Humanoid (Dream Warriors Book 1)

Chapter 31

CHAPTER 31

I settled into a logical routine those first few weeks at the Research Centre, focusing on tasks set by the Director and helping my fellow students around the compound. We spent hours weeding at the local beach, uprooting non-indigenous flora and cutting back poison vines in areas designated for specific regeneration or rehabilitation. Arrow vines damaged or suppressed the growth of indigenous trees, and kudzu shaded weaker saplings, forcing them to collapse.

Singapore daisies infected several beaches in the local area, so the Director introduced an herbicide as part of the ongoing fight against weeds. Although a labour of intense activity, the overall results were amazing, with negligible impact on native species. We sprayed an enormous section at the edge of nearby Noah Beach to control fresh shoots sprouted from seeds transported downstream during flooding the previous summer. Digging out stubborn roots to prevent re-sprouting, I recalled Noah was the closest habitable location to Thornton Peak.

Except for the odd blip, time spent with the other students and interns directed my thoughts away from obsessing over Jalun. There were no televisions on site, with limited Internet coverage available at the lab. Out of necessity, we returned to the basics for evening entertainment. I enjoyed playing cards with Lifen and Alyssa, teaching them Gin Rummy and other old games I'd learnt from Grampy.

Lifen never left home without her Mahjong set. She taught me the rules and shrewd moves during our free time. An outstanding teacher, fair yet brutal, she refused to let me win from the outset, bringing on my inner competitive nature and an obsessive determination to beat her. The first game I won, I disturbed the entire camp with my whooping. Instead of being angry, Lifen beamed with pride—the pupil having beaten the teacher.

Alyssa, for all her naivety, turned out to be an excellent roommate, and we often chattered late into the night. She spoke extensively about her older brother, Troy, who joined the army straight out of school. She also volunteered as a young first aider with St. John's Ambulance, gaining her free access to multiple festivals, concerts and football matches.

Lifen slept in the other top bunk, Jessica on the bottom. I swear those two could sleep through a World War, oblivious to the sporadic giggles erupting from mine and Alyssa's side of the room. I think they struggled to understand our sense of humour, preferring to be listeners rather than talkers.

Jessica astounded Alyssa and I the most. She left the cabin looking like a top model, even when she wore shapeless combats and oversized shirts. We often gawped at her. Okay, so maybe a little creepy, except she found our reaction highly amusing. However, Lifen appeared unaffected by her discernable beauty.

Gabriela and Klara shared the cabin opposite ours, the larger of the two rooms not presently occupied. They visited every evening to hang out with Jess. And often spoke to Gabby in Spanish because our Mediterranean friend's English was atrocious. How she managed at university baffled me, although Klara verified the woman excelled at conservation.

From the get go, our daily routine kicked off with the six of us in our block walking to the canteen together for breakfast, Klara and Gabriela meeting us outside, today being no exception. I breathed in the earthy scent of the forest, which conjured up an image of Jalun. Shaken by the uninvited memory, I shook the thought away. Now is not the time to obsess over him.

Surrounded by lush green vegetation and a cacophony of chattering, whooping and screeching birds, we followed the worn track, sweat building upon our skin with the slightest exertion. George opened the double doors of the canteen and a welcome whir from rickety fans rotating in an imperfect circle hit us, wafting around cooler air in light relief from the growing humidity developing outside. Trailing behind George and Matt, I proceeded to the self-service area with Lifen. We greeted Faith with a bright 'Good morning' and acknowledged one of the local volunteers filling warming containers with tasty scrambled eggs and bacon.