My Little Bird | Blue Eyes (Under minor grammatical editing)

Chapter 10

I grunted as I cranked a lever multiple times, rust cracking off under my fingers, leaving red dust and dirt all over my hands. I took a deep breath and cranked the lever again, pulling with all my strength. Finally, the jammed lever gave in and lowered almost to the floor as I let out another grunt of strain. As soon as the lever had gone all the way down, a rumbling sound shook the dam and the sound of rushing water filled my ears. I looked up and seen the pipes vibrating and dust and rust falling off as the water jetted through them. My face split into a grin and I ran up a flight of stairs to the main workings room and checked the gages and readings. All working.

"I did it." I whispered to myself. "I did it!" I said louder, backing away from the control desk and leaning my back against the railing behind me, wiping the dirt off my forehead.

A pair of thuds beside me alerted me to the arrival of Rocket and Blue Eyes. Blue Eyes was looking around at the dam as it kicked into gear, jumping slightly at some of the sounds. Rocket, on the other hand, was staring right at me, and I met his green gaze excitedly.

"I did it!" My sentence ended with a girly giggle. I was ecstatic that I was able to complete my assignment, and given the days I had been able to work on it, I had accomplished successful functioning of the dam within four days. I got giddy at the thought as pride washed over me.

"What does this mean?" Rocket signed, I supposed he was asking for clarification.

"The dam is running again. Now I just need to check if it worked. And I can't do that until nightfall." I said. "If it worked, the city will glow." I added, more to myself.

Rocket heaved a sigh. "Let's get back then, unless there's more for you to do."

I shook my head. "Let's go back." I agreed with the older ape.

They and the other apes inside lead me out of the dam. One of the younger males, barely even out of child years, even held out his hand for me to help me get across the logs, the little gentleman. I heard an irritated huff behind me but when I looked I seen no clues as to who made the sound. When we had descended the lumber, I thanked the little gentleman, who beamed and nodded before scampering off toward two older apes. I giggled at his cuteness and continued following the apes back toward the village.

I was glad that the apes no longer crowded around me when I was being escorted through the forest, and I was allowed to walk in my own personal bubble of space. We made it half way through the forest to the village when I realized I had forgotten my tool belt in the dam. I had taken it off because one of the tools had been digging into me and I didn't need it once I started the finishing touches on the dam. Now, it seemed in the midst of my excitement, I had forgotten it. I swore under my breath and turned back, only seeing about ten or so apes behind me, luckily one of them being Blue Eyes.

He caught my eye as soon as I had turned around, and signed. "What is it?"

"I left my tool belt in the dam. I have to go get it." I explained.

He hesitated before nodding. "Let's go."

"You don't have to if you don't want to." I said, remembering how he had missed breakfast this morning and had been with us at the dam all day. He must have been starving, but he could get a snack when we got to the village, going with me would just delay his return. He gave me a look.

"Don't be silly." He shook his head.

"Are you sure? It's not that far, if I run I'll catch up in a few minutes." I persisted. He gave me a strange look. He glanced back at the group, who had kept walking on.

"I'll wait right here. But take this." After he signed that, he took the spear in his hands and snapped it in half with a splintering crack. He handed me the end with the stone tip and nodded. "Hurry."