Descending Road - BARELY IN TIME by Dana W. Paxson

BARELY IN TIME

1560 4D

They were waiting outside, and he was almost too late. She grabbed for the door handle before Jeddin could reach her, and he was only fast enough to grip her hand before the handle turned. Another Thringe! She looked so much like Winjilles Thringe that confusion surged through Jeddin, and he smiled in spite of himself.

“Who are you?” a surly, scared voice, husky and lower than Thringe‘s.

Jeddin had to tighten his grip, and her face contorted. He eased up, and said, “You don’t need to know that right now. But there aren’t two Thringes, and you’re the second Thringe I’ve seen. The first one was hurt and in bad trouble. Don’t go out there – hunters are waiting for you.”

She glared and yanked at her hand, still under his. “I was just on my way to warn my friends that they’re in danger. Where are they?”

A slight shift in pressure on the handle told Jeddin that someone was trying to turn it quietly. He dropped his voice to a whisper. “She needs help right now, more than they do. They’re out there getting questioned by the blues. If the police see you there, you’re dead, and so is she.” He held up a warning finger to his lips, rolling his eyes toward the door.

“Where is she?”

“I hid her up on Streakrun Score. She’s bandaged now, and awake, but she’s in pain. Behind Number 47, in the back-corridor utility room. Do you know here that is?”

She nodded. “You’re no andro.”

“And you’re no Thringe, either” he retorted. “I’m a lot more andro than you are her.”

“But how can you–” Her voice started to rise.

He cut her off. This wasn’t going to be easy. “Shh. If you don’t find Thringe where I said, you can tell the blues everything. If you do…" He spread his arms wide, his foot still against the door. The handle began to turn. “If the blues see me helping her, I’ll be destroyed. That’s the law. You, that’s another matter.” Her nod gave him a sign of relief.

The door surged against Jeddin‘s foot, and he pulled a door wedge from his pocket and kicked it in place. Handy things.

“Quick,” he said in a clear whisper, hoping she’d remember, “Go and tell Thringe I said ‘shain haili four.’" Jeddin turned and leaped down the corkscrew stair, not looking back at her. This was getting interesting, but it had a good chance of turning into a lot less fun.

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


	BARELY IN TIME 1560 4D They were waiting outside, and he was almost too late. She grabbed for the door handle before Jeddin could reach her, and he was only fast enough to grip her hand before the handle turned. Another Thringe! She looked so much like Winjilles Thringe that confusion surged through Jeddin, and he smiled in spite of himself. “Who are you?” a surly, scared voice, husky and lower than Thringe‘s. Jeddin had to tighten his grip, and her face contorted. He eased up, and said, “You don’t need to know that right now. But there aren’t two Thringes, and you’re the second Thringe I’ve seen. The first one was hurt and in bad trouble. Don’t go out there – hunters are waiting for you.” She glared and yanked at her hand, still under his. “I was just on my way to warn my friends that they’re in danger. Where are they?” A slight shift in pressure on the handle told Jeddin that someone was trying to turn it quietly. He dropped his voice to a whisper. “She needs help right now, more than they do. They’re out there getting questioned by the blues. If the police see you there, you’re dead, and so is she.” He held up a warning finger to his lips, rolling his eyes toward the door. “Where is she?” “I hid her up on Streakrun Score. She’s bandaged now, and awake, but she’s in pain. Behind Number 47, in the back-corridor utility room. Do you know here that is?” She nodded. “You’re no andro.” “And you’re no Thringe, either” he retorted. “I’m a lot more andro than you are her.” “But how can you–” Her voice started to rise. He cut her off. This wasn’t going to be easy. “Shh. If you don’t find Thringe where I said, you can tell the blues everything. If you do…" He spread his arms wide, his foot still against the door. The handle began to turn. “If the blues see me helping her, I’ll be destroyed. That’s the law. You, that’s another matter.” Her nod gave him a sign of relief. The door surged against Jeddin‘s foot, and he pulled a door wedge from his pocket and kicked it in place. Handy things. “Quick,” he said in a clear whisper, hoping she’d remember, “Go and tell Thringe I said ‘shain haili four.’" Jeddin turned and leaped down the corkscrew stair, not looking back at her. This was getting interesting, but it had a good chance of turning into a lot less fun.