by Rayner Ye
Nabi sighed and rubbed her nose.
Aedre reached across and whacked his arm. “Give the girl a break. She looks exhausted!”
Nabi frowned at her, hand on hip. “I’m surprised you’re going out yourself, Aedre. Aren’t you scared? You guys better not smoke more of that—”
“Of course, we won’t.” Aedre wound a curl around her finger. “Mosh’s already told you that.” She didn’t want to go out but had to show that mosquito drone she wasn’t scared. Didn’t know how Nabi felt about her mosquito drone. They couldn’t discuss it.
“Okay.” Nabi nodded. “I’m not joining you tonight, but how about I come around tomorrow for a cup of tea?”
Mosh wrinkled his nose. “A cup of tea?” he mimicked in a high-pitched old woman’s voice.
“Tea’s good!” Nabi said. “We’re not repeating last weekend.”
“As if.” Aedre swung her legs over a chair arm. “Even if I bought an aurashield and made a chimney with it, I wouldn’t.”
“Poor Aedre lost all her money bribing those pigs,” Mosh said.
The girls exchanged knowing glances. They couldn’t tell him the truth with their mosquito drones following their every move.
Mosh leaned back and pulled something from his trouser pocket. “I was gonna give you this, but since Nabi’s not coming, maybe I should now.” He leaned towards Aedre and pressed it into her palm. A ring with a red gem.
Aedre fingered it, and her bottom lip stuck out. “What is it?”
Nabi gasped. “An aurashield? Those things are expensive!”
Aedre smirked, glancing sideways at Mosh. “Really? You don’t have to, you know.”
His face reddened, and he rubbed his head. “Yeah, yeah. Go on. Keep it. You lost how many wondees? Look, it’s the least I can do.”
Aedre beamed. “Thank you so much.”
Nabi furrowed her brow. “How did you afford one of those?”
“I’ve been saving,” Mosh said. “It’s not for smoking up a chimney, though. Deal, Aedre?”
Fear flashed across Nabi’s face. “Aedre’s already said she wouldn’t. Look, let’s not talk about this anymore, okay?”
Aedre’s breathing quickened. The mafia had a mosquito drone following Nabi too. That hairy Nerthling with golden teeth had said so. “Union and feigong are enough for me. I promise.”
“Yeah,” Mosh said. “Women and sex are enough for me.”
Aedre grimaced. Why did he have to take advantage of the fact these pretty young women offered themselves to him on a plate? They all dreamed the same dream, and he knew it. Find a rich foreigner. Escape the Firesnake for a better life.
The imprisoned women flashed at the forefront of her mind.
Nabi rubbed her chin. “Union, feigong and witchcraft, you mean.”
Aedre gazed at Mosh, who had paused midway before taking another swig.
She laughed and waved him off with a dismissive hand. “Personal joke.”
He shrugged and continued to drink, then stood and smoothed down his hair. “We’ve gotta get going soon, sure you don’t wanna get changed and come out? It’ll be fun. Only a few drinks. No after-parties.”
Nabi put a hand on her hip. “So, Aedre. You gonna contact your dad from the Air Dome tomorrow?”
“Definitely. If I can’t get hold of him on VR, voice chat or text chat, I’ll leave him a message. Let him know I’m alive and well.”
“Hmm. It’s been two years. I’d think you’d better.”
“What?” Mosh asked. “You never messaged him when you arrived?”
Aedre flushed. “No.”
***
From outside, the Air Dome looked like a derelict warehouse. A shiver went through Aedre from remembering her confinement in a similar building a week ago.
People pushed against her as she shuffled through its entrance hallway. There was no personal space here. Maybe it was because of Rajka’s dense population, or perhaps squashing into one other was a cultural thing.
After her hand was stamped, she entered the ground floor. She found herself within an extensive dark dome akin to a planetarium. She sucked in its fresh air. Those waiting behind were left in the hallway while Aedre and another five got access into the dome. A small light cast a soft glow onto their faces.
