Waterfall
Page 33
Filiz had grown up with the Poet and the other boys, but since shed been to Kusadasi she felt like an alien all the timetoo rural for the city, too cosmopolitan for home. Before the flood, shed concluded that to be happy she must sever ties with the mountains, that one should not hold on to situations out of guilt.
Her grandmother Seyma sat atop a cushion next to Yusuf. Her white hair cascaded past her knees. Seyma claimed her quirk worked only when she was sleepingshe could visit others dreamsbut Filiz knew she could snake inside anothers mind at any time of day.
Her neighbors made room as Filiz stepped toward the center of the Assembly. She knelt down before the fire, snapped her fingers, and brought the flame roaring back to life. She never thought much of her quirk until moments like these, when its value became obvious. All the Poet could do was sing and whistle like a bird, a useless gift. Birds never had anything comprehensible to say.
Filiz sat next to a child named Pergamon. He was like a silent shadow, always following her around. His quirk was the otherworldly power of his grip. Filiz had often heard his parents shrieking when Pergamon held their hands. Now he was napping, his soft cheek resting on his arm.
Everyone here had a magical talent, but no one could cause food or drinking water to appear out of thin air. A person with a quirk like that could rule the world.
When the storm began the other day, it had not rained for months. Some Celans had wept happy, foolish tears. Some had fallen on their knees, thanking God, drinking rain. Though most were wise enough to spit it out at the taste of the salt, there was one boy who had been so thirsty he couldnt stop drinking until his body convulsed with seizures. Even those with healing quirks like Filizs mother could not ease his dehydration. And the salt in the rain had tainted what little drinking water they still had.
The boy died. Filiz had gone to the small service for him that afternoon, just before she went to work. Then shed entered Solons cave and met the girl responsible for his death. Solon had watched her reaction, but he must have known she wouldnt say or do anything. Now that the tear rain was falling, the girl was their only hope if Atlantis rose.
That was what Solon said anyway. How the Tearline girl would succeed was Filizs greatest question. Perhaps her people were rightthey should build their arks and prepare for the worst.
Filiz felt her neighbors eyes on her and wondered whether the Poet had told them yet. Then she saw a plate of food being passed around. Men and women were slapping the Poets back and laughing. The Poet, the hero. Filiz watched him bask in the glow. What good would it do a roomful of starving people to have a single bite of food? Maybe they were too hungry to ask now, but as soon as the food was gone, wouldnt they demand to know where it had come from, how to get more?
She wasnt angry at the Poet, she realized. She was angryat Eureka. She watched Pergamon sleepily place a bite of spinach in his mouth. The boy next to him took the plate and licked it clean.
The Poet watched Filiz with as much suspicion as she felt for him. He used to ask her why she avoided the Assemblies. Now he clearly wished she wasnt there.
You met Solons visitor this afternoon? Yusuf said. All eyes turned to Filiz.
She is here with two children, her father, and two friends, the Poet said. They are kind people, tired from their journey. One girl is named Cat and she is very
Enough about the others, someone called from the back. What about her?
She is a selfish brat, Filiz said, and wondered why. Perhaps it was because the Poet had brought food and she also wanted to give the people something they hungered for. They desired an enemy, a common causesomeone to blame.
Did she care about the innocent people who would die because of her? Filiz shook her head. She thought her pain was more important than your lives. Now Atlantis will rise and wash us away. We are powerless. Her voice grew louder as she went on. We sit and wait and starve.
Ive always wanted to visit Atlantis, someone said in the back.
Hush, boy, Filizs grandmother said. We have no food, no water to drink. My daughter is dying. And my granddaughter She looked away as the others finished her sentence in their minds.
There is more food, Filiz said, because she resented the distrust on her grandmothers face. She was tired of feeling like an outsider among her people.
The room grew silent. Eyes like saucers watched Filiz. The Poet offered her no help. She wished she hadnt said itshe was giving up her lifes one remaining pleasure, the time she spent with Solon in his cavebecause now she had no choice but to explain.
Solon has food. He has been preparing for this storm, stocking up. The Tearline girl feasted tonight as you starved.
And water? a salt-boy beside the Poet asked.
He has water, too. Filiz glanced at the Poet. We discovered this only tonight.
You will take us there tomorrow, Filizs grandmother ordered.
Its not that easy, the Poet said. You know his home is protected.
The gossipwitches had no interest in the Celans, so most in Filizs community had never personally encountered the strange, orchid-clad women, but they had heard the buzzing bees and felt the presence of magic in the nearby rocks. Once Pergamon had found a gossipwitch honeycomb, though he never told anyone where. Most Celans wouldnt admit it, but Filiz knew they were afraid of all they did not know about the gossipwitches.
