowering light through the
small window making it clear to Bosaru that they wanted not to be caught out of doors
after sundown.
Nothing is open after sundown, he murmured aloud. It wasn t the lack of
potential commerce. It was the threat of violence that led to the lack of potential
commerce.
Most everything is closed, Jenatt said. Not everything. Most anything that needs
to close eventually.
Nightclubs are open until dawn, so they are a place of refuge, Agie volunteered.
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