Read Online Whisper Gatherers by Nicola McDonagh - Free Book Online

only for sleep. Each space contained a bed, small table and chair. Nowt else. No steamshower much to my great vexation. I began to panic somewhat and went into the tiny box-like hallway that separated all the rooms.
    To my greater than great relief, I found a door that led to a place to poop. It had a sink too. I turned on the taps to make sure water was forthcoming. It did, but was not hot. A dispenser with antiviral goo stood on top of the poobowl. Eagerly I covered my hands and arms with the stuff and washed them clean. I would have ablushed more of my bod, except there was no dryingsheet, so I wiped my damp flesh upon my tunic before returning to the others.
    Elijah had recovered. He sat next to Lilith, who held his hand in hers. She was saying something in a whisper. He nodded his head a few times. She stopped abrupt-like when she saw me enter, and let go. “Goodly news and bad,” I said then perched my bot on the edge of the glass-topped short legged table. “No shower, but thank all and sundry, there is a wastebowl and sink with some sanitising gel.” Lilith let her mouth rise up a bit at each corner.
    Elijah stood. “I must go to that place at once. I have a feeling of knots and scurrying insects inside my innards.I need most urgently to rid my system of them.”
    “It is behind a door in the hallway opposite the one we came in. If you make too much of a pong, I have a scent spray.” I pulled an atomiser from my other pant pocket. He took it from me and went swiftly to the talked about place. When he was quite gone, I turned my attentions to Lilith.
    “Do not attempt to deceive me. Elijah has dropped you and yours in it and no mistake. What occurred today was not a spur of the moment thing.”
    “I have no idea.”
    “Let rip with the info or…”
    “Or what?”
    “I will not give you any grub.”
    “That is no concern to me. I have fasted for longer than this.”
    “Fine, then I will deny Elijah also.”
    “He will not protest either. We are used to suffering for our religion.”
    “Which is all but banned in Cityplace.”
    “Which is why we must resort to underhand means to survive.”
    I had no argument at that moment, for truth be told, I did not have a clue why their religion should be denied. Granted Daniel seemed somewhat extreme, but from what I learned from schooling and vidinfo, they seemed goodly, kind folk that merely wished to live a life similar to that of their prophet. Elijah entered looking pale. He held out my scentspray. I took it from his shaking hand. Swallowing hard, he sat next to Lilith.  
    “There is water in the grub box, I will get some for you,” I said and did just that. He snatched the bottle from my hand and drank in long gulps. “Erm, you might want to slow down a tad, if you are dehydrated, small sips would be advisable.”
    I had no sooner said those words when Elijah went a shade of green I had not seen before, and barfed most forcefully onto the whitewashed stone floor. I was grateful that he missed splattering me with his yellow bile, and quickly took several Cleanwipes from my pocket. With one hand pinching my nose, I wiped up the offending spew, raced into the pooplace, threw it down the bowl, and flushed it away. I gagged several times before washing my hands.  
    When I returned to the communal room, Elijah was lying flat on the cosycouch, his head resting on Lilith’s thighs. She stroked his matted brown hair. I swear I saw a look of utmost tenderness in her eyes. She lifted her head when I entered and said, “He needs food and rest. If you will give him some nourishment then I will give you info in return.”
    Nodding, I searched the box for something comforting and found a sachet of self-heating lentil soup. I took a cling-wrapped bowl and spoon from a shelf above the recliner, opened the wrapper and handed the dish to Lilith. I shook the bag for a few secs until the blue indicator tab turned red, then pulled it open and poured it into the