Heart of the Veldt

by Nona Mae King

  3: Heroes, Groupies, and Treks on the Veldt

  Alice gathered her things as she caught sight of Gau raising his hand yet again. Probably another mind-boggling question about something no one knows how to explain. He had already done it so many times that Mr. Schultz hesitated before calling on him. Or didn't call on him at all. Gau never seemed to care. He would simply draw some silly little figures on his paper--they more than likely made sense to him--as he listened to the answer of the allowed question.

  Mr. Schultz shook his head now with a smile. “You've exhausted my resources, young man. Come back tomorrow. I’m sure Ms. Aimes can help you.”

  Gau lowered his hand. “You teach many things, Mr. Shultz. Me--” His brows lowered in concentration. “I thank you. Maybe I teach you?”

  Mr. Schultz nodded. “Yes, you definitely have. But for now, I will see you day after tomorrow.”

  Grinning, Gau watched Mr. Schultz exit the building. Then he stood from where he had crouched on the floor nearly all day and gathered his newly acquired school supplies. To Alice's bemusement, almost every single person in her class shared something from their own meager supplies.

  Alice shook her head before moving to stand beside Gau. 'The girls', Carol, and Eric hovered near the rear exit, so she desperately tried to reason some excuse to have Gau use the same exit as Mr. Schultz. Unfortunately, each idea sounded pretty lame. I guess we face the mob and hope to live through the sickening euphoria. There was always a chance. Of course, Eric would present a problem. She hadn't seen him so passive-aggressive since King Edgar stopped by with a donation of supplies soon after his marriage to Terra Branford nearly two years previous. Now that was utterly pathetic.

  “So? What did you think?” she asked Gau. If someone asked her to guess, she would say he thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the experience.

  Gau thought intensely before speaking his answer. “I think school have little time to teach much.”

  Alice smiled. “Bingo.”

  Gau shifted his gaze down to the armload of odds and ends before once more catching her gaze. “I have much here. Need bag like you to carry.”

  She motioned to the side exit. He wouldn't just follow, would he? “We can stop at the store to get something.”

  He fell into step beside her. “When you ready for show of Veldt? I be having much work this night. Maybe tomorrow or next day?”

  Alice cleared her throat. “Well, it's only that the paper is due pretty quick, otherwise I wouldn't have a problem with later in the week.”

  Gau nodded. “Tell what time. I come.”

  Alice cleared her throat again. “I could go now. I mean, after you get your bag.”

  “Now good. Many hours before dark.”

  “All right. Great.” But Carol had left her group to rush upon the pair, her large hazel eyes twinkling like gems and her perfect teeth dazzling. Alice nearly groaned. “Hi,” Carol greeted in her sing-song voice.

  Gau returned her smile. “Hi, Carol. Alice and I go--”

  “Carol,” Alice interrupted, “we're going to the store to get him a bag. Did you want to come?” Gau focused those quick eyes on her. They mirrored a question. She tried to ignore him. I won't get any work done with her tagging along. She felt guilty for thinking it, sure, but the truth was the truth.

  Carol's eyes widened. “Seriously? Of course I want to come!”

  Alice focused on Eric, who still lurked in the background. “Eric, why don't you come, too?”

  Eric gave a snort, of sorts, and a crooked smirk. “Sure. I love spending time at the store shopping. Maybe I'll get a new scarf?”

  Alice shot him a glare, but he pointedly ignored her. Even as she followed Gau and Carol from the building, Eric simply moped along beside her. “Eric, geez, someone might think he stole your toy or something.”

  Eric submerged his hands deeper into his pockets. “Oh shut up.”

  She held him back from Gau's progress to the store with a soft grip on his arm. “Eric, for heaven sake, what's your problem?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Then why are you acting like some master pug who's had his lair stolen from under his nose?”

  Instead of answering, Eric only stalked off toward his house--the armory--in the east part of town. Boys were difficult enough to understand on a regular basis, but this? Alice shook her head before continuing her march toward the store. On the furthest section north of town, rumor had it that Eric's father and the Item Shop owner suffered a falling out over something stupid when they first moved to town. So, Eric's father built his shop on one end of town while Dane, the Item Shop owner, built his on the other. Since then they mended their friendship.

