Descending Road - I HEARD YOUR ACCENT by Dana W. Paxson

I HEARD YOUR ACCENT

1563 4D

A few waking moments at a time, between recurring dreams of torture, days passed. He let Deen and Marra move him, feed him, clean him, take away his waste, talk and laugh with him.

One afternoon Deen raised him up to sit and look eastward out the little window in his room. Off in the distance straight out, and high up, three blunt peaks shone white in the sun like dull teeth. Below them, much nearer, ran a jagged ridge of tan and cream-colored stone, that descended gradually from an upthrust crag on the right to the level of the long east-west scarp valley Deen and Marra owned. Filled with the rich soil left by an ancient high lake bottom, the valley lay darkened with square patches of waist-high pine-olive trees the women used for nut grafts. Alternating with these, blocks of glowing quinicale grain sprouted, still a brilliant yellow-green before the driest season began. A lot like his own place.

“I hope my family is all right. I’ve got to get up and go find them.”

“When it’s safe, we’ll contact them. Not until it’s safe.”

“I’m going to file a complaint.”

Deen snorted. “With who? The militia? Half their pay comes from ArCorp in this sector. The whole administration’s got Arlen‘s people all through it.”

“Isn’t anybody safe?”

“Just a few. They have to play it very carefully, because this is ArCorp mine country. You’ve seen his Signo marks all over.”

“Yes, they’re right above my farm, it must be not far.” Andrew decided to change the subject. “You’re from the City too, I heard your accent. What brought you out here?”

Deen looked out at the sky, her brown eyes and dark-leathery skin shining in afternoon mountain light. “We got tired of dodging around in the streets a long time ago. We’re sisters; been partners since we were in our twenties. We moved out here about fifty years back. Now we’ve got the best nut products you’ll see anywhere, even on the Southern Coast. Thank Joyann and her crew. Good colls they come from.”

“But why’d you leave to come out here?”

Deen glanced at him, then returned her gaze to the mountaintops in the distance. “Lots of things.”

Story List	SURPRISE ME	Author Page
USER SURVEY	PUZZLE ME	MAKE ELM MARK

HOVER Lucida Bright BARE	HOVER Lucida Bright FULL	HOVER Palatino Linotype BARE
HOVER Palatino Linotype FULL	HOVER Times New Roman BARE	HOVER Times New Roman FULL
PAD Arial BARE	PAD Arial FULL	PAD Lucida Bright BARE
PAD Lucida Bright FULL	PAD Times New Roman BARE	PAD Times New Roman FULL


	I HEARD YOUR ACCENT 1563 4D A few waking moments at a time, between recurring dreams of torture, days passed. He let Deen and Marra move him, feed him, clean him, take away his waste, talk and laugh with him. One afternoon Deen raised him up to sit and look eastward out the little window in his room. Off in the distance straight out, and high up, three blunt peaks shone white in the sun like dull teeth. Below them, much nearer, ran a jagged ridge of tan and cream-colored stone, that descended gradually from an upthrust crag on the right to the level of the long east-west scarp valley Deen and Marra owned. Filled with the rich soil left by an ancient high lake bottom, the valley lay darkened with square patches of waist-high pine-olive trees the women used for nut grafts. Alternating with these, blocks of glowing quinicale grain sprouted, still a brilliant yellow-green before the driest season began. A lot like his own place. “I hope my family is all right. I’ve got to get up and go find them.” “When it’s safe, we’ll contact them. Not until it’s safe.” “I’m going to file a complaint.” Deen snorted. “With who? The militia? Half their pay comes from ArCorp in this sector. The whole administration’s got Arlen‘s people all through it.” “Isn’t anybody safe?” “Just a few. They have to play it very carefully, because this is ArCorp mine country. You’ve seen his Signo marks all over.” “Yes, they’re right above my farm, it must be not far.” Andrew decided to change the subject. “You’re from the City too, I heard your accent. What brought you out here?” Deen looked out at the sky, her brown eyes and dark-leathery skin shining in afternoon mountain light. “We got tired of dodging around in the streets a long time ago. We’re sisters; been partners since we were in our twenties. We moved out here about fifty years back. Now we’ve got the best nut products you’ll see anywhere, even on the Southern Coast. Thank Joyann and her crew. Good colls they come from.” “But why’d you leave to come out here?” Deen glanced at him, then returned her gaze to the mountaintops in the distance. “Lots of things.”