Crossover

Chapter 5: Let's Go

Zedron sent me to fill up the water tank from the pump in the square while he went to get his camel. It was good too, because camels didn't like me.

He had helped me move the carriage to the square, close enough to the pump so that I could put the water directly into the tank. It weighed a lot less that I would have guessed and the two of us were able to move it easily, although I think he probably could have done it himself.

I had to manually pump the water up from the well. Each pump from the heavy iron handle let out a large slosh of water down into the tank that sat under the carriage. I found the design of the carriage to be quite clever actually. The inside area was covered with a waterproof tarp which also blocked the light from coming in so someone could sleep during the day, and all extra space below and behind it was storage for food and water. It really was a little house on wheels.

I kept pumping in the water as Zedron brought over his camel. It was a large scruffy thing and Alia would have loved it. But I hated them, the awful things were stubborn as a tirako but with even more attitude.

Once the main tank was full, I started filling the smaller water bladders. They had corks in the top and as the mouth was small, water sloshed everywhere as I tried to fill them.

Zedron poked his head around the corner of the carriage. "Almost done?" he asked.

"Yes." I said. "You ready to go?"

"Almost," he sighed. "Brent's being a right ondebrilla and won't let me attach him to the buggy." He popped back to his camel, and I could hear a low pitched grumbling sound like one of the helicars on Nova. I assumed it was the camel speaking, not Zedron.

I popped the cork in the last bladder, and placed it in the storage at the back, beside the boxes of food. I was surprised by the amount of food there; I assumed Zedron was quite short on the money front. I guess this was worth everything he had.

The handle had left behind smears of rust and grease on my hands, so I rinsed them off using my foot to pump it. The trickle of water produced cool rivulets that ran down my arms, cooling me off. I ran some of the excess water through my hair, trying to keep the greasiness at bay. It was days since I had a shower last.

I took one last look around the Dune City, with its markets and short stubby apartment buildings. People were milling around the store fronts, and carriages rode by on the roads. This was the last look of civilization for at least a day or so.

Zedron was already seated on bench at the front, pulling on leather straps that controlled the brakes and steering for the carriage.

"The buggy is set." He said. "Come on up."

He extended his hand down to me, pulling me up to the seat beside him. When I was seated comfortably, he pulled out something from under the bench and handed it to me. It was something wrapped in a thick cloth. "Here. Just to be safe."

"What is it?" I asked.

"It's a gun." He admitted. "Things have changed in the last few years. The road can be dangerous at times."

"What about you?" I asked.

He lifted up the bottom of his loose-fitting shirt and I saw the handle of a gun peeking out from above his waistband.

I nodded.

"Let's go, shall we?" he said, and pulled on the straps to release the brakes. He clicked his tongue at the camel, and we were off.

Hold on Alia, I thought. I'm coming to get you.

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Hours passed in silence. Well, silent except for the camel, which snorted and snickered every few minutes. The road we travelled wound though the dunes, heading for the mountains. It was pressed dirt for paving the whole thing would have cost far too much, and it would have been hard and labours work.

I fiddled with the gun the whole time, gripping it and flipping it from hand to hand. It was such a reminder of working for Norami that it scared me.

'It's the price for your gift,' they tell me. 'You owe us.'

The dunes rose high on either side of us, perfect for an ambush. I understood why he gave me a gun. I opened it, checking for how full it was. Full mag. I flipped it closed again.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Zedron asked out of the blue.

"No thoughts," I responded. "Just old memories."

"Memories are a real ijou, huh?" he said.

I nodded in agreement. We clopped along at a steady pace, the carriage bumping along the road. Looking back towards the city, I saw nothing but sand. The dunes blocked my view.

"Can this animal go any faster?" I snapped. The sun was already beginning to set, spreading colours across the horizon and progress felt maddeningly slow.

"Not really." Zedron said. He gave a small tug on the straps to help turn the carriage around the winding corners of the road. "What are you in such a hurry for anyways?"

I snorted. "You've probably figured it out already, smart-ass."

He was silent for a moment before speaking again. "So who is he?"

"He?"

He sighed. "Your mission. It's obviously a person whom you care deeply about. But if it was a parent, sibling or friend you would have told me about it already. So, I can only assume it's a guy-friend."

I was going to tell Zedron that it was none of his business, but what was the point? After this I was never going to see him again. He'd probably know I was lying anyway.

"Her name's Alia." I admitted.

"Her?" He glanced at me, rather shocked. "Look, I don't mind which way you swing, but I really didn't peg you as that type," he said.

"It's not like that." I said. "Alia is my daughter."

"How old?" he asked.

"Two." I said. "They just took her from me." The pang of guilt and hurt was back. It twisted my stomach and pricked at my eyes. "She must be so scared."

He looked over at me, acknowledging the pain he saw in my eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." I said. "I just need to get her back."

Zedron wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me in to rest my head on his. I didn't care at this point. The tears were coming, and for the first time since she was taken I just let them come. I couldn't be strong all the time.

"I'll get you her, okay?" he said.

I nodded in response, not trusting my own voice to stay steady.

"Look, it'll be getting dark soon. Why don't you go rest for a bit?" he suggested. "I can drive for a few hours more, then I'll wake you for some dinner."

"Okay." I said, sitting up on my own again. I realized I'd left small wet droplets on his shoulder from my moment of weakness.

"You can use the bedroll there if you want. I got an extra one 'cause I figured I may be taking a passenger."

"Thanks"

"No problem." He replied.

While the carriage was still moving, I shimmied over to the door, using the strategically placed handles to maneuver myself inside. I closed the door and curled up on the thin mattress I had woken from earlier this day.

I stared into the dark, willing myself not to cry. Was I too young for this, too young to be a mother? Was this my punishment for loving someone? For the first time, I regretted having Alia. I could imagine what they were putting her through and it scared me more.

No matter my bad choices, she was my baby. I had to get her back.

I lay there on the thin mattress for a few minutes, until the repetitive jostling of the ride rocked me to sleep.