Below is a chapter that got deleted from Echo Murder not because it wasn’t good, but because it didn’t drive the plot forward enough to justify keeping it. Nevertheless, I adore this glimpse of Karrion with his family and wanted to share it with everyone.
Contains minor spoilers for Fallible Justice!
4 – Nest of Shamans
‘Rrrargh!’
A small shape leapt at Karrion from behind, landed on his shoulder and slid onto his lap. Karrion waited three seconds before jumping in shock.
‘Jay, you rascal! Don’t scare your poor brother like that.’
‘I sneaked up on you. Did you hear me coming?’ Jay’s front tooth was missing, the gap obvious when he grinned at Karrion.
‘Not even a little bit.’ Karrion tickled Jay, who squirmed on his lap.
‘I’ve decided.’ The gravity of Jay’s declaration was lessened by his legs pointing straight up over Karrion’s shoulder.
‘What have you decided?’
‘I’ve decided what I’m going to be when I grow up.’
‘And what’s that?’
‘I’m going to be a pelican.’ Jay’s eyes shone as he waited for Karrion’s reaction.
‘Why?’
‘So that I can keep fish in my throat pouch. Maybe I’ll go live in Sydney and rescue fish from seagulls.’
‘We’d miss you if you lived that far away,’ Karrion said, smoothing back Jay’s unruly hair.
‘I suppose I could live in Old London and still keep fish in my throat pouch.’
‘That sounds like a better idea.’
Karrion extracted his phone from under Jay, who craned to see the screen.
‘Did someone text you?’ Jay asked. Karrion’s phone was password protected and Jay had never managed to figure out the combination.
‘No. I was hoping Yannia would.’
‘Is she your girlfriend?’ Jay’s curiosity about everything Karrion did outweighed his disgust about girls. He, like Wren and Robin, was Karrion’s half-sibling from their mother’s second marriage, but the fact was never mentioned. They were a family and that was all that mattered.
‘No, she’s a friend and my boss.’ Karrion rose from the sofa and holding onto Jay’s legs, dangled him in the air. Jay’s delighted shrieks summoned their mother, who shook her head.
‘Put that boy down this instant. Dinner is ready,’ Aderyn Feathering said.
‘Don’t stop!’ Jay gasped amidst his giggles.
‘Sorry, Mum.’ Karrion grinned and lowered Jay until his head was touching the ground.
‘Make me fly! Make me fly!’
‘Remember what happened last time you swung him around indoors? Now get your tail feathers in the kitchen before the food gets cold.’
To Jay’s disappointment, Karrion lowered him on the sofa. They both avoided looking at the vase that had been glued back together.
Wren and Robin were already at the table and Aderyn put a soup pot in the middle while Karrion and Jay sat down. She tutted as she began ladling soup into bowls.
‘There’s more meat in this soup than in a mass grave.’
‘Mum,’ Karrion said and glanced at his siblings, who were giggling. Wren was laughing while trying to drink her milk and ended up spilling some on her shirt. Karrion reached for a dishcloth and scrubbed at the stain.
‘All I’m saying is that you never think, Karrion.’
‘Relax, Mum. I told you Yannia paid me early and she was generous. We can afford to enjoy the soup without worrying about being broke.’
‘But can she always be so generous? What if she has no clients? How will she pay you then?’
‘You worry too much. Besides, one soup is hardly the end of the world.’
‘It’s the principle,’ Aderyn muttered.
‘I paid the butcher with my own money. This month’s food budget remains intact.’
‘Fine.’ Aderyn set her spoon down. ‘Thank you for the meal, Karrion.’
‘You’re welcome.’ Karrion winked at Jay. ‘I was thinking about taking this brood swimming tomorrow morning.’
‘Tomorrow is Sunday. We have church in the morning.’
‘I know, but the pool is quieter and it’s easier to keep track of these mallards when there are fewer people there.’
‘Can I ask Sandra to come with us?’ Wren asks, spoon paused halfway to her mouth.
‘Fine, if her parents are okay with it.’
‘What am I going to do with you?’ Aderyn asked. ‘You never come to church these days.’
‘When the great phoenix comes to take me to the heavenly nesting grounds, I’ll be sure to present my apologies to anyone and everyone interested,’ Karrion said.
‘That’s the problem with you, you have no respect. Think of the example you’re setting your siblings.’
‘The way I see it, every duckling must learn how to swim.’
‘I want to fly,’ Jay said and Robin nodded.
‘Me too.’ Wren looked at Karrion, her bottom lip stuck out.
‘You must be able to swim before you can learn to fly.’
Aderyn shook her head. ‘You’re filling their heads with nonsense. And don’t you have work? Or did Yannia give you the weekend off? I didn’t think her job stays within office hours.’
‘She’s had to take off for a few days.’
‘Where’s she gone? Anywhere nice?’
‘I’m not sure. She didn’t say in her text.’
‘But will she be back by Monday? You will have a job to return to, won’t you?’
‘Again, Mum, you worry too much. If Yannia promised to be back in a few days, then she’ll be back. It may not be on Monday, but she’ll definitely be back. And yes, I still have a job to go to.’
Karrion began spooning soup into his mouth while Aderyn tutted again.
‘Won’t you at least pretend I taught you some manners?’
‘The soup’s getting cold. Besides, I need energy if I’m to herd a gaggle of goslings around the pool tomorrow.’
‘I never said you could go.’
‘But you’re going to,’ Karrion said with a grin. ‘That way you can focus on being religious and can catch up with your friends after the service without having to worry about this lot. I’ll even cook lunch when we get back.’
‘Chips,’ Jay said.
‘Fish fingers,’ Robin added.
‘Ice cream,’ Wren shrieked.
‘I’ll take all of that under advisement.’ Karrion laughed when Jay and Robin high-fived over the table. He helped himself to another bowl of soup.
‘You’re impossible, the lot of you,’ Aderyn said, but she could not hide her smile.
When they had all finished eating, Robin reached for Aderyn’s plate.
‘It’s my turn to clear the kitchen and do the washing up,’ he said. ‘I’ll set a pot of tea to brew when I’m done, Mum.’
‘Will you play with us, Karrion?’ Wren asked when she hopped off her chair.
‘Oh, no,’ Aderyn said. ‘You and Jay have homework to do. Get on with it.’
‘Yes, Mum.’ Wren and Jay thanked her for the meal and left the kitchen.
‘Do you need me to do anything?’ Karrion asked.
Aderyn shook her head while stacking dishes in the sink despite Robin’s protests. In the lounge, Jay and Wren were arguing about whose turn it was to write with the swallow pencil.
Karrion closed the door to his room and put on his headphones. From his phone, he selected a playlist of operatic heavy metal. On his desk, a tin of dry pastels and a block of black card were waiting for him. Sketched on the first page was a creature that was part woman, part wildness. Sitting in his worn chair, Karrion leant back and recalled Yannia outlined against Reaoul Pearson’s deadly light spell. He picked up a pastel and began drawing, but his eyes kept straying to his phone. There was still no word from Yannia.
She had said she would be back in a few days, and Karrion trusted she could keep her promise. But he could not help wondering where she was and how she was.