Virginia Hamilton Read Online Free PDF Page B

back. She worked her hindquarters, pushing and scraping with her paws until she had dirt and dust covering her over. Only her muzzle and lip were left uncovered to the Nolight. The bright orange membrane behind each of her ears that separated dust and monoxide from the air she breathed, she kept covered completely. She was aware that, even when she was worn out, the membrane glowed, revealing her hiding hole. With the membranes closed, she sucked air through her nose and began using her undeveloped lungs as breathing organs for as long as she was at rest.
    Lying on her back the way she was, she would have been open to attack if she had not concealed herself so well. She was aware of her bulk and heaviness in her cramped quarters; but she was totally invisible in her dark.
    Miacis was huge for an animal of her realm and larger than any of the human groups, save for Slakers.
    But what are Slakers? They are nothing, she thought.
    She weighed more than two hundred pounds, so the Master estimated. Yet she remained alone, with no unit, out here in the open. Therefore she had to hide herself well from any who might pass her way and attempt to trap her.
    Fear. Miacis knew it. She feared being trapped, although, as far as she could reckon, she never had been. But once confined, she realized, there would be no one to come to her rescue. There were no others of her kind anywhere in Dustland. She had told Star this fact, but had not found the courage to ask Star to do anything for her.
    And Star has done nothing, she thought. Perhaps it is not Its place to. Oh, but now my Master would come if I were trapped, she thought. I know she would! The Master would search and search for me. She would find me and lead me to safety.
    To the Master, Miacis admitted she could barely see. She was aware that her near-blindness had always been so. Yet she noticed forms, shapes, the instant they moved. She could recognize Star color, and natural growth by scent; and rock, landrise and fall by telepathic second sight. She and the Master kept her lack of first sight their secret. The Master teaching that if the prey, Thomas, discovered her blindness, he might find a way to hurt her.
    Not me, Miacis had traced to the Master. He come near me, I feel it all over. Sock that buddy down, too, oh, yes!
    “Miacis, you won’t hurt anyone,” Justice had told her. “I’m telling you not to.”
    So the Master had spoken to Miacis.
    Oh, wish I could go home with the Master, too! Miacis thought now.
    But she was of this place the Master called the future. The Master and the others were of the place called past. None of them could enter the future alone. The four entered the future as a unit only. And Miacis could not ever enter the past. In the past, she had not existed.
    She had been so informed by the Master. And the Master called herself human and called the other three human. Miacis knew better than that. She knew humans of her land. She was aware that the Master was like Star and was greater than all others. Was glorious.
    Master might be Star in disguise. Find out how good I be.
    Miacis knew of good and bad from the unit. She cared nothing about them, but she would try caring in case the Master was indeed Star.
    Concealed in her dark, Miacis thrilled at being so informed about so much by her Master. Slowly she relaxed her bulk in the tight place. She had a single sense-stream, like a fluttering ribbon of sensation, connected to the feelings of Thomas, the prey. She would loosen the ribbon, pulling it back, as soon as he fell asleep. She allowed herself a moment of emotion so that she might be touched by the prey’s desires.
    She was aware. Thomas shivered with cold, although the Nolight was stifling.
    Dig, Miacis traced along the sense-stream. Dig in the dust. Your body losing moisture. Exposure will cause fever. Nothing lives in the open. The open will shorten your flight and the chase unduly.
    Thomas marveling at her knowledge of his slightest discomfort.