becamewideratthehem.Kari’shairbecameapairoftuftslikeSana’s,though muchshorter.Shestoodforamomentbeforeherlegsgavewayandshe tumbledtotheground.Herfacereddenedandthenshebegantocry.
“Now,Sana,areyougoingtobeagoodlittlegirl?Ordoyouwanttobea babylikeKari?”
“I’llbegood,”Sanamumbled.
“Ithoughtso.Shteri,carrythebaby.”
Thesmooth-skinwithdarkbrownhairpickedKariup.Shelookedasifshe wouldtoppleasKarihad,butmanagedtostayupright.Valcameupbesideher andthenlookedupatKari.“Who’sthebabynow?”
Sanagottoherfeet.Shelookeddownatthegroundwithshame.Itwas herfaultKarihadbecomeababytobemadefunofbythenastyhatchling.She foundherselfstillcrying,thoughnotfromthepain.
Afreshwaveoftearscamewhenshelookeduptoseehervillageinthe distance.
Chapter11
Jeristareddownatthevillagearrayedbeforethem.“Yuck.That’show yourpeoplelive?Inabunchofmudhuts?”
“Yes,”Sanaanswered.Shedidn’tknowhowelsetheyweresupposedto live.Thekingandsomeofthewealthieroneshadmuchlargerhousesmadeof clay,butthepoorcouldonlyaffordmudthatfrequentlyneededpatchedor rebuiltentirelyafteramonsoon.
“Well,thoseeyesoreswillhavetogo.”
Sanadroppedtoherkneesastheblackcrystalblindedherwithwhitelight.
SheheardKariwail,somethingshedidmorefrequentlynowasababy.Val crouchednexttoSanaandlaughedinherear.“Heregoesyourstupidpwanet.”
SanaflailedaroundtoslapVal’sface.Thehatchlingsquealedinpain.
Sanaheardherscurryaway.ButwhenSana’svisioncleared,shesawValwas right.Herworldhaddisappeared.
Fromwhereshelayinthegrass,shesawanentirelydifferentvillagenow.
Thestreetsweremadeofstoneandlaidoutinstraightlinesinsteadofcrooked mudpaths.Treeslikethosearoundherlinedthestreets.Behindthetreeswere housesunlikeanyshehadeverseenbefore.Insteadofthecircularmudhuts, theywererectangularprismswithslopingroofsthatmetinapointatthetop.
Thewallsseemedtobemadeofmetalorwoodandwerepaintedinavarietyof garishcolors.Transparentholespockmarkedthewalls.
FromthesebuildingsstaggeredShadans,unchangedyetbytheevilstone.
Sanaleapedtoherfeetwhenshesawherfamilyemergefromahousewithwalls thesamepinkasherrobe.“Mother!Suda,Hofer,Saele!I’mhere!”Theymust haveheardher,becausetheyturnedinherdirection.
ThenMothertookthehatchlingsinherarmsandran.
“Notveryfriendly,arethey?”Jerisaid.“We’llhavetochangethat.”
“No,youcan’t!”
SanawasabouttochargeJeriwhensomeoneyankedherback.Shewas surprisedtoseeitwasVal.Thehatchlinggrowledather,“Don’tbother.She’w justmakeyouababywikeKawiandthendoitanyway.”
“ButIcan’t—”Shewastoolate.Thestoneblindedheragain.Tears drippeddownSana’scheeksasshewaitedforhervisiontoclear.
Whenitdid,herworstfearswereconfirmed:alloftheShadanswere gone.Intheirplaceweresmooth-skins,humanslikeshehadbecome.Likeher theyhadtanskinandblackhair.Theyweredressedinavarietyofcolorful clothes.Themalesshenotedallworethekindofrobeswiththelegsseparately
coveredwhilethefemalesworerobessimilartohers.
