Chapter Twenty-Three
In the access tunnel, someone had piled up blankets, and when Tina came closer, a goose waddled out of the shadows, honking at her.
“Lenna, come back here!” a young voice called.
The urchin Rasa rushed out and grabbed the goose around the neck and chest.
Then she stopped, looking at Tina. “Oh. It’s you.”
“I thought I said you couldn’t stay in my ship.”
“I’m not in the ship.”
True. “But you’re blocking the entrance.”
“You can get past.”
“Without getting bitten?”
“I’ll keep them away. I swear.” The goose in her arms was trying to free itself by pushing its orange feet against her shirt.
“Why did you come back?”
“I have nowhere else to go. Outside, this area all belongs to the gang. When I go there, they steal my food and hurt me and try to sell me to the pimp
