Eight
The two sligs walked for a long while. They got out of the complex unnoticed, thanks to the gloomy corridors and the cloaks Xar had provided, but it was a very long walk home. It had taken two days to get here in the tank; admittedly one hadn’t been an entire day, but Skan had been forced to walk, and so they’d gone slower than normal…
Skan glanced sideways at Aalu; she stumbled along in a stunned silence, her usually brilliant eyes strangely dull. He shook his head, tiredly, and wished Bea was here – she’d know what to do…
But… worried as he might be, there were more important things to do, now. It would be getting dusk, soon – they needed somewhere to stop for the night. Without the formidable firepower of the tank and its crew, they wouldn’t survive long out here when it got dark and all the nightly predators emerged to hunt and feed…
But… with any luck, there’d be what he was looking for, nearby – there were usually markers at ground level… Ah, there – a white stone, clearly visible in the gathering under-tree gloom, with a heavy black paint diamond clearly marked on its upper surface. Skan glanced up at the canopy of trees; high up in the branches was the small shelter he’d been looking out for – provided for travellers caught out after dark. It was high enough to be out of reach of ground-based predators, and the door could be closed to prevent arboreal hunters getting in while the occupants slept. “Found one,” he said, glancing back at Aalu.
She just nodded, mutely, looking tired and worn.
He nudged her snout, gently. “Aw, c’mon ‘Lu… the world ain’t goin’ ter stop spinnin’, yer know…”
She just sniffed.
It was quite a climb to get to the shelter; there was an old ladder nailed to the treetrunk, but most of the rungs had rotted through, and those that were left looked as though they’d snap through at any minute. So a more than delicate step was required. Twice he slipped and once nearly fell, but eventually Skan hauled himself over the lip of the doorway and inside, checking automatically for dangers. Fortunately the hut was currently empty, and it didn’t look like anyone was using it. The floor was stone – must’ve taken an army of workers to get it up in the tree, Skan thought, absently – and in its centre was a charred surface, where fires had been lit to keep it warm. There was a flue directly above in the ceiling, to let smoke out, and two stakes driven in either side of the shallow depression, presumably for use as a spit. Over in one corner was a small selection of pottery – bowls, mostly, but a couple of jars and something vaguely resembling an Earthly amphora, too. In the other corner was a low platform; someone had heaped a thick layer of sedges on it for insulation, but they were fusty and dry by now.
First things first. He caught Aalu’s hand and helped her inside, then cleared out all the old grasses in the corner. “Yer can wait here,” he told her, sternly.
She nodded meekly, still looking like the world was about to come to a sudden violent end.
Skan gave her a wan smile, and nudged snouts. “An’ try an’ cheer up a bit,” he said, gently. “Everythin’s goin’ ter be fine…”
It took at least a good hour to get everything in order – climbing to the shelter was tricky enough as it was, without trying to carry bundles of reeds and soft grasses and jars of water at the same time. And it took another hour or so to harpoon and clean and descale and get-the-bones-out-of enough fish from the lake they’d gone past on the way to make a decent meal, by which time Skan was tired and pretty fed up. Aalu was still silent, although she’d helped prepare their supper while he went back to the lake and scrubbed his skin clean of all the fish grime and dirt and old blood…
Half an hour later, night had finally fallen. Skan looked up from feeding the branches onto the fire, and across to Aalu; he sighed faintly at his own helplessness. She still just sat there, huddled up, and just as mute as she’d been for the past few hours. Firelight sent flickering patterns across her haunted features, made her eyes look sunken, her pale features gaunt and ghostly. And she hadn’t eaten much; she’d picked at it, basically, managing some of the stock and a few bits of fish, but that was it…
Checking the fire wouldn’t go out, Skan crawled round to her. “Aalu?”
She didn’t look up.
“Aalu, look, I… know I ain’t so good at the emotional rescue, thing, but… well…” he curled an arm round her. “Y’know I don’ like yer upset…”
She sniffed; “I know,” she managed, hoarsely. “But… I…”
“Aw, Aalu…! Yer not goin’ ter change the past by mopin’ about like this!” He said, already sensing his feelings tangling him up in knots.
“I’m not moping,” she snivelled. “I’ve killed someone. And you expect me to just accept it!”
“I-… well, I don’… aw, come on, ‘Lu, if yer hadn’t killed him I’d be dead and yer’d probably be back at Vykkers. Or worse!”
She twisted round and gave him a shove, frustratedly. “You’re not helping, dammit!” she snapped, half-furiously and half-hopelessly-miserable.
“So hit me!”
Her nerves were already raw – she’d floored him with a smart smack to the side of the head before he even realised she’d moved.
Dazedly, he blinked stupidly up at her. “Tha’ was quick…” he slurred.
She couldn’t help it – he looked so stupid, she got a fit of the giggles.
He managed a dazed grin. “Does this mean yer feelin’ a bit better…?” he asked, hopefully, picking himself up.
She smiled, faintly, and replied, softly; “I… think so…” Then more decisively; “Yes, I am. Is there any stew left…?”
He laughed, watching as she put her nose in the cooking pot; her moods could be quite mercurial, at times, and he was glad it was finally one of those times – even though she was more unpredictable this way.
A yawn sneaked up on him; he hadn’t realised he was so tired. But now he thought about it… he should have expected it. He settled down in the nest of reeds, to sleep. Aalu was eating, sounding starving – and the food would do her good, may put a bit of heart back into her…
He was just dozing off when there was a soft rustle beside him… “I was cold,” Aalu said, by way of explanation, curling into his side and tucking her head below his chin, lightly twisting her tail around his.
He smiled silently at the lame excuse, and hugged her closer. “With that fire, there…?” he asked. She chuckled, and was beginning to drift off when he added, softly; “Aalu…?”
“Yes?” she replied, dreamily, looking up at him.
“I… I’m… sorry… fer puttin’ you through hell this past two weeks…” he swallowed, feeling himself drown in those deep cobalt pools.
She smiled, shyly. “Oh, don’t worry about that…” she replied, gently. “I suppose… maybe it’s taught me something.”
“It has?”
“Mmm. I’m not sure what, but…” she grinned. “Seriously, though… It’s taught me how lucky I am, that you found me.”
He flushed, and looked away. “Aw, now yer embarrassing me…”
“Well, it’s true,” she sighed. “If you hadn’t found me, I’d still be in that lab – with an amorous Lenk to contend with…”
He nudged her snout lightly with his. “So instead, yer got me.”
She giggled. “I don’t know who’s worse,” she joked.
“That’s not fair,” he replied, hurt.
She smiled, apologetically, and tucked her head under his chin. “You know I don’t mean it,” she said, and yawned.
He smiled back, dreamily. “Yeah. I know.”
Both were asleep in seconds, and dreaming of what morning would bring.
~Fin
Blee. Remind me not to write mush between my characters again...
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