Page 6 of Tamiko and the Two Janitors
Coming along the driveway toward her was a young man inoveralls. She hadn’t even realized people still wore them. Waving a small redflag, he tried to guide her into an open parking place at the gift shop.
Leaning out her window, she explained, “I’m not a customer.Can you tell me where to find the owners? My name’s Melissa Armstrong, andthey’re expecting me.”
“This way.” He turned and walked away.
Not sure what else to do, she rolled slowly after him. Rightbefore the barn, the drive turned a corner, and a farmhouse hove into view,complete with picket fence, green shutters, and a porch swing. The young man wentinto his traffic directing routine again, pointing her into the open spotbeside a station wagon in front of a detached garage.
She called her thanks and popped the hatch to get herluggage.
Instead of heading back to work, he silently stepped forwardto take her suit case.
“Do you work here?” she asked.
“Every day.”
He led the way up the porch steps and didn’t bother knockingbefore walking into a big kitchen. A man turned from the sink with a widesmile, and Melissa immediately relaxed. He was at least a decade older than ChrisArmstrong, but he looked enough like him to assure her that she was in theright place.
“Melissa!” Making hasty use of a dishtowel, he held out ahand. “Abel Reaverson. I guess we’ll go with Uncle Abel, okay?”
She matched his grip. “Hello. Thank you for taking me in onsuch short notice.”
“Don’t mention it.” Nodding past her shoulder, he said,“You’ve met my son.”
Turning back, she realized that the young man in overallswas still there, staring at his feet.
She flushed in embarrassment. Her whole family was cut fromthe same cloth—tall, strong, blue-eyed, and fair-haired. By contrast, her guide’sfeatures had a distinctly Asian cast.
Melissa said, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize.”
Uncle Abel laughed. “You’ll have to pardon Joe. He’s alittle shy. Tami makes up for it though. She’ll be back in another hour or two.She’s principal of the elementary school in town. You probably passed it onyour way here.”
“I did.”
“Hiro, that’s my wife, she’s working in the gift shop rightnow, so I’m on salad duty. I’ll take you out to meet her, but first we shouldlet you set your stuff down and freshen up.” He beckoned for her to follow him.“Everything’s ready. We put you upstairs, right across from Tami. Joe’s room isat the other end, little bigger than a closet, really, but he doesn’t seem tomind.”
Pausing at the door, she looked back to where Joe was stillwatching. Her cousin offered a bashful smile and a tentative wave, then escapedout the front door.
When she caught up to Uncle Abel on the stairs, he asked,“Long day?”
“Yes.”
His smile widened. “I get the impression that you’re alittle shy, too.”
“I guess so?”
“No problem. You’ll see how it works around here. Plenty ofroom in the world for all kinds of people.” He opened a door, saying, “For you.Bathroom’s there. I’ll be in the kitchen!”
And he left her alone.
She eased into her new room, closing the door behind her.The lock was old-fashioned in the extreme, but with a jiggle and a twist, shemanaged to turn the skeleton key. After a brief reconnoiter, she crossed to theroom’s one window and inspected the casement. Flipping the catch, she raisedthe sash and gave a quick pinch and pull, relieving her window of its screen. Withpracticed ease, she slid out feet-first and crouched barefoot on the slopedroof outside.
Not a bad vantage point, though it only gave her a view of rowupon row of trees. Fortunately, this side of the house was shaded by a pair ofelms. She suspected that the grit-and-tar shingles would be too hot in fullsun. Boots were definitely at the top of her shopping list.
Keeping low, she scaled to the peak to get the lay of theland—a second barn, tractor shed, animal pens, chicken coop, corn crib. Beyondthe second barn were stacks of pallets and wooden apple crates. And she couldsee a field thick with broad green leaves. Undoubtedly the pumpkin patch.
With no people in view, Melissa straightened to her fullheight and slowly relaxed the hold she’d been trained to keep on her soul. Maybenot the wisest course, but certainly the quickest expedient.
Thirty heartbeats later, and she was back under wraps,hiding herself from the telltale flit and drift of Ephemera. These low-levelAmaranthine rarely gathered without certain inducements, the most basic ofwhich was a reaver’s presence.
