Role

Chapter 1

The baby screamed, its tiny fists clenched and futilely punching the air. It
screamed again, shrieking with such ferocity that the lady covered her ears.

"Hush now, hush little one," the lady cooed. She finished tying off the soft
cloth.

The child opened its tiny fists and looked around quizzically, legs kicking
like it was pedaling a bicycle, confused and reeling. It - she - drew in
another great breath, and let forth a spectacular cry of anguish, her large
grey eyes and milky, soft flesh wet with tears. Her head turned left and
right as though she was plotting escape.

"Now dear," the lady whispered. "We fixed things right now, didn't we? All is
well, all is clean."

"Quiet that noise, woman, or I shall come and quiet that abomination for
you!" shouted a slurred, drunken voice from the parlor.

The lady gently stroked the child's gossamer hair and looked about
conspiratorially. "He doesnt understand you. He doesnt realize what we've
given him, does he, Miss pet?" she asked softly.

The baby gurgled, spit bubbling from her pursed lips.

"That bloody thing needs to be put down, is what!" shouted the gruff voice.
"I'm of a mind to see to it myself, once the tithe be paid!"

The lady whispered, "Don't you fret, Ryxa. You pay him no mind, you're a
beautiful girl, you are."

Ryxa flailed her hands and feet about in agreement. Her tiny left hand had
six fingers. Well, six fingers if one counted a coarse, spindly appendage
stuck smack dab in between her thumb and forefinger a finger. And her feet
had six toes each, all of equal length and agility. Ryxa could and would grip
toys with these toes and throw them into the air, then catch them, like a
juggling trick. The lady was quite proud of this, although these displays
always frightened her husband, who was prone to calling them "those bloody
talons."

"Ten on the hand, ten on the toe, one more above, and two more below," the
lady sang to Ryxa. The baby giggled with delight, her six toes clenching and
unclenching while her left finger flexed and extended in time to the song.
The lady had sung the rhyme many times, and this would not be the last. Where
she had heard it, she could not quite recall.