Earth's Revival

10 - The Farm (pt 2)

"-and then the farm over there is owned by our friends. It's mostly grain. Not like the produce here-" Sidnio trailed off. "You're not listening to me, are you?"

Rory was not. He was examining a handful of dirt, feeling the loamy texture between his thumb and forefinger, trying to separate the dirt and any noticeable minerals.

"S-sorry," he said, dropping the soil back to the ground. He and Sidnio had been working at the plot for at least an hour now. Sidnio had tried to engage Rory with talk of farming which only worked for about a half hour.

Rory stopped listening when he became fascinated with the quality of the soil.

Sidnio chuckled. He wiped at his forehead with the back of his palm, leaving a smear of dirt on his skin.

"No worries. Hey, we got about three rows done. Not bad for your first time farming."

Rory took another bulb from the sack to plant. He was sweaty, grimy, and covered in dirt. The bandage on his right hand had not protected his cut from the farming.

"Thanks," he said, unable to hold back a grin. "It... it wasn't as bad as I thought."

Sidnio let out a chuckle. "What were you expecting?"

He shrugged. "Something back-breaking, I guess. But it was fun. Reminds me almost of the greenhouse in the botany center, except, greener."

"Greener than a greenhouse?" Sidnio asked.

"Well, you see," Rory started, "it's not actually green, the colour I mean. Well, it is, but it's really named after the greenhouse effect. You know, when the gases get trapped within the atmosphere-"

"He was joking."

Leissi's voice cut him off as she walked behind him to get to a grove of trees to his left. She didn't stop or look at him, just kept walking, slowing down only to let out a remark.

Rory reddened and he returned to his work. Sidnio shot his sister a sideways glance through half-narrowed eyes. He shook his head and pushed some of his hair away from his face.

"Don't worry about her," he said. "She's usually like this."

"Oh. Why?"

Sidnio laughed, trying to suppress it by biting his lower lip. He gestured to his left, to the opposite side of the farm where a long row of bushes stood. He rose to his feet, grabbing the nearly empty sack and dragging it to the other end of the dome. Rory followed suite. There, he picked up two baskets. He handed one to Rory.

"Only pick the red berries," he said.

Rory blinked and looked down at the plant. It was a tall leafy bush with clumps of ripe red berries dangling off the stems. A few unripened green ones clutched to the stem, surrounded by delicate white flowers. They were small, maybe the size of the end joint of his thumb

Sidnio began plucking berries off the plant, tossing them into his basket. Rory mirrored him.

"So, my sister. She wants out of the farm."

"Oh."

Sidnio shrugged. "You don't seem to understand."

"Usually don't," Rory muttered.

Sidnio chuckled. He threw a few berries into his mouth and continued to work. Rory froze, staring at the Aysel in horror.

He noticed Rory's shock and stopped.

"What?"

"Y-you eat the food?" Rory asked hesitantly.

"What? You think because we're Aysel we survive on other sources of nourishment?" He chuckled and ate another few berries, this time picking from the basket.