by Smith, T. L.
She smiled knowingly. “I didn’t get how they reminded you of Zebra, but I do now.”
I didn’t feel a twinge, maybe because I didn’t have to explain it to her. I flipped through several pages of drawing, some with names attached, arrows pointing to the markings making each LR unique. “You did these last night? How?”
“Sweetie, I write children’s books, duh! I’m also masochistic…” She reached over and plucked a grape from Schaeffer’s tray, leering at him enough I could swear he blushed. “…about detail.”
She realized it wasn’t a grape as it oozed red liquid. She frowned, touched her tongue to the juice, then nibbled at the berry.
“It’s local harvest. The LR let us pick them.” Schaeffer split his bunch with her. “I guess we know what role Lizzy will fill. She was up half the night doodling.”
“Don’t complain. So were you.”
Remy coughed up some of his artificial eggs, covering his mouth as Lizzy winked at me.
“Shhhh…” Schaeffer darted his eyes around to the other tables around us.
Lizzy grinned through a mouthful of berries, rubbed her shoulder affectionately against his, but looking at me. “We cool?”
“We’re cool.” Or getting there. “The pictures were good.” She had an eye for the little details. “Draw to your heart’s content. Maybe you can translate my ideas into pictures, and do the same for them.”
I pushed my tray away. “We need to get a move on, if that was a real invitation yesterday.” I took Remy’s hand, and reached over to take Lizzy’s. “Ready for a new adventure?”
Lizzy took Schaeffer’s hand. “It’s about time Lizzi and Sharan grew up.”
Schaeffer seemed a bit awkward with the gesture, not the four musketeers’ type, but he shrugged. “I guess I’m game.”
“Ahh, there’s a problem.” Schaeffer raised a brow at me. “Both of us heading off into the deep, dark woods…?” Nada from him. “Protocol. Who’ll be in charge back here?”
“All taken care of.” Down went the brow. “Besides, if your theory on social order is correct, we have to go in pairs. Do you want to risk offending them?”
He had a point, but still, this was weird for me. Remy saved the awkward moment. “Well, since we don’t know what they intend, we should be prepared for an overnighter. To that effect, I already asked the camp manager to prepare four camp packs. We just need to pick them up and add our personals.”
I couldn’t help but be surprised. He must have gone out after I fell asleep. “Okay, channeling your old boy scout?” He shrugged. “All right then, expedition leader is your job. Lizzy is our journalist. I guess that makes you security, Schaef.”
He looked at Lizzy and smirked. “Yeah, someone has to keep Litty in check.”
It all seemed to fit. In less than an hour we hiked out to the rock. We didn’t even have to sit down before the LR slipped into the clearing. Yinet and Gerret were at the lead, giving us the nuzzle greeting, before guiding us towards the forest.
Unlike their usual routine, they didn’t take the long-weaving route, instead headed straight into the trees. Once under a full canopy, all but Yinet and Gerret disappeared.
It took quite a while for me to realize where they went, but when I did, I couldn’t help but stop to watch. The whole party stopped and Lizzy came to my side. “Ahhhh, Sis, you’re seeing what I am?”
“Bear-sized flying Tarsiers?” It was incredible, something that size leaping effortlessly from tree to tree.
“Fascinating! I’d love to get a scan on them. Even if they have lightweight bones, sheer muscle mass should make that impossible. Oh…oh…ohhh!” Remy cringed as a large male missed one branch, did a somersault and caught another, to swing onto a heavier limb.
Schaeffer was speechless.
“We’ve got a lot of preconceived ideas to undo.” I saw Yinet looking up too, pacing nervously as she waited for us. The ground wasn’t their natural habitat, probably accounting for their odd approaches through the meadow. I waved my arm at my team. “Come on.”
She cooed and held her arm out to us, her fingers fluttered. “Cumin, cumin.” I couldn’t help but appreciate how quickly she grasped words and gestures.
Everyone fell back in line, trying to keep our eyes on the ground beneath us, rather than on the highway over our heads. We needed to be careful with no paths to follow and only dim light breaking through the trees.
