Red Lanterns

1. A City Strung with Red

"Really? She always seemed like such a sensible girl," Mrs. Steele scrubbed her shirt harder, working up a thick paste of soap.

"I know, I know, that's what I thought! I mean, can you imagine? Giving up a posh job like that to go galavanting off after someone's lost dog?"

"I would have given my leg to work in her position before, but now," Mrs. Steele shook her head sadly. Rinsing her laundry, she bade farewell to the other ladies and made her way out of the wash-house. Wiping her forehead, she emerged from the steaming building onto the busy streets of downtown Havela. The wash-house was frequented by most of the women in town; the place was fueled by the rumors exchanged and the soap did nothing to clean up anyone's gossip. Mrs. Steele always felt very satisfied and well-informed when she left.

That night after dinner the Steeles were in their living room, finishing up some work before bed, when Mrs. Steele brought it up again. "Roger, did you hear about Yvonne Kaspar, that language professor down at the university?" Roger thought for a moment, and then thought again, before replying slowly, "Is she the one that quit yesterday?"

"Yes, she resigned in 17 different languages, can you believe it?" Roger shook his head. He couldn't believe that anyone could know 17 whole languages. He had barely managed one.

"Well, she's a right fool for giving up a job like that. Hmph, who knows how much she was making? Do you know how many people would give their right arm for that kind of job?" Mrs. Steele's voice grew higher as she spoke. Having never made more than a few coins an hour herself, the prospect of professors' wages was absolutely unthinkable. Laura Steele looked up from her book. "Mama, it doesn't matter how much you make as long as you love your work," she said softly.

Mrs. Steele just harrumphed loudly and finished her needlework. Hopefully she'd hear more about the mad Yvonne Kaspar tomorrow.

Unfortunately for the Steeles and all of the other busybodies in Havela, Yvonne had no intention of becoming fuel for their fire. Before dawn she had already boarded a train headed south, across the river, and straight into the heart of Phalan, the neighboring country. After a grueling 14-hour-ride, the ex-linguist an her two pupils stepped onto the red clay ground of Tibetta, the capital city of Phalan. Breathing deeply of the cold city air, Yvonne hefted her luggage and headed straight for the nearest bathroom. Lukas and Finn, her students, grabbed the remaining bags and went to look for a place to stay.

Two hours later the trio was touring their new home, pointing out all of the differences between the south and north. "Did you see? The ground here sticky and red, not anything like back home," Lukas exclaimed, kicking a clod of the thick clay into a gutter. "Yes, back in the north the soil was dry and dusty and pale. And have you noticed how they dress? And talk?" Finn spun around, sharp eyes taking in everything from the brightly colored window boxes to the bakery across the street. It was true, many things were different in this new world. The northerners stuck out like sore thumbs, their accents, manners, and clothing giving them away. When Lukas or Finn true to talk to any Tibettans, they only have them an odd glare before continuing with their lives.

Yvonne, tiring of their rudeness, soon cut their tour short. "Honestly, you aren't much younger than me yet you still act like children," she sighed. An age gap of 2 years, but a maturity gap of 12. Just what she needed in a hostile new country. Maybe leaving to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a detective was a bad idea. Or at least, worse than she had expected.

The sun had already set by the time the three found their way back to their house. Lukas and Finn had done a good job, purchasing a small house in such a short time. Although the housing agent now had quite a bit more gold than he should, nobody was complaining. The house was strung with the colored lanterns that Tibettans put out at night. Lukas, completely transfixed by the lights, was reluctant to go inside, but finally was dragged in by his brother and teacher. Just after the moon reached its peak, though, it was Lukas's feet squeaking the new floorboards, his hands turning the doorknob. And so, on his first night in a new country, Lukas Seele was out loose in a city nicknamed for its crime; the Red Lantern.

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Well. That went well, I think.....

This is my first chapter of my first story -gasp- so many firsts!! Please comment your criticism, or what you think will happen to Lukas?? I hope everyone likes this, a lot of things about the culture will be explained later dont worry.

Everything in this is made-up, all names, characters, and places.

(Thank you for reading this)