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Then she was out in the aisle between the galley elevator and the bathroom. The door was wrenched out
of her hands and slammed tight. She stood there alone in the quiet aisle, swallowing and trying to get her
wind back. The little light above the doorknob was on, illuminating a single word:
Occupied
A couple of sleepy, just-awakened passengers glanced in her direction as she stumbled down the aisle,
pulling up her jeans. She practically fell in Oak's lap as she clutched at his shoulders.
Josh, Joshua! For God's sake, wake up!
Hmph, what?
No time, she thought desperately, and maybe the wrong man. She abandoned him and yanked the
earphones from Olkeloki's head. She wouldn't have to wait for the old man to wake up.
His eyes snapped open immediately, alert and startled. Woman, what are you ?
She was already pulling at his arm. Mbatian, you've got to come with me, you've got to! We have to
help her!
Maybe it was the timbre of her voice, still touched with terror, or maybe something he saw in her face.
In any event the old man was on his feet and following her back up the aisle as she fastened her belt.
Shetani, she mumbled, half crying.
He put a comforting hand on her shoulder. I know. I can smell them now.
They stopped outside the bathroom. The occupied light still glowed steadily. No sound came from
within. Olkeloki twisted the doorknob. It rotated, but with the interior latch secured the door wouldn't
open.
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Stand over there, please. She moved aside and watched as he clamped down hard on the knob with
both hands. As he twisted, the veins in his arms stood out and his face went taut with the effort. She
heard a muffledping as something snapped inside the door. The old man slumped slightly, took a deep
breath, and pushed.
Merry retreated as the door swung inward, but nothing sprang out to attack her or the old man. Olkeloki
looked inside for a long moment. Then he closed the door quietly and let the broken latch catch. The
occupied light winked back on. It was lying.
She stared expectantly at him as he escorted her firmly back to her seat and made her sit down. What
did you see? You saw that it's much too big in there, didn't you? Much too big for any airplane.
They they were waiting for me. They came out of the toilet and they grabbed and at first I couldn't
scream, and then Icould scream.
But no one heard you.
No, until Andrea that was the name on her tag checked on me. They grabbed her too, but she
fought them, and then a chameleon took out her eye and she went crazy and they all had to go for her.
That's how I was able to get free and get away. She started to rise. But Andrea, the flight attendant,
she's still in there and they've got her and they're going to ... to...
Olkeloki gently pushed her back into her seat. The woman you speak of is not inside. Nor are the
shetani. All have gone. All.
Merry's fingers were working, twisting. They were pulling at my jeans. They were going to rape me.
And they were grinning and laughing and it was horrible, horrible and
Describe them to me. Olkeloki was purposely brusque with her. Anything to stop her burgeoning
hysteria.
She had no trouble describing them. The hard thing would be to forget what they'd looked like.
Ukunduka, he told her when she'd finished. Very dangerous shetani. I do not know how they got on
the plane, but it is clear that we are not as safe as I thought. You must stay in your seat until we have
disembarked, Merry Sharrow.
Don't worry. But what about the flight attendant, what about her?
Olkeloki's expression was grim. The Ukunduka feed only through sexual intercourse.
Feed? You mean No, don't tell me, I don't want to know what you mean. If he explained it to her
she might apply the explanation to her last sight of the doomed cabin attendant, and she was going to
carry nightmares enough off this flight as it was. There was no need to embellish them.
Are you feeling all right, miss? Merry jumped. Another flight attendant was standing in the aisle
alongside her seat, a concerned expression on her face.
She just had a bad dream, Olkeloki said smoothly.
Oh. Clearly the woman hadn't expected the tall Maasai to answer for Merry. I'm sorry to hear that.
Her professional smile returned. We'll be serving a full English breakfast shortly and then we'll be landing
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in Nairobi. I hope you're feeling better by then.
Merry's reflexes must have taken over because she managed to nod. She noted that her hands were
shaking. Interesting phenomenon, she told herself. The flight attendant took Olkeloki off to one side.
That must have been some dream.
She'll be all right. I'll look after her.
Very well, the flight attendant said reluctantly. Of course, the passenger's business was her own. She
shrugged mentally and continued down the aisle. There were other passengers to rouse.
Merry was trying hard to get her trembling under control. I never did get to go to the bathroom.
Olkeloki found a blanket, tucked it up under her arms. The tremors weakened. I don't think I could go
now.
You must not give them another opportunity. Stay in your seat until we land. I will warn Joshua Oak
that he must do the same. The Ukunduka make no distinctions between sexes.
He wouldn't have to tell her again, she thought. She wondered if she'd ever be able to go the bathroom
on a plane again ... If necessary she'd stay in her seat until her bladder ruptured.
Hungry as she was, she ignored breakfast. When the cabin lights came back on she moved over to sit in
the unoccupied seat next to Oak. He listened quietly to her story, then glanced at Olkeloki for
confirmation. The old man nodded somberly.
You're sure you saw something in there? he finally asked her.
Josh! How can you say that? She barely managed to keep her voice down. With everything that's
happened to us the last couple of days you still need more proof? Go ahead then; get up and go use that
bathroom!
I'm tempted to, except that I'm sure you saw something in there. Maybe shetani and maybe something
else, but whatever it was left its mark on you. You're white as a sheet. So if Olkeloki says not to take a
piss until we're on the ground, I'm not going to argue with him. I'm stubborn, but I'm not a fool. He's been
right too many times or I wouldn't be here now. He broke off as the cabin attendant set eggs, sausage,
and muffins in front of him.
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