A sudden growl made him scramble from under the covers, despite the pounding in his temples. Chelah wound round his ankles in a friendly way. Tom regarded her with suspicion. “Where is your mistress?” Suvi’s pet ran to her bowl and mewled. Tom scratched his head. “Breakfast? All right, I will see what I can do.”
He straightened his slept-in clothes as best he could. His shirt, now somehow clean and dry, was draped over the desk chair. He put it on and then made his way to the dining room. Marja saw him and waved. “Tom! It is a surprise to see you here so early. Did you come to visit Suvi?”
He nodded, wishing she didn’t have to shout so over the murmur of voices. Marja’s expression looked chary, so he thought he had better come up with something plausible. “I... wanted to borrow her yitar
