Page 134 of Sky Song
“Goddamn it.” Paloma was the first to spring to her feet, her hand holding a spot where she bumped her head against Cricket’s. “I can’t believe we just did that. Now I’m going to have a goose egg on my forehead because of the smelly bugger.” She grimaced in his direction, and Hipper responded, unable to help himself.
Rosamma’s eyes got huge. “He can do that?”
“You don’t know the half of it. He’s an endless source of entertainment. Enjoy.”
Cricket gently scooped Hipper up and rubbed the knotty fur around his ears. He seemed to recognize her as he sniffed daintily at her chest after which he settled in her arms, no longer shaking. “Rosamma, do you have any cheese? He likes cheese.”
Once the critter was calm and fed, Cricket turned to Paloma. “You still didn’t tell us how you got him.”
Paloma sighed. “Sulys threw him out.”
“Why? I thought he liked his pet.”
“When he figured that the peacekeepers would come into his house asking after you, he also figured they’d find his illegal pet. Mind you, there was nothing wrong with his logic. Ever the proactive one, he packed Hipper in this tote and set the tote on your porch.”
“Myporch?”
“Well, you’re already a wanted criminal. What’s one more offense?”
Cricket couldn't believe her ears. She looked at the crumpled canvas tote. “The tote has a logo of the agency where Sulys works.”
“I never said Sulys was a lot smart. He’s only a little smart.”
Cricket kept stroking Hipper’s fur fighting an overwhelming urge to hide her face in it.
Rosamma’s bracelets jingled. “Does it mean your neighbor, Sulys, will not wish his pet back?”
Both Cricket and Paloma shook their heads. Whether Sulys wanted him back or not was irrelevant. Hipper wasn’t going back. The question was, could he stay here?
Rosamma’s eyes lit up, answering Cricket’s question. “I will keep him for as long as I can. May I?” She extended her hands toward Hipper.
Reluctantly, Cricket transferred the critter over, and immediately her arms felt empty. He was so cute, so ridiculous and defenseless. She loved his strange expressions and funny noises he made. She wished she were in a position to keep him. In her entire life, she hadn’t been able to have a pet, and while it hadn’t affected her too profoundly before, she wanted one now.
Rosamma murmured to Hipper and began to hum in that echoing low voice of hers that tugged at heartstrings as it soothed. Forgetting Cricket and Paloma were in the room, she smiled at the animal with a happy, goofy smile of a child who got a puppy for Christmas, and all regrets lifted from Cricket’s heart. Rosamma needed Hipper more than she.
Paloma grumbled, uncomfortable, “I don’t understand why you two find him adorable. He’s okay, I guess, but still kinda ugly.”
Rosamma giggled. “Pets are great for stress relief. I feel better already.”
Speaking of stress… Cricket glanced at the window where the first sign of dusk muted the bright daylight. Lyle was still out there somewhere. “Is Ren coming home soon?” she posed the question casually, not wanting to bring back the tension that Hipper had so effortlessly dissolved.
“I don’t know.”
Just like that, the tension was back. Paloma chewed a nail. “He hasn't said anything to me. We aren’t communicating to avoid putting me under suspicion. You all are lucky I can come and go as normal, or it would've been a total cluster. You and your dratted hospital bust.”
Paloma was angry, but underneath the anger Cricket detected fear. Her neighbor clearly blamed Lyle for the blow-up and was uneasy about his business on Meeus - and his promises to Ren.
Cricket couldn't blame her. “Have you had a chance to look at what’s in the tablet?” she asked.
A quick cutting look of those violet eyes was as fleeting as it was vulnerable. “Yeah.”
“Were there names?”
“Most files had names.” Paloma fished in her pocket and produced a tiny memory gadget. “I translated what I could andmade a copy for Lyle.” She touched the tablet as if she was going to pick it up but didn’t. “But I think…” She focused on Cricket’s face, her deep violet eyes intent. “Should we return it? Not now, but maybe eventually?”
It took Cricket aback. “Why?”
“This research can benefit people. I know that it wasn’t done right, but the results are groundbreaking, Cricket.”
