Saimura led John up Fountain Street. An unusual number of people seemed to be up already. In the distance, John thought he heard someone shouting. A group of six young men on bicycles sped past and then an alarm bell rang from the prison. Saimura broke into a run and John kept pace beside him. “Remind me to ask you about those people sleeping in your room later,” Saimura commented. “I’ll try to remember.” John leaped over a deep pothole in the road. “What’s happened?” “Apparently Kirh’yu didn’t feel Lafi’shir’s plan was good enough. He decided to take matters into his own hands.” Saimura skidded on a patch of ice, caught himself, and kept running. “He sent workmen to the prison gates to stop the rashan’im from taking the women. Most of Lon’ahma’s relatives are there as well.” “Her old great uncle?” John asked. He almost missed a step at the idea of the feeble old man standing against the rashan’im.
