Free Heart of Danger by Fleur Beale Page A

didn’t like that. Don’t take too much for granted.’
    ‘Of course I won’t. I don’t. He knows that.’ I shrugged the warning away and took the mini-comp out to Danyat’s caravan for the conference.
    My friends were silent while I told them of Callie’s visit, of how she’d been so weird when she said her name. Then I swallowed back the sickness and told them the worst. ‘She said that Hera is the sacrifice, that she will become the link between them and the deities. She said she shouldn’t have told us that much, and that if they found out they’d kill her.’
    None of them said anything for long seconds, then Marba spoke in his rational, objective way. ‘If we knew when all this was likely to happen it’d help.’
    ‘You think?’ Silvern snapped. ‘Say something useful or shut up.’
    Marba ignored her. ‘So what I’m proposing is that we all concentrate at the same time every morning. Two minutes, and keep the question in your minds. It won’t hurt to try.’
    ‘Okay,’ Silvern said. ‘You’re right. I’ll do it.’
    One by one, they gave their promise, but Yin said, ‘We need the question. It has to be short and clear. And we need a time.’
    ‘Six thirty every morning,’ Marba said. ‘The question is: when do they intend to sacrifice Hera?’ I choked back a sob, and he said, ‘Face up to it, Juno. They mean her harm. We have to stop them.’
    ‘I know. It’s just … anyway, thank you. All of you.’
    ‘Give me those names again,’ Biddo said. ‘Her name, and the name of the crazies she’s with.’
    I repeated them. ‘Callie Prentice. The Children of the Coming Dawn.’
    ‘Got them. And we need a quick catch-up at 6.35,’ he said. ‘Just in case anybody gets an idea.’
    I could tell from the way he spoke that he didn’t expect anything to come of Marba’s idea, but neither he nor anyone else complained or objected. They would help us, even though they were so far away.
    I decided not to tell Ivor what we were trying to do. He wouldn’t understand. But I did tell Oban, Mother and Danyat. ‘We’ll do it too,’ Oban said. ‘The more mind-power the better.’
    But Mother’s face had paled to dead white. ‘I don’t think I can do it,’ she whispered. ‘I’m too frightened. I think my mind would get in the way.’
    Danyat said, ‘You are wise, my daughter. We’ll do it for you. Try to believe that between us we’ll keep Hera safe.’
    Have you heard? Vima has started uni. She says her education on Taris was so good that she’s ahead of her class.
     
     
Have you heard? Next year Aspa is to teach computer science at the uni in Wellington. He’s thrilled that he and his family will be in the same city as other Taris people.
     
     
Have you heard? Zanin, Leebar and Bazin want to get to New Plymouth as soon as they can. They’re worried about Hera’s safety.
     

08
     

CRISIS
     
     
    T he next morning Mother stayed in the bedroom with Hera while Danyat, Oban and I focused our minds on the question. Nothing came of the experiment.
    ‘Don’t despair,’ Brex told me. ‘We’ll try again tomorrow.’
    ‘And we’ll ask around. Find out if anyone knows anything about them,’ Rynd said.
    Oban took my hands. ‘Now don’t go into a panic, Juno – but listen, everyone. I’ve been thinking – this lot could be connected to the whole pandemic plot. And if they are, then they are merciless, so be careful. All of you.’
    ‘Well, if it is that group,’ said Paz, ‘then they will be merciless. Stands to reason – they’ve already killed hundreds of people. What do a few more matter?’
    ‘But what makes you think they’re involved, Oban?’ Pel asked. ‘There’s plenty of groups away from the towns who believe all kinds of weird stuff.’
    Oban squeezed my hands. ‘Breathe, Juno. It’s not going to help if you panic every time we try to work out what’s happening.’
    ‘Sorry.’ I snatched my hands back, put both over my face and breathed, aware of