Descending Road - A RUSH OF WIND OVERTOOK HER by Dana W. Paxson

A RUSH OF WIND OVERTOOK HER

1563 4D

I’m hungry. The insistent inner whisper woke Marra that night. The wind rattled the shrubs planted close by the house. Morning crawled near. The whine of a distant van came up on the wind and died away. Still far too early for Joyann and the others to come back and start the day’s work.

“It’s the middle of the night,” she muttered. “Leave me alone. You know you can wait months. Once you waited a year.”

No. Qaqanhialh is coming soon. I need to eat. So does Oortonel.

Wind-voices muttered in the distance. Marra asked, “How about tomorrow?”

Are you going someplace tomorrow? Or are you just putting me off again?

“No, I’m thinking. Let me think.” Another van passed by; the wind rose to meet the first traces of dawn. Two vans: a lot of traffic at this hour. She put her hands on her stomach.

“Marra?” Deen‘s voice. A door banged. “Marra, someone’s…" A fist slammed several times on the front door. Marra tumbled to her feet and wrapped herself in a robe. She met Deen in the front room. “Who’s there?” Deen called out.

Are you in danger?

“I don’t know,” Marra whispered.

“Territorial Investigations. Open the door.” A loud nasal male voice, pitched high with rage.

“Oh, dear,” Marra said, “We’re in trouble.”

It’s all right, Marra. We’re ready.

The door blasted open, its latch and lock shattered by an explosive kick, and two men burst in.

“Are these the ones?” The nasal voice. Helmed heads, visors blacked and down: human insects.

“Yes.” A hoarse muffled baritone.

“Back outside. Fucking cannibals. This is for Neerin and Garth.”

“What…?” Deen began. The men retreated out of sight to either side of the door. Deen moved forward, holding out a hand as if to call to them; Marra saw Deen‘s robed silhouette leap up black against a sudden night sunrise that rolled in and seized them both in fire. She tried to draw a breath to scream, but flames ate her lungs away. As her mind shrieked, a rush of wind overtook her, and she collapsed into a hole in her heart. Just before she died, Aoriver‘s voice, strong and clear, sang out to her: You will remember.

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


	A RUSH OF WIND OVERTOOK HER 1563 4D I’m hungry. The insistent inner whisper woke Marra that night. The wind rattled the shrubs planted close by the house. Morning crawled near. The whine of a distant van came up on the wind and died away. Still far too early for Joyann and the others to come back and start the day’s work. “It’s the middle of the night,” she muttered. “Leave me alone. You know you can wait months. Once you waited a year.” No. Qaqanhialh is coming soon. I need to eat. So does Oortonel. Wind-voices muttered in the distance. Marra asked, “How about tomorrow?” Are you going someplace tomorrow? Or are you just putting me off again? “No, I’m thinking. Let me think.” Another van passed by; the wind rose to meet the first traces of dawn. Two vans: a lot of traffic at this hour. She put her hands on her stomach. “Marra?” Deen‘s voice. A door banged. “Marra, someone’s…" A fist slammed several times on the front door. Marra tumbled to her feet and wrapped herself in a robe. She met Deen in the front room. “Who’s there?” Deen called out. Are you in danger? “I don’t know,” Marra whispered. “Territorial Investigations. Open the door.” A loud nasal male voice, pitched high with rage. “Oh, dear,” Marra said, “We’re in trouble.” It’s all right, Marra. We’re ready. The door blasted open, its latch and lock shattered by an explosive kick, and two men burst in. “Are these the ones?” The nasal voice. Helmed heads, visors blacked and down: human insects. “Yes.” A hoarse muffled baritone. “Back outside. Fucking cannibals. This is for Neerin and Garth.” “What…?” Deen began. The men retreated out of sight to either side of the door. Deen moved forward, holding out a hand as if to call to them; Marra saw Deen‘s robed silhouette leap up black against a sudden night sunrise that rolled in and seized them both in fire. She tried to draw a breath to scream, but flames ate her lungs away. As her mind shrieked, a rush of wind overtook her, and she collapsed into a hole in her heart. Just before she died, Aoriver‘s voice, strong and clear, sang out to her: You will remember.