After several hours Yinet stopped by a stream. Gerret reappeared with LR bearing leaves filled with berries. It was a break we needed, especially Lizzy. Hiking wasn’t her sport and the new government-issue boots were blistering her feet.
Even so, she didn’t complain when Yinet urged us to continue. I caught Schaeffer’s eye. He noticed Lizzy’s limp too. Bringing up the rear, he’d help her out. All I could do was hope our route didn’t get any rougher.
Of course it did. The deeper into the forest we went, the higher into the mountains. I kept checking on Lizzy and could see by late afternoon she wasn’t able to take much more. Schaeffer helped her up the rocky path and offered to take her pack, but she was stubborn.
When Lizzy’s eyes watered up, I turned to get Yinet’s attention, but she and Gerret were gone over the rock wall above us. I looked up into the trees and there were no more flying LR. Remy moved past me, pulled himself up over the rock shelf. “Remy, where are the LR? Can you see them?”
“Yeah… I can see them.” He stared at something for another few seconds before turning back to me. “You’re not going to believe this.” He started to reach for my hand, but looked past me. I followed his gaze and saw Lizzy barely clinging to the rocks below me, her face pale. Schaeffer steadied her. “Geez, pass Lizzy up to me, now.”
She was ready to collapse. I hoisted my pack up to Remy and braced my feet in the boulders. I grabbed the straps at the top of her pack, giving Lizzy a pull up the wall while Schaeffer pushed. We got her high enough for Remy to lift her over the ledge. Schaeffer scrambled up after her and gave me a pull up. I joined him where Lizzy sat exhausted.
Remy already had her pack off and Schaeffer pressed a bottle of water at her. Her hands shook as she tried to drink and I could see her fingers were scraped from the rocks. Schaeffer took the bottle, holding it to her lips. I dug out a first aid kit. “I’ll let Yinet know we have to make camp.”
“I don’t think that’ll be an issue.” Remy pointed up the mountain.
I turned to look at what mesmerized him and was drawn to my feet, drawn past Remy. “You two help Lizzy.”
“I can walk.” Lizzy protested, even as Schaeffer lifted her in his arms.
They followed me to where the trees opened up, revealing purpled-hued cliffs, terraced cliffs, carved cliffs. Cliff dwellings.
Not caves, but artfully carved, terraced homes. Immediately my mind went to ancient Petra in Jordan and to the intricately carved temples in Thailand. Did the LR do this? How? This place completely conflicted with the simplicity of life they’d let me see.
Sitting at the edges of the terraces were LR, hundreds of them. At the base of the cliffs, Yinet and Gerret sat upon a raised stone. Yinet’s long fingers wriggled and curled towards herself. “Ara. Cum.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
It wasn’t often Lizzy was quiet, but then we all stood tongue-tied. Yinet beckoned and I had to break the trance to go to her.
Remy caught up with me, juggling our packs to grab my elbow, slowing me down. “Shara, do you think this is wise?”
“I’ve worked too hard winning their trust to lose it rejecting their hospitality.” I pulled his hand free, but wove my fingers between his when my inner Batista protested. “Come on.”
Remy hung onto my hand. Schaef fell in behind carrying Lizzy, despite her squirming around to look at the cliffs, at the LR, at Yinet. No doubt her artist mind absorbing every minute detail, despite her condition.
When we reached the stone dais, Yinet’s fingers still fluttered at me. I interpreted it as an offer and reached out my
hand as well. Remy resisted, but let go as her long digits, strong enough to break mine with the slightest squeeze, pulled me up onto the stone.
She made me sit on the stone bench beside her. I felt like a rag-doll next to her, but she invited the rest of my party up to join us. No sooner than we were seated, other LR appeared with more berries and water.
We ate ravenously, except Lizzy. She leaned against Schaeffer, trying to nibble on the berries, but too exhausted and hurting.
Seeing the raw sores on her hands and feet, a female LR approached with what looked like large leaves, but soaked until they were soft and mushy. She was polite, gesturing to Lizzy’s feet and the leaves.
“Oh, okay.” Lizzy flinched as the LR draped the first leaf around her foot. Tears welled up in her eyes. “Ahhh, that’s good.” She smiled and nodded, letting this impromptu doctor wrap both her feet.
