Southern Stars

by Melissa Good

  They walked down to where the crowd was starting to gather, sitting around the two large tables that had been set up by the crew. PJ had just hopped down and Rich brought out his deck of cards and was starting a game of fish.

  Don and Marcia came over and sat down next to them, and a moment later Pete came over with a tray of drinks and a dish of cut fruits and vegetables with a few bowls of things to dip them in. He put them down and smiled and everyone reached over to sample.

  The celery was crisp, and tasted fresh. Kerry crunched it contentedly as Rich dealt everyone a hand.

  PJ inspected her cards. “Hey, Kerry. You’re in IT, right?”

  “We both are.” Kerry indicated herself and then Dar. “We own an IT company.”

  “That’s cool.” PJ put a card down. “My boyfriend...well, my ex-boyfriend.” She gave her companions a droll look as they sniggered. “He was majoring in IT. But all the people he hung out with were just...” She eyed Kerry.

  “Nerds?” Kerry put down a pair of cards.

  “Yeah, just really geeky.”

  Dar had her chin resting on her fists, watching Kerry’s hand. “We’re really geeky.”

  “You don’t seem geeky,” PJ said. “So that’s what I was going to ask, is it different because you aren’t guys? Is it just the guys who are so weird and freaky?”

  “Well.” Kerry was aware of Todd and Amy wandering down, staring at the two tables with distaste, then going over to sit on the far side away from the rest of them. “Dar programs in her head and I run operations.”

  “I have a copy of Lord of the Rings in my backpack,” Dar said. “Not sure what you consider nerd cred.”

  Everyone chuckled.

  “We have a lot of nerds working for us. They never seemed really weird,” Kerry said. “Just smart guys and some gals, with a good work ethic.” She put down another pair. “Go fish.”

  Rich picked up a card. “My uncle works for Microsoft. He’s kinda weird. He has glasses and wears those pocket protector things. Hates the outdoors.” He took a sip of his drink. “I’d rather hang with people who do outdoors things.”

  Outside the rain started coming down harder, and thunder rumbled overhead, sounding close and intense as the mouth of the cave lit up with a flash of silver.

  One of the crew jumped, then picked up a tray of plates and came, circling the table and putting the plates down. “Wow that’s loud,” he said. “Sure glad we’re in here.”

  They put aside the cards for the moment. Kerry pulled the plate over and found chilled vegetables on it, string beans and radishes, with curls of lettuce. “Sorry, hon.” She bumped her head against Dar’s shoulder, as her partner took a long-suffering breath and released it. “Try a bean.”

  Dar studied one of the items. Then she reached over and dipped it into the dill cream dip for the celery and tried a bite of that. “Hm.” She pulled the bowl of dip over and started consuming the vegetables.

  “I’m gonna have to get that recipe,” Kerry said, and bit into a piece of radish. “PJ, what are you majoring in again?”

  “Marketing,” PJ said. “It’s all rainbows and unicorns. You get to go into rooms with a bunch of other people, all of whom are talking bullshit, and have a contest to find out who can lie the best and they get the best grade.”

  “Sounds like marketing,” Kerry said. “I rue the day when we’re going to have to hire a marketer.”

  “Or a sales department.”

  Rich looked at them. “You have a company without sales and marketing? Where is this? Miami? Can I come work for you?”

  “Can’t be much of a business,” Todd said.

  “Ah, we do all right,” Dar said, and continued munching steadily through the string beans.

  “How many people in your company, Dar?” Don asked. “Is it consulting?”

  “A little of everything,” Kerry said, with a smile. “I think we’re...what is it now, Dar, eighty-eight?”

  “Hundred.”

  “We started off with five, including us.” Kerry put down a pair of sixes, and picked up a card. “It’s nice to own your own business.”

  Two of the crew came over with a trivet, and a small cast iron pot. They put the trivet down and set the pot on it, and a third crew member handed around small bowls.

  Janet followed them over with a ladle. “Soup is good on a night like tonight. It’s vegetable barley. We’re going to fire up the weather radio, so we can see what the prognosis is.”

