One Day in a Small-Town Desert, chapter 14, page 3

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Vata Kılímí hugged her husband tight, tears flowing down her smiling face. The wonderful Névazhíno had brought him back to life, even without a sacrifice. Their god had rewarded them for their years of unwavering devotion and proselytizing. A wave of giddiness swept over her body from head to toes. She giggled into Pí‘oro’s hairy chest.

“What was it like, dear,” she quietly asked, “to be with Him at Pétíso’s hall?” The police were still outside the front door.

With hands gripping her shoulders, Pí‘oro pushed her away. He winced. “It was wonderful, darling. Do you know where Zhíno is?”

Her eyebrows crinkled in a frown. “On the altar. Why?”

He let go of her and stepped past her, wincing again.

Vata turned to follow him. Why must he see Zhíno? She loudly whispered, “Dear?”

Pí‘oro limped to the horse and squeezed past.

“Are you still injured?” she whispered after him. “Didn’t Névazhíno heal you fully?”

Something was wrong, with both Pí‘oro’s healing and his attitude. Why didn’t he answer her? What had he seen in the afterlife? What had prevented Névazhíno from fully healing him? Had Zhíno somehow interfered? Was Pí‘oro planning to hurt the young man?

After all their dedication and devotion to the way of Névazhíno, surely Pí‘oro wouldn’t depart from that and kill Zhíno. Unless, of course, the afterlife drastically changed her husband. It certainly had some affect on him. It was still too early to know the full extent.

She hurried after Pí‘oro. As she passed their horse, she realized she’d have to lead the horse into the front room to turn her around, but Vata didn’t have time for that now. Hopefully the horse wouldn’t eat the upholstery or make a mess on the carpet.

Around the corner of the hall, a door squeaked open.

Vata hissed, “Pí‘oro!” but he didn’t reply.

Even injured and limping, he could still out-walk her by far. If Zhíno had awoken, Vata wouldn’t be around for the confrontation. If Zhíno were still asleep, Pí‘oro might kill him before she arrived. She had to trust that her husband was not as altered as she feared, or else they might fall from Névazhíno’s graces forever.

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