The Lotus Thief novel · Chapter 10 of 32

Chapter 10: The Pair That Will Not Part

They walked the black path for a long time.

The water stood up on both sides of them like a wall, and things moved in it that didn't show themselves.

Bua walked in front with his torn arm held against his chest.

Ton walked behind, and every time Bua's step slowed he put a hand on his back and pushed.

The path ended at a shore.

The island was small. Grass, wet and green, and a low stone rim, and in the middle of it a pool.

The pool was clear to the bottom.

In the middle of the pool, on a stalk as thick as Ton's wrist, was the lotus.

It was two blooms.

One turned east and one turned west, both open, both white, both the size of a man's chest.

There was a light in them. It came up out of the petals and lay on the water and on the grass.

Ton stood at the edge of the pool and looked at it.

"That's it," he said.

"That's it."

Bua knelt down and put his hand in the water.

It was warm.

He stood up and wiped his hand on his trousers.

"Take it," he said.

"Both of us."

They waded in.

The water came to Ton's waist. The bottom was soft and gave under his boots.

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