Chapter 42

I didn’t like being told what to do, but it depended on who said it.

I also knew that Mikhail was watching us cautiously from the stove. I sensed the threat of his presence; he was a guardian to our mother as much as I could be. Mika carefully tossed the vegetables Mom passed him into the broth that was once again bubbling with the delicious aroma of seasoned meat, and turned to me.

“I also think you should go,” my brother said, with a patient tone. “What harm could it do you to talk to someone who knows how to interpret what you are telling them? Maybe you’ll even make some profit.”

I rocked Sasha a little more. I didn’t like it, I didn’t like it at all.

My mother and brother became defensive, immediately. I paid attention to the noise Mirko made as he placed the cutlery on the table, too far away for an ordinary person to hear.

Was I the only one who didn’t see it?

It seemed that yes. The feeling of collective concern (and irritation) that invad