Someone jabbered out of it, ‘You about, chief?’ All four of us stopped chewing. We’d been eating slowly, silently. We all knew that this was nearly the last of our peasepaste and drumbread. Jupi raised his eyebrows and finished his mouthful. ‘Harrump.’ He brushed the flour from the drumbread off his fingers. He picked up the talkie and took it out into the courtyard. Jumi watched him go, eyes glittering, hands joined and pointing to her chin. ‘Couldn’t have come at a better time,’ said Dochi. ‘Eat something other than pease for a change.’ He rolled his eyes at me. ‘Eh. Pease is better than nothing, like some people have,’ I said, but mildly. You don’t pick a fight with the prince of the household. ‘Sh!’ said Jumi, leaning towards the courtyard door. ‘Why don’t you go out?’ Dochi pushed his face at her. ‘Listen right up close?’ Dochi was sound in body, so could get away with rudeness. With my withered leg I had to be more careful. ‘Sh!’ she said again, and we listened.
