A couple of days later, Rre Pule comes to see me while I’m having lunch at Socca’s house. Socca’s cousin Tebatso invites him in. She’s all wide-eyed and gushy, like he’s some hotshot movie star. She even offers him Socca’s father’s best brandy.

“I can’t stay,” Rre Pule replies regretfully. His eyes stay a little too long on her tight-fitting top in a way that makes me want to vomit. The man is about seventy years old, and Socca’s cousin is still in secondary school!

“At least have some food,” she says.

Rre Pule shakes his head. Finally he takes his eyes off the girl young enough to be his granddaughter and turns to me. “A quick word, Taunyana.”

I get to my feet and he puts his arm on my shoulder and steers me towards the kitchen door. Ag, what now? As far as I know it hasn’t rained where it shouldn’t, I haven’t spilled a soft drink on any important documents, and Papa hasn’t done anything so wild and crazy that I have to take responsibility for it. So why has Rre Pule followed me all the way to Socca’s place?

“The Raincall is in a week,” he begins.

Wow. Breaking news.

“The people expect something to happen in the skies around this time. A little thunder, some lightning. But apart from that unfortunate incident in Desert, there’s been nothing.”
Ah. Now I see where this is going.

“This silence is unusual,” he goes on. “The people don’t like unusual things, you know? Give them something, a small taste to show that you take your duties seriously and you are preparing for the task ahead. I understand that you might be feeling confident. After all, rainmaking is a natural ability for you; not as though you had to work for it.”

Hmm. Did I pick up a little bitterness in that last sentence? I peek at his face; his expression is solemn. His features aren’t twisted with jealous rage, but that doesn’t mean he’s not feeling it. Look, I don’t like the guy. He’s good at his job, he always puts the kingdom first and he’s blood, but I don’t like him. Sorry. He has this hungry look that really puts me off. He reminds me of a hyena, hanging around in the shadows, waiting for the lion to walk away from his kill. I guess I should be grateful; he’s not the kind of guy who would step in and fight for the carcass. He just waits, drooling, and when the hunter is done he swoops in and snatches the leftovers. It’s like he has no goals of his own, like all he wants is what’s left of everyone else’s stuff.

I shouldn’t say that. He’s blood, and an elder. I shouldn’t even think it. But…

“You can’t take anything for granted,” he goes on. “Natural ability or not, a prince has no place on lastminute.com.” He looks at me. “Are we together?”

I nod. Ja, we’re together. I can’t do what he’s asking, but we’re definitely together. I agree that nothing should be taken for granted, and that a prince has no place on lastminute.com. I wish I had a natural ability that I could take for granted. Oh, well. As long as I keep my mouth shut, I can’t make promises that I know I won’t keep.

“Good, good.” Rre Pule slaps me on the back like we’re old buddies, then says goodbye and leaves.

“And now?” asks Socca, around a mouthful of pap.

I sink into my chair and stare at my plate. My appetite’s disappeared.

“Apparently the people are worried that I’m not practicing.”

Socca almost chokes. “Damn,” he says, once his food has been safely swallowed.

“I know.”

I wish there was something I could do to keep Rre Pule – and the people – off my back. If the rules weren’t so strict I could have tried to hire another kingdom’s Rainmaker. Not that a Rainmaker with any sense of loyalty would agree. Not that I could even pay enough to make it worth the risk to both kingdoms. OK, it’s a stupid idea, but it’s all I’ve got. There’s no stunt I can pull to get me out of this mess. All I can do is keep working on Escape Inc. and get out of the city before my whole life goes up in flames.