7
THE SMELL OF FOOD COOKING over a fire reached into her dreams and mind pulling Ladi from sleep. As her mind regained consciousness, she felt the dull ache at the base of her neck as if she'd been hit from behind. Then it started to come back to her memory. She'd been shot with something small that stung like a pollinating Zinger. She'd seen it just before she went down. She groaned and felt someone move to her side.
"Easy," said the familiar voice in the dark.
When Ladi moved her head to look at him she grimaced in pain.
"I said easy. Whatever they shot you with is going to leave a tail." Ebere looked down at her his eyes warm.
Ladi felt herself about to heave. Thankfully, her stomach was empty. When she was able to settle back down on the ground, she looked him over. He was stirrin
