Traveler in the Dark

32

Rebecca tried to reach the Wolfinger but the feed was too patchy to get anything more than a low, senseless audio whine from it. She tried speaking to them, hoping the ship was better at picking up the signal than her filament, but she had no idea if they heard. She could only hope Spixworth had persuaded them to wait. They wouldn't really leave without her, would they? They'd at least send someone to find her, surely, to try one last time to convince her to go. But Alice's grim resolve had shaken her. She shook off the doubt. Spixworth had promised to come back, one way or another.

There was a low whir beside her and she looked over as Issk'ath's eyes blinked to full illumination and it rose on its legs to its full height. "That was faster than I expected," she said.

"Conversations are faster when the conventions and form of language are unnecessary."

"What did you decide?"

"The colony was hesitant, there was much debate. There are several that do not wish the iteration to end. They believe it is fitting. But most have agreed that the current situation is not optimal. Some of them fear space, though. They were reluctant to leave the other nests. If I leave, they will no longer be able to speak with their companions stored in other Guardians. Our communications network does not extend to the sky."

"You— you can speak to the others?"

"I could, but I do not. The colony does not usually welcome my overtures. And the Guardians, themselves, are terminated. They do not hear or respond." Issk'ath had not yet mastered inflection and it was odd to feel a wave of empathy after the flat, factual statement, but Rebecca felt its loneliness in her gut.

"I'm sorry," she said.

"There is no need to iterate. You have done nothing wrong," it said.

"It isn't guilt that made me apologize— not an iteration. It's sympathy. I feel badly because of your distress," she explained.

"Then perhaps I should iterate?"

A wry smile twisted from her at the misunderstanding. "No— never mind, I'll explain it later. I need to know what you and the colony decided, I think the Wolfinger—" she paused. What if she were wrong about Issk'ath's intents for them? What if it secretly meant harm? "I need to know your decision," she concluded, opting to keep Alice's plan to herself for the moment.

"The colony agrees that we should aid you. Our departure will likely be for a limited time, and we have never seen the sky. And your people fascinate them. They think helping you thrive here might be an appropriate atonement."

"And you? Will this make you happy?"

"I am appreciative of your concern, Emery. Yes, joining you would be optimal for me as well."

"The others— my others, are hesitant about you. They think you mean harm to them. Or to our families."

"It is a logical belief. We know little about each other. I, too, have reservations. But if I do not join you, your people will still come to this place. They will find me again. A season, a hundred seasons, I will still be here, unchanged. I wish to change. I wish to acquire new data. And if your people do not accept me, they will spend valuable time trying to acquire data that I have already accumulated. Your records indicate this glitch— the Spindling, makes efficiency a priority. We need each other."

"Yes," agreed Rebecca, "but we may have to convince the others. We should return to the Wolfinger. I believe the captain may have shortened the time until we take off."

"I— we are ready," said Issk'ath and led her back toward the ramp.

Rebecca tried the feed again, hoping the open hole above them would make the signal stronger, but gave up after a few attempts. She had a chilling idea that perhaps they weren't answering because they'd already left. She tried to concentrate on her footing and the growing light instead of her worry. Issk'ath glided along behind her. She tried the feed again, the audio stuttering between silence and bursts of white noise in her ear. Something sat in the middle of the narrow ramp ahead. It was still too far to make out what it was, but she knew it hadn't been there before. A box? A case? Rebecca froze.

"Are you in distress, Emery? Your interior system sounds more rapid than usual."

Had Titov and Stratton used all of the explosives in the isolation chamber or had there been more? Rebecca couldn't remember. She wasn't even sure she'd known in the first place. They wouldn't trap her down here, would they? Spixworth wouldn't let them. Alice— she'd thought Alice wouldn't let them, but now she wasn't so sure. She hurried forward and Issk'ath gamboled after.

It was Spixworth's sample case. She sagged with relief. He must have put it down to catch up with Alice. She laughed and shook her head. Of course, they hadn't intended to blow up the nest while she was inside.

"What is it, Emery?" asked Issk'ath.

"I thought— it doesn't matter. Let's just get back to the others." She picked up the case and fiddled with the feed again, taking a step forward. She lurched sideways as the ground crumbled beneath her.