Unlikeher,theothersdidn’tseemtonoticethechange.Afewstooddazed forafewmomentsandthentheybegantowalkdowntheroadsorbackintotheir houses.Motherstoodforamoment,untilthehatchlingsbegantorunandsqueal withapparentdelight.
Sanafeltahandonherback.“Godownandsayhellotothem,”Jerisaid.
“It’sallright.”
Sanadidn’tneedanyfurtherencouragement.Sheraceddownthehill,into thevillageasfastasherclawlessfeetcouldcarryher.Itbecamehardertoseeas sheran,tearsblindingheralmostaseffectivelyasthelightfromthestone.
“Sana!Thereyouare,”Mothersaidinthehumanlanguage.Thisallowed Sanatohomeontoherandslamintoher.WhereasatthestartofthedaySana hadstoodacentimeterortwotallerthanhermother,nowsheonlycameupto Mother’swaist.“What’swrong,darling?Didyougetlost?”
“IwentouttohuntforgrubsintheswampsandthenIfoundabunchof smooth-skins.Theymademeintooneofthem.Thentheycameheretochange allofyouintosmooth-skinslikethem.”
Mothershookherheadandsaid,“Sana,whywouldyougoouttohunt grubs?Littlegirlsshouldn’tplayinthedirt.”
“Nonsense.Wehaveplentyoffoodintherefrigerator.”Mother’shuman eyeslookeddownathersternly.“Youshouldn’trunofflikethatandthenmake upsuchstories.Ithinkyou’dbestgotoyourroom.”
“ButMother—”
“Rightnow,younglady.Don’tmakemehavetospankyou.”
SanarecalledtheearlierspankingthathadledtoKaribecomingababy.
“I’msorry,Mother.”Shetrudgedtowardsthepinkhouse.Therewasapieceof woodblockingherway.Shestaredatit,wonderingwhatitwasfor.
“It’sadoor,”Valsaid.Shegotonhertoestoturnametalcircleontheright edgeofthedoor.Shegruntedslightlyasshepushedtheslabofwoodbackto revealahomeasimpressiveasaroyalpalace.Therewerechairscoveredin fabricandonesolargeitcouldserveasabed.“That’sasofaorcouch.”
“It’sincredible.”
“You’reeasiwyimpwessed,”Valsaid.“Yourwoomwiwbeupstairs.”
“Upstairs?”Nobuildingsinthevillagehadstairsbefore.Onlythepalaces andtemplesinthelargercitieshadthose.ButasValindicated,therewasasetof woodenstairsleadinguptoanotherfloor.Sanatooktheseonestepatatime, waitingforthemtofall.Valhuffedandpuffedafterher,hersmallerbodyhaving ahardertimewiththesteps.
Therewasacorridorwithawoodenfloorandmoreofthedoorsoneither side.“Where’smyroom?”
“Downheresomewhere.”
Valledherdownthehallway.Fourofthedoorshadwritingontheminbig, colorfulprint.Sanahadneverseenthehumanlanguageprintedbefore.She staredattheletterswithoutunderstanding.Valpointedtoadoorwithfour letters,twoinpinkandtwoinlightblue.“That’syourwoom.”
Sanaturnedthemetalcircletoopenthedoor.Whenshesteppedthrough theopening,aboltoflightshotthroughher.Shefoundeverythinggettinglarger assheshrunk.Whenitstopped,shewasevenshorterthanVal.Hertuftsofhair hadshortenedlikeKari’s,thoughherlegsstillheldherup,despitethatshe couldn’tseethemfromthewayherrobedraggedonthefloor.
Vallaughedbehindher.“Shemadeyouatoddwertoo.”
“What’satoddwer?”
“It’sawidowowderthanababy,butnotabiggirwyet.”