Curious, Schaef pulled on the corner of a leaf, smashing it between his fingers, then rubbing it over the back of his hand. “Cooling, and some sort of analgesic quality. Hope there’s no side-effects for humans.”
“Nice that you bring that up now, but frankly, I don’t care.” Not suffering, she picked up a leaf of berries, offering them to her doctor as a gesture of gratitude. “Thank you!” The creature took the leaf, chittering something as she disappeared back into the crowd.
This was a food of abundance, but it was the gesture that counted. Lizzy leaned against Schaef, her attention already drawn back to the cliff carvings. “Do you think they’ll let me climb around to get a better look?”
“Coming from the woman with leaf socks?” I gave Lizzy an ‘are you serious’ look, before turning back to Yinet. I held up my empty leaf, tapping my stomach. “Thank you.” I set the leaf aside, turning my head back to the cliffs too. “This is home?”
Of course she didn’t understand. Lizzy helped, pulling out her sketch pad and doing a quick drawing of our tents. I got her drift, point to them and to my own chest. “Home.” I pointed to the cliffs and to her. “Home.”
She grasped my meaning and pointed to the cliffs. “Hom.” She pointed to us, then the cliffs again. “Hom.”
Remy grasped her meaning as I did and leaned into our conversation. “Yes, thank you for bringing us to your home.” He looked at me and shrugged. “Just saying. Anyway, it’s been a rough day and it’ll be dark soon. If we get a good night’s rest we can spend tomorrow exploring this place.” He looked to Lizzy. “Maybe your feet will be up to it by.”
“I’m not about to miss a thing if I have to crawl around on my hands and knees.” It was getting darker and she leaned her head against Schaeffer’s shoulder again.
He wrapped his arm around her, jerking his head at me. “I guess you should find out where we can pitch tents for the night.”
“Probably don’t need to.” I pointed at Lizzy and her feet, looking at Yinet and Gerret. “Home? Sleep.” I rested my face against my hands, closing my eyes.
Yinet stared at me for a moment, then swept her hand to the cliffs. “Hom.”
Gerret called out to the group and several scurried forward, grabbed our backpacks before running for the cliffs. They bounced up the cliff walls, disappearing into carved arches. We followed Yinet to find steps, large steps.
Lizzy was in no shape for climbing, so Remy and I went first, reaching back to help Schaeffer bring her up, until a large female appeared and offered her back to Lizzy, patting her shoulders repeatedly.
“Oh, I get it.” Lizzy shrugged. “It’s been a while, but it beats the alternative.” Schaef helped her onto the LR’s back. She laughed as she wrapped her arms and legs around the LR. It sounded like the LR laughed too.
Yinet gave me a cheek nuzzle. “Tomrow.”
“Tomorrow. Thank you.” I followed our guide up the terraced ledges. They were steep, but Remy offered me a hand up, since he didn’t have to carry the packs.
We got a few chitters from the nearest LR when Schaeffer reached out for me too. I reminded him of the apparent custom, so he held his hand back until Remy touched me first. That seemed fine by them.
When we reached our terrace, Lizzy sat on a bench, watching the LR adjust and remoisten the leaves around her feet. She smiled. “I guess I just have to keep the wraps wet.”
“Tomrow!” The LR bounced away and down the cliff, not using the terrace.
Lizzy leaned out as far as she dared. “Wow, I hope you’re recording this.”
“Every moment.” I tapped the little recorder attached to my collar. Schaef had one too. We’ll upload today’s data.” I looked to Schaef. “See if you have a signal up here and get in touch with base, let them know our status?”
“Soon as we get settled.” He glanced below us, to the LR still watching us intently. “Right now we have an audience. You’d think they never saw a human before.”
“Seeing and having us here are two whole different stories.” I looked to the arches. “Well, let’s see what we have for accommodations.”
Inside the entrance we found our packs neatly lined up. I’d expected it to be dark, but there was some type of phosphorescent plant around the interior arch, sending tendrils out into the sunlight. The leaves glowed, stretching out across the cave’s ceiling. “Wow, this gives a whole new definition to ‘going green’.”
