Eden

Thirty

The man at the jewellery stall sees me looking his way and tries to beckon me over. I shake my head and keep walking, so he calls out that he has good prices, and holds up a few pieces to show me. I look, as I go past.

I look, and just to say, since I notice, which is silly but I do, more of the jewellery is made of leather and wood than I'm used to, leather and wood rather than metal, I mean, and what metal there is seems to be duller and thicker and chunkier than I'd usually see at home. So more thick solid bracelets than thin chains, that kind of thing, and the bracelets are very flat and wide, as well, so wide they almost seem like armbands. Which, in fact, they are, I realize, when I look around. Because when I do, I see the wider armbands usually seem to be worn up above people's elbows, on their upper arms, rather than on their wrists. Which is interesting, and new for me, and which I actually quite like as a style. Oh, and the jewellery seems to be worn equally often by both men and women, that too.

Anyway, this is just me noticing as I walk past that particular stall. Jewellery really isn't the important thing right now, so I don't really pay much attention. Much.

We walk past the jewellery place, and go on a little further, to one of the larger food stalls. There are several people working behind the counter there, serving customers, and the food seems to be breads and stews, or grilled meat in chunks. People buy a plate, and stand nearby to eat it, and then return their plates when they are done. Basically like a food-court in a mall, just for finding more things which are exactly the same as home. The food smells wonderful, though, all hot and thick and comforting. I mean, I'm already hungry, and this just makes it worse.

I'm hungry, but I'm also thirsty, so I look around to see what people are drinking. It's fairly easy to work out. Water is being sold by people walking through the crowd with containers on their backs, offering customers a communal cup to drink from, in exchange for small coins.

I hesitate at that. I'm thirsty, but I don't like the idea of shared cups. It seems a bit unhygienic. It isn't, by the way, since there are no bugs here, like none at all, no bacteria or viruses as well as no insects. But it looks a bit nasty. At least to me.

Not to Lexi, though. Lexi is watching the nearest of the water-sellers, and I'm pretty sure she's about to ask for some.

"Wait," I say quietly. "We need money, first."

Lexi looks at me. She seems surprised. "I don't have any," she says.

"I know," I say. "But look around. We need some."