Carousel Seas Read Online Free PDF Page A

isn’t something you see, up close and personal, every day. Or even every year.
    “It is going well, Kate Archer, thanking you. And for you?”
    “I’m good, thanks. The new lock working okay?”
    “The new lock is very excellent, and I see nothing funny or suspicious when I come to open up.” He smiled again. “Nancy already has asked me these questions.”
    I heaved a deep, theatrical sigh, and turned my hands palm up.
    “I’m gonna make Nancy manager, and retire to Florida.”
    Vassily tipped his head slightly to one side, apparently giving this statement serious consideration.
    “I think you will not like Florida?” he said slowly. “You will be away from those things that give you meaning. This beautiful carousel. And Anna. And this place .” He moved his hands, forming an oblate against the air, possibly intending to encompass all of Archers Beach. Which was more correct than he knew.
    It occurred to me to wonder, then, if Vassily’d gotten a dash of knowledge from Prince Aesgyr, too. That worried me for a second, since Vassily obviously fell into the subgroup of those mundane people who can see, and do not fear, the wyrd. It was only a second’s worry, though; done was, after all, done. Nothing I could do about it one way or the other.
    What bothered me a lot more than the state of Vassily’s soul was Prince Aesgyr’s long-term plans. All very well to release a being wrongly imprisoned, be he lover or passing stranger. And all honor to him, for granting Vassily that smile of tender peace.
    But he had to be planning to punish those who had conspired against him. And if he was planning on involving the Changing Land in any part of that—
    Okay, now my stomach hurt.
    “You are not any more good?” Vassily asked.
    “A little less than. That’s what happens when you think too much.”
    “Yes,” he said wisely. “But you will not go to Florida.”
    “You got that. Too many bugs, too much sun, not enough snow. I like it fine right here.”
    I hesitated, because it was a stupid thing to ask, then decided I could afford to be stupid today.
    “Do you have everything you need?” I asked Vassily. “You’re getting your pay?”
    “I need nothing. Samuil receives my pay, to keep it safe on account.”
    Oh, really ? I thought.
    “That’s nice of him. When will Samuil give you your money?”
    “When we are come home,” Vassily assured me serenely. “After the agency has its fee.”
    “Sounds good,” I said, which wasn’t exactly the most truthful sentence I’d ever spoken. “Well, if you’re all set, I’ll be getting on with my day.”
    “Yes,” he said. “It is a beautiful day.”
    “It is,” I agreed, and left him.
    * * *
    Two minutes later, I was sitting at the table in Tony Lee’s back kitchen, coffee and egg roll to hand, keeping out of Anna’s way while she monitored the various foodstuffs in process.
    Apparently satisfied with progress, she joined me at the table with her mug.
    “What’s bothering you, Kate?” she asked.
    I laughed.
    “Am I that obvious?”
    Anna smiled and sipped. “Only to those who love you.”
    I shook my head. Anna is the nicest person I know—not the sappy kind of nice that’s all sweet words and no backbone. Knowing Anna, you just want to do better , so you’ll be worthy of her faith in you.
    “I was just talking to Vassily,” I said, breaking open my egg roll. “Asked if everything was going good for him, if he was getting paid . . .”
    “Ah,” Anna said softly.
    I looked up from my plate and waited.
    Anna sipped, her eyes focused somewhere between me and Ukraine, then she sighed and looked at me straight.
    “Vassily told you that his pay was being saved for him by the team agent . . .” She frowned.
    “Samuil,” I supplied, and she nodded her thanks.
    “Yes. Samuil is holding everyone’s wages, and Vassily will receive his money when he gets home, after the agency fee has been paid.”
    “You sound like you’ve heard this story