Children of Bast Read Online Free PDF Page B

bašar called you because they didn’t know any better.
    “You see bašar don’t know about us or our language. We know about them and their language because we have to, because they own us, or think they do. It’s better that they think they do because it’s to our advantage; they take care of us, feed us and give us warm places to live.”
    “But that’s what I escaped from.”
    “Well, there are those among us that need to be free. Guess you’re one of them. But don’t bad mouth amai that remain captives, as you call them. They’re living a pampered life by choice.”
    “So, why are you on the street?” I asked. “I think you were a house amait once.”
    “Later, Sydney, when I know you better.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?” I was a little pissed at her for not being open with me. She ignored me, of course.
    “Okay, your real name is Nebibi. Want to be called that?”
    “Not really. Sounds weird, like something is dripping.”
    Adele laughed and nuzzled my face. “Well, we gotta do something about Sydney because it is not for a tom.”
    “I’m very confused. I never thought much about names. Harriet and Ned called our maama Posey and my sister June. They were just names to me.”
    Adele continued. “See, Sydney could be either a tom or a mollie. It sounds like both, at least to me. I don’t like Sydney, and I don’t think you do either.” She looked straight at me with no expression on her face.
    “Why do you say that?’
    “Because I don’t think it’s your name.”
    “Oh?”
    “Yeah. I called to you in the dumpster twice and you didn’t answer.”
    “I didn’t hear you?”
    “Tiraan khara! Your shoulder was touching mine. Your name’s not Sydney.” She fixed me with an angry scowl.
    I sighed and laid down, looking toward the chink opening. “All right, I did lie to you. My bašar name is Gaylord.”
    “What?” She moved a step closer. “I didn’t hear you. You muffled your voice.”
    “Gaylord. Gaylord! Loud enough?”
    “Hey, don’t get hostile, although I should because you lied.”
    “Well, what does it matter? I don’t know you. I don’t owe you anything, Adele, or Zahra, except maybe a few scraps of fish. What’s the harm if I told you a false name?”
    “Out here, we have rules. One rule is to tell the truth because a lie could get us caught or killed. We share food, we share hiding places and we sound the alarm when bašar come to round us up.”
    “What do you mean, round us up.”
    “Every so often, bašar launch raids because they think we’re pains in their tails. We sense when they’re in that mood. For the most part we escape, but without the clowder raising a loud scream to warn us, most of us would get caught. We’re close out here, like family. Yeah, some of us fight, might even kill each other, but we survive because we cooperate. Understand?”
    “Okay, but…”
    “No buts. If you’re going to stay out here, you have to play the game, or else we’ll kill you. Okay, Gaylord?
    “Okay.”
    She scared me. Somehow I knew that because she was an alley amait, she could very well kill me. If not her, then someone else.”
    “Actually, I kind of like Gaylord,” she said as she purred and rubbed my face. “It sounds like a raeed, a take-charge amait that we would follow, and sexy. But, it’s not your real name, remember; it’s what your captors called you. Understand?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Of course, you know now that telling the truth is right thing to do,” Chubby said. “But she was also right to let you know.”
    “Yup, definitely. I think about all of what she taught me that first day, everyday.”
    Chubby got up and stretched. After a deep yawn he walked over to me and licked my face.
    “Hungry?” he asked.
    “Not particularly, but I could eat.”
    “Let go get us a mouse or two.”
    As I trotted along the street with my old friend, I remembered when Adele introduced me to him, and I blessed her for it.
     

Chapter 3
    Before a