  Alice opened the door of the shop, but she could barely hear the ring of the bell over the chatter from 'the girls' surrounding Gau. While supposedly attempting to help him make the right fashion-conscious choice for a pack, all they succeeded in doing was confusing the poor guy. Before Alice could step up and stop the mayhem and brainless banter, Gau succeeded in getting himself backed against the cashier counter with an armful of alleged necessities he didn't need and probably didn't even know how to use.

  Heaven knew Alice didn't know what most of them were.

  Alice reached Ann first. Blonde and perky, Ann stood a little on the short side, but when you had perfect teeth, perfect bone structure, and skin as smooth as a baby's butt one didn't worry about height. Shooting Ann a meaningful--maybe threatening?--look, Alice noticed it didn’t take the girl hardly any time at all to disappear to a far corner of the shop in search of scarves . . . or something. Who knew? Who cared?

  Raquel was next in the bedlam. Dark-haired and dark-eyed like Alice, Raquel hadn't cultivated her mind. Instead, her gaze glittered with nothing but useless trivia about 'who's who' in school or on the Figaro home nation. Nice to look at according to Eric, a little ‘empty upstairs’ according to Alice.

  Raquel faded from the store without argument.

  Paytha and Lena wouldn't be so easy. Of the four, they were the most vain and the surest of their own importance within the Academy's supposed social structure. Paytha stood tall and slim with violet eyes and pastel blue hair that was, of course, a perfect complement to her cream-like skin. Her good looks made Alice nauseous because Paytha never missed an opportunity to rub it in.

  Lena wasn't as tall, but her thick curls of green hair and pale silver eyes always caught the attention of even the most monogamous boyfriend. In fact, it was Lena's tendency toward boyfriend-stealing that put her on Alice's 'ignore at all cost' list. Alice didn't know what Carol saw in her, and she wasn't willing to find out.

  Alice came to stand beside Gau with a no-nonsense expression, her ponytail practically bristling. “Girls.”

  Paytha and Lena raised perfectly sculpted eyebrows as they delicately crossed thin arms. Paytha looked positively disgusted. Gau, who seemed to always want to make the best out of a bad situation, showed Alice the miscellaneous gobbledygook toppling from his arms with a smile. Aforementioned smile seemed a little uncertain Alice noted, and he didn’t have anything to say. After all, what could he have said?

  “Alice,” Lena intoned, bored. “Haven't you come a little late for your new school wardrobe?”

  Alice focused on keeping her tone civil. “Is that what you're calling it nowadays? I thought a wardrobe was actually supposed to have class and style.” Lame, but who really cared?

  Paytha gave Alice’s usual sturdy Veldt-brown jeans, hiking boots, and dark green tee an arched eyebrow of disdain before casting Lena a 'she's just jealous' glance.

  Rolling her eyes and muttering, “Whatever,” Alice helped Gau purposefully dump all contents from arms to counter. Then she took his hand firmly in hers and led him to the display of bags similar to her own. He chose one--dark brown and forest green compared to her pale yellow and beige--under the close scrutiny of the two remaining fashion divas.

  “Add it to my account, Dane. Thanks.” Then Gau and Alice proceeded from the s
tore. She didn't speak again until they headed down the east path toward home. “Those carnivores didn't hurt you, did they?”

  Gau's expression danced between amusement and confusion. “They harmless. Not too much smart.”

  Alice halted, staring up at him slack-jawed. She laughed and pulled him forward once again. “I am so glad you said that. I hoped I rescued you before they poisoned your mind, but you can never be too sure with those two. It must be a breath-weapon or something.”

  Confusion returned. “Poison mind? You talk in figures again?”

  “Well . . . yes and no.” Alice waved any questions aside. “You've got better things in life to worry about than those two--Hey. Where was Carol during all that anyway?”

  “I not know. She not go into store. I no have time to ask.”

  “Ah yes. The mob.” Gau grinned and Alice continued. “Well, anyway, now that we've got you a bag . . . say, where’s your stuff?”

  “Carol put in her bag on way to shop. Said would need all hands to look.”

  Alice's brow lowered. “And she didn't say anything before taking off?”

  “Taking off?” Gau's face twisted up with concentration as he peered within for any possible meaning.

  Alice smiled. “Leaving. Before leaving.” Gau shook his head. Her brow furrowed. “Hm.”

