Flight (new version)

Chapter 3: Longing and Memories

The blast of cold water shocked the grogginess out of Max's eyes.

"Ah! Lucy!" he protested, folding his arms against his now-soaked chest.

Max's sister grinned and raised the hose as if to spray again. "What? You weren't doing it yourself."

Max snatched the hose. "I'm not a morning person like you."

And I can't stop thinking about that dream...

The spriggan sighed and gazed back at the black wall where the gardens lay sheltered on the other side. The sun had just barely begun to rise, the sky still blue-black like a bruise. "So why am I here again?"

Lucy gestured at the Grand House several yards away, its four stories of white-painted wood poking out of the ground like a broken bone. "Us house slaves need more help. Hannah said the Master is going to have guests over soon and there's a lot to do."

Max fingered the cold knob of the hose, studying the human-made latch and spring that blocked and released the water inside. "So? I'm supposed to be weeding in the gardens this week with George. Can't the Task Master send one of the slaves from the western shack to help out?"

Lucy shrugged then plopped fresh clothes onto a nearby barrel. "I dunno. I think they're all busy with the horses this week. Except Brett. I heard that he was sent to help you guys in the gardens."

Max's fingers tightened on the hose. "Brett?"

Lucy nodded. "I think so. That's what Hannah said, anyway, and she seems to always know what's going on."

"Great. Not only do I have to work with a bunch of girls, but now George and Brett are going to make fun of me."

"Not all the house slaves are girls!" Lucy protested.

Max gave her a look. "Name one."

Lucy opened her mouth to answer then frowned.

"See? All girls."

Lucy shrugged. "Well at least you get to wear nicer clothes and see the moon."

A sudden flash of mischief lit up her silver eyes, and Lucy lunged for the hose in her brother's hands. Before Max could protest, a cold river of water battered his face.

"Hey!" Max glared at his sister and shook his head, sending water to fly into the air.

Lucy giggled. "And now you get to be clean!"

"Alright, alright! I'm awake!" Max wrestled the hose out of his sister's hands before she could spray him again. "Now go get your fancy Grand House clothes on or whatever it is you're supposed to wear."

"Okay!" Lucy began to run toward a shack close to the Grand House. "I'll meet you by the slave entrance!"

Max smiled as he watched her leave, then stripped off his soaked clothes and began to properly spray the grime off his body.

***

Max found the slave entrance easily enough. It was the only side door with slaves coming in and out. Lucy stood waiting outside, her white house dress making her figure stand out like a shadow.

"You look so different!" she exclaimed, racing over to get a better look at Max's white shirt and black pants.

"Yeah." Max glanced down at the clothes then held up a hand, noticing how light his skin looked now that the layer of dirt had been stripped away.