Blue crane’s eyes – Chap 31

Keeping a secret is not as easy as it sounds. Some words or thought itch when you let them in for a while. Iv has kept her eyes opened for five days in a roll, now she can’t do it anymore. She has looked for sister Wanda, but always saw her with sister Colette. That one seemed to not move from her side. It was as if she was her bodyguard. This afternoon, her sister had given her an idea. To get sister Wanda during Mancala game. As soon as the doors of the game room closed, she ran to look for her. She checked in the shared office and found her seating in the corner, glasses hanging at the tip of her nose. “I have a favor to ask sister”. She said before she greeted her. Sister Wanda looked above her glasses and nodded “I have something I would like to return. A clothing to mother this Saturday. Is it possible to excuse myself for two hours after mass?” Sister Wanda looked at her for a moment and asked if the clothing is important since no student is allowed to take a leave when exams are in the corner. “It’s very important for my mother sister” she responded. Sister Wanda knew Iv and Park’s mother. She knew she was a single mother, who worked long hours to provide for their school fees. She knew Ivy’s history as well. She scribbled something down on a paper and handed it to her. “You must be here before lunch” She told her and allowed her to go. Sister Wanda was considered as the most understanding person on that school. She didn’t ask much unless she suspected or heard gossip about something. In fact, some students prayed for her to stop aging. Iv felt a huge weight lifted upon her shoulders as she knew she had time to bring back the stone. 

Echoes along the hallway bounced back the sound of her feet. She could hear each sound she made. She heard voices along the corridor and saw two people standing. A boy and a girl. She leaned her ear on the wall and heard Li calling her. Her ability made her life easier now. As long as her hand was rested on her temple, she could sense every movement, voice, sound around her. Iv walked to her and saw Luke standing in front of her. He smiled when he saw her. “What is he doing here?” Iv asked Li. “I came to play” Luke responded. “Should I continue or?” Luke looked at Li who nodded yes. “Barky has been sanctioned by the headquarters of Viator. He believes he lost his coronation stone the same day you girls fought G. He came to the shelter and asked the principal for help. But the latter refused. He knew Barky used to be a me…. One who didn’t necesseraly get along with the principal. And for his peace, he left the shelter and turned to sister Wanda. Hence the reason he was teaching here.” “Did he come with G that night” Li asked. “Yes. Barky was promised powers in exchange of his stone. But that night, he lost it. He thought G took it. But the principal asked G and he didn’t take it.” “So, do you have any idea who took it?” Iv asked. “I am not sure. But Barky believe it’s either him or you girls” He looked around and whispered “If the stone is not back by midnight Sunday, our shelter will shut down. And shutting down means burn to the ground”. Li and Iv were stunned. “When one of the m… looses their totem stones, the shelter is endangered. I have heard it happening in Tanzania where one of the m… shelter was attacked and 3 m… died”. He paused when he saw a student coming out of the Mancala room and sighed “If one of you has it, please bring it back before it’s too late”. He entered the Mancala room and left Iv and Li looking at each other with wonder. “Hmm sister Wanda game me permission. I’m going home this Sunday” Iv said Li. The latter looked at her friend wondering how she is going to travel to Ha Kome by herself. She couldn’t see a way. And she knew Iv didn’t know how to get there either. “Should I ask Chief Khanya for help?” Ivy asked. “No, it’s best to not include her in this. She doesn’t even know you took it. Imagine what would happen if she knew”. Li said. Ivy thought about it for a moment then agreed. She tapped Li’s arm “Stop reading my mind. You too have something you should give back”. Li’s heart stopped. She blinked “What?” “You tell me. I’ve noticed anytime anyone speaks about anything related to the hunted book, you freeze like a statue” She leaned in to her “I might not know how to read your mind, but I can see fear and guilt all over your face” Iv added. “I don’t know anything about the hunted book, I sw…” Iv interrupted before she finishes “Don’t swear, my mom said it’s not good; especially when you are lying”. Iv squeezed her lips, shrugged her shoulders and left her to the dormitory.