Likethelettersonthedoor,theroomwasacombinationoflightblueand pink.Thewallsweremostlybluewithpinktrimwhilethebedinonecornerhad apinkblanket.Thebedwassomuchhigherthananyshehadeverseenbefore, eveninroyalchambers.Shewalkedovertoit,herfeetfeelingunsteady.She hadtoputoutahandagainstthebedinordertosteadyherself.Thebedfelt almostassoftasthemudintheswamp.Theslipperinessofthefabricmadeita difficultclimbontop.Shesattheretosurveyhernewroom.
Herownroom!Evenasanadultshehadneverhadaprivateroom;they weretoopoorforsuchluxuries.Theyonlyhadonecommunalroomwhere everyonehadslept.WhenMotherandFatherwantedtomate,theyhadtogoout intotheswamplikeoutcasts.ThingshadbeencrampedwhenMotherandFather hadaneggburiedinthehouse.Nowshehadaroomalltoherselfthatwasas bigasthatcommunalhut.
Valclimbedupbesideher.“Doyoustiwwanttochangethingsback?”
Sanaconsideredthisforaminute.Shelikedhernewroom,butsheknewit camewithaprice.Shewouldhavetoforgeteverythingthathadcomebefore.
Shewouldhavetoforgetherentireworld,herentire life.“Yes.”
“Good.Itmaytakeawhiwe.Youjusthavetowememberonething:be patient.Iwaitedawmosttwoyearsformychancetogetthestone.Therewere timeswhenIbecamesomeoneewse,butIneverforgotwhoIwasinside.You understand?”
“Ithinkso.”
“Nomatterwhatshedoestoyou,wememberwhoyouowinside.Andwait untiwyougetachancetostwike.Thendon’twetanythingstopyou.”
“Whyowyoutewwingmethis?Youdon’tevenwikeme.”
“Oneofushastostopher.SomeonewikeJewiistoostupidtohavethe stone.She’wendupwuiningevewythingheweandonPhewa.”
“Whataboutyou?”
“Shewon’twetmenearit.Sheknowswhathappenedbefore.AndKawi can’tusethestone.AndShtewiistooweak.”
“Whycan’tKawiuseit?Becauseshe’sababy?”
“Sure,”Valsaid,buteventhoughshedidn’thaveexperiencereadinghuman expressions,Sanasensedthetoddlerwaslyingtoher.“Ibettergonow.”
Sanawatchedhergo.Thenshehoppedoffthebedtobeginexploringher wonderfulnewroom.
Part4:ParadiseLost
Chapter12
Sanacouldn’tsleep.Shehuggedherdollytoherchestandfidgeted beneaththecovers.Fromthelightcomingbetweenthecracksofhercurtains sheknewitwasmorning,butshecouldn’tgetupyet.Shecouldn’tgetupuntil Mommycametogether.
Todaywasit,herfirstdayofschool.Shewouldfinallybeabiggirltoday.
Noonecouldmakefunofherforbeingababyanymore.
Whensheheardfootstepsinthehallway,sheturnedtofacethewall.She clutchedherdollytighterandthenclosedhereyes.Thiswasjustintime,asthe lightflickedon.“Sana,timetogetup.”
Shegroanedasifshewerestillasleep.Shedidn’twantMommytoknow she’dbeenupsincethemiddleofthenight.Mommycreptacrosstheroomto shakehershoulder.“Comeon,darling,it’stime.”
“Forwhat?”
“Forschool.Don’tyouremember?”
Sanaturnedoverandthenflashedhermotherasleepygrin.“Iremember.”
Mommypickedherupasifshewerestillababy.Shebrushedhairback fromSana’sface.“Yougopottyandthencomedownstairsforbreakfast.”
“Yes,Mommy.”ShewaiteduntilMommysetherdownonthefloortorace outoftheroom.Sherandownthehalltothebathroom.Shewasluckyitwasn’t occupied;usuallyoneofherbrattysiblingswouldbetherewhenshehadtogo andthentheywouldtakeforeverjusttomakeherwaituntilshewhinedfor Mommy.
