Descending Road - AT BUZZCHICKEN by Dana W. Paxson

AT BUZZCHICKEN

1560 4D

We climbed a long narrow path from the mountain road about twenty k’s up from Engrammatic, until we fell panting by the path, exhausted and dizzy. “There’s no air,” Naudi coughed. “I can’t breathe.” Lulith shone overhead, giving silver light to our skins and hair.

“You’ll adjust in about five days,” Jeddin said. “The air up here is as thin as it is thick down in Lower Sobi. Your blood will change as you stay up here.”

“Staying up here?” Masinarin was not in a good mood. “We’ve got to get back down in the City as soon as we can manage, right?”

That lopsided grin of Jeddin‘s widened slightly. “We’ll see.”

“So where’s this Buzzchicken place?” Rashua asked.

“In here.” Jeddin pointed.

It was no more than a narrow fissure in the mountainside, so much like Rockswell Track that I blinked in surprise. It felt as if I could go into the fissure and find Joovlies right there. I struggled to my feet, swayed, and felt my father’s arm come around my waist.

“Careful, Lejina,” he said.

“No more Lejina, for tonight,” Jeddin interrupted. “She’s going to be Thringe tonight, and all the time she’s here. Just let me do the talking, and you’ll have food and drink as much as you can hold. Just be sure you can play and sing.” He turned and entered the narrow track, and we followed.

The turn took us into an opening like Joovlies, but rectangular, and it was a tunnel. Jeddin muttered something to another voice in the dark ahead of us, and called us onward. We emerged into a large domed chamber, about twenty strides across, with many chairs and tables all occupied by andros with a few humans mixed in.

A tall, very thin andro with a shock of red hair came to us. “Who are you?”

Jeddin introduced himself. The andro nodded rapidly. “I’m Kurind, and I welcome you. Would you introduce the others?”

Jeddin said, “I have a special surprise for you. Fresh from the City, with trouble right behind her, here is Winjilles Thringe to sing for you here at Buzzchicken.”

The andro‘s eyes, bright blue, widened to an even brighter paleness. He turned to me. “Winjilles Thringe! We know your music well here. We’re honored.” He wheeled and flung an explosion of anjive at the room, and the place erupted into cheers and applause. “We’ll do what we can to make your stay a good one.”

Jeddin said smoothly, “But she and her band have come from the City‘s edge in just two days, on foot. They’re very tired, and they need some food and drink. They’ve been in some difficulty, and will need to set their music against their tab.”

Kurind frowned. “We can do that,” he said. “But first, will you favor us with one song? It’ll serve as an invitation to more of our regulars coming off shift later on.”

“Water,” I said decisively. Jeddin scowled a bit, then smiled blandly as Kurind glanced at him.

“Not a problem. The stage is there, and I hope you brought everything else you need.” Kurind waved to a server, who went to get water for us.

We got ready, and an expectant hum slowly fell to a hush. “Teshill Slope,” I said to the room. We began.

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


	AT BUZZCHICKEN 1560 4D We climbed a long narrow path from the mountain road about twenty k’s up from Engrammatic, until we fell panting by the path, exhausted and dizzy. “There’s no air,” Naudi coughed. “I can’t breathe.” Lulith shone overhead, giving silver light to our skins and hair. “You’ll adjust in about five days,” Jeddin said. “The air up here is as thin as it is thick down in Lower Sobi. Your blood will change as you stay up here.” “Staying up here?” Masinarin was not in a good mood. “We’ve got to get back down in the City as soon as we can manage, right?” That lopsided grin of Jeddin‘s widened slightly. “We’ll see.” “So where’s this Buzzchicken place?” Rashua asked. “In here.” Jeddin pointed. It was no more than a narrow fissure in the mountainside, so much like Rockswell Track that I blinked in surprise. It felt as if I could go into the fissure and find Joovlies right there. I struggled to my feet, swayed, and felt my father’s arm come around my waist. “Careful, Lejina,” he said. “No more Lejina, for tonight,” Jeddin interrupted. “She’s going to be Thringe tonight, and all the time she’s here. Just let me do the talking, and you’ll have food and drink as much as you can hold. Just be sure you can play and sing.” He turned and entered the narrow track, and we followed. The turn took us into an opening like Joovlies, but rectangular, and it was a tunnel. Jeddin muttered something to another voice in the dark ahead of us, and called us onward. We emerged into a large domed chamber, about twenty strides across, with many chairs and tables all occupied by andros with a few humans mixed in. A tall, very thin andro with a shock of red hair came to us. “Who are you?” Jeddin introduced himself. The andro nodded rapidly. “I’m Kurind, and I welcome you. Would you introduce the others?” Jeddin said, “I have a special surprise for you. Fresh from the City, with trouble right behind her, here is Winjilles Thringe to sing for you here at Buzzchicken.” The andro‘s eyes, bright blue, widened to an even brighter paleness. He turned to me. “Winjilles Thringe! We know your music well here. We’re honored.” He wheeled and flung an explosion of anjive at the room, and the place erupted into cheers and applause. “We’ll do what we can to make your stay a good one.” Jeddin said smoothly, “But she and her band have come from the City‘s edge in just two days, on foot. They’re very tired, and they need some food and drink. They’ve been in some difficulty, and will need to set their music against their tab.” Kurind frowned. “We can do that,” he said. “But first, will you favor us with one song? It’ll serve as an invitation to more of our regulars coming off shift later on.” “Water,” I said decisively. Jeddin scowled a bit, then smiled blandly as Kurind glanced at him. “Not a problem. The stage is there, and I hope you brought everything else you need.” Kurind waved to a server, who went to get water for us. We got ready, and an expectant hum slowly fell to a hush. “Teshill Slope,” I said to the room. We began.