  “You want me find?”

  Alice raised an eyebrow. “You could do that?” She had a hard time not thinking of him as hound of some kind when he said things like that.

  Gau made a face as if to say 'Of course' before stopping his progress toward Alice's house. Then he tilted his chin up to test the air and immediately crouched to examine the different tracks in the sandy soil. She watched the entire ritual with awed interest. Finally, he smiled and gestured toward the school.

  “Carol and Eric go toward school together. Walk slow--like talking of something that take much thought.”

  Wrinkling her nose, Alice shifted her focus toward the school. “I wonder if it has anything to do with--” She glanced at Gau before self-consciously lowering her gaze to the ground. “Never mind.”

  Gau's smile didn't falter as he straightened. “You think they talk of me?”

  Alice met his gaze. “What makes you say that?”

  “I hear his words when he talk to you before school.”

  She flushed, lowering her gaze again. “Oh. Yeah. Sorry about that.”

  “No need for sorry. I prolly feel same if he come Veldt. This town his 'Veldt'. He protect. He good to do.”

  Alice shrugged. “I guess. He could try doing it without being such a jerk, though.”

  Gau chuckled. “He act on instinct. He no mean to be what you say. It happen. I not hurt or mad.”

  She glanced up at Gau with a hesitant smile. “You're amazing. Do you have any enemies?”

  Gau's smile melted this time, and his gaze drifted toward the school. “He dead now. No worry of him.”

  “Kefka?”

  His gaze grabbed hers. “No speak evil,” he said intensely. “Dead. Gone. No remember bad. Only see and hear good.”

  Alice nodded. “All right. Sure, Gau. I'm sorry.”

  He lifted his usual shoulder in a shrug before pointing toward the Academy. Carol and Eric made their way down the front steps, laughing. Alice watched them, lips in a thin line. When they made it to where Gau and her stood, he greeted them each with a smile.

  Carol returned it with her most beguiling twinkle, presenting her bag. “Shall we separate your books and things from mine now?”

  Gau looked down at his saggy, empty, and brand new pack with a laugh. “Yes. This bag too small and empty. It no look I go school.”

  She adjusted the bag within his hands so that the mouth hung open enough for her to deposit his things. “Don't worry. We'll fix that in a hurry.” She then began separating his goodies from hers with an occasional laugh and smile when she nearly gave him something of hers. He would catch the mistake before the item could be deposited, however, and laugh along with her.

  Alice watched the one-sided flirtation with an amused expression as she hid a smile behind her hand. Even Eric gave the two a smirk as he stuffed his hands into the back pockets of his brown trousers. Carol's got her work cut out for her if she wants this one to notice her as anything more than a classmate. He's nice to everyone. Alice couldn't help but feel sorry for her friend. What did a boy from the Veldt know about relationships?

  Finally, their things were sorted and Carol was attractively devoted to what Gau said about the Veldt. Alice decided to stop the conversation before he unknowingly revealed their own planned escape from town. “Carol, Paytha and the others are waiting for you in the store. They said something about a new wardrobe.”

  “Really? I don't remember anything about a new fashion release. Hey, Eric. Want to come?”

  He sighed before giving a shrug. “Sure. Why not.”

  Once the two headed toward the store, Alice released a sigh of relief and shifted her focus to Gau. “Well? Shall we go?”

  He regarded her for a moment. “Why you no want Carol and Eric come?”

  She flushed and cleared the guilt from her throat before turning to make her way out of town. “Well, I, uh . . . .” She sighed. “Because they would only be in the way.” Alice met his gaze once he fell into step beside her. “I know it sounds horrible but, well, it's just I have so many questions for you about the Veldt.” She looked away. “I didn't want any distractions.”

  His gaze continued to scrutinize her face. “Questions for school?” Alice nodded. “Much hard?” She nodded again. “Why go if hard?”

  “I like learning. I like . . . .” Alice released a deep breath. “I don't want to just exist. I want to live life. I want to help.”

  “‘Help’?” Gau repeated. Then he examined her face for a longer moment before gesturing toward the Veldt. “That why you here much? You help Veldt?”

  Alice smiled. “I'd like to. I noticed it wasn't recovering as fast as everywhere else. I’m trying to figure out why.”

