After Jim had finished with Zanatei and Afanasei he went looking for Tara. He found her sitting beside what the children called ‘the quiet pool’, a place where they went when they needed a bit of solitude. She raised her head in welcome as he entered the glade, watching as Larya went to join Kolyei watching the darting pilli fish as they foraged in the reeds.
Jim sat down beside her.
“From what Larya is telling me you seem to be the repository of most of the secrets amongst your bunch.”
“People tell me things,” Tara answered. “I like to listen.”
“Not just listening I hear,” said Jim. “Kath says it was you who sorted out young Alan.”
Tara shrugged. “I put myself in his shoes, it wasn’t difficult. We both lost our families in the storm.”
“I remember,” said Jim, “I knew your father, did you know that? You’re very like him. He always took the time to listen to people.”
“I didn’t do much listening to Alan,” admitted Tara. “I talked to him, that’s all. In fact, I shouted and scolded him more than once.”
Jim laughed.
“Kath tells me too that it’s usually you who puts a stop to any bickering between the others.”
“I hate arguments,” Tara said matter-of-factly.
“Even amongst the Lind,” Jim continued.
“Who told you about that? Kath?”
“No, it was Larya. She says many of the young Lind want to talk to you, that they seek you out.”
“They like to listen to my stories,” she answered. “The Lind tell stories to each other all the time and Kolyei thinks it’s a good idea and it’s easy. Young Lind are like little children; they squabble if they’re not kept in order. I just treat them like the little ones at the cabin with Mrs Mackie. I tell them to stop misbehaving or I’ll not tell them any more stories. Me and Kolyei do quite a bit of ltsctasitting here.”
“And Bill and Geoff?”
“They are typical boys, always trying to get one over each other and the others. They’ve settled down a bit now though.”
Jim stared at this so very grown up twelve year old with bemusement.
“And when you are not keeping the peace, telling stories and babysitting, what does Tara do then?”
“Kolyei and I have fun,” she answered in surprise. “We’ve explored for miles around, not that it’s new to him, but we’ve visited the nearby packs around here and run down to the grasslands too. It’s so exciting Jim.”
“The redoubtable Kolyei,” mused Jim with a smile, “and how is his Standard coming along?”
“Really good,” Tara said with pride, “he’s the best. We’re both pretty much bi-whatever it is now.”
“Bi-lingual?” suggested Jim.
“That’s the one,” Tara agreed. “Is it important?”
“It could be more important than you can imagine young lady. Do you think I could talk to Kolyei?”
“Now?”
“Oh, there’s no rush,” replied Jim easily, “it’s just an idea I’ve got. It may not come to anything.”
Tara remembered her manners.
“Would you care to come back to our daga and have something to drink?” she asked. “Yvonne’s found a way to make fizzy berry juice. The jug she gave me is absolutely scrumptious.”
“That’s too good an invitation to miss,” he said rising to his feet and giving her a helping hand up. “Where’s Peter?”
“Gone fishing with Alan and Bill. If they catch enough it’ll be fried fish for tea tonight and I love fried lungtrel.”
“I’m rather fond of it myself,” agreed Jim, correctly interpreting her name for the succulent multi-coloured river-fish.
Followed by Larya and Kolyei, they set out for the daga.
“Could you try to explain to me just how extensive are the Lind’s telepathic abilities? Larya has tried but my command of Lindish isn’t too good yet. Tell me how Kolyei does it.”
Tara was delighted. There was little she liked better than to talk about how wonderful Kolyei was.
“I’ll begin at the beginning shall I?” she looked up at him.