by Peter Ness
‘What was that?’ Andrea asked. ‘More rats?’
‘I dunno, but it’s kind of scary,’ Peter said.
‘Andrea! Peter! Time for dinner!’ their mother’s voice echoed up the stairs. They turned back towards where they were sitting.
‘What the?’ Andrea said open mouthed. ‘I left the book just here on the floor, but now it’s gone! Did you move it Peter?’
‘I never touched it. I did nothen wrong Andrea,’ Peter said indignantly.
‘Coming Mom!’ Andrea yelled down the stairs. The children closed the door and wandered back downstairs. Inside the attic, the rucksack fell onto its side with a plop, and then began shaking and bouncing around violently, emitting a pale blue glow.
#
‘So, you’re off to Turkey then?’ Edward asked Jo, who was busy stirring the custard on the stove. He leant back on the counter and popped open a bottle of cider water.
‘Drink it properly, and stop gurgling Andrea or I’ll take it away,’ Jo warned with a glare. ‘You’re not a five year old anymore.’ She glanced across at Edward. ‘Yes. For maybe two days, three to four at most.’
‘Sorry Mom,’ Andrea replied. ‘Here.’ She passed the half-empty bottle across to Peter.
‘Peter! No gurgling!’ Jo snapped.
‘Well? Is it a direct flight to Ankara or not?’ Edward queried. ‘And thanks for keeping us in the loop this time.’
‘No. It’s via Rome. I’m meeting Kirin and Professor Robin Grady. You’ve met them both before.’
‘Next you’re going to tell me that they have an audience with the Pope,’ Edward said cynically, with a half-laugh.
‘Yes. How did you—,’ Jo began, surprise creeping into her voice. Edward’s half-laugh vanished in an instant.
‘Huh? I was being sarcastic, but you’re actually serious?’ Edward slapped the table. ‘Now I’ve heard everything.’
‘No! You haven’t heard it all Edward. You don’t know the half of it,’ Jo replied.
‘Well? I’m here now. Why don’t you fill me in?’ Edward suggested.
‘Maybe you should sit down with the kids and read Heni’s diary while I’m gone then?’ Jo said, raising her eyebrows. ‘Yeah, and don’t give me that innocent baby “Ooh—, I never did nuthin’ wrong,” look Andrea. I wasn’t born yesterday! I’ve got eyes in the back of my head!’
‘Yes Mom. I’m terribly sorry. We read it. The book’s finished Mom,’ Andrea replied forlornly. ‘And it’s gone, it’s disappeared.’
‘I’m sure there are more of them where that one came from,’ Jo said.
‘Well. We never saw any more books. That was the only one,’ Andrea replied.
‘Have you even looked?’ Jo snorted, hands on hips. ‘No. I thought not! Well, you can have that opportunity tomorrow when you clean the attic for me!’
Appendix: Maps
TOP: Heni Hani's Cassiopeia farm before major changes
BOTTOM: Heni Hani’s Cassiopeia farm house, after completion
TOP: Hani & Thomas Family Trees
BOTTOM: Location Map of Cassiopeia Farm
Endnotes
[1] Zorats Karer or Carahunge, It is not far from Dars River canyon, near Sisian.
[2] pronounced Preema
[3] A type of bird: a Cockatoo. Can also be used to describe a stupid person.
[4] Slang for okay
[5] The words are iron and steel, but with the nuance: iron people out with a bar, and steal their money.
[6] Great White sharks
[7] Vietnam
[8] A golliwog is the nickname for geologist’s that used to work in coal mines. At the end of a hard day, covered in black soot and dust they were as black as a Golliwog doll; the name stuck.
[9] Steaks and sausages
[10] Afternoon
[11] Rec leave = recreation leave
[12] Izumo is the name of the god that reputedly created Japan
[13] Prima is pronounced Preema
[14] camouflage cream
[15] Means “Okay” - used in a positive sense.
[16] 44-gallon drum
[17] The standard housing loan variable interest rates for most of 1973 were 7%, increasing in November 1973 to 8.38%. The banks frequently marked up higher risk loans.
[18] Pronounced preema
[19] Vege shop = vegetable shop = grocery shop
[20] Pronounced Preema