  Gau's gaze switched their focus from her face to the Veldt. “Many times ask same question. Feel pain of home.” He shook his head, lowering his sad expression to the browned grass at his feet. He stopped and crouched, picking up a loose bit of soil in a tender grip. Alice squatted down beside him as he continued. “I try much things to help. I bring fresh water. I bring new seed from forest. I bring plants from Terra's garden and try here.” Gau shook his head, moving his gaze to hers. When Alice reached out her hand, he handed her the dried clump of soil and grass. “No help. Stay same.”

  “Hm.” She brought the soil to her nose. It smells wrong. She wrinkled her nose as she brought her pack around and off her shoulders. Then she pulled out a container and put the soil sample into it, labeling it accordingly before putting it into the pack. Alice met his gaze. “Could you take me to one of these places?”

  “Where I try help?”

  Alice nodded. “I want to see it.”

  Gau shifted his gaze to the Veldt before regarding the sun as he adjusted his new pack on his shoulders. “Not much time for travel, Alice.” He met her gaze. “You good to jog?”

  She slung her pack onto her shoulders again while giving him a nod and a smile. “Lead the way.”

  It never failed to impress her how the Veldt was unlike any terrain Alice had ever seen before! But it didn't matter she had lived on the extreme outskirts of the Veldt for almost three years. Even the very boundary of the wildlands from her town appeared different than what she jogged through now. This was rough and wild, yet smooth and endless in its serenity--adventure waiting to happen. This was the true Veldt: Gau's home.

  Alice's dark eyes couldn't take in the intensity of the expanse that was the Veldt. “It's . . . it's gorgeous.” She met Gau's proud gaze and smiled. “I've never been out this far before. It's so different.”

  Gau shifted his gaze toward the horizon. “Yes. It different on inside, like me.”

  Alice gauged h
is profile. He seemed to be as profound as his homeland, simple and yet intense. A handsome, and sometimes terrifying, exterior hiding the depth and vastness of a gentle soul. Cheeks flushed, she shifted her focus to the opposite horizon. “So, where's this help you did?”

  Gau motioned for her to follow two paces to the north. There he pointed at a wilted seedling with pale leaves and a hardened stem. Alice's heart fell at the sight of the poor thing. She knelt and gingerly touched a petal. It broke off accompanied by a horribly dry crackle. She winced and noticed Gau did the same.

  “Like Veldt steal life from thing.”

  That was the best description someone could have offered. “Yes, it does look like that, doesn't it?” Alice peeked at him as he crouched beside her. His expression was pure and simple helplessness. Poor guy. He wants to help and doesn't know what else to do. She sighed, focusing her attention back to the plant. “Well, I better take it up.”

  “Take up?”

  She nodded as she pulled off her bag to set it in front of her. Once she unbuckled the flap, she retrieved a little trowel and a large container and showed them to Gau. “Yeah. I want as much of the root system as possible, so that I can see if I can find out what it pulled out of the soil that killed it.” His gaze shifted back to the plant. After a moment, she offered him the trowel. “You want to do it?”

  Gau met her gaze. “Fine to do?”

  She pushed the trowel toward him again. “Sure. Go ahead. I'll hold the container.”

  Taking the trowel from her, he absently bit his lip before digging around and under the plant, careful to not hit a single root. When he pulled the small plant from the ground, he used gentle movements and didn't break a single root. Alice was amazed at the tenderness and concern he showed for the plant, even though it was likely beyond saving. More than anyone she met before in her life, this "wild man" loved all life.

  Gau turned toward her, gently holding out the plant as he waited for her to open the container. Then he carefully placed it inside, making sure it was properly balanced and centered. Alice measured a little water from her canteen into the container before screwing down the lid.

  His feral-gold eyes met hers as he offered her a small, thankful smile.

  Alice returned it as she stood. “Well, I guess that's all the time we have. Right?”

  He looked up at the sky, the sun's position, and myriad other things before once again meeting her gaze. “We make good time here, so no have to jog back. Give time to answer questions.”

  “I appreciate that, Gau.” They headed back toward Border once she carefully slipped the pack onto her back. “Is it like this everywhere?”

  He gave a slow nod. “Different in Deep Veldt, but only little. Mostly same. No grow. Only slow death.” Gau looked to the far horizon. “Slow death.”