  Don took the ladle from her and started to serve the soup, glancing over his shoulder at the cave entrance. The darkness outside obscured the view, but they could hear the rain coming down and the thunder was getting more frequent.

  Rich put the cards away as he received his bowl of soup, sniffing it appreciatively. “Mmm.”

  They all jumped a moment later as a blast of lightning hit outside, and Doug left his position at the cook stove and went to the entrance to look outside.

  Todd also got up and went to the opening. Amy watched him go, but remained seated. The dim light hid the rash on her hands, and it was obscured as well by the medication they’d painted her with. After a moment, she looked up at the rest of them and smiled briefly.

  “How’s the itch?” Sally asked.

  “It’s okay,” Amy said. “They gave me an antihistamine and I’m going to take that after dinner. I think it will make me sleepy.”

  “Hardly expected to see something like that out here,” Don said. “Sorry you fell into it.”

  Amy smiled a little more naturally. “We didn’t expect it either. I’m glad I had long sleeves on. I turned that shirt right inside out and put it in a bag.” She looked around and then back at her companions. “This is a cool cave.”

  “It is,” Kerry said. “I’m glad we’re in here, and not outside.” They all nodded in agreement. “We have storms like that back in Miami. No fun.”

  “No fun,” Rich said. “But it’s gonna make tomorrow all that more exciting.” He grinned in anticipation. “The surge down the river’s gonna be awesome.”

  “Really?” Amy asked, pausing.

  “Oh sure.” Sally reached out to take a roll from the basket that had just been deposited. “If they take a lot of rain up above the dam, they’ll released it down the river and we’ll be in for a hella ride.”

  Dar visibly perked up. “More rapids?”

  “Big big.” Rich was almost bouncing in his seat. “Can take those class fours and fives and take them up past that. Hope you all can swim!”

  Kerry felt a bit intimidated by that, but she could see the idea interested Dar. “I think I need a bungee cord.” She took a roll herself and a spoon of soup. The broth was tasty, and the vegetables and barley were plump and thick.

  “They won’t release the water with us in here, will they?” Marcia asked, after a moment of silence. “Couldn’t it come right up into the cave? You can see the waterline up there.” She pointed at the wall. “That would be a mess.”

  Todd returned and dropped into his seat. “Keeps raining, I’m going to spend the time walking this cave.” he said, then grabbed a roll and ripped it in half. “That fence wont’ keep me out.”

  No one answered him. The smell of grilling salmon wafted over, and the cavern reverberated with thunder, and Kerry chewed on a mouthful of the barley, suddenly wishing she was home. She glanced aside and found Dar watching her, a look of wry understanding on her face.

  She smiled and felt Dar’s knee bump hers under the table.

  THE THUNDER KEPT up. Kerry was glad to duck inside their tent, where the folding bunks were set up nicely, pillows ready and light sleeping bags all tucked into their place. The mesh covered windows had all been rolled down and tied and a breeze was wafting through, tinged on its edges with a faint hint of the grilled fish and the sweeter overtones of the warmed brownies they’d been given for dessert.

  Dar was already sprawled on her bunk, a small battery powered lamp clamped near her head as she read from the thick pape
rback held in one hand. “I heard that moron go over the fence about five minutes ago,” Dar commented as Kerry sat down. “He’s going to end up getting his ass either killed or arrested.”

  “His girlfriend didn’t go,” Kerry said, as she took off her sandals. “She was down by the fire, having some hot chocolate with the rest of us.”

  “Maybe getting a clue.”

  “Maybe.” Kerry listened to the storm. “Should we tell Janet?”

  “No,” Dar said, firmly. “Better for us if he gets hauled off to Indian jail.”

  Kerry chuckled. “Or gets the crap scared out of him by an Indian spirit. That’s what this cave’s known for, ya know.”

  Dar made a mild, groaning noise.

  “Hon, they know better than to come here and bother you. I’m pretty sure there’s an Internet message board somewhere for spooks, and after New Orleans they opened a thread on that crazy Florida person who stands off ghosts bare assed naked.”

  Dar chortled under her breath softly.

