Whispers of the coming storm

Damayanti walked out to the large beech tree in the back of the gardens. Her feet were bare, her hair was unbound and brushed straight. Draped in a salwar kameez and shawl of white linen and cotton, her feet felt the dew just beginning to form on the grass. The stars were just starting to appear in the twilit sky above. She carried a plate full of pinda, balls of rice, salt, some sugar and rolled in black sesame balanced in one hand. Tucked just under the offerings, there were six sticks of sandalwood incense. In the other she carried a large pitcher of water. She had gathered three flat rounded stones earlier in the day, these were set at the foot of the tree, one stacked on top of the others. She stopped at the foot of the tree and looked up at the sky through the branches. A sad smile graced her face for a moment.

“It’s going to be a beautiful night.” she said softly as she placed the plate and pitcher down on the grass. Tears filled her eyes, “I just wish you two were here to share it with me.”

She had asked Mr. Yoshida earlier that day that she would like to perform tarpana for Rupak and Mercedes, and what would be the most appropriate place to perform this memorial for them on the house grounds. He had inquired what it was and then solemnly gave his compassionate consent. A mixture of sadness and complete understanding crossed his features. She had said that it would take some part of the evening.

“Take as long as you need, my Little Pomegranate. I will make sure that you aren’t disturbed.”

“Thank you, Sensei.”

Damayanti settled herself cross-legged on the grass before the tree and the stones. Her thoughts drifted to the events that had happened over the last forty-eight hours.

They both had a hard day, since the actions of Zhon had caused an upset among the Amatsukami. She had made him a drink to help soothe his nerves and had a couple of hot chocolates herself. She offered to sing for him. Mr Yoshida leaned back against the cushions, enraptured with Damayanti’s song. She sang of her yearning to find herself and looking towards the future. The stanzas described echoes of her coming purpose. The beauty of her voice and the sheer inspiration behind the song, set the banked coals of his desire for her alight.

When she had finished, Damayanti tucked back a couple of locks of hair that had come loose. Mr. Yoshida smiled and beckoned her over. She knelt before him, her eyes cast down to the floor. He motioned her to turn her back to him. She shifted around, lightly curious.

“That was so beautiful, thank you.” he whispered in her ear. With one gentle motion he made to tuck her hair back up, but instead unbound it. He swept it to one side, bearing the back of her neck. He ran his fingertips along the soft skin at the nape of her neck. She shivered and bit her lip. Goosebumps rose along her skin.

“Both you and my experiences so far here in Nippon have inspired me.” she whispered. Mr. Yoshida’s lips brushed the edge of her ear.

“I have not heard such a song in an age.” he whispered and then nipped her earlobe with his teeth, “We will have to discuss your newfound inspiration” Damayanti shivered again. She glanced over her shoulder. A blush colored her cheeks.

“Would you like another drink?”

“That would be delightful, my Little Pomegranate.”

After they had finished the last of their drinks, Damayanti took the cups to the kitchen. Mr. Yoshida rose and his lips spread in a small smile.

“Little Pomegranate, I will need help turning down my bed tonight.” She turned, crimson rising to her cheeks. He saw the fire of passion flicker in her eyes before she turned her gaze to the floor.

“Of course Sensei. It would be my pleasure.” she said softly with a slight bow. Damayanti had spent the remainder of that night at Mr. Yoshida’s tender ministrations. She had never been bound like that before, silken cords. He had removed her control and she had found that she enjoyed losing it. He freed her from her restraints and she expressed to him how thankful she was.He showed her that he could exert control with more than the silken cords. A couple of hours before dawn, languid and spent, they fell asleep entangled in each other’s arms.

That next morning, she got up and started her morning routine as usual. As she was in the middle of making breakfast, Mercedes walked into the kitchen. Damayanti caught a flicker of jealousy deep within her submissive’s eyes. Inwardly, Damayanti sighed, she had not gone back to her room last night. Her lips formed a tight line as she turned back to what she was cooking. She calmed herself,

“Good morning my Lovely.” she said sweetly.

“Good morning Mistress.”

“Breakfast will be ready soon,” she said as she stirred the seasonings into the mild curry sauce. “Did you have a question?”

“I was wondering if you were alright last night.” Mercedes stated flatly, “You never came to bed.”

