The Book of Koli (Rampart Trilogy #1) - M. R. Carey Page 0,22

I might see her again.

At the end of the second day, Haijon come walking out of the gates and climbed the hill to where I was sitting on the steps of the lookout. He brung a jug of beer that he dangled from one hand. “I thought this was a share-work, Koli,” he says, “yet here you sit on your own. So I brung you a little something to share.”

He sit down next to me, uncorked the jug and took a deep swig – then wiped the neck and handed it to me. I drunk deep. It was cold out of the ice house, and went down well. “Well, you can lend a hand if you want, Haijon,” I said, with a belch in the middle of the words. “There’s a shit bucket down there that won’t empty itself.”

Haijon grinned. “I’m Rampart Breakfast, not Rampart Shit-Bucket. Each man got a skill that’s his alone to tend and master, Koli. I’m thinking you might found yours.”

We drunk the beer and we joked about who had the most reason to empty the bucket, while the sun dropped down out of the sky and lights gun to be lit over in the village. We could see the glow of them between the leaves, almost like stars.

“I wanted to ask you something,” Haijon says to me.

“Go ahead,” I told him.

He give me a funny smile. Like he knowed I was going to laugh at him and he thought he might as well see the funny side of it too. “I think I might want to get married.”

I didn’t laugh at all. My thoughts was mostly dwelling on Spinner, and on the sweetness of being held by her. I couldn’t see no downside to marriage right then, as young as we was. “You should do it,” I said. “No girl is like to turn up her nose at being pair-pledged to Rampart Breakfast.”

“This girl might, Koli,” Haijon says. “She is as strong-willed as a boar with its back up. But I think I might ask her anyway. If so be the chance comes up. Maybe at next Summer-dance.”

“That’s a long time to wait, Haijon. Some other man might jump in and win her heart before you stake your claim.” Then I suddenly thought of a girl we both knowed who was strong-willed, and a chilly feeling come over me. “What’s her name anyway?” I asked him.

“It’s Spinner,” he said. “I know, it seems crazy to think that way. We all been friends so long, it’s almost impossible to think of being something else instead. Only it wouldn’t be instead, Koli. It would be on top of that. We’d still be friends, but we’d be wedded too. Do you think I’m wandering in my wits?”

I had looked away as soon as he speak her name. I looked away still. “I don’t know,” I said. “Maybe.”

“But she’s the best there is, isn’t she? And we been through everything together. We tested together, even. I’m making up my mind to it, even as I say it.”

“You can make up your mind to it,” I said. “But maybe think it over before you do it.” I give a grin that was probably a mite sickly. “You know she and your sister don’t get along. You want to bring them under the same roof?”

“Lari?” Haijon looked at me blank, like I was just making sounds that wasn’t words. I think I was, really. “Lari won’t have a say in it, Koli. This is my heart, and my choosing.”

“Well, yes, it’s your heart,” I said. “And that’s a really important thing, Haijon. It’s not to be decided on a heel-turn.”

He frowned, like he was swallowing this down and it didn’t want to go. “I thought you said I should move fast in case some other man asked her before I did.”

That was when I thought it was someone else! I thought. I near to yelled it in his face. “Just wait until you’re sure,” I said. “Then when you’re sure, ask her.”

“You think she’ll say yes?” he asked me, all anxious.

“I don’t know, Haijon.” But I hope not. “All you can do is ask.” I hope not. “And, you know, stand by her choice, whatever it happens to be.” I hope not I hope not I hope not.

Haijon clapped me on the shoulder. “Thanks, Koli,” he said. “I’m glad I asked you. I’m glad someone other than me knows it. It was bouncing around inside my head until I thought I