Heart of the Veldt

by Nona Mae King

  ~@~

  Needless to say, the Veldt enraptured Carol. She “ooh”ed and “ahh”ed at the appropriate times, caressing Gau's ego--if he had one--with melodious laughter and gleaming glances at all his anecdotes. Now, much to Alice's surprise, Carol encircled Gau's arm with both of hers as she followed his gaze to the horizon of the Veldt, beautiful in her awed wonder.

  “Thank you for bringing me, Gau,” she cooed. “I wish I could see the sunset here every day.”

  Gau's ears tinged slightly pink, but his smile remained easy and proud. Alice cleared her throat as she sent Eric a quick glance. He watched Carol with a smirk. Alice frowned and looked away again. “So, are we almost to the center of the Veldt?”

  He zeroed in on her face, serious expression returned. “No go Deep Veldt. Much danger for you--”

  “But I need to go, for my paper.”

  Gau shifted his entire body to face her, as if the action would impress upon her the importance of what he said. “You need do as I say, Alice. Many beasts in center of Veldt. Many monsters I no can protect all from. I no bring you in danger. We be friends.”

  “But, Gau, I need to go to the deepest part of the Veldt or my research is only half done.” Disappointment and panic made her heart thud and her chest tighten. How could he do this to her?

  Gau set his jaw and shook his head. “This as far as I take. Research in center of Veldt too much dangerous to be worth trouble. This Veldt be good for what need.”

  Alice pressed her lips together to keep from arguing. She would simply try again later. She pushed out a fast breath. “All right.”

  Eric shook his head. “Geez, Alice. Not getting to the absolute center of the Veldt isn't going to keep that from happening. You've got a damn good paper written.”

  Alice blinked over at him.

  Eric ran a hand through his hair. When his eyes met hers, his expression was honest and open. “This is your last year here. The last year you'll see all of us before moving to Figaro. Hell! The year's almost over and I've barely seen you outside the classroom. Don't you want to have any fun?”

  She looked away. “There'll be time for that later.” How much longer would the Veldt be able to hold on? She couldn't risk "fun."

  “Oh yeah? When? Over the summer you'll probably be moving, and then you'll want to be settled before school starts up again--” Eric sighed. “Fine. Do whatever you want.”

  Alice shot Eric a frown, noticing Gau's prolonged stare off into the distance. When had she ever noticed him so distracted? Carol and Alice exchanged quizzical glances.

  “Gau?” Carol asked hesitantly.

  Silence. They looked toward each other again, this time Eric joining them with a "What’s wrong with him?" muttered under his breath.

  “G--”

  He gestured for quiet.

  Alice tried to swallow the sudden knot of fear. Even Eric felt the sudden intensity. Jaw clenched, he stepped closer to her and Carol. When Gau took a cautious step backward, the trio did too.

  “We no camp now. I take home.” He turned, urging them back toward town with sweeping motions of his arms. “Now.”

  “Gau, what's the matter?” Alice whispered.

  “No questions. Go.” He hurried them along while casting occasional backward glances to an unknown danger.

  “I'm scared.” Carol's voice cracked.

  Gau rested a hand briefly on her shoulder. “No be scared. I here to protect. You be safe. I promise.”

  But the fact he seemed even a little worried made Alice more than uneasy. In all honesty, and for the first time in her life, she was terrified. Eric held back, and Alice could hear him speaking with Gau in a low voice. When Eric hurried to walk beside the two girls once more, his features were tight and his cheeks pale. It must have been the first time Alice saw him more determined than anything, and she didn't know whether to take it as a bad sign or a good one.

  Suddenly, Gau urged them to the south. “We no make town. We go safe place.” He pointed far in the distance. “See black thing? Caves there. More safer.”

  The trio said nothing. They only quickened their step to a jog, all the while wishing the cave would get closer faster. As the cave began to look more life-scale, Alice believed she heard an unfamiliar animal-like sound behind her. When she would have turned to look, Gau uttered a sharp reprimand and urged them forward faster. Then they plunged into the dark depths of the cave and crouched together in the corner.

  “Where's Gau?” Alice asked in a hushed whisper.

  “Damn! He's still out there!” Eric moved to stand, but Carol grabbed his arm. He glared at her. “Carol, I can't just leave him out there by himself.”

  Carol shook her head, hazel eyes wide with terror. “If you go out there you'll die! Don't you leave us alone in here!”

  Eric shot another look toward the dim entrance of the cave before huddling between the girls. He wrapped his arms around them and drew them close. “Fine. We wait.”

  The ear-shattering wail sounded again. Alice had never heard it before. She turned into Eric's shoulder to clutch his shirt, squeezing her eyes closed so tight that tears escaped the corners. Alice even felt Eric flinch. The shriek sounded again, and she recoiled. I hope he's okay. Please let him be okay . . . . Eric rested his chin against the top of her head, and Alice heard Carol begin to softly cry.