“I was up late working, I didn’t want to wake you.” Damayanti replied. Mercedes’ brow creased in jealous frustration. She looked towards the main room of the house, through the closed door, to where Mr. Yoshida sat. Her eyes narrowed. She plastered a smile on her face and turned back to her Mistress,

“Could we go out today?” she asked with a note of pleading.

“You want to go out tonight,” she said with a sigh. “I don’t think that is a great idea. I have to work my shift at the restaurant today, my sweet.” she mopped off her hands. She walked over and gave Mercedes a hug.

“Yes Mistress,” she replied, her eyes shadowed. Damayanti reached over and pulled a list off of the refrigerator.

“Mr. Yoshida will be having guests in the next couple of days. If you and Rupak will get these groceries, I will see what we can do for a day out.” A sly smile crossed Mercedes face, then turned into an honest one as Damayanti turned to hand her the list.

“Of course, Mistress.”

Damayanti had an excellent day at work. She met one of Hachiman’s sons, who was an ornithologist. She talked with him for a while after he had received his meal. The restaurant was busy and she and the rest of the crew made sure that all of the customers left satisfied. Towards mid-afternoon, in one of the lulls of the day, she saw Mercedes walk in. Her submissive came up and ordered a light meal. Damayanti took a break and carried their meals over to a table.

“Mistress, Rupak and I have purchased everything on the list.”

“Thank you, my lovely.” Damayanti raised an eyebrow. “You look excited.”

“Yes, Mistress, you said that if we completed the errands for the day we could have a night out.”

“I said a day out.”

“But Mistress, I need some time with you,” the pleading tone was back in her voice. She shifted her eyes towards the kitchen. She spied Mr. Yoshida behind the counter; her eyes narrowed again. Then she turned back to her meal. “He takes up too much of your time…” she muttered quietly. She then smiled at Damayanti, “I have the perfect place, there’s a nightclub near the airport.”

“Mercedes, that’s a night event. I don’t think this is a good idea. I cannot go out at night.”

“He keeps you in so much!”

Damayanti sighed as she gazed into Mercedes’ eyes. She held up her hands in resignation.

“Fine,” she stated, “If you and Rupak can find a safe way to get us all there and back, as well as without our host noticing, I will go.” she then leveled a finger at her submissive, “Just tonight, I can’t constantly be sneaking out windows. I don’t feel good about this, Mercedes.”

“Really?” Mercedes squeaked, “We can go?”

“If you and Rupak can plan this, no mistakes, yes.”

“Yes!” Mercedes chirped a little too loudly. Several of the other people turned at her outburst. She shrunk into her seat for a moment. She grinned, “We will have everything perfect!” Damayanti finished her meal and Mr. Yoshida’s eye caught hers. He glanced at his watch. She grimaced slightly and picked up her and Mercedes’ plates.

“I’ll see you when we get home.” she said simply to Mercedes, who waved and practically bounced out of the restaurant.

Later on that evening, Damayanti was working on her journal. Mr. Yoshida had gone to bed for the evening. She glanced at the clock and stifled a yawn. She hoped that Mercedes had come to her senses and given up on the night outing, at least for tonight. The bedroom door slid open. Mercedes stood there with a sultry grin.

“Mistress, would you like to join me for an evening walk in the front yard?” she asked sweetly. Damayanti raised an eyebrow and frowned.

“Mr. Yoshida has just gone to bed. One of these times, we are going to get caught.”

“Now’s the perfect time, come on Mistress, please! The stars in the sky are beautiful tonight. Take a walk with me.” Damayanti sighed as she got up from her desk.

“If this will satisfy you…”

When they stepped outside, a cab was waiting with Rupak standing next to the open back door. Damayanti looked back towards the house and then down at herself.

“I don’t even have anything appropriate to wear.”

“We have that taken care of. I brought our bag.” Mercedes chuckled as she grasped Damayanti’s hand and lead her towards the waiting cab.

The group took off into the night. A dread slowly started to creep over Damayanti. They stopped at public bathroom to change into clothes that would let them blend. Soon, they arrived at the nightclub. It was in a foreigner’s area of Tokyo. Tourists out for a good time were everywhere. Some of Damayanti’s dread was abated somewhat by the large presence of Tokyo police in the area. The nightclub was lively. House music and flashing lights; people on the dance floor and stacked up at the bar. Rupak scanned the room. He came up to the ladies,

“Miss and Mem Sahib, there is a two drink cover here.” Mercedes grinned,

“Great!” Damayanti glared at her with irritation,

“Excuse me! I’m pregnant!”

