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“THAT’S FOUR RACTAS,” the vendor said. “They started incoherent, more stimulants at this point aren’t exactly gonna help.”
“Rubbish,” said Kaj, “there’s no such thing as too much racta. Now stop criticizing and help me sit them up.”
They struggled with the two considerably floppy forms, until Kaj huffed and said, “Have you got a cart?”
More struggling and huffing later and the two prone forms were draped over the cart the racta vendor had procured from a friend in the depths of Gantrytown.
“Why are you dragging your friends away?” asked the bemused racta vendor.
“I need to take them to the Sanctuary. I’m under instructions. OneLove told me to wait here and bring them up to them when they came out.”
“They don’t seem terribly wel—”
“Hmm...they’re pretty tough,” Kaj said over her shoulder as she dragged the cart.
As the cart wheels rattled into the distance, the two Grey Duchy soldiers that had come out to the racta stand moved. One threw a glass flask over his shoulder, hitting the racta stand.
“Oi, come back here you Grey Duchy scruff!” yelled the racta stall holder. The two soldiers walked off into the distance after the sound of the cart. With his hands still on his hips, Air-sensing them, till they were out of his reach, the racta seller tutted. He turned at the sound of a new customer approaching the stall behind him. He stubbed his toe on something. It clinked as it moved. Their bottle. He picked it up, “Shredding Grey Duchy snots. No respect.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” said the newly arrived customer.
“What can I getcha?” the racta seller said as he turned the bottle over in his hands. There were scratches on it: writing. Hunter’s Balm it read. “Huh,” he said and threw the bottle into his bin with a clang.
****
“BRING THEM OVER HERE,” said OneLove.
“We’ve made up a couple of makeshift beds by the tank,” said Nev.
“Find them blankets too. Then leave them. I’ll see to them from here.”
“I don’t want to be funny,” said Kaj, “But you’re not going to make much of a nurse. What with the having no arms and everything.”
“Rude,” said Nev.
“It’s their minds that need ministering to. I think I’ll manage. I’ll call you when they wake properly.”
“Sure?” said Kaj.
“Very. There are some important things I need to tell them when they wake, and I think all of that is best done with the three of us by ourselves. Have a while off you two, you’re always here. Take a span.”
“Right,” said Kaj. “Time off. That’s a thing too.”
“Come on,” said Nev taking her by the hand and pulling her towards the door. “Before he changes his mind.”
The door hissed closed behind them, OneLove chuckled quietly, “Kids.” A drip of condensation fell from the roof with a loud plop. “Oh dear, you two,” OneLove said. “So much to tell you and so little time.” The fans stilled. The air in the room did not. “Hello... is someone there?” Another drip from the roof. “Hello?” OneLove became quiet. Dun huffed in his sleep. “Hello?”
The quiet of the Sanctuary was shattered by the loud ‘pop’ of a bung being pulled. “Who’s there? Hello? Kaj? Nev? Are you having a joke with me?” Then a shuffle of feet was followed by a tricking into the pool, then glugging. “What’s that? What—? Ergh, what is that? Wha— what are you doing? No don’t— Don’t, please— Dun! Padg! Dun wake up! Please wake up! Kaj! Nev! Help! Hel—” The voice was cut off with a rustle and a small snip.
“Sleep now,” said a strange quiet voice.
Then two sploshes hit the surface of the pool. The shuffling was louder now, and the voice could now be heard, humming under its breath. At the sealed door, the humming visitor removed a pry-bar from under his cowl. After breaking the seal and wrenching the door open, he left the door to hiss its way back into place.
There was another cowled figure in the passage outside. “Is it done?”
“Done.”
“Good. Some secrets should remain that way.”