  “I'm sure it's not that bad.” She tried to offer him a reassuring smile when he glanced over at her. “Come on. You’ve got to try and keep your hopes up.” Although she could understand how the death could weigh on him, seeing it day in and day out. How would she feel if her garden were the only place left in the world where Death seemed to vacation?

  Gau's lips tilted upward in a smile. “Me grumpy like Rhinox.”

  “Just don't be a Baskervor,” she said, laughing. “I've had enough of those to last a lifetime.”

  He chuckled, and to Alice it almost sounded like the purr of a large cat. “You only person from town to go so deep on Veldt. Why no feared of what be here?”

  She gave a shrug. “I don't know. I've never been scared of the Veldt. It's been more like a place to have adventures.” Even now she tried to recall even one moment when the terrifying stories told of the Veldt over campfires and under blankets gave her even a moment's pause. She shook her head. "I never thought of it as someplace where scary things happen. Well, at least, not to me."

  “Baskervor very dangerous. Could hurt you much. You still think Veldt not full of much danger?”

  “Now, don't misunderstand. I never said it wasn't dangerous. I'm just not scared of it. I guess I figured that if I left them alone, or didn't threaten their home, they'd let me be about my business.” She smirked. “I must have stumbled into that particular Baskervor's territory on the worst day possible. Maybe I disrupted a tea-party or something. What do you think?”

  Gau examined her face and eyes for a long moment before looking away. “Baskervor mad. Instincts twisted and dark.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “I be tracking Baskervor long time.”

  Alice smiled. “Lucky for me.” Gau's lips twitched upward, but this time he didn't meet her gaze. “So, are you up to coming to school tomorrow?”

  This time his gaze met hers. “School no done. Right?”

  “No, it's not, but, well, you suffered through quite the experience. Just wanted to make certain you didn't need to change your mind.”

  “You think I feared of school?”

  Alice laughed. “Heavens, no! I thought the teachers might be scared of you.”

  “Why? Me ugly?”

  Her smile vanished and she halted. So did he, and she could clearly read the seriousness in his stoic expression. “Oh my gosh, Gau. I didn't mean it like that. I was talking about all the questions you asked Mr. Schultz, or tried to anyway. That's all.” His bright golden-green eyes released the confusion and twinkled. “Have people called you ugly?” How they could even believe a morsel of that description amazed her. Gau rivaled Eric in the realm of good looks.

  Giving a one-shouldered shrug, Gau once again headed toward town. Alice fell into step beside him. “They say many thing, but me think it 'cause feared of what don't know.”

  “You're a teen who lives on the Veldt. What's to know?”

  Gau's eyes shifted in a sidelong glance. “That no sound strange, Alice?”

  “What?" She blinked at him. "That you live on the Veldt? Should it?” How many times did she wish that she lived on the Veldt? Too many to count. He shrugged. Alice examined his profile--a zing from her foot drew her attention. A field serpent slithered by, and she stopped to stare after it. “Oops. I think I scared it. Sorry, little fella.” Gau hunkered down to look at her foot. Alice noticed and moved her focus to him. “What?”

  “Lift foot.”

  “Huh?”

  He tapped the toe of her boot. “Lift foot.”

  Alice gave a shrug as she did as directed, resting a hand on his shoulder for balance. So poised, Gau took her foot and rested it upon his knee before then untying her hiking boot and slipping it off.

  Watching in amazement, Alice voiced “What in the world are you doing? Wouldn't I have felt it if it bit me?”

  Gau didn't say anything. All he did was closely examine her shoe, touching it here and there for something. She could only guess that he looked for bite marks. Next, he took off her sock and examined her foot.

  “I'm glad my feet don't stink.”

  Alice thought she heard the slight purr of his chuckle, but he didn't move his gaze to hers so she couldn’t say for sure. Finally, he slipped her sock back onto her foot, put her shoe on, and tied it just as comfortably as before. Then he set her foot on the ground and straightened, setting out for her home as if nothing happened. Alice stared after him a moment before hurrying to catch up.

  “What was that all about?”

  “No feel bite of that snake.”

  “Why not?”

  He shrugged. “Just don't.”

  She examined his profile. “How would you know that . . . unless you were bitten by it before!”

  Gau nodded. “Was much sick for days.”

