amazed. This poor child thinks the glasses made the hunter appear. She argues with her. “No, Bashima, the glasses help keep you safe. You couldn’t have seen that man so far away without them. He could have gotten much closer to you. Ni vizuri kuona -- It’s good to see. Tafadhali -- Please, Bashima.”
This argument persuades Bashima and she puts them back on.
That man, fathered her and wanted to end her. Aliya wonders if a similar fate would not also be hers were she born to it here rather than in the States.
#
Later in the school hut, while the children are out in the yard at recess, Aliya is addressing Delila and Kennen. “What do you mean there is nothing we can do? That hunter is out there terrifying her. We should go to the police!”
Kennen utters words that show his realistic side, “It’s the same story every time. They won’t do anything.” He explains, “They don’t have any evidence.”
“How about her missing limbs? How about the graveyard out back? How long before he comes in and takes the rest of her? Or all of us?” Aliya’s exhaustion is clear as she sways with dizziness.
Delila intercedes, “Aliya, sit.”
Kennen leads her to a chair. “You need rest. You’re absolutely exhausted, emotionally and physically. You can’t keep...”
“What else can I do?”
Delila is at her wit’s end, “You haven’t slept since you got here. Have you? You are going to burn out and then what good will you be to anyone?”
“We have to do more!” her plead more directed at Kennen.
Who responds, “We are doing everything we can.”
“Are we?” The tape holding her glasses together loses its grip and her glasses fall off onto the floor.
“Aliya, you should go with Kennen to get supplies tomorrow. Take the weekend.”
Kennen picks up her glasses and examines them. “Go see your father’s friend. Didn’t he invite you to a party? ’Could use a little R&R me self.”
“I can’t go.” She tries to take her glasses back, but he swerves to examine them further.
Delila insists, “You can. You must. It is something we all feel when we leave here, even if we’re only going for a spell.”
Kennen, “We’re afraid there will be fewer of them here when we come back.”
Aliya resists, “I won’t go.”
Delila stomps her bare foot down hard on the dirt floor, “You are no good to them like this. You are no good to any of us, and yourself included. Go. Or I will fire you and you can pack your things and go home. Either way you are going. You decide for how long.”
Aliya grabs her glasses from Kennen and storms out of the room, heading for the children’s hut. She has to hold the lenses to her eyes to see clearly.
“Aliya.” She keeps walking. “Aliya wait,” he follows her. “Let me fix those for you.”
She is furious at the world and Kennen is closest. She abruptly turns to face him and his momentum is so great he walks into her. He grabs her, trying to stop their fall, but instead they both go down and he manages to land under her and catch her. They are nose-to-nose. Their hearts race with adrenaline. But she doesn’t want to be close to anyone right now. She puts the glasses in his hand, picks herself up and slowly makes her way into the dark hut, with extra challenged sight in the dark.
#
Kennen goes to his toolkit in the van and rigs an adhesive and a piece of thin fabric from his bag to set the glasses. As it sets, he climbs to the roof of the van, his perch for stargazing keeping watch.
In time, almost all the camp is sound asleep but for the guards on watch. In the child quarters, Bashima is sleeping, holding Aliya’s hand. Aliya is lying next to her, wide-eyed. The world is so blurry, it's a wonder she bothers leaving her eyes open.
Kennen peers in the doorway. She closes her eyes, pretending to be asleep. He steps in quietly and places the mended glasses near her. She ignores him. He lingers for a moment, watching her, he almost says something but holds
This argument persuades Bashima and she puts them back on.
That man, fathered her and wanted to end her. Aliya wonders if a similar fate would not also be hers were she born to it here rather than in the States.
#
Later in the school hut, while the children are out in the yard at recess, Aliya is addressing Delila and Kennen. “What do you mean there is nothing we can do? That hunter is out there terrifying her. We should go to the police!”
Kennen utters words that show his realistic side, “It’s the same story every time. They won’t do anything.” He explains, “They don’t have any evidence.”
“How about her missing limbs? How about the graveyard out back? How long before he comes in and takes the rest of her? Or all of us?” Aliya’s exhaustion is clear as she sways with dizziness.
Delila intercedes, “Aliya, sit.”
Kennen leads her to a chair. “You need rest. You’re absolutely exhausted, emotionally and physically. You can’t keep...”
“What else can I do?”
Delila is at her wit’s end, “You haven’t slept since you got here. Have you? You are going to burn out and then what good will you be to anyone?”
“We have to do more!” her plead more directed at Kennen.
Who responds, “We are doing everything we can.”
“Are we?” The tape holding her glasses together loses its grip and her glasses fall off onto the floor.
“Aliya, you should go with Kennen to get supplies tomorrow. Take the weekend.”
Kennen picks up her glasses and examines them. “Go see your father’s friend. Didn’t he invite you to a party? ’Could use a little R&R me self.”
“I can’t go.” She tries to take her glasses back, but he swerves to examine them further.
Delila insists, “You can. You must. It is something we all feel when we leave here, even if we’re only going for a spell.”
Kennen, “We’re afraid there will be fewer of them here when we come back.”
Aliya resists, “I won’t go.”
Delila stomps her bare foot down hard on the dirt floor, “You are no good to them like this. You are no good to any of us, and yourself included. Go. Or I will fire you and you can pack your things and go home. Either way you are going. You decide for how long.”
Aliya grabs her glasses from Kennen and storms out of the room, heading for the children’s hut. She has to hold the lenses to her eyes to see clearly.
“Aliya.” She keeps walking. “Aliya wait,” he follows her. “Let me fix those for you.”
She is furious at the world and Kennen is closest. She abruptly turns to face him and his momentum is so great he walks into her. He grabs her, trying to stop their fall, but instead they both go down and he manages to land under her and catch her. They are nose-to-nose. Their hearts race with adrenaline. But she doesn’t want to be close to anyone right now. She puts the glasses in his hand, picks herself up and slowly makes her way into the dark hut, with extra challenged sight in the dark.
#
Kennen goes to his toolkit in the van and rigs an adhesive and a piece of thin fabric from his bag to set the glasses. As it sets, he climbs to the roof of the van, his perch for stargazing keeping watch.
In time, almost all the camp is sound asleep but for the guards on watch. In the child quarters, Bashima is sleeping, holding Aliya’s hand. Aliya is lying next to her, wide-eyed. The world is so blurry, it's a wonder she bothers leaving her eyes open.
Kennen peers in the doorway. She closes her eyes, pretending to be asleep. He steps in quietly and places the mended glasses near her. She ignores him. He lingers for a moment, watching her, he almost says something but holds
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