Halapatov

Chapter Five

The next two days passed without incident. My father came in a rented buggy to pick up Sophie and I from the previously-arranged rendezvous point at the edge of the rainforest. We'd been tired, sweaty yet grinning like maniacs, and dad had just shaken his head at us and then helped us into the vehicle. As we drove away I'd looked back to the jungle where I'd spent three exhausting days, and stored every happy moment from our trip forever in my mind. I couldn't have been gladder to go home, but at the same time I was pretty sure that I would never experience any adventure like that one again, and I knew I would miss it.

Once we arrived home, Sophie and I eased back into our usual routine. We went for walks, in the parts of the forest that hadn't been obliterated in a fire started by the Weraynian two weeks ago now, into town, we hung out at my place, chatting and doing chores, we helped mum with her stall, and Sophie fiddled with devices at dad's work and everywhere else. I booted up our data unit to contact Leila on that first day back, and my face fell when I saw that she still hadn't replied to my original message from days ago.

Trying not to let emotions overwhelm me, I slumped back in my chair, feeling a sharp sense of loss.

"Abi, what's wrong?" Sophie asked from across the room where she had been scanning a produce list my mother had given her to add into her report on Flauraan, looking up to see my slouched figure.

I straightened and ran my hands through my hair, which was out and a mess, wishing I could connect with my old friend again. "Oh, it's just that Leila hasn't answered. It's making me miss her more than I already do."

Sophie was silent for a moment and I looked over to see an expression of deep contemplation on her face. She was trying to find a solution to my problem. Finally she spoke up. "What if I-"

"Tried to set up the messaging system to alert her through an alarm or vibration of her data unit?" I instantly guessed what her suggestion would be, and guessed correctly to by the way she scrunched up her nose. "No Sophie it wouldn't work." I knew the system would already be alerting her automatically, so a manual override by my technologically inclined friend would not help in any case.

"Well then how-" she tried again but I was on a roll.

"Can you help? You can't." I shot her down instantly, and then felt bad at the look on her face. I twisted round and stood up, stretching. "Don't worry about it, Soph. The only real solution is to see her face to face, and she's on another planet so that's improbable. Now get back to your report."

Despite my attempt to push aside the subject, Sophie still sat there a few seconds longer thoughtfully before delving back into her digi-file. I shook my head, turned off the data unit, and exited the room, heading for my science books. That was another thing I'd been doing since we got back; studying medicinal science. I just really wanted to be a healer, and there was so much to learn and know that I felt like I'd be reading forever, but I knew it was important if I wanted to heal people. There was no way to know what kind of sickness or injury I could encounter in future, and I wanted to be ready.

Of course, I had years to prepare for that course, so theoretically I didn't need to study any time soon. Realistically though I was kind of obsessed, and my recent encounter with the Weraynian had shaken me and caused me to view life in a whole new light. All lives were precious, and I was willing to do whatever I could to preserve them, as I feared the coming war.

It was something no one really talked about. I mean, the news talked about it, the leaders talked about it, countless scientists and members of the military talked about it as they worked towards it, but civilians in general avoided the topic altogether. I suppose we were all scared, paladanians especially because we knew the statistics, we understood what another war would mean. Death and destruction and conquest, all so the Weraynians could satisfy the alterations to their DNA which had them convinced it was the right thing to do.