Page 58 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
“Yes,” Tenma said slowly. “But you and I aren’t the samekind of human. Maybe she’s another kind entirely.”
“Closer.” Zisa clapped his hands the same way Yulin oftendid. “Close, but not quite.”
Tenma turned his attention to the tree. “Do you need us tofigure this out, or can you tell us more?”
Zisa looped his arms around Tenma’s waist and said, “Look atme.”
Mikoto edged around to the other side so more moonlight fellon Zisa’s face. But he knew he wasn’t seeing the same kinds of things Tenmawas.
The man stood quietly for several moments, then breathed,“Oooh.”
As much as Mikoto wanted to hurry them along, he bit his lipand waited. Because Zisa said this mattered. And it was about Lupe.
“What am I?” prompted Zisa.
Tenma said, “You’re a tree.”
Mikoto thought he understood, then. “You are an Impression.”
Zisa’s smile was beautiful. “I am.”
“Is Mikoto’s friend an Impression?” asked Tenma.
Zisa hummed happily. “Close, but not quite.”
A thought occurred. “Is she the one Salali said was coming?”
“Salali noticed,” confirmed the tree. “Salali knows.”
Tenma’s gaze bounced between Mikoto and Zisa, as ifcomparing what he’d found. “Would you mind if I made a call?”
“To?” asked Mikoto.
Pulling out his phone and pushing at his glasses, Tenmasaid, “My friend is an expert on … well, just about everything. May I ask herabout Impressions?”
“No pictures.” Zisa gave a little shimmy of excitement. “Couldyou use the speaker?”
Tenma smiled and nodded, but he also waited for Mikoto’sverdict.
Funny that his first big decision as headman was to allowZisa the rare treat of a phone call. “May I know who you plan to call?”
“Someone trusted.” With an abashed expression, he said, “Actually,you may know her already. She’s Timur’s sister, welloneof them. I wantto confer with Isla Ward.”
TWENTY-THREE
Conference Call
“Isla do you have several minutes to spare?” Tenmaspoke over his phone. “You’re on speaker, by the way. My friends and I haveneed of your expertise.”
“Which one?”
Tenma hesitated. “Which friend?”
With exaggerated patience, Isla asked,“Which expertise?I have several, you know.”
Isla wasn’t twelve anymore, but she still seemed awfullyyoung to have so much confidence. She was as bossy as ever, still eager toshare her encyclopedic knowledge on any and every topic, and patient with thegaps in Tenma’s understanding. A force of nature. A friend he could count on.
“We’re interested in anything you might know aboutImpressions.”
