Free Ghosts of Koa, The First Book of Ezekiel by Colby R Rice Page A

tin. From places within her robes, some unmentionable, she took out her tips and Davy's money and shoved them into the metal tin before replacing the lid.
    That makes 5,565 dollars to date. Only 15 grand to go.
    That's how much it would all cost. For the move into Demesne Seven, for the relocation tax, probationary work passes, for a year's rent on a new place. Only 15 grand more.
    Not if you don't get moving, though.  
    Zeika lifted Manja back up from the dirt, where she had been dozing off. She set her on her feet. "Come on. Let's get you something to eat." She started towards the house, but her arm went taut as Manja stood rooted to her spot, her fingers laced with hers.
    "I don't feel good, Zeeky. My knee hurts. Please carry me?"
    Zeika's eyes widened, and a familiar dread began to gnaw at her chest. "Of course I will, honey." She hoisted Manja up, wincing as she felt Manja's limbs drape limply, too limply, against her body. "You've had a long day. We'll get you something to eat and get you down for a nap, okay?"
    "Kay..." Manja whispered into her neck. The response was so weak that it drove Zeika into a jog back to their hut.
    Closing and locking the shabby door behind them, Zeika shuffled over into the kitchenette with Manja on her hip. After readjusting their little round table out of its tilt, she set the girl down into a chair. The light from Manja's eyes had all but disappeared, and a sag weighed down the girl's cheeks as she laid her head on the table.
    Zeika set her knapsack on the other chair and began to rummage through it. She pushed past the ballerina slippers, past the ragged woolen hat, past the holstered field knife she carried for protection. Finally, she produced a travel medical kit and emptied its contents. A tongue depressor, cotton swabs, and a small flashlight fell out.
    "Open your mouth, sweetie."
    Manja did, and Zeika lifted the girl's top lip, shining the flashlight in. Puffy, red tissue had taken the place of what should have been Manja's normal healthy gums. Zeika took a cotton swab and pressed down on the gums-- and at the gentlest touch, thin particles of crimson beaded along Manja's gumline, staining the cotton with a dark rusty hue.
    Zeika swallowed hard. "Which... which knee hurts again?"
    "This one." Manja pointed at her right knee.
    Zeika rolled up Manja's pant's leg, and as her fingers closed around the hot pulsing flesh, she creased her brow. The tissue was swollen about half an inch around Manja's entire knee cap, making an awkward brown lemon of the joint. Gently, she squeezed.
    " Ouch!" Manja whined. "It hurts."
    "I'm sorry, honey." Zeika removed her hand. She had only touched it for a minute, but that was more than enough to send shivers into her body.
    It's not serious. You caught it early. Deal with it now, and she'll be fine.
    She went to the small fridge in the corner of the room and plunged her hand in, looking for the small orange she had taken from the Diner days ago. No orange. Her heart sank as she returned to her bag and dropped the day's take onto the table, hoping she could find something with Vitamin C or K in it. Zeika knew it wouldn't help... but it'd make her feel better.
    Double-decker cheeseburgers, grilled chicken club, cold French fries, and even a few slabs of steak that some customers had been too full to eat. Zeika had also pilfered a few eggs, sliced ham, oatmeal, and a couple pints of milk. Her wasteful customers had really come through, but not a shred of green leaf or citrus could be found.
    Stupid. Stupid of you to trust either of them with this. As she thought of her parents, Zeika felt the anger take hold of her. She spilled the contents of Manja's dinosaur bag onto the table. A coloring book and a few broken crayons, a hair pick, a monster truck magazine, a snack tin, a medi-kit, and a small dark vitamin bottle. Empty.
    Zeika held the bottle up to Manja. "How long has it been empty, hon?"
    "I dunno." Manja was tired but lucid at least. She looked up at