Sand Red

46

My third night in the desert my hunger finally caught up with me, and I wasted four hours on foot tracking a jackal off course through the red sands, then doubling back to the car once I had cooked and eaten it.

I missed the Sun and as the moon rose and fell, my eyes itched with sleep and I felt broken-hearted as I thought of how long it would be until I was among friends again. I realized that I had not ever been apart from the twins in all the years since I'd joined camp. Every adventure we had had together. I thought of the way Od had hugged me and my heart went up in flames.

Syenin's camp neared, and the unease in my chest grew. I wished desperately I had asked Od to do it for me. But there was nothing or it now and I steeled myself to confront En as the camp came into view.

I readied my knife this time. The first guard yelled for support when he saw me, and I raced at him, slashing skillfully at his arm. He shrieked in pain, and a savage pleasure coated my heart at doing harm to one of the people that had stood by unprotesting while we were tortured. Despite his failings, a compassion for Lars opened inside me as I held the short man hostage, arm around his throat, knife at his eye.

'Stay back,' I threatened calmly as a woman appeared, blade in hand. She obeyed, eyes wide in fear. Maybe he meant something to her. I struggled to keep my voice even as I spoke. 'I want to speak to En.'

'I'll bring En, but let him go,' she said loudly.

'Not till En is here.'

'You don't understand! He's got it!' She took another step back.

Shit. I flung the man away from me, and only then did I notice the rising odour of feces.

'What do I do?' I yelled at her in anguish.

'Stay away from me,' she said, moving away. 'I'll get En.'

I stepped away from her, holding my blade gingerly. God damn it. My last days on Earth, I could not die of K1 Georgia now.

En appeared, his face haggard. His wrists were bound in wire, and a fresh wound on his cheek bled profusely. What on Earth? His mouth opened as he recognized me, then quickly closed again, and he gave a small bark of laughter. 'You!' he said, enunciating slowly. He shook his head, looking at me good-humouredly. Like he had never beaten me.

I found my voice. 'What're you tied up for?'

He shrugged, and I saw that the movement pained him. I decided to get it over with and be gone. 'I have a message,' I said louder. Was I really helping him get to Cerulone? 'There is a ship,' I struggled. 'Cerulone,' I managed.

He looked at me intelligently and I fought the urge to look away. 'You're telling me?'

'Aye,' I said, unnoticing of his weird speech.

He laughed, a hacking sound, and I winced as it hit my ears. A movement against the Western horizon turned my head. The woman from before stood there, staring at me wide-eyed.

'Are you being honest?' she asked suddenly.

I nodded, glad to have an excuse to look away from En.

'Why would you come here?' she asked resignedly.

'To save humanity,' I said stupidly, a little confused.

'But we are plagued.'