A guide talked to them in Inarmuzzan. Aedre couldn’t understand, but Mosh had told her everything she needed to know before she came. Above, eight hundred airSpheres sparkled in radiant colours, suspended like planets in space. Their colours altered depending on which virtual realities the users selected, making the scene even more fantastic.
Each user sat inside a caged, cushioned platform, which extended from a crane on the ground. Some users chose to go inside the airSphere for VR, and some read or watched from the outside.
Although Aedre was short for a Nerthling of Sax descent, her height matched the majority of Jerjens and Native-Reds. The similarity didn’t stop them from staring or whispering behind hands while pointing at her and giggling. She flushed and felt like saying in Inarmuzzan that she was a humanoid too, but remained silent.
“Kara sini, Noctar!” the attendant said.
He was talking to her because Noctar meant light-skinned person. Didn’t matter what planet or country she came from. Her spectators giggled and pointed at the Noctar—her.
They meant no harm, but it was horrible being called that, day in and day out, being pointed at and always the centre of laughter. If only her aurashield could change her appearance to that of a Native-Red or Jerjen. It was only a modifier of her external environment though, offering features such as air conditioning, waterproofing, gravity alteration, UV filtering, and the like.
The attendant pointed at a caged platform descending to the ground. “Kergi sana, Noctar.”
Aedre glared at him. It was a shame. He was a good-looking man around her age. Would she ever be more to a man on this planet than a Noctar?
She climbed a ladder and sat crossed-legged on her cushioned platform. The crane rolled along on squeaky wheels, causing her to forget her anger as she drew in a deep breath. Her platform stopped under a vacant airSphere in the middle of the circle. Her crane extended its mechanical arm, which ended in front of a white airSphere.
She took a bottle of spiced milk from her backpack, swigged it, then logged in to Eightface Space. Ting was online. Aedre missed her so much. She had to contact Dad, but Ting might log out.
Aedre chose text chat. Quicker transmission.
A: Sorry, I haven’t been in touch for ages.
T: It’s okay. I know you busy. I also know the Firesnake very poor. Your dad and Soozan must be worried.
A: Have you seen them?
T: If you bother to contact, you know I leave Nerthus too.
A: What? You’re joking, aren’t you?
T: No.
A: You’ve returned to Kuanja?
T: No. I gone to Nerthus moon.
A: Hey? What do you mean?
T: They build greenhouses all over. I’m a farmer.
A: That’s so cool. But how did you get that job?
T: I know. It crazy, yeah? I look on job page and there are jobs for anyone, no matter qualified or not. First they tell me I too qualified, can you believe it?
A: Are you enjoying it?
T: Pay not good. But no matter, I like it a lot. Very green. We live in the greenhouse.
Tears welled in Aedre’s eyes. If only she loved her job and environment.
A: As long as you’re happy.
T: My dad not happy, though. He want me come home and get married.
A: You got a boyfriend?
T: No. But my dad has many young bachelors lined up and waiting. If I come home, I must marry one, no matter I like him or not. Dear.
A: You’re going to stay on the moon?
T: I hope so. Maybe I return to Nerthus in future.
A: You must miss your family.
T: No, I don’t. You know, Maozong families always give pressure. I have freed
om here. It nice environment too. So many trees and different species of animals. Better than living in a sky city.
A: I’m glad you’re happy now. A significant change from packing suction tube deliveries. Can you see Nerthus from the moon?
T: Always. We on the tidally locked side.
A: Nice. Must be beautiful.
T: How are you? How’s your job?
Aedre half-smiled. If only she knew.
A: My boss is such a bastard
A buzzing noise and flashing numerical countdown showed she had five minutes left. She gasped.
A: Sorry, Ting. I have to message my dad before my time runs out.
T: Yes. Very important.
A: Love you.
T: Yes. Bye.
Aedre set her airSphere to video record.
“Hi, Dad. Sorry I haven’t been in touch. I didn’t realise it’s so hard to get hold of airSpheres here. Everything is f—”
The airSphere disappeared before she could complete her message and touch ‘send’.
“No!”
She lowered her face into her palms. She’d booked this slot months ago through an agent and couldn’t buy any more time. If she hadn’t blabbered on, she could’ve sent it. She should’ve said, “I’m alive and well.”
