Page 10 of A Brighter Yellow
“Eww. Why are you so gross?”
“I was checking on a reforestation project in the backwoods of Manitoba. That doesn’t come with a lot of running water.”
“I’m hanging up now,” said Scarlet.
“I wish you would,” said Ochre.
Scarlet blew a raspberry into the phone. “Love you!” she chirped and hung up before he could reply. He laughed, feeling unexpectedly cheered by his contact with his sisters. He dropped the phone and his pants onto the bunk and, grabbing up his chamois towel, made his way down the long narrow bunkhouse to the bathroom. He had barely stepped into the bathroom when he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror.
“Yikes,” he said, grimacing at his reflection. He looked about halfway to being a wolf himself. He hurried back to his bunk to grab his shaving kit. He was almost to the bunk when the door burst open, and Anna ran in. She eased the door shut behind her and turned to look at him. He blushed as her gaze went down and then back up to his face.
“I’m not here,” she whispered.
Episode 6
The Shower
Ochre
“Uh,” Ochre said, feeling more than a little exposed in his boxers.
Anna listened intently at the door and then whispered a swear word before hustling down the aisle between the bunks. She edged past Ochre with an awkward smile and ran into the bathroom. A moment later, Baird opened the door.
“Good, you’re here,” he said before sticking his head back out and looking around the outside of the building. Then he eased the door shut much as Anna had done.
“Uh,” said Ochre. “I was going to take a shower.”
“Yeah, you should,” said Baird. “You smell practically human. Look, I wanted to talk to you about Anna. But this is just between you and me, got it? Anna can’t know I stuck my oar in the water, or she’ll get all squiffy and hopped up mad.”
“Uh,” repeated Ochre, reaching for his shaving kit to give himself something to do. Scarlet had said that wolves were culturally veryclothing optional, but he was finding it disconcerting in practice. Also, what wassquiffy? Wassquiffyeven a word?
“Your sister sent you to look after Anna, right?”
“She said Anna was in trouble,” said Ochre, and Baird shook his head.
“When is Anna not in trouble? That girl is always up to something. I appreciate your family taking an interest. You’ve always been good about helping out and all, but I’d appreciate it if you’d leave Anna out of whatever you’re into.”
“I’m not into anything,” objected Ochre, wondering just what his family had helped out with in the past.
“Oh, please. I’m not deaf, and Albert is loud. Darkness is coming blah, blah, blah. Join the Pact. I’ve gotten the letters. It’s not that I object—and I’m glad someone is doing something—I just don’t think it’s for us. We’re a small pack, and we don’t need trouble. If your sister is with that kid of his, then you’re neck-deep in whatever Albert is up to. I don’t need Anna involved in that.”
“Mm,” said Ochre. Baird’s attitude was entirely too familiar. Hunkering down and waiting for humanity’s issues to resolve themselves was a philosophical practice among all types of Supernaturals. Ochre hesitated on how to answer, trying to weigh honesty and tact. Mostly, he was aware that Anna was in the bathroom and that she wanted him to keep that a secret.
“I can’t answer for Azure and the Pact,” said Ochre. “Personally, I think you should consider talking to Albert, but Azure’s stuff is Azure’s stuff. Basically, I’m just doing her a favor, and then I’m on my way back to Canada. I need to get back to work and finish my survey. And maybe find a beer between now and then.”
Baird looked relieved. “At least one of your family is sensible. The town’s a short drive west—they have a couple of decent bars. You can borrow a truck if you want. We leave the keys in the glove box.”
“Thanks,” said Ochre, with a shrug.
“Great,” said Baird. “That should keep her from doing anything weird.” Baird nodded, primarily to himself, and left, banging the door shut behind him.
Ochre went to the bathroom and looked around. Anna peeped out from behind the shower curtain. Her red hair swung in a smooth arc, and her blue eyes seemed ridiculously big as she gingerly pushed the curtain back and peered around. She was so freakishly cute in his shower that he wasn’t sure what to say.
“My father is unbelievable,” she said.
Ochre wasn’t sure how to respond. Baird seemed perfectly believable, maybe a little old-fashioned and set in his ways, but so was everyone that he’d met that was over two centuries old.
“He just does not understand that girls don’t need to be escorted everywhere these days or that I’m not five.”
