Homeward

8 - Forward

The Princess (in robot form) led us through the complex to a suite of rooms furnished with a low bed, some bed coverings, and an oblong table with matching stone block that I guessed was meant to be a writing desk and chair. I did not mention the way that other items in the room (a stringed instrument of some sort, a platter and some bowls, a privacy screen) seemed haphazardly arranged, assuming that the Princess had done the best she could to equip these living quarters while using the limited dexterity of her robot appendage.

"This will do nicely," I said, legitimately relieved to be under a roof and about to crawl into bed. I set Talson onto the desk and threw my ruined jacket onto the squat chair.

"Is there some food that I could eat?" I asked, speaking to the robot but looking at Talson and giving him a pat on the head. He cooed.

The Princess gave no response. We had both had a long day, I supposed, so I didn't think much of it as I walked to the bed and unfolded one of the shiny, silver blankets. A beat passed.

"Princess?" I turned to face the robot. Its insides had turned from that shimmery blue shade to a sickly green-and-yellow. "Princess. Is everything alright?"

No response. Damnit.

"Princess!"

The robot shuddered in the air, like it had experienced a drop in power. I grabbed my coat and had it halfway back on...

"I'm sorry, Prim," said the Princess's voice. The robot's color returned to normal. "That was a routine power switchover, and while it was occurring I could not communicate with you. I should have informed you of that possibility. Everything is fine now."

"Uh-huh," I said, pushing my remaining arm through the sleeve of my coat. "No harm done."

She's lying.

"I will give you your privacy, you should rest after your journey. As for your earlier question, I will set up a plate of food for you and for your companion in the next room," said the Princess. The robot whizzed away.

"Princess..." I said.

"Yes?" said the voice. As I suspected, the Princess's consciousness had not actually left me. Her mind was inside the walls.

"Thank you for finding me in the forest. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come looking for me."

"You are welcome, my friend," she said. "Tomorrow we will discuss how we can continue to help each other."

I sat down on the bed but did not take off my coat. I pressed the flesh between two knuckles on my left hand with the thumb of my right, hoping to activate my bio-integrated memory banks and recall the protocols for kidnapping by hostile alien.

Ouch! 

It felt like I had been stung by a giant wasp. Pain radiated from between my knuckles, up through my hand and arm, and stretched towards my heart, neck, and brain. 

Just then, the whole room lurched to one side. I flew across the room and into the wall just above the desk, to which Talson was barely able to keep himself secured with his gecko-like fingers. I yelled out, but my scream was muted by the cacophony of another lurch in the other direction. Everything went flying, shaken up like ice in a cocktail shaker on Zenek IV.

"Remain calm!" came the voice of the Princess. "We are experiencing--"

"Skip this," interrupted another voice--an unknown voice. It sounded distant and detached, but the words were clear. Whose voice was it?

Everything became a blur. I watched as the world shifted around me: Suddenly I was outside the building running down the sloping ship's hull as it leaned ever-more sideways. I clutched Talson with both hands, holding him close. The ground was rushing up to meet us.

"Faster," said the voice. "Skip to the next juncture."

What had been a blur became a single, white-hot moment of movement, sound, and inertia. My head vibrated like a cracked bell.

The voice returned, duller and more distant this time. "There, yes. Resume."

I was floating in the water again and the ravnab spoke to me. No, not to me. Of me. It was the same voice. (Where was the Princess?)

"The stimulants are losing their effectiveness. Increase the dose."

"Yes, sir."

Glant's arrow pierced through the water, and the ravnab darted away like a missile. Glant's arms wrapped around my torso and I felt his strong kicks propelling us towards the water's surface. He pulled me to the shore, where my stomach emptied itself of sea water.

"You must concentrate!" he growled, his voice distant like that of the ravnab. Like a voice through water.

"Where is Talson?" I said, blinking my eyes because of the persistent sting.

Glant lifted my chin with his hand, shaking his head with impatience. He breathed heavily from the exertion of saving me, his bare chest glistening with water in the sunlight. He said nothing but looked deeply into my eyes--through them. What was he looking at?

"I must collect the flock," he said after a few moments of silence. He turned to look out at the water, where it was clear that the mal-majh had scattered while he had tended to me. Without further comment, he mounted his animal and swam off.

I watched him go. 

Talson had been dead for years, but I could still almost feel him purring inside my pocket. My hand ached. My head still rung like a bell.

Two days to Petnar.

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Author's Note: Thank you everyone for your ongoing support of this project! I know I'm having fun writing it. Vote or leave a comment and let me know what you think!- gg