The Lotus Thief novel · Chapter 6 of 32

Chapter 6: What the Trees Remember

Ton pulled the arrow out of the saddle and Bua out of the sleeve.

It had gone through the cloth and not the arm. A red line along the forearm, no more.

They walked the horse until it couldn't go on, then left it standing and went on foot.

The forest floor was soft and gave under the boots.

There was no moon. There were no stars. There was a pale light from somewhere that didn't come from above.

"Stay close," Bua said.

"I'm right here."

"Say it every few minutes."

"Say what?"

"Anything."

Ton had heard the stories about Chandra. Everyone had.

The Yaksa in the trees. The Hamsa in the sky. The Makara in the lake.

He had always assumed they were stories for children.

They walked maybe an hour. The trees never changed.

Then Bua stopped.

"Ton."

"I'm here."

"Say more than that."

"I'm here and I'm tired and my hands are still tied."

Bua turned and cut the rope with the knife he'd taken off the man in the clearing.

Ton flexed his fingers.

"Better."

"Good. Now say something else."

"Why?"

Bua pointed.

Ton looked.

Between two roots, at the base of the biggest tree he had ever seen, there was a face.

It was the size of a dinner plate and made of bark and it was looking at them.

It had no eyes. It had a mouth.

Ton took a step back and the heel of his boot caught a root and he went down.

The ground was wet and cold and then it wasn't there.

He fell a long way.

He landed on a floor.

It was a wooden floor and it was warm and there was a lamp burning on a table.

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