  They heard some bangs and thunks, and Kerry got back up and went to the door of the tent, peering out. “They’re moving everything away from the entrance.”

  Dar joined her and they both watched as the crew worked quickly, moving the boxes with the food stores up onto the rise that led to where they were, frequently turning their heads to look back at the entrance. “Hm.” She took a step outside the tent. “Water’s coming up.”

  Kerry could see the line of the river now even with the entrance, and a moment later Sally appeared, coming over from the nearby spot where she and her sister had settled.

  “What’s up?” Sally asked.

  “The river, apparently.” Kerry pointed. “They’re bringing all the gear up.”

  “Wow,” Sally said, after a pause. “Guess they just want to make sure nothing gets wet.”

  The crew finished their work and now, apparently more relaxed, gathered together in a clump to listen to whatever it was Janet and Doug were telling them.

  “Yeah. Wet granola’s no fun,” Dar said.

  “I just hope it’s stopped by the morning.” Sally stifled a yawn. “I don’t’ mind getting wet in the rapids, but I don’t like doing that with rain all day long. I caught the worst cold last time that happened on a trip.” She started down the slope. “Night you two.”

  They watched the crew disperse toward the area they had set up for themselves, as Doug went alone to the edge of the cave, swinging a rain poncho over his shoulders as he settled on the small beach chair perched on the rocky verge, his bare feet splayed out on the red stone.

  “Not sure I want to ride all day in the rain either,” Kerry commented.

  Dar draped her arm over Kerry’s shoulders. “Want to try skiing next time? Less group, more Jacuzzis.”

  Kerry sighed. “I don’t know why I had such high hopes for this vacation. They never go like you expect them to, do they?”

  “Not ours.” Dar laughed briefly. “Ah, it’s not that bad, Ker.”

  They retreated inside the tent and then stood there regarding each other. “Well,” Kerry said, with a faint shrug. “You never know if you don’t try stuff, right?” She eyed Dar, who was unbuttoning the shirt she was wearing.

  Dar produced a faint but sexy grin as she bared her upper body and moved closer. “Ever try kissing in a cave?” She traced Kerry’s pulse point with her fingertip, feeling it strengthen.

  “Never done anything in a cave,” Kerry said, stepping closer, throwing a quick glance to either side of the tent, where the screen windows were open to the outer air. “Or a tent. Should we close the windows?”

  “Nah.” Dar circled her with both arms and tilted her head down, engaging Kerry’s lips with her own. They ignored the rumbling outside and let their bodies press against each other in a moment of slowly escalating sensuality. “I like the breeze.”

  Kerry eased her shirt off over her head and tossed it aside. “I kinda do too.” She felt the faint brush of the air against her shoulder blades as she stepped forward again and her bare skin touched Dar’s and their lips met again. The combination between the heat and the cool made her nape hairs prickle and she felt goose bumps rising.

  After a little while they paused, and Dar touched the tip of her nose to Kerry’s, watching her eyes close rather than cross trying to meet hers. “Let’s try to make the tent rock. How about that?”

  “They said we had to bring our entertainment with us.” Kerry unbuttoned Dar’s jeans and bumped her backwards. “Entertain me.”

  “Anytime.” Dar stepped out of her jeans and half turned, regarding the separated cots. “Anytime after I re-engineer this.”

  Kerry chuckled.

  “Not going to get black and blue butts.”

  Chapter Four

  IT WAS DARK when Kerry opened her eyes, and though she could hear the river’s rush outside, the sound of thunder was conspicuous by its absence. She carefully lifted herself up and checked her watch, then she returned her body to its former position and exhaled a little.

  She looked over at the dark figure next to her, and after a moment, Dar opened her eyes and looked back.

  Barely visible in the dim light coming from the lanterns parked outside, but even so she could see the faint shift of skin as Dar smiled at her.

  They were on the ground. Cots stacked up against the wall of the tent leaving them with their mattress pads and sleeping bags snuggled up in the center. Kerry reached out her hand and tangled her fingers with Dar, aware of a sense of contentment that only intensified as they curled up in each other’s arms.

  They had plenty of time to relax. It was at least an hour to dawn, and there wasn’t a sound outside that could be the crew starting to get things going for the day.