The platform descended past other cages and airSpheres and took her to the ground floor exit tunnel with other leavers. Dim red lights lit her way. Perhaps she could get more time on another airSphere if she returned and offered extra money. She ran back, weaving through a crowd heading for the exit.
If she could only ask an attendant for two more minutes or beg someone to send a message for her, it was crazy, but she had to try something. Who knew when she’d get another chance? A large woman blocked her way. She was a head taller than Aedre. Unusual. Aedre tried to get around her, but she sidestepped the same way. Aedre cleared her throat. “Pergsana.” Excuse me.
“Mauma lamad?” the unsmiling woman asked. Want where?
“Mauma bokara simi dua.” I want to speak to him. Aedre pointed at an attendant behind the crowd.
The woman babbled to a friend and laughed. They said noctar several times. Aedre tried to get past, but the woman continued to block her. Aedre begged, explaining she’d forgotten to contact Dad.
Others imitated her broken Inarmuzzan and laughed. Aedre pushed past the woman and was two feet behind her when someone yanked her hair. Pain split across the top of her skull. The woman was clenching her roots and pulling her backwards.
“Kergi sana, Noctar!” She spat in Aedre’s face, then released her. With a quickened pulse and a heightened sense of awareness, Aedre glanced around at surrounding spectators. It was quite dark. No one seemed to care. The bitch continued talking with her friend as if she’d done nothing wrong. Aedre balled her fists and trembled but was too scared to risk it. If only Mosh were with her.
Outside, scorching sunlight hit her in the face, and she stood still and squinted. Others who were exiting the building shouldered around her in a rush. Passers-by stared at her, pointed, and whispered to their friends.
Heat pulsating in her head and chest, she gave onlookers a narrow-eyed glare. She always seemed to be the butt end of a joke because of her looks. She might have been bored living in Oxfire, but at least they never treated her like this.
“Mana gue nak Noctar!” she roared at a young red-skinned couple who whispered and pointed. My name’s not white meat. “Mana gue Aedre!” My name’s Aedre.
A little girl peeped out from behind the woman’s legs and gazed up at Aedre with a quivering lower lip.
Aedre softened her expression. “Montar,” she said to the girl. Sorry.
The girl burst into tears, and her mother stooped to pick her up.
Aedre’s mum carried her like that when she was a child too. She wrapped her arms around herself. The small family walked away.
Aedre looked at concrete paving stones. Nerthling crystal skywalks were so much prettier than concrete. She could go home, but all she wanted was freedom from grieving Mum. Mum wouldn’t be waiting for her, not ever. Union and feigong didn’t help soothe her broken heart.
She’d been selfish to leave and not contact her family. Dad and Soozan probably thought she was dead.
She crouched and wept. She sensed a crowd gathering around her. Eventually, a couple of security guards lifted her by each arm.
Should she return to Oxfire, or stay and endure?
She’d have to endure until she completed her contract and received her return-ticket.
Embarrassed
Aedre panted as sweat poured down every inch of her body. Her loose-fitting orange feigong outfit became dark red from perspiration. Other feigong students sprinted past, leaving her far behind and now in the last place.
Try as she might, her legs became heavier, and her throat pounded. On her fifth lap around the stadium, she passed onlookers who pointed and jeered. She shook her head in disgust after crossing the finish line along with other slow runners and children.
What if the gold-toothed brothel manager who’d taken her money was watching her? He’d be laughing with his mobsters at her defeat. His mosquito drone whirred by her ear, a pitch lower than the real thing. No, he probably wasn’t spying—waste of time watching a silly race.
But how would he know if she jotted a note to someone about what had happened? She could cover her writing to prevent the mosquito from scanning it.
That drone sickened her.
How long had it been since her release? Three months? The constant spying unsettled her. But trafficking of girls and women disgusted her more. Ate her up inside.
Though Sharr Shuvuu had strengthened her aura in the volcano weeks ago, keeping a level head proved challenging—with all the trafficking going around. Thankfully the mosquito drone couldn’t spirit travel with her.
