Light From Uncommon Stars(22)
“Please hold her still,” Lan said.
Lan waved the device in front of Katrina’s eyes. Almost instantly, her eyelids fluttered, then closed. Shizuka braced to bear her weight, but the girl remained standing.
“The effect is a bit like sleepwalking,” Lan explained. She looked at her scanner and frowned. “How she stayed conscious until now, I don’t know. The poor thing is exhausted. She’s not been eating well, either. Her bruises are healing, but that rib has been fractured and reinjured. It’s not life-threatening, but it must really hurt.”
“Should we take her to a doctor?” Shizuka asked.
“No. I can repair everything here,” Lan said. “I’m no doctor, but I’m trained in basic field medicine.”
Gradually, methodically, Lan moved the device over Katrina’s face, her throat, and then over her rib.
“It seemed like the pawnshop owner recognized you,” Lan said as she worked.
Shizuka shrugged. “People like that usually know how to avoid trouble. And anyway, you were pretty intimidating yourself.”
Even in the dark, Shizuka could sense Lan’s blush.
“The donut shop,” Lan finally said.
“Hmm?”
“Katrina. If she needs a job, I can give her one at the donut shop.”
“Thank you. But she’ll need to be careful with her hands.”
Katrina murmured, but this time it was almost like a purr.
“She’ll be fine,” Lan finally said. “Let’s get her in the car before she really falls asleep.”
Shizuka stopped at the traffic light, then looked in the rearview mirror. The girl seemed almost peaceful in the streetlights. She reached into her bag and pulled out her phone. “Excuse me, I need to call Astrid.”
Astrid?
Lan tried not to listen to their conversation, but it sounded like they knew each other very well. Well, of course they did—they were living together. This Astrid was even cooking her dinner.
Shizuka put her phone away. “I’m sorry for that.”
“No, not a problem at all.” Lan tried to smile. So that was Shizuka’s mate.
“Is everything all right? You got quiet all of a sudden.”
“Oh, no, no. I’m just a little tired, that’s all.”
Lan was quiet for the rest of the drive. Finally, Shizuka parked at the Big Donut.
“Shall I walk you inside?”
“No. You should get this one to bed—and Astrid probably misses you.”
“Astrid? My housekeeper?”
“Housekeeper?”
“Yes, she’s been with me since I left Berlin.”
“Oh, good. I mean—”
“Have a good night, Lan,” Shizuka said.
“You too, Shizuka,” Lan managed to say.
Lan walked into the shop.
Shirley rushed over, concerned. “Mother! You said there was an emergency. Is everything all right?”
Lan smiled. “Yes, everything is fine. And she has a housekeeper.”
* * *
Astrid was waiting as Shizuka pulled into the driveway.
“The poor thing is shivering,” Astrid said. “Come on, dear, let’s get you inside.”
“I need to get rosin,” Katrina mumbled.
Astrid grabbed Katrina’s bags and led her inside.
“I already have her room ready. Shall I take her upstairs?”
“Yes, please.”
“I need to get rosin…”
“Of course, dear, let’s get the rosin.”
Shizuka watched Astrid guide Katrina inside.
To think she had been homeless, lugging her bags, staying God-knows-where with a fractured rib. To think she had been in the park, playing the Schradieck as if she were lighter and clearer than air.
Shizuka waved to Mrs. Lieu, then went into the house. Astrid came downstairs not long after.
“Fast asleep,” she said. “Shall I bring you something to eat?”
“Thank you, but no. I’ll be practicing,” Shizuka said.
“Practicing?”
“Yes. I need to prepare for the new student, after all.”
“Of course, Miss Satomi.”
A few minutes later, Astrid heard a most wonderful music rising from below.
Due to her deal with Hell, all traces of Miss Satomi’s performances had been erased, and she was forbidden to perform. But since her job was to teach, she had to maintain her skills. Thus, in the privacy of her practice hall, she could play as much as she desired. This meant that, other than Miss Satomi’s chosen students, Astrid was the only person in the world who was able to hear Shizuka Satomi play.
Which, of course, was more than privilege enough. But tonight, Miss Satomi’s violin sounded different. Astrid closed her eyes.
Her playing was every bit as rich and nuanced as all the years had made her. Still, something about Miss Satomi’s music seemed almost as if it were waking, returning.
Astrid recalled Grandma Strafeldas, her treasured tulips coming back to life after the long Swiss winter …
New leaves, supple and pointing, like the fingers of small children, to the sky.
8
What?
Katrina sat up. Quickly, she checked herself. No new scrapes or bruises. She was wearing a nightshirt, but it wasn’t ripped. She’d not been choked. In fact, her body seemed fine.