The Wages of Sihnon

Pt 6 - Fireworks -

Shepherd Neame was watching the neophyte Companion he knew as Sidhi very carefully, studying her walk. It was a very individual walk - or at least it struck him as being so. Sidhi moved with an almost adolescent carriage, head down and her long arms trailing even she quick stepped on the balls of her feet - an almost bouncing motion. Of all the things in the wide and wild 'verse - Shepherd Neame was thrown for a moment back to his childhood - a young boy scampering along the sea drenched coves beyond the rolling Downs that would later be his home.

It was a holiday memory, there had been a festival that day he recalled - strange rituals re-enacted in the narrow coastal town, dancing men, and decorations. He had been frightened - kicking up a fuss until he was allowed to leave - to go to the cove - to run free as his nature wanted. And there he was - squinting up at the low sandy cliffs and the brisk moving clouds - when something caught his eye. A sudden blur of moving colour that revealed itself finally as a bunch of balloons. Tied together with a glittery twine, they had escaped nonetheless from the hands of the festival-goer that must have been holding them. Like the young Neame, these balloons had fled the town, skipping and dancing down the sandy cliff trails and heading towards the sea - clashing together with a clumsy sort of beauty, bouncing from rock to rock as the wind carried them, lifting them up and setting them down.

It seemed a strange impression, ridiculous - but, (and no doubt in part due to the silks of her clothing) Shepherd Neame looked at the woman he knew as Sidhi - and he could think of nothing else.

"What?" He realised she'd been speaking.

"Nothing," she said quickly with that soft voice of hers, "it's only foolishness."

"Please," said Neame - all too aware that he was hurrying slightly to catch up along side her in the wide stone hall.

"I was just thinking how brave you must be."

Neame looked confused - the lines on