Handy responded: ‘I don’t know why you came here. There’s nothing you can do. There never was, Red Macaw. Now get out, before Yaotl and I throw you out!’
‘Wait a moment!’ I spluttered indignantly. ‘I may help you bury your wife but nobody said anything about joining in a fight! I’m in enough trouble already!’
Red Macaw seemed to notice me for the first time then. He looked me up and down and was clearly not impressed by what he saw. ‘So who’s this then?’
‘None of your business!’ snapped Handy.
‘Listen, both of you.’ I could hear my voice going up in pitch, in bafflement and confusion. ‘Handy, if you expect me to help you shove this man out into the street you might at least tell me why. And as for you, Red Macaw, I don’t know why you came here or what Handy has against you…’
‘You mind your own business too, Yaotl,’ Handy said menacingly.
I could only stare at him, suddenly lost for words. Fortunately Goose chose that moment to intervene again. Stepping up to the two men until she was all but standing between them – indeed I was sure she would have stood between them, if there had been space enough – she looked imploringly up at them both: ‘Please, remember Star. Would she have wanted this?’
For a long moment no-one moved or spoke.
When the tension was finally broken it was by Red Macaw, who lowered his eyes from Handy’s face and squeezed them shut as if to hold back a rush of tears. He turned away.
‘You’re wrong. There’s something I can do – more than I can tell you. But if you won’t let me… Look, just guard her very carefully, won’t you? There could be trouble tonight.’
‘Sod off,’ Handy growled quietly.
With that the other man limped out of the courtyard, the pain of whatever injury he had sustained obvious now, and without a backward glance. The last words I heard him mutter were: ‘You say there never was anything I could do… That isn’t true, and you all know it.’
I stared after him, aware that my mouth was gaping like an idiot’s but lacking the will to do anything about it. Slowly, I turned towards Handy, to see him glaring fiercely at me.
‘Don’t ask me, Yaotl,’ he said simply. ‘Just don’t even ask, that’s all.’
‘What did he mean about trouble, though?’
‘I’ve no idea. Like I said, don’t ask!’
Bewildered, I looked at Goose, but she was already hurrying indoors, muttering something about tortillas.
4
There was nothing else to be done at Handy’s house that day except eat and wait for nightfall. That seemed to be enough for the commoner, who soon lapsed into a torpor, slumped against the wall of his courtyard with eyes wide open but focused on nothing.
I had other concerns, however. I was no nearer to finding out the truth behind the chief minister’s warning, or to alerting my family to the danger. And I was concerned about Lily. I had promised to return to her that night. Every moment I was delayed would be torment for her, and if I did nothing else, I had to let her know what I was up to, and reassure her that I was safe. I could not do any of these things in Handy’s courtyard.
I stood up and looked down at the other man. ‘I have to go,’ I said hesitantly. ‘I’ll come back, but there are a couple of matters I have to attend to first. I don’t know how long it’ll take, though – I mean, I’ll be back tonight, of course. But I’ve got to see my family, and get a message to Lily, the sooner the better.
Handy became animated. He sat upright and looked at me with narrowed eyes. ‘Don’t worry about Lily. I’ll send one my sons. It’s not as if I’m going to get any other work out them today.’ He paused. ‘But are you sure it’s wise, going to see your parents? What if old Black Feathers is right? What if the captain’s watching their house? It’s too dangerous.’
‘Old Black Feathers has men watching my back, remember.’
‘Does he? They must be well hidden, then!’
I chose not to respond to that; it echoed my own fears too faithfully. Instead I said obstinately: ‘I’ve got to warn my parents. The otomi might get bored, just watching their house.’
‘But you don’t even like your family.’
‘That’s not true!’ I cried, in a wounded tone. ‘Well, I’m quite fond of my little sister, anyway.’
‘The last time you saw them you tried to push your father into a fire! I know, I was there.’
‘I was only making a point, and anyway, he started it.’ I laughed nervously. ‘You’re just afraid I’m going to get myself killed before tonight and the funeral.’
For a moment he looked as shocked as if he had been stung by some insect he had previously failed to notice. Then his features settled into a grime smile. ‘Well, you’d be no use to Star dead.’
I was spared from having to think of a reply by the dead woman’s sister.
I had not noticed her come back out into the courtyard, and nor probably had Handy. She asked us what we were talking about. This startled us both and had the effect of prompting us to appeal to her like two litigants before a judge.
‘He’s trying to run away!’ said the commoner.
‘No, I’m not,’ I protested. ‘I have to see my family. I’ll be back.’
Goose looked at me shrewdly. ‘Will you, though?’ she asked.
‘Of course! I’ll eat earth…’ My voice trailed off before the woman’s unblinking gaze.
‘Go ahead then,’ she commanded me quietly. ‘Eat earth.’
Goose’s was not obviously a large or imposing presence, but there was something about her stern, unflinching stare that compelled me to obey. I found myself performing the ritual, stooping to touch the ground with my fingertip, and bringing the fingertip to my mouth, and feeling all the time that the anger of the gods might