  “Oh,” she said in a quiet voice. Alice cast him another sidelong glance, but he still stared straight ahead. “Thanks.”

  “You welcome.”

  “Hey, Gau.” She stopped. So did he. “Do you think you could take me out a little deeper tomorrow?” At his obvious reluctance, Alice altered her request to “Even if you just show me the other place where you've tried to
help the Veldt.”

  Gau lowered his gaze to the ground at his feet as he mulled the idea over. “Bring others?”

  Alice hesitated this time. “Um . . . well . . . .” Why would she want to bring anyone else? They wouldn't understand--nor care--about the Deep Veldt. At least, not like the two of them did. Could she even imagine Carol roughing it in the Deep Veldt? It nearly made her scoff simply thinking about the prospect!

  Raising his gaze, Gau pressed “Better if go on Veldt with more than two. Safety in numbers. Always so.”

  “Not yet. After we get some more samples cataloguing the stuff you've done. All right?” He gave a nod, and Alice only just kept herself from releasing a relieved sigh.

  “What you smell, Alice?”

  She met his gaze. “I'm sorry, what?”

  “The Veldt. Before. You make strange face when smell. Why?”

  “Oh. That.”

  She stopped, slipping her pack off to unbuckle it and take out the small container. Once she set her pack on the ground, she unscrewed the lid so he could smell the soil within. His nostrils flared slightly before he raised inquisitive eyes to hers.

  “Smells kind of stale, doesn't it? Almost has a bit of an acidic burn, yeah?” He gave a brief and slow nod as she sealed the soil back up again. “Healthy soil should have a definite smell of damp. Right? There should probably be somewhat of a moldy smell, too, because of the bacteria and nutrients that feed the plants.”

  Alice picked up her pack, putting the container back inside before slinging it back over her shoulders. When her eyes focused on his face, she noticed he intensely examined her. She smiled. “Oh please. I bet you already figured that out.”

  “Yes, but I no meet one other who do. You explain good what wrong.”

  Chuckling, Alice started again toward town. “Thanks. I try.” Her stomach chose that time to growl. “Oh boy. I'm afraid that was me.”

  Gau grinned. “You make sound big enough to scare Doom Gaze away. Why you no bring food to eat?”

  Alice laughed. “I forgot. All I could think about was getting out here.”

  “We be hour from town,” Gau observed, smirking. “Wait that long? Or begin eating samples we take?” Her stomach grumbled again, so Gau didn't give her a chance to answer. “I get something. You wait here.”

  Alice sat as he loped off. She pulled out a little memo pad and pencil. She could hardly wait until tomorrow. I hope he takes me where he took the water. I would so love to see the reaction. If there is a higher level of acid than there should be . . . I wonder what I'll find? She chewed the tip of her pencil. But what would be causing a high acid content? Some type of balance was completely askew, and she couldn't wrap her mind around it at the moment.

  Gau suddenly squatted beside her, presenting her with a handful of jerked meat. She stared down at the strips and pieces, utterly flabbergasted. “How in the world could you have gotten these already?”

  He sat, crossing his legs as he popped a smaller piece of jerky into his mouth. “I travel all Veldt. Never know when or where be. So bury food in many places.”

  “Oh. That makes sense.” She bit off a piece and gasped. “Heavens! This is so yummy. You should sell it at the Item Shop.” He shrugged, eyes twinkling as he gazed off at the distant horizon. “I'm serious, Gau,” she pressed. “This is great stuff. I'd buy it, and even pester you for the recipe.”

  He looked over at her. “No need buy. I give when want.”

  “But it must have taken you a long time to do.” She swallowed her mouthful of the luscious jerky. “I can't just take it!”

  “Why not? Have plenty. Make much all time. You need, you take.”

  “But--”

  He stood with a slight smile. “We go. Time go fast, and me still have much work do before sleep.”

  “But--”

  “Alice.” Gau met her gaze, offering a hand to help her stand. He pulled her to her feet, his grip warm and firm. “Alice, giving food is least can do for pay of help with Veldt. You take.”

  And when he held her gaze with that intense expression, the seriousness set her back on her heels. How could she refuse when, seemingly, he believed his jerky was the only thing he had to give her as suitable payment. She nodded. "Sure, Gau. Of course."

  He smiled, relief softening the expression in his eyes as he inclined his head in a single nod of thanks.