“No worries, Mistress!” Mercedes laughed, “I’m sure Rupak and I can take care of that for you!” Damayanti peered through the crowds. There were a grouping of women at the tables towards the far end of the venue. She noted that some were of Nipponese descent, but most were Caucasian. Mercedes looked over and smiled,

“There is some fun going on over there!” she said as she claimed the drink she ordered. Damayanti’s eyes narrowed. There was something with the activity over there that did not seem quite right. The Nipponese women had a predatory look to their eyes. The general atmosphere of that part of the club was almost frantic. Mercedes’ eyes danced and she started to pull Damayanti towards the booths in that area. “How about we go join the fun?” her submissive purred in her ear.

“I don’t think so, they look like they are on something…” Mercedes shrugged,

“Okay, well we can find a quieter area, I guess.”

Damayanti led Mercedes to a booth on the other side of the dance floor. Rupak took a seat near the bar, so he could have a wider view on the club. He nursed his drink while keeping an eye out for any potential danger. Damayanti sipped her seltzer while Mercedes took a long swig of her margarita. As they talked, her eyes kept traveling back to the strange group across the room. The strange Nipponese women moved between the foreigners, who started having the same predatory shine to their gaze. What had started out as a group of three became six. It was a sort of contagion moving among those women, who were passing it on to the others. Damayanti drained her drink and started to get up from the table.

“Let’s go dance, my lovely.” she said as she held out her hand to Mercedes. Her submissive smiled and drained her own drink.

They moved onto the dance floor. Mercedes moved delightfully against her. Damayanti kept count on those women. Six became twelve, twelve became seventeen. Shock and alarm filled her. This was a sort of contagion. She searched her memory as she danced. Her eyes widened for a moment as the realization hit her. Those women had some of the same characteristics of Maenads! Maenads could spread their madness among mortal women! She danced faster as the music picked up in tempo, pulling Mercedes along with her. She made eye-contact with Rupak and flicked her gaze to the women who were pulling others in to their embrace. He nodded and started to make his way towards the door.

Suddenly, the sound of merriment along with the popping of multiple corks erupted from the bar. All of the Nipponese maenads turned their gaze towards the bar, hunger rose in their eyes. As one they started to rush through the crowd towards the commotion.

“Oh shit!” Damayanti hissed in Mercedes’ ear, “I knew there was going to be trouble. This club is going to have a riot. I was right, those women were on something.” Mercedes looked over her shoulder. She wrapped her arms around Damayanti’s waist and they danced their way towards the edge of the crowd.

“We need to get out of here, head somewhere else.” she confirmed. “Don’t worry, Mistress. We’ll get out of here.”

There were shouts of anger and alarm as the group of wild women headed to the bar. The crowd surged as fights started to break out. The crowd caught up to the trio. Rupak hip checked the first woman over the bar as she attacked, trying to get to the alcohol. She smashed into the mirrored back of the bar, her screech cut off by the force that he had used to pitch her. Her back and neck snapped; she fell into a lifeless pile of broken flesh. Screams from those nearby only inflamed the panic in the crowd. Nearby at the bar, twelve of the seventeen were fighting the revelers and bartenders for the entire stock of spirits.

Damayanti’s mind raced. Rupak and Mercedes were unaware of the gravity of the current situation. There was definitely a supernatural element mixed in at the nightclub. They had to find a way out. Gods forbid they got caught up in this or worse yet, as she saw one of the possessed women focus on Mercedes, turned! Mercedes caught the fear in Damayanti’s and turned. Her fist connected with the woman, but it had little effect. They were trading blows as they made a path to the door. Any minute, the police would be filing in, putting down the escalating riot.

Another wild woman surged to attack Rupak. With a swinging kick he landed a blow that snapped the woman’s neck. As she crashed to the floor, the other with her regained some clarity. She blinked as if awaking from a dream. Damayanti’s reasoning was confirmed. She had a sudden urge to save the others. If they took the initial three Nipponese women down, the rest may go back to normal. She pushed down the urge, it was better to just make their escape.

Mercedes broke away from the one she had engaged with. She grasped Damayanti’s hand as they finally had a clear path. They rushed out with the first egress of the panicked party-goers.