The hallway of the building felt empty. No student or teacher was passing by. Li went to the corner of the corridor, opened her backpack, got out the book and sat on the floor. She shielded the book and her face with her bag, leaving a small part of her head in the open. She had been reading about all sorts of gemstones and crystal stones, but she had never read anything that caused her attention. She knew there was more in this book than whatever the stones explained but she couldn’t find it. She flipped past the gemstones and crystal stones and on page 234, there was a title. “Legacy twins”. It was the same story sister Petronia was telling them about two days ago. The woman was from Afrikaans tribe and the man was from Zulu tribe. It gave about five pages of Maria Chidike Ulwize biography. She read it, but there was nothing surprising she didn’t know. An hour cramped in her seat, a bell rang and students stormed out from the Mancala board game room. The commotion from the opened door caught Li’s attention. “She called him Turbo” one student from HighGrand school said while laughing with his classmate. The comment brought Li up and straight to the Mancala room where she saw Parker facing Turbo. They were playing while sister Colette stood right beside them, eyes and mouth wide open. She probably was in shock to see one of her students playing this fast “Keep it up Park” Sister Colette kept shouting. Li placed her hand on her temple but couldn’t read or feel anything around the room. The two boys opened the room, snapped her out on the shoulder and one smiled of them turned to her “Interesting title” He had the book in his hands, swinging it higher for Li to grab it, wanting to play. But he gave up when he heard his friend calling and finally gave it back to Li. She put it back in her backpack before anyone noticed it and rushed towards Park and placed her right hand was on her temple as if she is massaging a nerve. Park saw her and yelled “Don’t do it”. “I am. You…” Turbo answered but Park cut him off “Not you stupid”. Turbo got on his feet with his jaw tightened and threw the board across the room. “Nobody calls me stupid”. He stood up and faced Park. Sister Colette pushed Park back and stood between them. “Are you angry Mr..” she was looking for his name and Turbo’s lips was shivering, about to give it to her until she raised her palm in his face “You better be prepared next time. Cyprian’s school is back in the game”. Sister Colette turned to Park and smiled at her. Park nodded and smiled back. Li thought of this as being a bad sign. 

Sister Colette walked with pride to the front and called the end of the game. She gestured at all the students to get out and the boys from HighGrand school complained between them while bringing their feet outside of the room.

The Mancala board game room was restored. The hole in the middle was gone. There was no dolphin swimming behind the walls, but the walls were re-painted with a bright pastel lime green color. The room was dimmed compared to the last times. It had ceiling lights switched on and two chandeliers off. “Iv needs our help” Li said to Park. The latter walked close to her face “I am tired of this. I am tired of you walking around, reading and changing people’s mind. Deciding what’s best for them or not” She stared in her eyes “How would you feel if someone was in your head, changing all your thoughts? I mean having a remote controller playing with your mind? How would you feel?” Li looked around, saw students getting out and in the corner of her eyes staring at them “I wanted to protect you” She responded. “Did I ask for your protection? No! And for your information, I don’t need any. Mind your own business from now on” Park left her standing, in the same position Iv did. She had nowhere else to go or nobody else to talk to. She saw Luke waving her goodbye from a distance and she waved back her hand effortlessly. Adeline walked up to her and asked if everything is okay, for which she nodded yes. 

Iv was gone when she arrived in her bedroom. Park was mad at her so there was no need to visit her. During dinner time, none of them spoke. Adeline was caught in between, not knowing if reconciliating them was a good idea. She stayed quiet, ate and left with Park. Doris came a few minutes later and took Li’s plate before she finishes her meal “It’s the rules. You can’t eat by yourself I am afraid”. It was something she was starting to get used to. Everyone leaving her standing or seating. She got up, walked outside the dining room and sat in the courtyard. While looking up, she started to count leaves on the tree. “What are you doing? She heard a voice inside her head. She smiled “I need to be left alone”. She thought it was Park apologizing to her. “You need to tell your friends. It feels heavy to keep carrying it”. She looked around her and saw flakes of snow above the tree”. She nodded, turned her head to the side and saw something else. The librarian woman walking fast to her. She yelled “I need it now” before she gets to her. Li was searching for a place to hide. She was not alone in the courtyard. Other students came here after diner to relax or to take a moment to digest. She couldn’t afford to be exposed like this. Before she could find an alternative place to be, the librarian was already a  couple of feet away from her. “Where is the book?” Li shook her head “I don’t know” The librarian whispered. “Well hear this. If one of the sisters, only God knows her name comes again to the library and doesn’t find it, I am gone. Did you hear me? Gone as in fired. She showed me the gate the last time I saw her. And hear this again. I can’t afford to pass through that gate at this moment. So, here is the solution. I gave her until Sunday noon. Make sure to bring it by then” She said. “What if I don’t have it anymore?” Li frowned “Well, you better! Because I know who borrowed it last. You!” Li was about to touch her temple when Park arrived and moved her hand back down “Can I help you?” Park was confused if she is a sister or not. She added “I apologize sister. I called you madam because you are not wearing a hat”. “A veil” the librarian corrected “I am not a sister. Anyways, I need that book by this Sunday noon”. She looked at Li and left. “What book is she talking about?” Park asked. “A book I borrowed a week ago.” Li responded and added “How did you get here?” I saw that woman in your face, and you know me I am all about confrontation” Park replied.