Heart of the Veldt

by Nona Mae King

  ~@~

  “Well, if it isn't the best looking lady on campus.”

  Alice hunkered down in her seat at the library with a cringe. “Hi, Riley,” she mumbled.

  He leaned against the table and crossed his arms. “Cutie said you were here. I thought I'd drop by and say 'hello' and see if I could persuade you to come out for some food.”

  Realizing he wouldn’t leave her alone until she actually went through with it, she sat up and grabbed her purse and jacket. “Fine. Let's go,” she sighed. Alice made a face as he hurried to fall into step beside her. “So, where to?”

  “I've got a table set up in the cafeteria.”

  “How romantic.”

  Riley chuckled and ran a hand through his hair. “Yep. Yep. Yep. I know. Girls go wild for it.”

  Alice rolled her eyes. “I hope you're joking.”

  “You know, you need to relax a little. I'm glad I came along when I did.”

  “Oh, yes. Will miracles never cease.”

  Riley shook his head. “Oh I love those woman with blatant hostility towards men.”

  She shot him a dark glare. “I don't have hostility towards men.”

  “Oh. Then it's just me.”

  Alice looked away with a brief shrug. “Hey, if the shoe fits.”

  Riley laughed. “You know what, this is kind of fun.”

  “Yeah. A riot.”

  He opened the door for her leading from the stairwell into the second story hall and then motioned her to the left toward the cafeteria. “So, where're you from.”

  “A town called Border, believe it or not.”

  “What?”

  “It's on the border of the Veldt, so that's what they called it.”

  “So that's why you're studying Environment.”

  Alice shrugged as he opened the doors into the cafeteria for her. A corner table had a vase with a single flower and an unlit candle in the center. Her stomach fluttered and then dropped to her heels.

  “I don't suppose you're taking any writing classes?”

  “Nope. Well, there's the research paper class I'm taking.”

  “Bummer. I already took that class. Last semester.” Riley snapped his fingers. “Oh well. I'll just have to keep popping in and kidnapping you to dinner.”

  “Oh could you? Thank you ever so much.” She made her voice drip with sickening sweet damsel-in-distress-ism.

  “For this witty repartee? Any day of the week.”

  Alice grumbled under her breath as he pulled the chair out for her. Why am I being so hostile? You'd think he really had kidnapped me.

  Riley rang a little bell on his side of the table, causing cafeteria workers to instantly appear bearing covered silver trays. “Ah. Dinner is served.” One tray was set down in front of her and another in front of him. She stared down at it but didn't move. “Go ahead. Uncover it.”

  Alice took in a slow breath and reached out for the tray cover. When she pulled it away, there was a beautifully cooked slice of meat and a tantalizing array of vegetables and potatoes. Alice set the cover aside and stared at the steak.

  When she didn't look up, Riley came to stand beside her. “What's the matter? You don't like Adamant steak?”

  Alice stood, covering her mouth with her hand as she rushed from the room. Tears streamed down her face--Blood. Growls. Gau's still body--The images pelted her as she hurried back to her room. The dread she felt that he might be hurt. The guilt at realizing it had been her fault--Alice slammed into her room and collapsed against the door, sliding to the floor with a sob.

  “Geez, Alice, what happened?” Relm hurried to her side. “What'd he do? I'll kill him!” Alice covered her face with her hands and gave a shake of her head. “Then what's wrong?”

  “I wanna go home,” she sobbed.

  Relm wrapped her arms around Alice and gave her a squeeze. “Yeah. I know,” she mumbled.