A Cherry in the Water

CHAP. 5

"You are the daughter of Gibusu?" Ing asked, fingering a thin sheet that had inscriptions in it. Cherry assumed it was their kind of thing for paper.

"I don't know who that is," Cherry answered.

Ing tilted his head. "Okay...Well, do you know of the shunning of Gibusu?"

Cherry shook her head.

Ing nodded again. "Well, you probably should." He cleared his throat. "Not too many years ago, when The Typhoon was younger, and the Xove interacted more with the Umoya—"

"I'm assuming that's us? People?" She was getting sick of all these long complicated words.

"Yes," Ing nodded. "Well, the Zhuji and...people, used to get along. But then along came Gibusu." He sighed. "He was a great man, I'll give him that. But he had ideas. Big ideas. Ideas that went against all the Zhuji traditions and practices."

Cherry cocked her head. "Like what?"

Ing rubbed his hands together, as if he was cold. "Well, he...he thought that he should be ruler of the Zhuji. Not The Typhoon."

Ing looked up, as if waiting for Cherry's expression. "Well...why? Why would he think that?"

Ing shrugged. "I'm not sure. That's the problem. Nobody knew why he said and did the things he did."

Cherry exhaled, confused. What does this have to do with me?

Ing stood up. "Well, Miss Oku, I was hoping you might have some answers. But I see know," he sighed. "That you don't."

Cherry pursed her lips. "That's not fair! Up until now, I didn't even know you guys existed! I still don't even know who Gibusu is!"

Ing shrugged. "Not my problem."

Cherry grumbled in frustration. "Well, if I'm no use to you, then why not just let me go?"

Ing raised an eyebrow. "Defiant, just like Gibusu. Don't you see? You're stuck here." Ing slapped the sheet of paper on the counter. "There's no way out..." He seemed to hesitate.

"Go on," Cherry gestured with her hand.

"Well...If there's a Wizadi at Race Day, you may have a chance."

Cherry didn't know what any of that meant, but hope floated up in her chest.

"But that hasn't happened in thirty years," Ing quickly added.

But Cherry didn't care. There was a chance she could get out of this mess.

A knock sounded on the door and Zasol opened it and leaned against the door frame. I'm here to take Oku...ahem, Cherry, to her dome."

Ing gestured at Cherry. "She says she doesn't know anything. She didn't even know about the Shunning."

Cherry gritted her teeth. "How was I supposed to?! You kidnapped me last night!"

Zasol grabbed her arm and dragged her out of Ing's office.

Muttering angrily to herself, Cherry wrenched out of his grip. "You think I'll escape? Is that why you're gripping me so tight?"

Zasol scowled, but didn't grab her again. They snuck down the halls and back into her dome.

"Don't leave here. I'm setting the dome's status as empty, so The Typhoon won't know you're here."

Cherry nodded. Zasol shut the door, and Cherry heard a click. She was locked in.

How had she gotten into this mess, again?