his day.
“My Dramok?” Osopa’s brows had risen at the hesitation.
“Slight change of plans. Take Zac quickly to the living room before he can react. I don’t want him to wake Callie.”
In a flash, his clanmate picked Zac up and sped out. Tukui followed, closing the door so the girl wouldn’t be disturbed.
Zac was just blinking to alertness when Osopa set him on the couch. The boy’s hazel eyes widened as they loomed over him. Naked fear bloomed. Seeing the child’s terror sickened Tukui, and he almost reached out to comfort the lad, to unleash a flood of reassurances.
Zac wouldn’t accept solace from any of them. Soothing would only result in the boy’s default setting of lashing out. Tukui reminded himself of Tina’s despondent exhaustion to harden his resolve.
“You’ll be quiet so your sisters won’t wake. Don’t upset them. No yelling.”
Zac opened his mouth anyhow, his reddening face flashing the tantrum warning. Osopa’s palm muffled the yell sufficiently for Tukui to hear the pained noise Yorso uttered from the kitchen.
Tukui spoke over the outraged squeal. “No, little brother. You’ve had your way long enough. It’s time for you to listen to the adults.”
Unsurprisingly, Zac struggled to break free of Osopa. The Nobek sat down next to him, careful not to hurt the boy as he restrained his wild flailing.
“Easy, child. No one is going to harm you. But you must listen.”
They waited out his attempts to escape. When he wore himself out and the cries subsided into defiant glaring, Tukui tried again.
“You hate us. I understand, and you’re entitled to your feelings. But we aren’t your enemy. We’re here to take care of you, Callie, and Tina. Nothing you say or do will change that. What has to change is how you express your dislike.”
Zac’s response was inaudible behind Osopa’s palm. At least he wasn’t yelling any longer.
Osopa shifted so they could look each other in the eye. “If you’ll be quiet so Callie doesn’t wake up scared and crying, I’ll let you go. You have to be a man instead of a screaming boy. Can you do that?”
After a moment’s hesitation, Zac nodded. Osopa moved so they weren’t touching, but remained close enough to shut the kid down if he reneged on the agreement.
Zac glared at them with open animosity, but that was all. Tukui relaxed. “Good. Now we can talk like men to you.”
“About what?” Sullen tone to go with the expression.
“Tina’s exhausted. She’s helping other survivors all day long. They’re scared and often sick, you know. Missing their families, the same as you.” He was heartened to see something compassionate flicker in Zac’s eyes. There was empathy to be had. “While Tina’s working hard to make refugees feel better, she’s having to take care of you and Callie because you haven’t let us share that responsibility. It’s too much for her.”
“I want my daddy and mommy.” Zac maintained his sulk, but there was enough pain in those words to make even Osopa wince in sympathy.
Tukui swallowed rising pity. “If we find them, you can have them. As it’s already been explained to you, there isn’t much hope of that.”
He choked on the awful statement. It was wrong to be so blunt with a child, but with Tina at the end of her tether, Zac had to relent. He had to find a route to cope with the misery before she snapped.
Nevertheless, Tukui conceded to a more understanding demeanor. “I’m sorry so many bad things have happened to you. I’d do whatever it took to fix them, if I were able. Unfortunately, all I can do is care for you and your sisters.”
“It’s not fair.”
“I agree. You’re entitled to be angry and sad and everything else you feel. But Tina is in danger of becoming sick from worrying about you and everyone else. Callie doesn’t understand what’s happened or why her brother is attacking everyone around her. It’s up to you to be as strong for them as your grief will allow. You have to give them space to get over their sadness and confusion.”
“How?” Zac’s eyes shimmered with tears. Tukui wished he could grab the boy and hug him, to somehow erase that lost expression. Had he believed Zac wouldn’t reject the comfort, he’d have done so.
Osopa answered the child’s question. “You’ll go with Tukui and me to our duty stations today.”
“It’ll give Tina a break so she can rest and not be anxious,” Tukui added.
Fresh anger flared, Zac turning red again. “I won’t go with you!”
Osopa had