Page 24 of 1000 of You
“We heard them, too,”Karliffremarked. “They are no longer afraid to come intothe village.”
“I heard they tookMysali’sbaby and dragged it away,” another boy stated.“She went after them to get her baby back, and they attacked her.”
Karliffglanced around. “Where isTosha?”
“Ordanwent after her. He said she was acting funny, and wandered away.”
Hesaid she was acting funny.Gova?Muamperked up. “Does he need help looking for her?”
Before the boy could answer, theyheard the door below slam shut. Not long after, footsteps came up the ladder.Two dark forms appeared and slowly made their way toward the others.
Karliffspoke up. “Ordan?”
“Here.”
“Tosha?”
“I am here.” The voice was youngand sounded nothing likeGova, butMuamhad to find out.
“Gova?”
A gasp. “Muam?”
He saw a figure stand, and he heldout his arms. “Over here. Follow the sound of my voice.” He heard her shufflingher feet as she approached him. A hand brushed his arm, and he grabbed it. Shedropped next to him, and they wrapped their arms around each other.
“Who isGovaandMuam?” a voice queried.
“They are names we gave eachother,”Govatold them. She propped her chin on hisshoulder and whispered in his ear, “Can we go somewhere else to talk?”
He answered her by getting to hisfeet and helping her up. “We are going downstairs to talk,” he announced to theothers.
“Talk about what?”Karliffasked.
“Stuff,”Govaresponded. Although it was vague, it was enough to satisfy their curiosity.Carefully, the two of them climbed down the ladder and made their way over tothe enormous wheel of stone where grain was ground into the flour. He drew anarm around her thin waist and noticed how pronounced her ribs were. Finding herface with his other hand, they softly kissed.
“We are children this time around,”she murmured, deliberately keeping her voice low. “This has never happened tous before.”
Muamgavea nod, knowing she may not be able to see it. At the moment, everything was inshadow. “It is also night. My memory is somewhat hazy, but I do not think wehave lived long enough to see the darkness come over the land in any of ourpast lives.”
“You are not wrong. I had almost forgottenwhat it is like.Muam, what number is this one? Doyou know? I lost track long ago.”
“So have I.”
There was a slight pause before sheventured again. “Is it possible this is our last life? Maybe we returned aschildren because we are now able to grow up together.”
“Gova,have you looked around at the village? It has been destroyed. There are hardlyany people left. Something or someone has decimated the villagers, and we areamong the handful of survivors.”
“Yes! We are the survivors!” Thehope in her voice was unmistakable.
Muamsighed. “As much as I would like to share your dream, my beloved, I cannot. Ido not understand why we are here as children. I do not know why we became thepeople we have been in the past. But I do not believe this is our last life. Ithink this is just another body, and we shall meet our deaths soon.”
She gave a little sob. Pulling herback into his arms, he tried to soothe her as best he could. Rubbing his handsup and down her back, along her spine that stuck out underneath her skin.
“There is something else I thoughtof.”
“What is that?”
“Of all the people we have been, wehave been there at the moment of their deaths.”
