AKLESH (Under Strange Skies) (24 page)

He is in mourning.”

“That’s terrible,” said Gar. “How long ago?”

“Five years.”

Gar stopped in his tracks. “Five years?”

“Yes,” said Cho. “It’s very sad. My heart goes out to him.”

That much was perfectly clear. In Gar’s opinion Hatha didn’t seem very sad.

“Do you think he’ll ever move on,” he asked, trying to probe gently. “Five years is a rather long time.”

Cho sighed as they began to walk up the long stairway.

“Who can tell?” she said wistfully as they ascended. The smitten young woman was getting lost in her own thoughts. Gar was certain they were all about the woodworker.

“Who can tell?” she repeated lazily.

Gar could tell.

***

Tyro’s hunting group was sent away the next day with several others which left only Gar and Kai to retrieve the commissioned piece from Hatha. On the way there Gar confided in Kai his suspicions about the woodworker and Cho.

Gar found Kai’s reply amusing.

“No! That’s not possible. He’s in mourning.” The young prince let the topic rest.

When Gar held the Hatha’s handy-work in his grip he knew it would be perfect. Cho and her brothers were interested in the seeing hovervac in action, but Gar didn’t want to wait for them. When they returned he would be happy to show them how it worked, but at that moment he was eager to try it himself.

They both rushed to the clearing and, using a very sturdy rope, attached the wooden handle to what remained of the steer shaft. It didn’t fit perfectly, but it fit well enough. Gar knew that he had gotten the vehicle back online, but without a way to guide it the effort would have been pointless.

It was a hot day and Kai rested lazily in the grass.

He watched as the young prince worked obsessively, his grey shirt off and tucked into a back pocket like a rag. Gar fiddled with the wiring one last time before he shoved it rather indelicately back in the hole the thick spear had made. He then cracked his knuckles and looked at Kai, sweaty but determined.

“Wish me luck,” he said and attempted to activate the craft.

There was a small shaking from the vehicle, then a green spark shot from the hole. At this point Kai had gotten used to the green sparks, having seen then many times over the past few days.

Nothing more happened before the craft became silent.

Gar scratched his head perplexed and looked at Kai again, who could only shrug his shoulders.

The prince thought for a moment then gave the consol a good whack with his hand.

The hovercraft surged to life and rose about three feet into the air. It made a vibrating noise that filled the space around them with static.

Gar let out a loud whoop and Kai was instantly on his feet. Gar shifted a gear and took off around the clearing, the craft obeying the rotation of the wooden steering device. He did a few laps then pulled up beside Kai.

The look on Gar’s face was one of exhilaration and elation. Kai was sharing these emotions as well, but he didn’t have to read Gar’s mind to know how thrilled the stranger was.

Gar eagerly held out his hand to Kai, motioning him to climb up with him.

“Come on!” he said.

Kai instantly grew dubious at the thought of rushing through the air. Gar rolled his eyes at the native’s trepidation. He was eager to be zooming through the air.

“You’ve already been on bigger ships, Kai,” the prince reminded him.

This was true. Kai had encountered two flying machines already that month, but had not been on neither of them when they were actually
off
the ground and besides, one of them had come crashing into the earth. The idea of floating through the air on some sort of invisible legs made him very nervous.

Gar reached out his hand more insistently this time.

“Take a chance, Kai. I won’t let anything happen.” After much internal debate the tribesman decided to join the stranger on the hovercraft, even though it scared him to death.

But, before he took Gar’s hand he tested the skiff section, pressing down firmly with his good hand. It seemed solid enough. With Gar’s help he climbed on and warily stood up behind him, making sure not to use his bandaged hand for support lest he injure it again.

“What do I hold on to?” he asked, feeling extremely awkward.

“Me!” shouted Gar, who revved the hovervac and took off.

Kai had barely enough time to grasp hold of Gar before they sped away at an alarming speed, the shock nearly knocking the wind out of him. They circled the clearing a few times while Kai got his bearings. It was like riding on a Rasclaan’s back but much more exhilarating. Once he got over his initial fear Kai really began to enjoy the experience.

Gar stopped and looked over his shoulder at Kai to check that his riding companion was alright.

They were both smiling. Somehow it felt better to share his minor achievement.

“You should see the collection I have back home. It makes this thing look like a child’s toy.” Then he started it going again. “Let’s get out of here.”

Before Kai could even muster the air to reply they took off, but this time jutting into the trees on the far side of the clearing away from the Keep. At first Kai was certain they were going to die and inadvertently squeezed Gar tighter than he intended, which made the prince cough. He loosened his grip.

Kai winced, feeling at any moment they would collide with a low branch or overgrown bush but Gar weaved through the trees with expert precision, avoiding any downed ones or large natural obstacles. The young native focused on Gar’s confidence in order to supplement his own.

“How far are the plains from here?” Gar asked.

“Nearly five miles in that direction,” replied Kai, letting go with one arm only long enough to point.

“Easy,” said Gar. There was an edge to his voice and Kai could feel the eagerness emanating from him. The feeling bled to him as well. They took off in that direction and zoomed quickly through the forest. With all the rapid turns and swerves Kai was glad it had been a while since he had eaten.

Soon enough the trees thinned out and they came to the clear white plain. The sun was high overhead and the grass spread out in front of them as far as they both could see.

Kai could feel with his hands Gar’s heart beating wildly under his bare chest.

