Cathrac the Gilded City

Chapter 9

When Boy came back to camp he understood. He had worked harder than he had in a really long time. His job was to dig the pit traps. He hiked for miles between hunting sites. It didn't help that his fellow hunters were laughing about his ability to keep up. He was fit but he never spent time exercising his legs.

When he got back the golden sun was drooping down towards the horizon. The shadows were just starting to creep and the sky had been painted with a beautiful red gold. The clouds formed odd shapes in the golden sky to play tricks on the mortals down below. The golden sun looked like a sleeping giant, peaceful and powerful waiting to be awakened. As the moon too began to rise on the other side of the forest the sounds of the forest at night began. The bellow frogs mating call was in full swing, and the night ravens agonizing cry was already claiming victims in the night. The crickets were chirping and the wind was whistling. Somewhere in the night a tree creaked and groaned.

He entered the small dwelling that had been allotted to them far from the rest of the village. It was a hill that had been dug into. The displaced earth had been placed around and on top of the dwelling for extra warmth. The inside had nothing but a few logs to support the ceiling. He stopped when he noticed the little girl. She was sitting with her back to the farthest wall. Her bright blue eyes were open wide and her breathing was fast and her whole body was shaking. The terror in her eyes was palpable he could taste it, feel it. He could hear her heart beating faster and faster.

Boy never claimed to know everything and he certainly didn't understand what was happening. He did know that the girl was terrified of him, so he ran right of their little dirt hovel. He sat out by the door, his thoughts racing. He didn't know what he could do. He understood the girl. He would be scared to, he knew what it was like to be in the hands of the stranger. He basically kidnapped this child, he didn't think of it that way, but know the eyes of the law would definitely say he kidnapped her and ignore whoever was abusing her.

He started to hum to himself, but he didn't realize what he was humming. He didn't need to though. Before long he had begun to sing the song that he had first sung to her. For the first time he sang it his voice was coarse and rough as always. The second time he sang it his voice was strong and clear. The third time the bellow frogs and the night ravens fell silent to listen. Than the crickets began to sing in tune with him, next the harsh tones of the night ravens changed from their hunting cries to their soft musical mating cries. The Bellow frogs too learned to croak in time with the music. Even the wind grew silent to listen to Boy sing to the little girl.

Boy did not know the effect that he was having on nature but he could hear the little girls heart rate slow. He could also feel his throat. His thought felt like he had swallowed liquid fire and burned him all the way down to his toes. Twice that night he stopped to cough up blood, it felt like he was coughing up needles. He was afraid that he would lose his ability to speak entirely this time; however, he knew it was worth it. If he could bring this troubled little girl a moment of peace he knew it would be worth it in the long run.

He awoke that morning to the hunters kicking him awake. "That's what you get for keeping us up all night that wretched singing of yours." Boy just covered his head and waited for them to stop then he staggered inside. Inside there was a cup of water on the floor with the little girl sleping peacefully next to it.