The Tokyo police were stopping the members of the crowd. One of the officers stopped the trio. Damayanti let her previous panic rise to the surface. She leaned in to Rupak and wrapped her arm around Mercedes’ waist. Tears ran down her face as she made eye-contact.

“Please,” she stammered, inwardly feeling much better than she emoted, “It was horrible! I just want to go back home!” The officer let her and the others go. Rupak hailed a cab and the three piled into it.

Once again they sped off into the night. Mercedes took a deep breath. She smiled at her mistress,

“Well! That was exciting!” she said as she settled into her seat. A bruise was darkening on her cheek. “Where to now, Mistress?”Damayanti’s gaze was cold as she leveled it at her submissive.

“Home. Directly home.” she then leaned back as she mentally prepared herself for Mr. Yoshida’s disappointment. Mercedes spied her Mistress’ demeanor. She sank further into the seat. She felt snubbed and her Mistress’ deference to Mr. Yoshida fed the fire of her jealousy. Her lips set into a grim line. She let out a soft huff and stared out the window.

The cab traveled for several more miles. When the cab approached a red light, the cab driver hit the breaks and realized that they did not function. Mercedes cried out, Rupak cursed, and Damayanti gasped as the car swerved across several lanes. The cab driver used some choice words as he got his cab under control. He pulled the emergency brake and brought the cab to a stop safely. He suddenly cried out in agony. Damayanti leaned forward and her eyes widened in shock. There was a black, shiny blade sticking up through the undercarriage of the cab and through the cab driver’s leg. Dark arterial blood gushed from around the wound. Quickly, the blade was withdrawn. The blood spurted out at an alarming rate. She reached over and pressed her hand to the wound, as she tried to staunch the flow.

“Rupak!” she cried, “I need a tourniquet now!” Rupak ripped a wide strip from his shirt and jumped into the front passenger seat. The blade came through the wound again and the cabby howled. Damayanti let out a loud cry as the blade impaled her left hand through the palm. Rupak leaned forward and swiftly tied a rough tourniquet around the upper part of the cab driver’s thigh. With Damayanti’s hand skewered, he couldn’t get it quite tight enough. Mercedes called emergency services and Damayanti relayed all of the pertinent information.

The blade withdrew again. Damayanti fell back against the back seat. Rupak pulled the cabby out of the drivers seat and shoved him into the back seat. Damayanti quickly tightened the tourniquet and packed the wound with her over shirt. The cabby was shivering in the first stages of shock. The emergency services stayed on the line and Damayanti continued passing on information. Mercedes ripped a strip from her t-shirt. Damayanti wrapped it around her injured hand. Rupak started to get out of the cab to see where the attack came from, but before he could. Damayanti’s sixth sense about danger went off.

“Get Down!” she cried as she realized the danger was behind the cab. Rupak flattened himself against the front seats as the back windshield of the cab exploded inward. Damayanti steeled herself and summoned her armor. A shuriken bounced off of the breastplate. There was a meaty thud beside her and Mercedes fell to the floorboards. Damayanti was filled with a cold anger. She pulled the Asi from her hair and it morphed into a crossbow. She got off a couple of shots as Rupak exited the passenger side door. Damayanti’s heart was cold as ice. There was a shadowy ninja standing in the road behind the cab.

“Die!” she growled as she leveled her crossbow at the assailant. Rupak maneuvered to the side, flanking the shinobi. One of Damayanti’s bolts found it’s home in it’s shoulder. The shinobi pulled out a kama. Rupak jumped out of the way as the weighted end of the weapon landed at his feet. He went in for a grapple, but he could not get a grip. He jumped away as the blade of the kama slashed past him.

Damayanti narrowed her eyes cold hatred filling her. She did not notice those injured around her anymore, all that she saw was her enemy.

“I hate you,” she hissed as she let another bolt loose. This one went wide. It barely registered in her mind that Rupak was fighting for his life. That he was a dust mote in the face of Fate. He feinted and dodged, then went in for another grapple. The blade of the kama came again, it sliced deeply into his chest. He grinned, completely within his element. The shadow ninja dodged his next attack and buried the blade of the kama in the Gurka’s heart. Rupak’s eyes glazed over with death, a small smile crooking the corner of his mouth.

