#earthrunes

*****************
August slips into the library and pads soft-footed into the stacks, retrieves a book, and heads back out again.

SWOOP.

"Greetings and Salutations!"

"Woah! Wh.... ah, hello Bronte." A bit of a hunted look.

Bronte noses at his book. "“Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.”

"Ah." He looks at the book a moment, then seems caught. "Yes. Well."

August might sense the gaze upon him - not just Bronte, but a darker pair of eyes...

there, yes, a steaming cup of tea...

He freezes.

Then takes a deep breath. "Ok." it's an invitation.

"Forgive. Bronte gets excitable."

"She's a delight." He says softly.

"She is."

He puts the book down near the tea, and waits.

Zara is watching him, dark eyes peering through pale bangs.

He does not stare back, does not even look around for her, but simply waits.

"Should I leave?"

"No. Not on my account. Sorry to have disturbed you, I only came for the book."

"I didn't mean to intrude."

"You didn't..."

"Either thing. You didn't do either."

"Did you have a good Easter?"

"Yes. It was very good." A pause. "Pesach?"

"Good..."

"Miriam came." Oh, there's no hiding the glow in that whisper.

A faint smile. "I'm glad."

"The Uncles fought about brisket, and Jacob I think found the whole thing amusing..."

"And it was... nice, aye? Just... being home.. with Mama and Papa. For a few days."

"Jacob?"

"...Miriam's other child."

"-Other- child?" that's startled him enough to look at her. Well. Look around for her.

She's at her favorite desk, cradling a cup of tea. "He's... eight or so."

"Eight. Wow." August sits, thinking.

She nods. "From when they had her. But we.. it... we found him, aye."

"Ah. So. He.... ah."

"Half-brother. Yes."

"Miriam has a place, she's bringing him up now."

"It seems I have a surfeit of siblings."

"People who get nostalgic about childhood were obviously never children.
Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes" Bronte quotes

August nods. "Wow." he repeats, nodding. "But she was at Pesach?"

Zara nods, smiling. It's... a sad one, too much hurt and joy for one expression.

August glances over, away.

"She... I..."

"She's got an apartment now. So she's not out working. Because of Jacob."

"Wh... Well, if he's eight that's understandable. Ah. He's been with her?"

"Since we rescued him, aye."

"It's... my sense of time is all off, too much time at the Farm..."

"He can't see there, can't touch it.."

"You rescued... He? Which he?" Confused.

"Paler."