Mina and Yuila find their world of safety has disappeared.
If you’re just joining this story, you may want to start from the beginning. Read into the world of shadows and mirrors.
♫♪Suggested Music: from Uncertain Times on AudioNetwork
Back in the streets the crowds had increased, and they learned of the festivities to be held that evening. Edvard had prepared for an argument with Yuila over the prospective nightlife, but the girl stayed at Mina's side, clutching the older girl's hand tightly. Mina glanced at the following of children that had gathered ahead of them around a man with two monkeys. One of the animals was sitting on the man's shoulder, wearing a hat with a tall yellow plume feather. The other monkey was doing summersaults in a circle, bringing laughs from the onlookers.
Yuila dropped Mina's hand. "Can we go closer?"
Edvard nodded and they joined the crowd. The monkeys were no bigger than a common chicken and wore fringed vests and bells on their wrists. The acrobatic monkey did a series of back flips and then paused, shaking its head dizzily as the crowd laughed.
Yuila moved a few feet closer for a better view as more adults gathered to watch. The acrobatic monkey circled the crowd, shaking hands with some of the children. It paused at Yuila and took her hand, kissed it, then chattered and ran to the other side of its audience.
Yuila wrinkled her nose and titled her face to see Mina. "His lips felt like Makka's."
Mina smiled at the girl. "He didn't kiss anyone else's hand."
Yuila nodded and turned to watch the monkey trainer give orders in a foreign language. The animals stood at each end of the circle and tossed colorful gourds to each other. The crowd pressed closer to watch, jostling Edvard and the girls nearer to the show. The monkeys pitched the gourds to each other, then the trainer added two more balls of colorful yarn with streaming tails, and then rings of brightly painted wood. After a few minutes the monkeys started screeching and pelted the objects at each other rather than toss. After another moment, the animals were at each other, teeth flashing and wrists bells ringing.
The crowd laughed as the trainer barked orders at his performers. Edvard looked to Mina. "I guess the show is over. Where's Yuila?"
She turned to where the girl had been a moment ago. "She's . . . Yuila?"
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