Page 44 of Tamiko and the Two Janitors
“Nothing I can’t handle,” Jiminy cheerfully assured. “Do youremember where you found the child?”
Did this guy think he was stupid? Pointing, Joe said, “Hertree’s this way.”
“Lead on!”
They walked in silence. Or as close to silence as anyonecould walk while dragging their luggage through gravel. Joe pivoted and pickedup the case. “Let me.”
“Oh, but ….”
“I thought you were worried about vibrations.”
Jiminy yielded with a small laugh. “I’m not used to heavylifting. Most days, I work as a barista.”
“But you’re a reaver.”
“I’m a reaver with a day job.”
Joe said, “You look like a college student.”
“Pretty much. If I were enrolled in a standard university,I’d be prepping a thesis to earn my degree.” Jiminy brushed absentmindedly athis hair. “I have a mentor who lives overseas, so a lot of my classes areonline.”
Sifting through the wealth of questions he’d never been ableto ask Grandad, Joe ventured, “Is there such a thing as a song circle?”
“Yes. It’s the name of an Amaranthine festival, a gatheringof clans that takes place once a decade.” There was a bounce to his step now.“Food. Music. Dancing. Stories. All sorts of solemn traditions and ceremoniesand proclamations. They can last for days, even weeks.”
He wasn’t holding back. Then again, all of this might bepublic knowledge.
Joe asked, “Do you think my grandfather ever went?”
Jiminy hummed. “The big festivals are only for the clans,but if he was enclave-bred, he’d know about them. Most enclaves have a circlefor official gatherings. Same idea, but on a much smaller scale.”
“We have one, I think.”
“Yes, I think you do, too.” Jiminy asked, “Does it have somekind of boundary? Like a wall or a hedge? I couldn’t tell from the map.”
Could trees be considered a hedge? Joe was saved from answering,because the golden crown of Biddie’s tree came into view.
“Oaks!” Jiminy quickened his pace. “Do you know who plantedthem?”
“Grandad.”
“Your grandfather couldn’t have chosen better.” He touchedthe rough bark and beamed with approval. “This will be attractive to manyclans.”
“You’re going to bring wolves here?”
“Only if we’re welcome.”
Joe trailed after Jiminy, who made a full circuit of the oakglen before approaching Biddie’s tree. One more question really needed to beasked. “Is my sister a reaver?”
“She must be, to have attracted an imp’s interest. Yourwhole family will need to be assessed.”
“Isn’t that why you guys sent Melissa?”
“Hold on.” Jiminy turned to him, his face gone serious.“Assessment is always handled by an Amaranthine. And while I don’t know any ofthe details, I’m quite sure that Melissa considers you kin.”
Joe jammed his hands deeper into his pockets, feelingchastised. But he didn’t like all the mysterious half-truths and hinting. Hewanted toknowsomething again, and to know it for sure.
“If Tami is a reaver, will they take her away?”