Her grandmother Seyma sat atop a cushion next to Yusuf. Her white hair cascaded past her knees. Seyma claimed her quirk worked only when she was sleepingshe could visit others dreamsbut Filiz knew she could snake inside anothers mind at any time of day.
Her neighbors made room as Filiz stepped toward the center of the Assembly. She knelt down before the fire, snapped her fingers, and brought the flame roaring back to life. She never thought much of her quirk until moments like these, when its value became obvious. All the Poet could do was sing and whistle like a bird, a useless gift. Birds never had anything comprehensible to say.
Filiz sat next to a child named Pergamon. He was like a silent shadow, always following her around. His quirk was the otherworldly power of his grip. Filiz had often heard his parents shrieking when Pergamon held their hands. Now he was napping, his soft cheek resting on his arm.
Everyone here had a magical talent, but no one could cause food or drinking water to appear out of thin air. A person with a quirk like that could rule the world.
When the storm began the other day, it had not rained for months. Some Celans had wept happy, foolish tears. Some had fallen on their knees, thanking God, drinking rain. Though most were wise enough to spit it out at the taste of the salt, there was one boy who had been so thirsty he couldnt stop drinking until his body convulsed with seizures. Even those with healing quirks like Filizs mother could not ease his dehydration. And the salt in the rain had tainted what little drinking water they still had.
The boy died. Filiz had gone to the small service for him that afternoon, just before she went to work. Then shed entered Solons cave and met the girl responsible for his death. Solon had watched her reaction, but he must have known she wouldnt say or do anything. Now that the tear rain was falling, the girl was their only hope if Atlantis rose.
That was what Solon said anyway. How the Tearline girl would succeed was Filizs greatest question. Perhaps her people were rightthey should build their arks and prepare for the worst.
Filiz felt her neighbors eyes on her and wondered whether the Poet had told them yet. Then she saw a plate of food being passed around. Men and women were slapping the Poets back and laughing. The Poet, the hero. Filiz watched him bask in the glow. What good would it do a roomful of starving people to have a single bite of food? Maybe they were too hungry to ask now, but as soon as the food was gone, wouldnt they demand to know where it had come from, how to get more?
She wasnt angry at the Poet, she realized. She was angryat Eureka. She watched Pergamon sleepily place a bite of spinach in his mouth. The boy next to him took the plate and licked it clean.
The Poet watched Filiz with as much suspicion as she felt for him. He used to ask her why she avoided the Assemblies. Now he clearly wished she wasnt there.
You met Solons visitor this afternoon? Yusuf said. All eyes turned to Filiz.
She is here with two children, her father, and two friends, the Poet said. They are kind people, tired from their journey. One girl is named Cat and she is very
Enough about the others, someone called from the back. What about her?
She is a selfish brat, Filiz said, and wondered why. Perhaps it was because the Poet had brought food and she also wanted to give the people something they hungered for. They desired an enemy, a common causesomeone to blame.
Did she care about the innocent people who would die because of her? Filiz shook her head. She thought her pain was more important than your lives. Now Atlantis will rise and wash us away. We are powerless. Her voice grew louder as she went on. We sit and wait and starve.
Ive always wanted to visit Atlantis, someone said in the back.
Hush, boy, Filizs grandmother said. We have no food, no water to drink. My daughter is dying. And my granddaughter She looked away as the others finished her sentence in their minds.
There is more food, Filiz said, because she resented the distrust on her grandmothers face. She was tired of feeling like an outsider among her people.
The room grew silent. Eyes like saucers watched Filiz. The Poet offered her no help. She wished she hadnt said itshe was giving up her lifes one remaining pleasure, the time she spent with Solon in his cavebecause now she had no choice but to explain.
Solon has food. He has been preparing for this storm, stocking up. The Tearline girl feasted tonight as you starved.
And water? a salt-boy beside the Poet asked.
He has water, too. Filiz glanced at the Poet. We discovered this only tonight.
You will take us there tomorrow, Filizs grandmother ordered.
Its not that easy, the Poet said. You know his home is protected.
The gossipwitches had no interest in the Celans, so most in Filizs community had never personally encountered the strange, orchid-clad women, but they had heard the buzzing bees and felt the presence of magic in the nearby rocks. Once Pergamon had found a gossipwitch honeycomb, though he never told anyone where. Most Celans wouldnt admit it, but Filiz knew they were afraid of all they did not know about the gossipwitches.
