Outside, the wind is howling around the small snow shelter I’ve built against the rocks, but it barely touches us inside. Only tiny wisps of snow blow about the round entrance. Cramped and chilled, though warm enough not to die from exposure, the two of us huddle together under both of our parkas, and I try to figure out the most sensible questions to ask an elusive personality.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“I’m fine.”
All right, that was kind of a stupid question. I pause for a long moment, trying to remember everything I know about Netti and find my information fairly lacking. I should have written down a bunch of notes like I have in the past with mystery novels. Maybe then I would know what the important questions are.
“Netti?” I need the clarification.
“Yes?”
“You should pull your knees up a little closer to your chest.” I breathe in and out slowly. “Less exposure to the snow below us, and spooning will keep you the warmest.”
“All right.”
She pulls her legs up and presses her back against my chest. I wrap both arms around her and hold her close, nestling my face near her neck. I let go of her for a moment to adjust the parkas above us, trying to give us maximum warmth and also enough fresh air to breathe.
Now for the hard part.
“Can I ask you something, Netti?”
“Of course.”
“I want to ask you…I want to ask you about Seri.” My heart begins to beat a little faster as I wait for her to answer.
“That’s not a question,” she finally says.
“You know about Seri though, don’t you?”
“Yes.” She nods her head slightly.
“You know about Seri, but she doesn’t know about you.”
“That wasn’t a question, either.”
“But it’s true?” I need her to say it clearly, or I won’t believe it. I’m not entirely sure I believe what seems to be going on here, anyway.
There’s a long pause before she speaks again.
“Yes, I know about Seri. Seri doesn’t know about me.”
“What about…what about Iris?”
“Iris is aware.”
“Of both of you? I mean, Iris knows about you and Seri?”
“Yes.”
“Why doesn’t Seri know?”
“Seri must be protected.” Netti turns her head, but it’s too dark to read her expression. “She’s the important one.”
“So, she’s the…the primary person?” I have no idea if this is the right term, but it seems as good as any.
“In a sense, yes.”
“How can she be the primary person if she doesn’t know about you and Iris?”