Stone Seeds by Jo; Ely Page B

general’s wife, notes her curled head drooping over her plate. Her bleak opaque gaze. “Maybe she was something like that once,” she says. “Who knows what she is now. What or who.” Turns sharply toward Zorry. “It don’t do to underestimate the general. Any living thing can be turned, like I said. Any. Living. Thing.” She looks up. Stares into the space just over Zorry’s head. “But that’s a thing that can work both ways, Zorry.” Mamma Zeina eases herself up with a grim expression. Once on her feet she mops her forehead. And then leaves Zorry to her own thoughts.
    Beauty has not quite done with the general’s wife yet, but she seems to Zorry to have done with it. There’s a carelessness about her dress, dark circles from un-sleep in rings under her eyes. Her teeth have been browned by flower pollen. As if she senses she’s being examined the general’swife looks up, one brief shrewd gaze at Zorry, causing Zorry to catch her breath and hold it. Ghost of a smile and then the general’s wife lets her head fall over her empty plate again. Zorry breathes out.
    â€œWe must send out our flowers,” Gaddys repeats. In a warning tone. And then a cool steady eye on the general’s wife, who flinches lightly, trembles. Wilts a little more under her gaze. The room of feasters raise their glasses, tinkle, clink, to cover the sound of the sirens outside. The general’s wife rises, wobbling, to her feet. A small gasp at this clear breach of feast protocol. It isn’t the general’s wife’s turn to speak.
    And then it happens …
    The general’s wife’s glass tumbles out of her left hand, rolls and hits the wall. Splits neatly in two large parts, like a new hatched egg.
    There is a long, strange moment. Silence.
    Gaddys and the general’s wife are locked gaze to slow, knowing gaze.
    Neither stands down.
    Later in the kitchen, Mamma Zeina and Zorry stand at the serving hatch, preparing the second course.
    â€œI don’t get it,” Zorry says. “Why won’t Gaddys let the OneFolks’ talk to each other?”
    â€œFear.” Mamma Zeina says, and a feeling in her stomach like intestines tighten and then unravel. She can’t speak for one long moment on account of the pain. And then rubbing at her upper stomach. “She won’t put the general’s wife’s old allies together.”
    â€œWhat?” Zorry is confused.
    â€œShe’s separated the old friends of the general’s wife.” Sherubs her nose and continues, “Friendship is deemed radical in the OneFolks’ village. Power blocks can appear amongst the OneFolk overnight, the general and Gaddys know better than to allow that.” Wincing again.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?”
    â€œNothing, Child.”
    â€œThe two at the end on the right …” Zorry says. Opening her eyes wide.
    â€œWhat about them?”
    â€œThey’re protecting each other. It’s subtle but … Watch them Mamma Zeina.”
    â€œI will, Zorry. Well observed Child. And Gaddys hasn’t seen it?”
    Zorry shakes her head. “Not as far as I can tell.”
    â€œGood. What else have we got?”
    â€œPurple wig and the one with the silver studded collar, they hold their breaths when the flowers puffed pollen just now. Old man with the green embroidered corset only pretended to pass out with the pollen fumes. But he’s been turning his head away from it and his cheeks ain’t pinked much. Seems like trouble amongst the OneFolk, Mamma Zeina. And it’d explain why Gaddys has been acting paranoid lately. Why she’s been getting … worse.” Zorry looks thoughtful. “This could help us?” Rolls and puts away a napkin.
    â€œYes it could, Zorry. Good work.”
    â€œAnd the other thing …”
    â€œThere’s another thing?” Mamma Zeina says, rubbing at her stomach, eyeing