Bythetimeshefinishedandgotdownstairs,Mommyalreadyhadaplateof pancakesforher.Thepancakeshadstrawberryeyes,achocolatechipmouth, andwhippedcreamhair.Hersiblingseachhadasimilarplate,butnoneofthem weredownyet.
Asshebegantoeat,sheheardthemarguingupstairsaboutwhowoulduse thepottyfirst.MommypattedSanaontheback.“YoukeepeatingwhileI handleyoursistersandbrother.”
“Yes,Mommy.”
ShewasstilleatingwhenHofersaid,“Whatare youdoingdownhere?”
“I’meatingbreakfast.”
“Shouldn’tyoubeinyourhighchair?”
“No.Idon’tneedahighchairanymore.I’mnotababy.”
“Aretoo.”
“Amnot.”
Herespondedthistimebygrabbingherforkandcuttingachunkoffher pancakes.Shewatchedhelplesslyashestuckthepieceofpancakeintohis mouth.Hechewedwithhismouthopensoshecouldseeit.Oncehe’dmashed itup,hespititbackoutontoherplate.“There’ssomebabyfoodforyou.”
Sanahoppedoffthechair.“Mommy!”sheshrieked.
ShemadeittothestairsbeforeMommycaughtherandscoopedherup.
“What’swrong,darling?”
“Hofertookabiteofmypancakeandthenspititoutallovermyplate.”
Whentheygottothekitchen,Hoferwassittingatthetable,eatinghis breakfastasifnothinghadhappened.MommyglaredathimwhileSanaleaned herheadonMommy’sshoulder.“Hofer,didyouspitoutfoodonSana’splate?”
“No.It’snotmyfaultifthestupidbabycan’teatsolidfood.”
“Youngman,youknownottopickonyoursisters.Goupstairsandget readyforschool.”
“ButMom—”
“Rightnow.”
Hoferclimbedoffhischairandthentrudgedpastthem.“Stupidbaby,”he grumbled.
MommystrokedSana’shairandthensetherdowninherchair.“It’sall right,darling.I’llmakeyouanotherpancake.”
“It’sallright.I’mnotthathungry,”Sanasaid.Shewasstillalittlehungry, butshedidn’twantMommytogotothatmuchtrouble.
MommypushedHofer’splateovertoSana.“Goaheadandfinishhis.”
“Yes,Mommy.”
Hersisterstrottedintotheroom,alreadyintheirschooluniformsandtheir hairboundinpigtails.“What’sthebabydoinghere?”Sudaasked.
“Don’tstartwithme,younglady.Hurryupandeatyourbreakfast.”
SudaandSaedewereonlyolderthanSanabytwoandthreeyearsbutthey stilltreatedherlikeababy.Theydidn’tusuallystooptophysicalabuselike Hofer;theyreliedonignoringherorcriticizingherinstead.Whenshegottired oftheirglares,Sanaputdownherfork.“CanIgoupstairs,Mommy?”
“Ofcourseyoucan.I’vegotyourclothesalllaidout.”
“Ohboy!”Sanaranupstairs,whereHoferwaitedforher.Heblockedthe hallwaytokeepheroutofherroom.
“What’sthepassword?”hesaid.
“GetoutofmywayorI’lltellMommy.”
“You’resuchababy,”hesaid.Hegaveheraslightpushasshewentpast.
OnherbedshefoundasailorsuitlikeSudaandSaedeworeonlysinceshewas infirstgrade,herswasgreen.Shechangedoutofherpajamasandthenputon
theuniform,thegreenskirtfirstandthenthewhiteblouse.
Asshefinished,Mommycameintotheroom.“Oh,don’tyoulookso pretty?”shegushed.ShetookSana’shandtoleadherovertothemirror.Sana grinnedtoseeherselfintheschooluniform,justlikeabiggirl.Mommypicked upthebrushandthenbegantobrushSana’shairuntilitwassmooth;befitting herstatusasabiggirlshedidn’tcryonce.Shetookahandfulofhaironeither sidetotieintoapigtailjustlikeSudaandSaedewore,excepthersweren’tquite aslong.
