He pointed at her. “Were you with the mother idol?” He took a small step toward her to reassure himself that she was the source. He felt a slight pulse an instant before she backed away again, pressing herself against the low wall.
A light from overhead, along with a roar like a rock avalanche, shone down on them. He glanced up to see astrange bird fly by, heading toward the building he’d left. He looked back at the woman, half-expecting her to use the momentary diversion to try to make another run for it. Instead, to his surprise, she remained standing where she was, but now she appeared to be scrutinizing him. Studying him. The fear was gone, yet she continued to be wary of him.
She spoke again. This time she took a coupleof steps toward him as she patted her chest.
“Bree-elle. Bree-elle.”
Then she pointed at him and gave him a questioning look. When he didn’t answer her, she tried again.
“Bree-elle.” She pointed to herself, then pointed at him.
“Garenth.”
“Garenth,” she repeated and, surprising him, smiled. She took another step closer, but her eyes were no longer focused on his face. She was staringat his chest. Curious, he glanced down to see four small depressions in his chest where the man’s weapon had struck him. She continued to talk to him in an almost soothing manner and reached out. Her fingertips touched the edge of one of the holes, and suddenly he felt his chest cracking, breaking until tiny fissures opened up between the four impressions.
The woman jumped back at the unexpectedreaction. At the same time, his sense of the mother idol swelled. This woman had touched it, had handled it,hadbeen in intimate contact with it. His eyes dropped to where he could see a minute glow beckoning to him from between her thighs. He started to reach for it, when a second loud bird went shrieking overhead.
Fearful that they would be discovered before he had the chance to figure outall of these new revelations, he snatched her up again. But this time he lifted her into his arms, rather than throwing her over his shoulder. The woman didn’t fight him, throwing an arm around his neck instead and pressing herself against him.
Spreading his wings, he leaped into the air to seek a safer sanctuary. The woman raised her mouth to yell into his ear something, and pointed in a directionto their right. Having no other choice but to trust her,Garenthobeyed.
