Off-Grid
Pacazahno
They had visited most of their usual topics after all, sitting in the sun in the pleasant garden and eating the meal that had been delivered from the common kitchen.
It was as Arbour was taking her leave that the office window opened and Nattie put her head out.
“Konsit, Majel ziaGorn of the Citizens Coalition is returning your call of earlier today.”
“Ah,” said Arbour, taking a step to the side, but Konsit looked at her and raised a finger—wait.
“Please tell Councilor ziaGorn that I will be with him in a moment,” she said. Nattie withdrew. Konsit looked to Arbour. “If you have time, that is.”
“I have time, and the garden is still pleasant,” Arbour said, and sat down again on the bench.
Konsit smiled and went inside.
* * *
It wasn’t too many minutes before she was back again, carrying two tall glasses of lemonade.
Arbour, who had been communing with the ambient, roused herself, and looked up.
“Thank you,” she said, receiving her glass with a smile.
Konsit was tense again; and more than tense, she was worried. Arbour considered, but decided against whispering another well-wish into the ambient. Konsit had a village to administer and folk to protect—a certain level of tension and worry were not inappropriate in the case.
“The chair of the Citizens Coalition will be coming himself. He says that there have been . . . a number of acts of mischief directed at Deaf business in Haven City.”
Arbour frowned.
“That’s unsettling. Does he think those are related to this?”
Konsit smiled wanly.
“Well, that’s what he hopes to establish, of course. He’ll be bringing investigators—Talents.” Konsit took a breath. “The Haosa—”
“The Haosa,” Arbour interrupted, “will be pleased to support the efforts of the Citizens Coalition’s investigation.”
The other woman’s relief washed over Arbour like a shower of warm rain.
Konsit did not trust the Civilized Talents from Haven City, Arbour thought. Come to that, neither did she, and especially not off-Grid.
“The people I have called to help you should arrive within the hour. I’ll wait, if you’d like that, and make introductions.”
Another wash of warm relief.
“I would like that, very much. In the meantime, I called a few people, and if you are able to talk to them for a few minutes about your idea for students and teachers to come to Ribbon Dance Village, I think that will be helpful, and get the project started.”
“Soonest begun, soonest done,” Arbour said lightly, and sipped her lemonade. “I’ll be pleased to talk with them, of course.”