Rage boiled in Damayanti’s heart as she saw Rupak’s body hit the pavement. She kicked the door of the cab open and transformed her crossbow into a kukri blade as long as a machete. It was only appropriate, as poor Rupak had been unarmed, she would kill her opponent with a large version of his favorite weapon. She closed the distance to the ninja, the swan feather cape billowing out behind her. The shinobi dropped the kama, which dissipated to shadow and disappeared. As she slashed at the shadow, it landed blows against her armor. It stepped in to grapple her, but she side-stepped and feinted out of the way. She continued to hack at the creature and finally severed its head. The body hit the ground and shrank away, evaporating. All that was left was one shuriken of black steel. She returned her armor and pocketed the relic left behind by her enemy.

The cold hate left her, replaced by the shock of clarity. Rupak’s cooling body lay a few feet from the cab, his eyes gazing serenely into eternity. Tears welled up as she closed his eyes. Further up the block, the darkness and shadows started to coalesce. She braced herself as she anticipated another enemy inbound. A dark rider was astride a black stallion. Her lips drew into a tight line as a thrill of fear entered her heart. It was a servant of Lord Dharmaraj. The rider directed its mount right up to Rupak’s body. Ghostly shimmering light rose from Rupak’s still form. In the calm air, the rider pulled out a silver lasso. The ghostly light formed itself into an astral image of Rupak. A small smile graced his face as he stood before Dharmaraj’s servant. He held up his hands to the servant and placed them in a prayerful pose. The servant bowed his head and dropped the lasso, which dissipated into mist before it hit the ground. Rupak’s spirit mounted the stallion behind the rider and they rode into the shadows. Damayanti’s jaw tensed in as the sudden sharp grief of the mortality of others hit her.

There were sirens in the distance, the emergency services on their way. She stepped back to the cab. The cabby was stable, but in a state of shock. Mercedes lay on the floorboards. Damayanti let out a gasp of alarm. Her face was obscured by blood; it soaked the front of her shirt. The Latina had a shuriken buried deep into the left side of her face, right along her nose and deeply into her skull. She reached over and felt for Mercedes pulse. There was none. She was still very warm. Damayanti immediately initiated chest compression.

The paramedics and other emergency services arrived. They relieved her and within moments, the cabby and Mercedes were loaded into two separate ambulances. She found her phone and pocketed it. The police questioned her. She said that the cab’s breaks had stopped working and once the vehicle was at a stop, an assailant dressed as a ninja had attacked them. The police took her full statement and insisted that they escort her to where she needed to go. She looked at them tired and overcome with the events of the last hour,

“Please take me to a diner.”

The diner was one that the local police frequented. There were some customers there, but it was not busy. The police took a table nearby. She thought that she would have to find her own way home from here, but the officers informed her that they were ordered to make sure that she made it home safely. She sat heavily on one of the stools at the bar. She ordered a chai and a pastry. She took a small sip of the chai and a nibble of the pastry. Her mind spun.

“The darkness is chasing me…” she whispered. All that she could see before her minds eye was Rupak and Mercedes. She stared through the surface of the bar. One of the officers came by after a time and pulled his cap from his head. He informed her that Mercedes did not make it. Damayanti asked how she died and he hesitantly gave her the information. She nodded with the vacant gaze of someone in a state of deep emotional shock. The officer noticed her state and with a slight bow, went back to his table. Damayanti turned back to now cooled chai and took another small sip.

“I knew I should have never left.” she murmured. Mr. Yoshida’s words came back to her.

“It is not safe for you outside at night.” She bit the inside of her lip. She had lost two of her closest associate tonight because she let them convince her to leave. Soon she dimly heard some discussion going on at the front door.

Daisuke came in and sat down on the stool next to her. She was so absorbed in her musings, she did not notice him at first. He ordered a coffee, a bowl of ramen and asked for an ashtray. A curl of cigarette smoke drifted towards her nostrils. She wrinkled her nose against it, not looking up from the surface of the table. He had inquired what had happened and she quietly informed him. She pulled out the black steel shuriken as proof. He sipped his coffee and ate some of his ramen.

“It is hard losing friends. My condolences, Mrs. O’Halloran.” he stated. He paid the bill and rose from his seat. “I suggest that you go home, get some rest or try to. Things can be done in the morning.” He leaned close for a moment and added, “Unfortunately, we cannot equip all of the cabs in the city with under lighting. This is why most of us only go out during the day.” He bowed slightly to her and then placed his hat back on his head. He bid her good evening and stepped out into the night. She sat there for a few moments longer and then rose. She told the officers that were waiting for her that she was ready to be taken home.

