Aelanna couldn’t bring herself to speak, and she made what she hoped was a sympathetic sound. Her throat had closed up and her breath was trapped in her chest and she carried on looking around her as if to distance herself from the lizard, her mind and emotions at any rate. All she could see was flat, dusty scrubland.The reptiles had died for this?She didn’t owe them loyalty, sympathy, or even understanding. Dapkey had promised them no reptiles or things with tentacles.Someone had lied.
They reached the building. Two lizard guards standing to attention outside opened the doors and they stepped inside. The commander led her down a short corridor with windows on both sides and into a large room. There were comfortable sofas and armchairs arranged in a group, but otherwise the interior was uncompromising in its functionality.
The floor was covered in brown composite material of some kind, and the windows weren’t softened by curtains or blinds. There were radiators on the plain walls, and the air felt close and heavy in the large space. There was an empty bar on the far side, and the air smelled of stale beer and a meaty smell she couldn’t identify. The only concession made to their arrival was a large vase of greenery on one of the low tables by the seating.
The commander let go of Aelanna and stretched his arm out in a guiding gesture.
“Have a seat, ladies, and we will bring some tea.”
Wide-eyed, they sat and looked at each other and around them. The shared glances were fearful and panicked. Kora looked pissed; Nayli was about to burst into tears. Two lizard minions in what looked like green and brown catering getup wheeled in a trolley with an urn and cups on it. Presumably the tea had arrived.
A female lizard marched in through the swing doors at the end next to the bar, strode up to the commander and saluted.
“Ah, here comes Ensign Rathri,” announced thecommander, rubbing his hands together. He looked pleased with himself as he locked eyes with the ensign. “She will take you to your quarters for the night and answer any questions you may have.” He inclined his head. “We will leave you in her capable hands.” He turned on his heel and stalked out the way they had come in, followed by the brigadier and the rest of their party.
The ensign was the only female Ohirin lizard Aelanna had seen. The first thing she noticed was her short green legs revealed by a knee-length army skirt, and the sensible lace-up flatties on her feet. Her knees were backward, and she had an odd gait, standing on tip toe. Aelanna hadn’t noticed that about Ohirins before, and again she panicked about what shape legs her children would have.
The ensign clapped her horny hands. “Right, mammals, I’ll show you to your quarters. Dinner is at nightfall sharp.”
“But we haven’t had our tea yet,” a small voice whined. Aelanna didn’t know which girl said that.
“You can bring it with you. Shift your tails,” she clipped.
They reluctantly stood and shuffled behind the ensign. Aelanna noticed no girl was clutching her cup of tea.
The ensign led them out of the far doors, down a corridor, past doors which led into offices. The reptile paused at a T-junction. She pointed left. “The canteen is at the end of this corridor, where meals are served.” She turned them right and into a long room with two rows of five bunks lined up like soldiers against the long walls. The windows were on an outside wall. It was basic, to say the least.
The bunks were covered in army sheets and blankets, and there stood a nightstand next to each one.
The lizard moved over to stand next to a red cord dangling from the ceiling. “If there’s an emergency, pull the bell cord. Pranks will not be tolerated,” and pointed to the exit at the far end. “The bathroom is through there. I repeat, dinner is at nightfall; the canteen is open for half an hour for meals. First meal is at dawn. Don’t be late.”
She marched out, the doors swinging shut behind her.
Aelanna flumped on the first bed, Kora on the next bunk.
“Well, that was short and sweet,” she stated.
“To the point,” added Nayli, who had taken the bunk opposite Aelanna’s.
“We drew the short straw comin’ here,” grumbled Devon, one of the twins from Southern Carolina. Her southern drawl was strong. They had taken the bunks next to Nayli, and Prosperity and Daisy chose the last two.
The other girls, Sawyer, Tia and Lily, filled the same row as Aelanna and Kora.
Lily burst into tears and covered her face with her hands. She was from Boston as far as Aelanna remembered, and she’d had a sheltered upbringing and was sensitive, unused to rolling with life’s punches as New York girls were.
“It’s only for one night,” said Aelanna.
“What makes you think it’s gonna get better?” The other twin shot back. Shamone was her name. Aelanna shrugged. “I don’t. Let’s not have a debate about it.” She was only trying to make them feel better about the situation they found themselves in.
“This is the pits,” whispered Nayli as she looked round. “It’s too hot in here.”
“Better than too cold,” retorted Kora.
Daisy: “I figure their houses are as hot as this, and we’re gonna swelter in them.”
Prosperity’s brown eyes rounded in alarm. Lily cried even louder.
Devon: “We haven’t gotten night things.”