The other students and teachers slouched beneath stadium bleachers shaded from Inarmuzza’s tropical sun. Among the trail of losers, she dawdled towards them. The shade offered her a tinge of relief from a thick layer of cotton. Around her, other students laughed and chatted in Rajka slang, too fast to understand. She sat on the cold concrete and spoke in Mayleedian with a couple of Sattchi girls, whose purple veils were tucked into collars.
Rays from the setting sun dimmed between benches, and shadows shifted as stadium lights glared on.
From afar, an attractive feigong teacher around her age pointed at her and laughed. “Look at Aedre. How’d she become that red running so slow? She looks like a clown with a red nose and red cheeks.” He spoke in Mayleedian, so she understood him.
Those who understood laughed. Her face warmed, but she only smiled. This was the way of Native-Reds. Honest and forward, not overly polite like the Enderlish of Nerthus. She’d witnessed them call overweight friends fat to their faces, and the fat ones laugh in response. Since the incident at the Air Dome, she’d learned to temper her reaction when someone called her Noctar. She’d learned to accept her place in this world.
They envied and feared her exotic looks, though Jerjens couldn’t care less. Save her Jerjen friends at the temple, most of them kept to their kind.
Teachers handed out parcels of food and hand wipes. The scent of food settled her nerves. Everyone opened their packets and spread their plastic-lined paper wrappings on the concrete: sticky white rice, sweet and spicy beans, and coconut-spiced curry. Following suit, Aedre cleaned her hand and ate with her fingertips, pushing food into her mouth with her thumb. She gobbled up everything within minutes.
The veiled girl she’d been talking to bum-shuffled closer. “So. How’d you get interested in feigong?”
“I’ve been doing it at a Feili temple every morning.”
The girl raised an eyebrow. “Are you Feili?”
“No. I’ve always thought it looked interesting.”
“Hmm. I’m surprised you’re attending a Feili temple since you’re not Feili. You Bogan?”
Aedre hesitated. Having no religion in the F
iresnake was like being a criminal. Pagans were worse. “I’m becoming a Feili,” she lied. “I was raised as a Bogan in Nerthus, but prefer Feilism.”
The girl frowned. “I’m surprised you’re even allowed to change religions, without marrying a man of a different religion first.”
Aedre’s heart thudded. “We have more freedom in Nerthus.”
“Yes, lots of freedom.” The girl frowned.
“Why are you practising a Feili martial art if you’re Sattchi, then?”
“Feigong’s fashionable amongst Inarmuzzans. Feigong’s always in the Firesnake’s best modern movies. Most of our teachers are stuntmen.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“I guess we don’t meditate in our feigong classes because of the high Sattchi attendance?”
“Of course. We Sattchis can’t undertake Feili meditation. That’d be blasphemous.”
“Yes. Of course.” Feigong Apek taught her was better than anything she learned here. Much deeper. Here, they didn’t focus on energy from the sacrum or meditate like real feigong fighters. “Sattchis stand on their heads to pray.”
“Yes, that’s right.” The girl giggled and shoved some rice and beans into her mouth. She swallowed and adjusted her headscarf. “It’s weird to meet a Sax Nerthling who’s dismissing Boganism to become a Feili.”
Aedre cleared her throat. This girl was going to gossip about her.
“They’re all Jerjen at your temple, aren’t they?”
“Yes.”
The girl stuck her nose up. “We Native-Reds and Jerjens don’t get along. How can you be friends with both of us?”
Aedre inhaled sharply. “Because we’re all human.”
The girl shook her head and frowned. “Why d’you come here? Isn’t it tiring to study feigong every day?”
“Mostly to make friends,” Aedre half lied. She’d wanted to see sexy male fighters. Even after her ordeal with police and sex traffickers, her desire for a boyfriend remained.
“Hey, Aedre!” Jayan called out, this time in Inarmuzzan. She readied herself for another joke about her colouring. “You wanna come walkabout tonight with some of us?”
The invitation shocked her, made her flush. But she smiled. “Good. Let’s walkabout.”