Clockwork Girl

Chapter Two: Fisher Girl

Soft light filtered through the lush green leaves above me, the sparkle of it reflecting off the river water waking me the next morning. With no watch or real wilderness skills in order to tell the time, I just had to conclude that by the empty shoreline, it was still incredibly early.

Another morning with no memories coming forward. At least I could stretch and take my time to inspect my legs and feet. Though my legs seemed fine, my feet were another matter entirely. Micro cuts from tiny hidden rocks in the grass I'd walked in the day before were burning a wicked red color. Tenderness threatened to prevent me from getting anywhere much further, but I managed to make it to the very edge of the river. How it sharply cut through the terrain left it wide with no real banks. You could sit on the edge of it and put your feet in. And, quite frankly, that is all I wanted to do.

As I plunged them into the icy waters, I felt a simultaneous shock of relief and pain. That pain gave way quickly to a comfortable numb that allowed the cuts a gentle washing in the current.

"Fish will nibble off toes like that."

I looked over at the sound of a man's voice. A barrel chested man with tar colored skin plopped down a big round aluminum bucket and a small jar of dirt a few paces from where I sat. Immediately, I pulled my feet from the river, which made him let out a chuckle.

"You good, kid? Skinny. Too little."

"Yes, I am fine. Just...lost, maybe?"

His eyes widened a little when I replied. I knew immediately it was the combination of the soft twinkle, melodic tone my voice has (I hate it) and the other...I am not sure of, that had him surprised.

"Lost? Where you going?"

"Not sure. Woodsvale?"

This man would have no more answers than I about where I was from, who I was, where I was going than I did. Still, he reached into his broad burlap sack, fished out a ball of string, and started making some kind of device.

"Fishing. It's good money here. Find a thick branch, I will make you a pole."

With nothing else to do, I did as he asked. Maybe he just wanted to get my mind of potentially being an orphan, which...I mean...I could be. How would I know?

I found the thickest and longest branch I could carry back to him. With a smile full of broken teeth, he smiled as he took the branch. His hands worked quickly to draw the string around it, tie it off, and before I could even wrap my head around how he did it, he handed me back a makeshift fishing pole. He had me hold it still as he strung a hook and then pulled a wiggling worm from his dirt jar onto the hook.

"They'll bite. Just sit here. Quiet."

I dropped the hook into the water and sat for a long time staring at the string, hoping for it to move. Patience, I figured quickly, was not a virtue I possessed. All of me wanted to ask this man questions in rapid succession, but as soon as I lost myself in thought, the line was tugged hard and my pole almost pulled from my hands.

"Yank up!"

As instructed, I pulled up my pole hard and drew it back to reveal a rainbow bellied fish! It wasn't too small, but it was so pretty.

"Good catch, kid."

He reached over and took the fish from the hook, dropping it in his own aluminum pail. Without hesitation, he moved his own fishing pole to bait my hook again.

"You catch worms in the shallows. Go tomorrow before there is too much light."

He handed the pole back to me and, throughout the rest of the day, we took turns showing off our catches. It was only when the sun began to glow deep orange in the opposite direction from whence it rose did he pull the string from he pole, asking me to do the same from my branch. He broke my branch into small pieces and, right there, on the shoreline, started a small fire.

"Hungry? Yeah, you're skinny. You need to eat."

I don't remember when the last time I ate was, but it had been more than a day. My stomach wasn't screaming at me, but once he started to filet the fish, I couldn't help but watch his hands. They were huge mitts though he could carefully maneuver his knife. Expert level.

In no time, we were sharing one of the bigger grey scaled fish he'd caught last. It was fatty. He'd sprinkled some salt and course black pepper on the meat. It really did almost melt in my mouth.

"Gotta sell these tonight," he told me through bites. "You get your cut. Come with me."

I just nodded and followed him once we were done eating up a very small hill in comparison to the ones I'd hiked the day before. Before me, sprawled underneath the massive trees, was Woodsvale. Busy people scuttling about every which way, magnificent white horses drawing carriages along the cobblestone walk ways.

My nameless friend kept close to me as he made his way to the fish monger, a shop called "Prize Catch".

"Anchelo! You finally made it in," a tall bearded man behind the counter called when we walked through the door.

"Had a big catch," he said to the man with a smile. "Had help today."

He indicated to me and smiled.

"Oh, good. Let's see what you have."

Anchelo took the bucket around the counter and waved me back so we could follow the shop keep into the store room. The keep took each fish from the pail, flipped it around and onto a wide scale to measure weight. He would scribble something after each one. When the last fish, my rainbow bellied one, was done with its weighing, he handed the piece of paper over to Anchelo.

"Fair?"

"Fair," he nodded. "But she gets paid for her catch."

"Tell me which are hers," the keep smiled, looking to me. "You new, kid?"

"Yeah," I said, not sure if I should return the smile or not. I'm still technically lost, but this didn't seem so bad if I was.

"Hey, if you're gonna fish with Anchelo, I can give you a cold bucket," he offered. "Let me get the coins and the bucket."

He seemed so thrilled and so did Anchelo.

"You did good," he told me with his big broken smile. "We will fish tomorrow."

The keep came back with what looked like an identical bucket to the one Anchelo carried with him, handed it to me along with what he said was a silver piece and two bronze pieces.

"Keep finding fish like that rainbow belly and you will be a great fisher girl. What's your name?"

"It's Aia," I said, remembering the only three letters that came to me. Maybe that was my name. Seemed to be true.

"Well, Aia," the keep grinned. "I will see you tomorrow. Just remember, in case Anchelo isn't out, we are closed on Sundays."

"Which day is it now?"

"It's Wednesday," Anchelo answered for him.

"Yep. Wednesday," the keep nodded. "Welcome to Woodsvale!"

I smiled, really smiled, for a moment and then remembered that I had nowhere to go. Nowhere to stay. At least, I didn't think so. And I think Anchelo knew that when we walked from the fish monger.

"Stay in the trees," he said pointing up. "Go up five levels. Find an empty carving and stay in it tonight. Seems scary, but it's safe."

I looked up to the rope bridges above us and swallowed my fear. Tonight, I would be sleeping in the trees instead of underneath them.