“This is where it really get fun,” Gar said mischievously, eyeing the horizon. “Are you ready?”

“Yes!”

“Good!”

Gar shifted another hand gear and the hovervac sped off, faster than they had gone before. The wind was racing by them and their hearts were both pumping rapidly, revved up with adrenaline.

Kai had never felt anything like this in his entire life. No one in the tribe had. It was an indescribable emotion made up of thrill, fear and happiness.

And he was loving every moment of it.

Doing something akin to flying had made Gar really happy.

Sure, it wasn’t like rocketing through orbit in a custom made, state-of-the-art shuttle, but it beat the hell out of walking. The added fun was feeling Kai’s buzzing emotions through out. Taking part in the good feeling of someone was an intriguing experience and when that person felt good it was like a drug.

And the young native had been on a high for the rest of the afternoon. When they returned from their little excursion, both out of breath, Kai kept trying to find words to express the feeling of shooting through the air but nothing seemed to work for him. He would look at Gar and try to say something, then smile and go back into his memory of what had happened. It was very funny to see flight through the eyes of someone who had never be through it before. On Orestus it was so common place, even from birth, that everyone took it for granted.

They parted for the rest of the day.

The next time Gar saw Kai was at the evening meal, which was usually a tribal affair by level on the tree. The torches were just being lit and the night was fast encroaching.

Many of the people sat around the larger cooking area eating meat and fruit, talking over the hunt or what things needed to be attended to the next day. Gar found himself on one side, by Seema and Tilo. Kai was on the other end, near the twins and Tyro, all of whom had recently returned from hunting.

The conversations were lively and the area bustled with activity, but Kai and Gar would look up from time to time and see each other, a mutual feeling passing between them. There was the excitement of the daily hunt or the gossip of the day that surrounded them, but none of the people there knew the real action that had taken place right under their noses.

No one there had flown, and it was their own private secret…for the time being. The next day Gar would take Cho and the twins, of course. But, for the moment, flying was between him and Kai alone.

***

That night, when Gar was by himself in the hut that served as his home away from home, his mind turned to a different place – his real home.

Sleep was avoiding him but not for lack of being tired. Working on the hovercraft had been a diversion for him, but using it had brought up another set of emotions. Again, thoughts of Orestus nagged in his mind.

He just couldn’t understand why no one had found him yet. He was one of the most important people in the galaxy, but it was starting to feel like there wasn’t anyone who actually cared. All the planets in the monarchy should have been turned upside down as far as he was concerned.

And he couldn’t bear not being able to see his sister on a daily basis. She was the one person on Orestus he loved and trusted more than anyone…

Weeping.

The sound, faint at first, pulled his attention back into the present.

Gar had thought he’d heard it on occasion over the past few days, but every time it stopped before he could really latch on to its location. It seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere all at the same time.

At that moment, though, it was quite clear.

The sound was mournful, like someone in the pits of despair who had lost everything.

Before Gar knew what he was doing, or even thought enough to put on a shirt, he found himself striding into the center area of the little hut grouping. It was no surprise that he found himself instinctually facing the mysterious fourth hut.

The sound had to be coming from there. He knew it.

So far Gar hadn’t made it a habit of barging into other people’s huts uninvited, but he needed to have an answer. No one had told him he
couldn’t
go in there. He figured it was better to ask forgiveness than permission. He strode across the platform in four long strides and pushed the beaded curtain aside.

It was very dark inside and had the smell of stale bread and dry air. The light from a nearby torch about ten feet away cast shadows through the small window.

Once Gar had pushed into the entryway the crying had come to a sudden stop.

There, sitting on the floor, almost in a ball by the cot, was an old woman. Her face was sad and withered, her eyes were large but showed no signs of tears. The hair on her head had yellowed slightly and was ragged. The frightened woman was now tugging on it nervously with her course, knotted hands, staring at the intruder with unblinking eyes. She had startled him but it was obvious she was no threat.

The old woman showed no obvious signs of neglect. In fact, the hut was tidy enough with a full water bowl on her table. Her simple clothes were clean and neat.

Still, there was something wrong with the whole picture. Something very wrong with her. He couldn’t believe he’d been near her the entire time and had never even caught a glimpse.

A thought came into the Gar’s mind.

Her name is
Orna ‘thal, she’s very shy of
strangers.

He turned his head to see Kai standing just by his right shoulder. The young native’s face and feelings were the same as that of the aged woman, that of great pain.

“Who is-“ Gar started, but Kai held up a hand to quiet him.

Not out loud
, he thought in a firm manner.
You’ll
wake the others.

I don’t see why,
replied Gar.
With the way she
has been crying tonight I’m surprised Tyro’s
whole family isn’t awake.

Kai entered the room and knelt by the woman, who shied away from his touch a little. But, after a moment she leaned into him and allowed him to stroke her back soothingly.
They can’t hear her.

But…

Kai sighed, seeming put out by Gar at the moment, as if he were a small child refusing to understand.

She doesn’t cry out loud. She doesn’t ever do
anything out loud.

But, who is she?
I don’t understand. Why can I
hear her?

In that moment the truth dawned upon Gar.

She’s you mother, isn’t she?

You’re hearing her through me.
Kai sent after a few moment.
I’ve been blocking it from you, so
you can’t sense it. But, sometimes she gets
through. Her pain is great. I’ll try harder to keep
it quiet in the future.