Page 52 of Tiger's Trek
“So good,” she said between bites.
“Tastes like my tetya’s,” Danik said. “She always used fresh goose egg when they were in season. These are goose eggs. I’m sure of it.”
“Delicious,” Veru agreed. “If you ate this well at your auntie’s house, I’m surprised your fingers aren’t too fat to play your instruments.”
Danik laughed heartily. “I’m not sure that can happen. I’ve met some musicians who were very round and portly, and I think it made their tone that much more interesting.”
“I’m sure it was more interesting. More interesting to watch, maybe.” Veru imitated what she thought a large musician might look like trying to play for a crowd. She liked the way Danik’s eyes laughed the same way his face did. He hid nothing.
“That’s nothing like it would look,” he said. “It would be more like this.”
He stood and began tromping around the room, dancing and tooting on an imaginary horn as if he were a giant animal, but somehow still managed to sound melodic. At some point he reached down and grabbed hold of Veru’s hands, despite her protests, and danced around the chair and table, twirling her this way and that, bouncing her off his “enormous” belly or his “bulbous” backside.
When he got to the chorus of his song, he spun her around and around until she became so dizzy she nearly fell and grabbed on to his arms for balance. He stopped quickly and held her steady. They both panted. His hair had fallen over one eye in that appealing way she liked. His large hunter’s hands held her loosely at her waist. She knew if she pulled away he’d let her go, but for the first time in her life, Veru wasn’t sure she wanted to move back.
Lifting a hand, she pushed the hair from his brow and slid her palm down his cheek, then she took a step closer, knowing that was all she’d need to do. Men were easy. Give them a wink or a smile, and she’d have them right where she wanted them. But with Danik, she didn’t want to play games. Veru wasn’t sure exactly what she wanted from him, not yet, but she did know she was ready for more of something.
Their bodies were close. So close. Not quite touching, but almost. Just a whisper of cloth between them. She waited, her hand trembling on his face, and watched his expression change from joy and slight concern to confusion, to something raw and hungry, and then to something... sad?
He stepped back, his hands still supporting her, making certain she was steady before letting her go; then he smiled, and for the first time, she saw he seemed to be hiding something from her.
“Shall we get to work, then?” he asked.
“Danik?” Veru said. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m fine. Are you fine? Is something wrong with you?”
“I’m good,” she said, confused.
“Are you certain? I can work on my own today if you’re in pain.”
“No. I can work. It’s just... did you... are you remembering... something?”
Danik began whistling and opened the little door to the summer porch. “Not that I recall,” he said, turning back to offer her an easy smile.
She stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Please, tell me.”
He let out a sigh. “It’s like—it’s like the pictures in my head are a bit jumbled. I’m not resetting like before. My mind is staying with you now. Long as I focus on you, I can remember who I am and where we are and what we’re doing. I just don’t remember the before, except the parts you fill in. You tell me I’m a hunter, and I believe you. I can track the mice even without seeing them. In fact, without thinking, I fashioned a little knot with a string and set it in just the right place. This morning I found a rat caught in my makeshift trap. For some reason, I thought about giving it to you, but before I could, the kotenok grabbed it and finished it off.”
“You’re remembering when I was a tiger. You fed me mice in a barn.”
“Did I?”
“Yes. We took care of each other. I saved your life, and you saved mine. I rescued you from wolves. Remember?”
He shook his head. “No. But it sounds like I got the better deal.”
“Perhaps,” Veru said, and turned away, disappointed that Danik still couldn’t remember her from before.
“Hey,” Danik said. “For what it’s worth, I’m glad to have the chance to get to know you as a person. I can’t imagine traveling with a tiger. It must have been... difficult.”
“In some ways, I suppose. But I think you liked me more as a cat.”
“Really?” Danik smiled. “Must have been because you never talked back.”
Veru punched him on the shoulder.
When they stepped outside, there was a long line of strange creatures, all of whom had buckets, bowls, barrels, bottles, pots, kettles, jugs, or cups. “It’s Flower of the Well Day,” a short, bald man with a shovel and bare feet chirped the moment they opened the door. “As I’m the first one here, I should get to draw the water.”