Sanasmiledatherreflection.Shereallywasabiggirlnow.Shewantedto rundowntoshowhersiblings,butMamastoppedher.“Yourshoes,”Mama said.SanaslippedonthebrownshoesandthenwaitedwhileMommytiedthem; thatwassomethingSanahadn’tlearnedtodoforherselfyet.
Theywentdownstairs,wherehersiblingswaited.“Abouttime,”Hofer grumbled.
Ahornsoundedoutside.Itwastheschoolbus!Hersistersandbrother hurriedoutside.Sanawasabouttojointhem,butMamastoppedheragain.She heldoutapinkbackpack.“Don’tforgetthis.”
“Sorry,Mommy.”
“Youhaveagoodday,darling.I’llbeherewhenyougetback.”Mommy bentdowntokissherontheforehead.
ThenSanaranouttothewaitingbusforherfirstdayofschool.
***
SchoolwasnotaswonderfulasSanahadhoped.Shetriedtositinthe middleofthebuswithhersisters,buttheywouldn’tlethershareaseat.They forcedhertositupfrontwiththeothersmallerchildren.Afteronlyablock,a boysatnexttoher;shespenttherestoftheridelisteningtohimwheezeand snifflewhilehopingnoneofhi
sgermsgotonher.
Shefollowedtheboytoherclassroom,ortriedto;inthehallanolderboy knockedherdown.Shesquealedwithpain,butnoonesomuchashelpedher up.Shewipedtearsfromhereyesandthenhikedherbackpackuptotrudgeto herclassroom.
Bythetimeshegotthere,mostoftheseatshadalreadybeentaken.The teacherdirectedhertooneinfrontofanotherboy.Thisonedidn’twheezeor sniffle;insteadhepulledonherhairwheneverhethoughttheteacherwasn’t looking.Shefinallyturnedandshouted,“Stopit!”
Theteacherstoppedthelessontoglareather.“Younglady,whatisthe problem?”
“He’spullingmyhair!”
“Amnot.”
“Aretoo!”
“Thatisenough.Iwillnottoleratesuchdisruptionsinmyclassroom.”The teacherglareddownatSanauntilsheapologized.Theboydidn’tapologize.
SinceSanahadgottenintroubleandhehadn’t,theboydecidedhehadfree licensetopullherhairandpokeherinthebackwithhispencil.Shetriedto moveherdeskforward,butheonlyscootedhisforwardenoughtocontinue botheringher.Bylunchtimeshedecideditwasfutiletoresist.Shelethimdo whathewanted,hopinghe’dgettiredofit.
Sheploddedaftertheothersintothecafeteria.Mommyhadputalunchin herbackpack.Shehadn’tevenopeneditbeforethenastyboysnatcheditfrom her.“Thanksforbringingmelunch,”hesaidwithacruelgrin.
“That’smine!Giveitback!”Shetriedtotakethebag,buthehelditup overhisheadhighenoughthatshecouldn’treachit.“I’mtelling!”
Butthatwasanidlethreat.Shehadalreadyseenwhathappenedearlier whenshetoldtheteacher;shedoubtedanyonewouldbemorereceptivethis time.Soshecouldonlywatchastheboyateherlunchwhileshesilentlycried.
Aftertheboyhadstalkedoff,triumphant,Sanaputherheaddownonthe table.Asshesobbed,shefeltahandonhershoulder.Shethoughtmaybeit wouldbeateacher,butitwasn’t.ItwasagirlwiththepalestskinSanahadever seen,almostaswhiteashertop.Hertopwastrimmedwithdarkblue,which indicatedshewasinsecondgrade.Herhairwasmuchlighterthananormal person’s,averylightbrownwhilehereyeswereastrangegreen.Theseeyes werehiddenbehindpink-framedglasses.