Read Online Heavens Before by Kacy Barnett-Gramckow - Free Book Online Page B

trees.

    Donning her veil, Annah followed Iltani through the trees, hurting and fearful. How had Iltani known where to find her? And why should her sister-in-law want to find her this early in the morning? Usually Iltani slept until midday. Mystified, Annah plodded behind Iltani up one of the many tortuous, almost imperceptible paths that cut through the thick undergrowth.
    Iltani wandered, turning down this path, then that path, becoming more and more frustrated. At last she turned to face Annah, who looked down at Iltani’s feet as the woman snarled, “You found it yesterday, little fool! Somewhere in that dull mind of yours, you know where it is!”
    Confused, Annah stared at Iltani’s plump brown feet. What did I find yesterday that Iltani wants? Nothing except … the honey. That’s it—the honey . Relieved that the explanationwas so simple, Annah hid her grim amusement. If I weren’t so tired and weak from hunger, Iltani, I’d lead you on a walk from here to your next kentum and back again. But I can’t take you directly to it; you’d realize that I’m not mindless .
    To delude Iltani, Annah wandered aimlessly through the undergrowth, pushing aside leaves and stepping over vines, gradually approaching the honey-laden sweet-resin tree.
    Iltani followed her, complaining aloud. “The creature doesn’t know where she’s going. Stupid-faced thing!”
    At last, too tired to continue, Annah sat down in the undergrowth, within sight—and scent—of the resin tree. She could hear the bees humming softly.
    Too engrossed in her own resentment to hear or smell anything, Iltani muttered, “I knew it! Worthless creature.” Aiming a peevish kick at Annah’s left shin, Iltani turned and walked toward the resin tree. She had just passed the tree when she looked back, laughing triumphantly. “Ha! I found it without the creature’s help.”
    Gloating, Iltani gathered several dark, glossy, mantle-sized leaves from a nearby clump of rhizomes and spread them beneath the resin tree. Eagerly she reached into the hollow of the ancient tree and scooped out the glistening, dripping honeycomb. More than once she flicked away the bees, uttering little cries of pain.
    Annah thought, I’ve never been stung. I think there are some advantages to being a nothing-creature. Perhaps the bees recognize Iltani’s greed and bad temper . Pondering this, Annah threw a sidelong look at Iltani. She was still muttering and scooping out chunks of honeycomb.
    When she had filled the center of the first massive leaf, Iltani knelt and folded the leaf edges over the pile of honeycomb, slipped a second broad leaf over it, thenwrapped them all again with the third leaf. Then she stood, frowning as she surveyed the trees and vines. Her gaze swept toward Annah, who looked down at once. Iltani’s feet pattered on the narrow trail of moist earth. Stopping in front of Annah, she snatched Annah’s woven-grass bag.
    Startled, Annah clutched the bag, trying to keep it. They struggled briefly, then Iltani wrenched Annah’s veil away and kicked her hard in the side. A breathtaking jolt of pain shot through Annah’s ribs. She fell sideways, releasing the bag. Laughing, Iltani gave her a final kick to the rear. Defeated, humiliated, Annah bit back her tears of pain and struggled to sit up, clawing the earth with her hands.
    “Next time, you won’t fight, stupid thing.” Iltani snatched the grass bag, then paused. “What’s this? A creature wearing an ornament?”
    To her horror, Annah realized that the precious shell carving had slipped out of her tunic. Before Annah could hide her cherished possession, Iltani grasped the carving and swept it over Annah’s head, tearing away some of Annah’s hair as she pulled the cord away.
    “Where did she find this?” Iltani wondered aloud. Still on the ground, Annah watched as Iltani looped the shell carving’s cord over her own head, then tucked the leaf-wrapped honeycomb into Annah’s grass bag. Clearly