Hatushaly lifted his chin towards the youngster who stared in their direction. Raj, he said in a venomous tone.
Hearing that name, Donte turned. Across the room, near to where the students travel bags were stored, squatted three young men, eating silently. Rajs lopsided smile was easily recognisable. The boy had a strange face: delicate features and deep brown eyes that were overshadowed by a heavy brow, giving him an unbalanced appearance.
Donte sighed and said, Do not start anything, do you hear me? He gripped Hatus tunic and said, I know Rajs look; hes ready to start something. He knows he can goad you, so just leave it alone.
Hatu forced himself to look away, and Donte added, Were already in trouble with Hilsbek, and if you start a fight with Raj He made no further comment, simply put his hand on Hatus shoulder and steered him to the waiting food.
After a few steps, Hatu shrugged Dontes hand away and said, Im not going to start anything He glanced back at Raj and saw that the boy was still staring at the three of them.
What is it between you two, anyway? Hava asked.
Hatu remained silent as they reached the table where food had been laid out on wooden plates. When they had settled into an unoccupied corner of the room, he said, I dont know, it started
Years ago, supplied Donte. Do you even remember what that first fight was about?
He called me a name, said Hatu, I think
Havas brow furrowed. You think?
It was before you came to school, said Donte. He took a bite from his platter. The food was plain, and as usual cold, but they ate gratefully, for over the years they had trained for periods of privation, and going without food was a normal part of their lives, even if only for short periods of time in training.
It was quiet in the warehouse. Students rarely spoke while eating. From an early age, they had been taught to focus on things most people took for granted, like food, water, and rest, to conserve and build their strength. These drills and lessons had been hard ones: two days without food was not life-threatening, but to a child it felt like an eternity of starvation. Many mornings had broken on severe stomach aches as the youngsters learned which foods were safe to eat and when. Water was always close at hand, for while going without food for days was possible, severe dehydration would kill sooner, and incapacitate even faster. Rest was precious, for the rigours of life under their masters would often require long periods of sleepless exertion.
Hatu looked at the small square of wood that served as his plate and ate his food with his fingers: cold lumps of sticky rice in a congealed broth, a slice of a roll, and a small portion of bitter greens. He would finish every bite.
After a moment of silence, Hava asked, Before I came? How old were you when it happened?
Seven, or eight, said Hatu quietly.
Donte shrugged. Ive lost count of the fights theyve had.
Seven, said Hatu, keeping his voice low, though both his friends could sense his rising tension. He glanced at Donte. Eight?
More, said Donte. I lost count at about eight.
Hava shook her head in disbelief. Ten, eleven? So at least once a year you and Raj just decide to fight?
Sometimes you just dont like someone, said Donte. For no reason. It takes most people a while to dislike Hatu, but Raj hated him from the first moment they met.
I dont care what his reason is, or even if he has one, said Hatu, clearly on edge. Hes a piece of shit to everyone. I just fight back.
True, said Donte, turning to Hava. You and I are the only two people on Garn who truly like Hatu, but nobody likes Raj. He just bullies people into pretending they like him.
I know that, replied Hava. I just wanted to know what started the whole thing.
Cant remember, replied Donte. He smiled, then purloined the greens from Havas plate, a theft she allowed without protest. She couldnt abide the bitter leaves and would always eat them last, and only then if one of the gang captains or a master was watching. They made her sick but that didnt matter to those supervising the students meal.
Donte, on the other hand, would eat almost anything. He had won many bets for eating all manner of disgusting things, including some large insects that were still alive.
Hatu didnt care much for food one way or another. He enjoyed some tastes, but he didnt seek them out to satisfy a craving. As far as he knew, food was necessary for life and beyond that he took little pleasure in it.
While he ate in silence, Hatus thoughts turned inwards, and his frustration began to grow. He found Dontes antics amusing at times, especially in Havas company, but on other occasions the big lads disregard for authority caused problems.
Rajs presence did not help calm the situation. Hatu could feel the boys gaze upon him, and it took all of his self-control not to turn and meet it. He felt his anger building as he tried to push his mind away from their previous encounters, and from his annoyance that Donte had pulled him away from this fight; more annoyed that Donte was right to do so rather than anything else.