The Thought of Rain

Chapter Two: Damp

Damp

 

The hard rain fell all night. The small, bouncing pellets stole any ability to sleep from Suz, and her brother's loud snores easily doubled that inability. But now that the cold morning sun was breaking through the dark clouds of the storm, Suz wanted to move. She kicked her huge ape of a younger brother, his last snore hitching in his throat.

"Whatcha do that for?"

“It's time ta move." Her face spoke volumes about exactly what time she meant; time to run, flee.

Joram nodded, and stretched, his long legs emerging out onto the dampened river bed. Gathering the few items they had, while munching on some dried meat they brought, the two siblings left their refuge under the earth. The damp sand, such a change from the parched grains of glass that the siblings were used to, mushed under their feet as they quickly made their way along the empty riverbed.

"Did the stuff fall all night?"

Suz nodded in response to her brother's question. "Bloody annoying stuff. The shit kept jumpin' up an' hittin' me in the face!"

"I dun see any of it now, I'm guessin' it melted." Jor's eyes scanned the ground, and could only find shadowy spots of wet sand.

The rocks and disintegrating logs that littered the dry riverbed were baking in the hot morning light. As they progressed down the river, the shadowy wetness retreated into cracks, eventually disappearing entirely.  In their own heads, both Suz and Joram battled with the thought that the hard rain had simply been imagined. It was gone, no trace. The world was just as parched and barren as it had ever been. The cool air of the night was completely overridden by the heat pouring from the unforgiving sun.

They traveled all day, leaving the body of Joram's friend Mari far behind them, lying unceremoniously with her dead monkeys. The temperature continued to climb, until the air around them wavered with intensity.

     "We gotta stop, Suz. We've not had any real water for almost two days now." Joram fell onto a large boulder, lying on his belly, collapsing himself around the rock. "We ain't gon' find no water, either."

"Well, you certainly ain't. Not layin' around like that, you won't. Getcher arse up, and keep moving. It'll be dark soon, and we ain't any place I want ta sleep."

With a groan, Joram heaved himself off the stone. Sweat dripped from his forehead, and fell with a sizzle on the sand.  He pulled his rough-woven shirt off and wrapped it around his head. Suz, wishing she could do the same, walked swiftly away.

The sun was falling low now, but the heat had yet to dissipate; it seemed to keep climbing, withering the siblings to stumbling husks. Praying for the cool night to arrive, they trudged on, with no destination in mind.

As the bright orange orb disappeared behind the wavering horizon, the sound of hoof beats echoed over the dry land behind them. With no where to hide in sight, Suz and Joram kept walking, hopeful that the riders would pass by them unnoticed. Suz's brown wrap, and her brother's tanned chest and beige pants gave them the hope that they would blend into the landscape of the dry river.

But their luck was not so great. Thundering, the horses dove into the river ravine, moving to surround the two fugitives.

"The Garrison commands you to return. You are wanted for crimes against the state!" The speaker, a man with a shining breast plate over his bare, scarred chest, had a pointed beard gracing his already sharp face.  His expression was cruel, satisfied.

Joram started forward to confront the man, but at a sharp hiss from Suz, held still. Neither of them said anything, simply staring at the hard-faced men above them.