I reached up to brush my hand over the leaves, only to pull it back quickly. Even the slightest touch seemed to shut down the process, the light going out in those leaves. Fortunately, they glowed back to life slowly. “Interesting.”
“Comfy too.” Remy beckoned me over to another archway. “All the comforts of home.” The room was clearly a sleeping chamber, a large flat shelf along the back wall. Large enough for two LR. It was covered with a layer of woven reeds and blankets.
“Ah, good, two bedrooms, and what appears to be a bath. Running water and all. You got to see this.” Schaef waved us deeper into the cavern.
We followed the trail of light as the plant’s tendrils fed from somewhere in the depths of the cave. We passed another sleep chamber and in the back of the cave, found the host plant as well as another chamber. Inside the room we found a channel cut into the wall.
Schaeffer reached up to a wooden handle, pulling it down. Water spouted down into a stone trough. He ran his hand through the water, then he scanned it. “Pure! I can take this as suitable for drinking, but it goes to another container.” Schaef pointed to a smaller arch to the side of the room. “They observe hygiene.”
Inside was a toilet, though a bit scary in size. Water from the sink was stored in another tank to be used to rinse down this basin. I laughed at the thought of being rescued from the hole cut in the floor. “Used worse, but I think we’d better set up our own. Good a place as any.”
“Yeah, Lizzy said as much.” Schaef laughed too, pushing us out of the facilities. “I’ll take care of it. If you want to get out some MREs, berries aren’t going to tide me over to morning.”
“Deal.”
We sorted out the food while Schaef set up the portable toilet. Though our environmental team said controlled disposal of waste would have no effect, we’d abide by regulations.
I laid out our sleeping bags over the reed mats and Remy activated our heat-n-eats. Lizzy grumbled at being dragged inside. She ate half her meal before nodding off. Schaef carried her to bed.
I wasn’t so easily lulled, still flying too high from this discovery. Remy joined me on the terrace, letting his legs dangle over the edge, watching the LR end their day. No matter who I was, this was a once in a lifetime experience. Missing a single minute was criminal.
Below, the LR glanced up at us, but went about their business. “I’m not one of your xeno-guys, but I’d think with the size of their eyes they’re more adapted to night vision than we are.” Remy leaned back to stare up into the sky, at the first sparkle of stars.
I followed his gaze. The trees around the cliffs were sparse and one of the moons was already cresting the mountain edge. “Two moons should be out toni
ght, but yeah, won’t see much without the goggles. Are you game for watching?”
“I’m game as long as you are, though it’s been a long day.” He wrapped his arm around me. We’ll be here for a few days, I assume.”
“Try to drag me back to camp.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Morning came with Lizzy shaking us out of our nest, excited and buzzing a mile a minute. “Wake up already. Geez, I’d think you’d have been up with the sun.” She dragged off our blankets, limping a bit yet as she dodged Remy.
I glanced at my watch, seeing it was well past dawn. “I guess I was more tired than I thought. You look much better.”
Lizzy flaunted her heels. “Miracle cure, though I think I’ll skip the boots for another day or two.” Typical civilian, she’d packed flip-flops. She bounced out the doorway. “Hurry up. The LR delivered breakfast.”
“Glad she’s better. Hate to leave her on the sidelines. We’d never hear the end of it.” Remy climbed off the ledge, grabbing up the blanket she’d pulled off. “Man, slept like a rock, which is surprising. You?”
I had to jump down from the bed. “It was a hell of a lot better than I thought, and certainly better than bags on the ground.” I straightened our area up, not wanting the LR to think we were slobs. Lizzy and Schaef waited on the terrace, breakfast laid out. Below the LR were up and about. From our vantage point we could see the organization of the village. We studied it over berries and some sort of melon.
Lizzy pointed out a group of youngsters, clustered together with several older LR. “I’m taking that as school. I’d love to sit in, see if I can sort it out. You know, kids are my specialty.”
“Let’s meet with Yinet and see what she has in mind for us. If there’s no objections, it’s fine with me.” I looked around, watching the flow of LR up and down the cliffs. Like in the forests, they easily leapt from one level to the next, except for a few of the citizens who used the terraces as we had. “This is so odd, so primitive, though they created this?”