On the car ride home, she gazed out the window, saw everything as it went by, but noticed nothing. The police car arrived at the Yoshida residence. She got out and thanked the officers. They said that they would stay until she was safely inside.

Damayanti looked up at the house. It was dark. Bloodstained and ragged, she made her way up the walk and into the house. There was no activity inside. Tomiko lay asleep in her little kitty bed. She looked at her journal laying where she left it a couple of hours before.

“If only I hadn’t left…” she sighed softly. She took a bath and scrubbed the blood from her skin and hair. The shock started to wear off. A tightness developed in her chest. Slowly, she soaked for a while in the tub. A sob escaped her lips. She bit down on the feeling, not wanting to wake Mr. Yoshida. Dressed for bed, she went to her now empty bedroom. As she laid down the tears started to flow. She wept softly at first, but as the full emotion hit her, sobs became louder and more insistent. Suddenly she was wrapped in Mr. Yoshida’s arms. He was making soothing murmurings.

“I fucked up!” she cried. “I fucked up so bad and they died.” she cried. He held her close and rocked her as she gave in to her sobs.

Damayanti opened her eyes. Tears flowed copiously down her face. She looked up at the stars again. She sniffed and let out a heavy sigh.

“This is not how I wanted things to go,” she said, “I wanted you two to be able to travel back to America with me, but that was not to be your fates. I wish I could have told you both everything, but that cannot happen in with someone that has one foot in the Gods’ world. I guess I know now that mortals cannot handle that level of truth.”

She calmed herself and meditated for a while, bringing up all of the pleasant times that she had with both Rupak and Mercedes. Joy welled up in her heart. She held on to that feeling while she started the tarpana ritual. Damayanti planted the six sticks of incense before the stones. With a flick of her fingers, she lit them. She divided the pinda into two equal amounts. She offered the first group to Rupak’s spirit.

“Noble Gurkha warrior, blessed of Lord Shiva,” she intoned, “You have acted with enormous courage. You have given the ultimate sacrifice and have acted within your Dharma. I have appreciated and enjoyed the short time that we have shared this journey. Please accept this to sate your hunger.” She then set the pinda on a small plate near the right side of the stones. As she picked up the pitcher,

“To the one who was recently known as Rupak Gamjer, you are one that I would have enlightened so you could have a better view of the way that the world actually works. I could have had no better warrior at my side.” she poured half of the water over the stones, “You will be dearly missed, but know that the enemy that you fought that night was vanquished. Please accept this water to quench your thirst.”

Damayanti sat for a moment, as she contemplated their short time together as comrades. She then took up the second plate of pinda. A sad smile spread across her face. She placed the plate to the left side of the stones.

“Rosaura Cardoza,” she said with a small hitch in her voice, “My lovely Mercedes, you have been so devoted. We have spent many pleasurable times in each others’ arms. You have been the closest to me.” she choked up for a moment, “You were a moth drawn to my flame, my darling. I am sorry that you got burned. Please accept this to sate your hunger.” She then picked up the pitcher and started to pour the rest of the water over the stones.

“My Lovely, know that you were loved and respected. You gave a joy to my life that I had almost forgotten a while ago. I know that you were unhappy here, but you had a sense of perseverance that no one saw but me. Please accept this water to quench your thirst.”

Damayanti closed her eyes, the tears leaking out from beneath, they left their damp marks on the linen of her shawl. “I miss you both so much! Part of me doesn’t want to let either of you go! If I am going to serve my newfound purpose, I must!” she let her grief show, her eyes snapped open, shining in a vivid violet. She felt the ultraviolet flames burn from the corners. Tears continued to fall, leaving scorch marks on her mourning clothes. “May you both have blessings on the next leg of your journey. I will not forget you. Please in peace, go with my love.”

She sat there in her grief chanting the peace mantra until the incense burned down completely, then placed her hands together in the anjali mudra. With an elegant movement, she bowed to the place of ritual.

Tomiko meowed and leaned up against her leg when she walked back in with the empty dishes. She washed them in silence while the white cat, concerned continued to weave around her ankles.