D-004: Arachnea, Spidon Ranch…
“Eliana Maxime-Morgan-Maxime-Mista-Levina-Nedra-Raz-Maxime-Uhuru-Manika-Kelirim-Urk-Uhuru-Farb-Nywell-Xip!”
Her mother’s voice…the length of time it takes to enunciate Eliana’s full name an admonition all of its own…
Mother strides across a bare patch of ground atop a cliff, Spidon ranching structures silhouetted behind her, her blue bureaucrat suit a point of contrast from Eliana’s viewpoint against the dun-coloured buildings and ground behind her. Better suited, perhaps, to the blue-green-grey ocean crashing against the cliffs below Eliana.
Does Eliana react?
Not visibly. Internally, the tone scrapes right along every nerve ending.
“Mother.”
Her tone is neutral. Bored.