11
WELL, BUGGER THAT.
“s**t,” Nicha said. He took a few big steps to the bed and looked underneath, but that didn’t make Reida appear. He repeated, “Shit.” And a bit later, he added in a frustrated tone, “Evi said no one went out except Federza.”
“Maybe he hasn’t gone out.” Although I had been pretty clear that he was to stay in his room—not that Reida had ever taken any notice of our orders. “Maybe he’s just hiding from us.”
We checked the cupboard, the passage to the tiny bathroom, under the beds, behind the curtains, under the couch. We checked the bathroom, the living room, and Deyu’s room. She was asleep and none too happy about being woken up. But since this concerned her zhayma and because I was involved, she got dressed and helped look for him. But Reida was nowhere to be found
