“Um, do you know what you’re doing?” Caz asked.
“Theoretically.”
“I’m not sure I’m comfortable with that.”
Kiela wasn’t sure she was either. “Do you want to light it?”
“Definitely not.”
She’d need fire to cook, and eventually they’d need it to warm the house. Winters this far north could be extremely cold. She remembered how beautiful the snow was, but she also remembered how the cold would seep down your throat and numb your fingertips. She’d nearly lost a toe to frostbite once. Snug inside the library, Kiela hadn’t had to think about that day in a long time, but she remembered how her father had blown on her toes to warm them and wrapped her in multiple sweaters. Her mother had scolded her for staying out so long and then had given her a book to read until they’d judged her recovered enough to play outside again. Previously frostbitten toes were more prone to frostbite, they’d said. She had to be careful.
She shook herself out of the memory. It wasn’t anywhere near winter, but still . . . This was a skill she thought she could master easily enough. There was already wood inside, as well as plenty of dried leaves that could serve as kindling. They must have blown down the chimney.
“Stay back,” Kiela warned, and Caz retreated to the far side of the room.
She struck the fire-starter. Happily, a spark jumped at her very first strike.
Easy,she thought.I can do this.
She lit the kindling, then closed the door of the stove. Stepping back, she listened in satisfaction as the fire within spread and crackled. She held her palm above the stovetop. It wasn’t hot yet, but it would be soon.
Wrinkling her nose, Kiela tried to ignore the scent of burning dust. It occurred to her that they should have cleaned out the inside of the stove before lighting a fire. It had just seemed that with the wood already in there . . . Oh, well, it would burn away. She just had to wait it out.
She turned back to the cabinets to locate the pan they’d found yesterday. Setting it on the stove, she left it alone to heat up. While she waited, she pumped water to wash her face, and she dressed in one of the sets of clothes that she’d brought from the city. It was a beige tunic-like outfit, with soft pants, perfect for scuttling around the library. Looking down at herself, she wasn’t certain it was town-appropriate. Or attractive. But then, who was she trying to impress? Certainly not her neighbor. She was hoping not to see him again. Even if the cinnamon bun had been delicious.
“Kiela?” Caz said.
“Hmm?”
“There’s smoke.”
“It’s the dust burning off,” Kiela said. But there did seem to be a haze in the room. A rather thick haze. Smoke was billowing out of the stove. She coughed as she inhaled a breath full of it, and instantly she was back in the canals, with the library burning above her and bodies in the water—
She shut off the memory and ran to the sink. Pumping water, she filled a jar.
Caz scuttled to the front of the house and pulled open the door with his tendrils. The smoke rolled outside, but all that Kiela could think was,Save the books! I have to save the books!
Kiela knelt in front of the stove and reached to open the door—
She stopped an inch from the handle as heat hit her palm. Searching frantically, she located a kitchen towel and used it to yank open the stove door.
Smoke poured out into her face, and she fell backward, coughing. She made herself lean forward and tossed water onto the fire. It sizzled and more smoke billowed.
Kiela ran back to the sink for more water.
Jar after jar.
At last, every ember was out.
Kiela stumbled out of the house. Hands on her knees, she tried to get a full, fresh breath. In her mind, she heard the screams from the city, and she imagined the books were screaming.That’s past,she told herself.Not now. You’re okay. That’s over.
Wasn’t it? Or was she going to feel this way every time she smelled smoke?
Beside her, Caz was shaking so hard that his leaves rustled. “That smell . . . I can’t . . .”
She laid her hand on one of his tendrils, and he wrapped a leaf around her wrist. They clung to each other like that for a long moment until her lungs felt full of fresh air.
“We can’t let that happen again,” Caz said fervently.
