“Over here,” hissed Maria, leading Kaz around the back of the house. Whereas the garden off to the side was a carefully-cultivated maze of lush greenery, this bare patch of earth was much more utilitarian. 

They passed the square wooden outhouse on the way into the little yard. Several fat chickens and a couple of rangy roosters pecked listlessly around the yard. There was a chicken coop against the back fence. A llama eyed her over its trough. Bales of hay were piled against the house, nearly up to the thatched roof. 

Hurried footsteps heralded Orlando’s arrival. He carried a heavy wooden ladder, which he leaned against the wall next to the hay. 

“Kaz, climb up to the roof. We don’t have much time.” 

Though she wasn’t sure what Orlando had in mind, she obeyed. Once she reached the roof she realized that she could no longer see the garden or even the great dome of the sauna. She would only be seen from the yard below. 

Turning to ask how they would solve this, she was surprised to see Maria climbing up behind her. 

“Move over Kaz,” she called. “And lie down. We’re going to cover you with hay to camouflage you.” 

“But won’t they notice the lump on the roof and the ladder?” 

“Not if we rearrange the bales so they hide you. And we’ll move the ladder.” 

Maria had reached the roof. Kaz scooted a little further up it and lay down on her stomach, her head resting on her arms. The spot felt exposed and obvious, but she didn’t have time to do anything but trust Orlando and Maria. 

“Here,” called Orlando from below, and Kaz saw the end of a pitchfork with a bundle of hay poke up over the edge of the roof. Maria wrapped her arms around the hay and pulled it onto the roof with a grunt of effort. She then set about covering Kaz from head to toe. It itched like crazy, but Kaz knew that any movement would give her away. From below, a series of dry, scratchy thumps told her that Orlando was rearranging the hay. 

Just before Maria covered her head, Kaz turned it so she could see the little yard below. Her view was now blocked by bales of hay.

“Papa, they’re close!” Jess’s voice was quiet, but insistent. “They just started next door.” 

“Maria, are you close?” asked Orlando. 

“Just finishing up,” she replied, laying hay around Kaz’s head. She left a gap in front of her face so it wouldn’t tickle her nose and make her sneeze. 

“That’ll just have to do,’ said Maria. “They won’t be able to see you from below. I’m coming down,” she added, and Kaz watched through a couple gaps in the straw as she carefully climbed backwards off the roof. “Hang in there Kaz,” she said, before her face disappeared below the roof’s edge. 

Next Chapter: 12: Owen - Teamwork