Page 10 of A Little Red
“What’s the plan, Azure?” asked Ochre, going to the fire and giving it a poke. The embers flared up as he tossed in a fresh log.
“I have seen that the security forces the logging company hired will be here tomorrow. I have also seen that this is our moment of opportunity. We have a chance to change the course of events here, but I need both of you in order to accomplish it.”
Azure looked from Scarlet to Ochre as if assessing how useful they were going to be. Scarlet was willing to bet Azure was no end of annoyed at needing them to get the job done.
“You want to do the thing we did in Richmond?” asked Ochre.
“Yes,” said Azure, confidently. “I’ve made some refinements to the spell. I think we can do this. The problem is that we have to stay near the trees to make it work. And with the security forces coming in soon, there is some risk.”
“I have to be at work on Monday,” said Scarlet, frowning. As usual, Azure hadn’t told them everything that was going on.
“Yes, your vitally important work as a secretary,” said Azure. “How’s that going?”
Scarlet took a deep breath.
“Hey,” said Ochre, gently. “We all have our paths.”
“Some paths are more worthwhile than others,” snapped Azure. “I happen to think that saving old-growth forests are more important than going to work on Monday, but that’s just me.” Azure was still pissed at Scarlet for moving to the city and apparently wasn’t going to be letting it go anytime soon. “Fortunately,” Azure said, turning to Scarlet with a brittle smile, “I have seen that, win or lose, we’ll be done by Sunday night.”
Scarlet took another deep breath and thought about leaving, but that would only make Azure believe she was right.
“I would have thought,” said Scarlet, “that with the second sight you could see outside of your own ass, but apparently not.”
Ochre coughed on a laugh and Azure’s sapphire blue eyes narrowed in annoyance.
“Sunday night will be fine,” Scarlet continued before Azure could speak. “What do you want to do?”
“The main protest will begin around noon. I want to be chained to the tree by Saturday. I think we’ll begin the spell on Sunday morning, but I can’t see that clearly. I think we’re going to have to play it by ear. The security forces will try to stop us, but my people will protect us. If we can complete the spell, we will change the will of the people and the logging company will be stopped.”
“And if we don’t complete it, we’ll get arrested or have the shit kicked out of us?” asked Scarlet.
“That may happen either way,” said Azure. “I can’t tell. That isn’t a problem, is it?” she asked sweetly.
“Yes, it is. I’m sorry that I’m not an environmental activist or climatologist where everyone gives you the thumbs up and contributes to your bail go-fund-me.”
Ochre chuckled at her description of their jobs.
“But I have a job where people care if I have a criminal record and they notice if I come back a beat-up mess. So, it would be really great if either of those things didnothappen this weekend.”
“The activists I work with will protect us as long as possible,” said Azure. “But I can’t guarantee it. If you’re going to back out, now would be the time.”
“You can’t complete the spell without me,” said Scarlet.
“And believe me, I’m working to fix that,” said Azure, “but for now that’s true.”
“I said I was doing this and I’m doing this,” said Scarlet. “But maybe you could work on not being a bitch the entire time we’re chained to a tree.”
“I wouldn’t count on it,” said Ochre. “You know bitch cakes are Azure’s specialty.”
“Excuse me!” snapped Azure, rounding on Ochre.
“Oh, what?” demanded Ochre. “You can play serene witch of the North to your little protest pals all you want, but Scarlet and I know what happens when you PMS. And speaking of which, do you want some chocolate or anything because it kind of seems like the red tide is flowing.”
“That is just like a man! You blame everything on hormones.”
“Well, it’s either that or believe you’re just a bitch,” said Scarlet. “I said I’d be here and I’m here. Stop busting my hump.”
“Speaking of hump-busting,” said Ochre, poking at the fire some more. “Did anyone else get a ration of shit from Grandma over this?”