  It was nice to just relax there together. “Stopped raining,” Kerry murmured.

  “Good.” Dar closed her eyes again.

  “What is today, Wednesday?”

  Dar opened one eye halfway, regarding her in silence for a moment. “Tuesday,” she finally decided. “It’s weird to think we haven’t communicated with anyone for that long.”

  “Mm.”

  “Should I think about all the possible disasters that could be happening?”

  “No.” Kerry rubbed the edge of her thumb against Dar’s knuckle. “What’s the point? You can’t do anything about it.”

  “True.” Dar exhaled and let the one eye close.

  They were both quiet for a while, then Dar opened her eye again and found Kerry looking back at her.

  They sighed at the same time, and sat up, untangling themselves from the covers and sitting cross-legged. “Want to go for a walk?” Kerry suggested. “Maybe the clouds are gone and we can see the stars.”

  Dar looked interested. “Sure.” She levered herself up to her feet and slid a shirt and jeans on, holding her hand down to offer Kerry a boost up. “I suck at sleeping in.”

  “I know.” Kerry gave her a good-humored smile. “I live with you.” She dressed and got her sandals on and they emerged into the cavern, where the cool breeze from outside blew against them. The gentle slope down to the entrance was a little damp and as they emerged into the cooking area, they noted a cooler left out with cups.

  The seat by the edge of the cavern was empty, and against the wall saw a figure rolled up in a sleeping bag sound asleep.

  Outside the sky was, in fact, clear. Kerry sucked in a breath of awe, as she paused and looked up, finding a thick ribbon of stars past the outline of the cliffs. “Oh wow.”

  The air outside was chilly, but it made the sky seem even crisper, and Kerry took a deep breath as she turned slowly in a circle, staring up.

  Dar stood next to her, hands in the pockets of her jeans, a gentle fog marking her breath. She studied the swath of stars visible overhead. “That’s cool.” She pointed. “The milky way. Look at all those suckers.”

  “That is cool,” Kerry said. “I’m glad we got up.”

  “Me too.” Nearby Dar heard an owl and
studied the scrubby trees growing up the cliff, seeing a pair of yellow eyes watching them. She took a few steps down the shore, to where the raft was securely tied and sat down on one of the rocks.

  The sound of the river was almost hypnotic. It burbled and rushed along, a never-ending cascade of sound and this moment of pre-dawn quiet seemed a little magical.

  Kerry came over and sat next to her, tasting the scent of the water on the back of her tongue. “So pretty.”

  Dar cleared her throat, then quietly started to sing.

  Twinkle, twinkle, little star

  How I wonder what you are

  Up above the world so high

  Like a diamond in the sky

  Twinkle, twinkle little star

  How I wonder what you are

  When the blazing sun is gone

  When the nothing shines upon

  Then you show your little light

  Twinkle, twinkle, all the night Twinkle, twinkle, little star

  How I wonder what you are

  Kerry smiled in delight, humming along to the nursery song, enjoying the sound of Dar’s clear voice and the grin she could hear in the words.

  Then, as she leaned against Dar’s body and glanced past her, she gasped, causing Dar to stop abruptly and stare at her. “Look!” She pointed to the right, past the raft. “There’s something watching us!”

  Dar slowly turned her head, spotting the outline of an animal on the shore past where the craft was tied. “Oh!” She bounced a little in excitement. “Kerry, it’s a bobcat!”

  “Are you sure?” Kerry whispered back, squinting in that direction. “I can hardly see it!”

  “I can see the whiskers!” Dar stared in fascination at the animal, who agreeably sat down and lifted a paw to lick it. “Wow.”

  Kerry was explicitly glad. If the trip itself was being something of a disappointment at least Dar had gotten to see her bobcat. “Wish I had my camera,” she lamented. “I know if I go get it the thing will be gone.”

  Just then, the owl lifted off its branch and winged away and in the east a faint glow was appearing, making the edge of the cliffs etch sharply. They sat still and watched as the bobcat paced toward the raft, then jumped up onto it, swaggering across the seats and sniffing the storage boxes.