Lost and Found

by Mary Hamilton

  “Did you go looking for him?”

  “I was young. But others went out for days and never found him.” His gaze wandered off to the west—toward the retreating sun. He shook his head. “We are done here. Let us be off home, to kraal.” Klunk offered a broad smile. “Come, I give you a ride and we go fast. Home for the meal.” With that, he lifted Tovi up onto his broad shoulders and set out at a trot across the desert sands, into the setting sun. Within moments, he burst into song, like the one he’d sung on the first day.

  Running over rock and sand

  Skipping, jumping through the land

  Running, running into sun

  Klunk and Tovi, having fun

  “Haha! I sing good, huh?” The ogre chortled as he ran.

  Tovi grinned and nodded his head. “Awsie!”

  “Yeah. Awsie, huh.”

  The young Azyrean felt a surge of… he wasn’t quite sure what. He’d never had a friend like this—someone so real. “Yeah, awsie.” His words came out in a whisper.

  ◆◆◆

  “Good, Og. You did good.” Mamaw examined the haul of carods and nuts. “And you set the traps?” She eyed the two.

  Klunk nodded as he popped another piece of meat in his mouth. Chewing and swallowing, he added, “Three sets at all the trees. Total twelve traps. We will check tomorrow.” He picked up the stone cup and took a gulp of water, wiping his mouth with his sleeve.

  Tovi looked down at the four pieces of meat left on his plate. He was hungry, but something told him that he might find a better use for that meat than to line his stomach. He munched instead on the cooked carod. When Mamaw stood and began to clear the plates from the table, he slid the strips into his pocket. They would come out covered in dust and fuzz, but he had no intention of eating the meat himself.

  Chapter 38: Tovi

  “Why does your Mamaw call you Og?” Tovi sat on the stoop of the hut in the fading light, leaning back against the wall with Klunk beside him.

  “It is my name. Well, really it is Ogwurm. But she calls me Og. Mamaw and Papaw use my full name when there is trouble.”

  Tovi laughed. He knew about trouble at home. “Then why does everyone else call you Klunk?”

  The ogre shrugged. “It is for fun.”

  “But why?”

  Klunk gazed out on the darkening land. “We will check the traps tomorrow. If we are fast, we can stop for more carods. Then maybe we get another shard, huh.”

  ◆◆◆

  The two strode into the rising sun, the air cool and still from its slumber. Klunk kept his head lowered as he trudged forward, and Tovi pumped his legs to keep up.

  “Really, why do they call you Klunk?”

  As they neared the outside of the kraal, they happened upon three other young ogres. The largest of the three, apparently having heard Tovi’s question, blurted out, “Go ahead, tell the little rodent, Klunk. How did you get your name?” Laughter erupted from the trio.

  Tovi could see his friend clenching his jaw, his gaze glued to the horizon in front of him. Finally, Klunk lurched to a halt and turned toward the group of three. “Okay, I will tell you. Once, a few years ago, I came to blows with him.” He pointed toward the largest one—the ogre that had taunted. “He hit me in the head with a club. Everyone said that it sounded like klunk. After that, it was my name.

  “Didn’t you get mad?”

  A smile found its way onto Klunk’s face. “Yes, a little. But, in the end, it was okay. The sound he made when I punched him in the stomach stayed with him. And today he is known as Oof.” With those words, he chuckled and turned. “Let’s go. We have many steps to cover today.”

  They came upon the first set of traps just as the sun broke free of the horizon. All three traps had sprung, snaring brownish-gray hares. Klunk retrieved them and stuffed them in his pack. Without further pause, he started for the next site. “We move.”

  Tovi shot out in front of Klunk by a few steps and called over his shoulder. “When you go out to tame your pet, can you take someone to help you?” He wasn’t quite sure how he would help fight a wild animal, but the notion that there had to be a better way continued to plague him.

  “Yes. We can take one person, but they cannot help tame. They are there only to help for what we call safety. If it goes bad, you know.”

  “Maybe I could go with you.”

  Klunk burst out laughing. “Ha ha. That is a good one, Tovi.” The chuckling subsided as the two paced toward the next site, the ogre walking leisurely and Tovi in a near-trot.

  “What? What’s so funny?” Tovi sort of knew what Klunk meant. Still, it bruised his feelings.

  The ogre stopped. “I am sorry. I meant no harm. But you are small, and the beasts are large. If danger comes or if I am in trouble….” Klunk stared at the Azyrean for a moment before shrugging and resuming the march. “I would not want you to be hurt. That is all.”

  Tovi pondered a response. The pause in the middle made him think. He didn’t want to hurt my feelings. Back home, hurting people’s feelings wasn’t that big a deal, especially for him and his friends. This was different.

  They finished up with the other three trap sites before stopping for lunch at a small oasis that looked quite familiar. After drinking the last of their water, they refilled their skins and settled back against trees to cool down.

  “We eat first. Then we should pull some carods.” Klunk pointed to the leafy plants set back a few meters from the water.

  Tovi reached into his pack and retrieved a small leather pouch. Laying open the flaps, he looked through the contents—nuts, dried meat, and a few carod chunks. He took another generous gulp of water and tossed a few nuts in his mouth, chewing slowly while staring out at the sunburnt land.

  A movement to one side caught his eye. He turned his head to look and found a small squirrel staring back at him. He reached into the pouch and retrieved a few nuts and tossed them gingerly toward the animal. It jumped back initially but, after a moment, eased forward toward the nuts. As it approached them, the furry rodent stopped short and again stared at Tovi. Finally, it crept close enough to grab one of the nuts. Scurrying back, it turned to face its benefactor and munch on the food. After finishing, it repeated the process.

  Tovi grinned. He’d never played with animals before. He took one of the fuzzy, sandy pieces of meat that he’d stuffed into his pocket and tossed it. The squirrel crept over with less hesitation than before. It sniffed at the meat but didn’t immediately pick it up. Instead, it stood on its hind legs and stared, as if waiting for something else. When Tovi didn’t toss anything else, the squirrel picked up the meat and bit into it, without retreating and all the while staring.

  Doesn’t like the meat as much. Tovi tossed another few nuts, which the rodent gobbled up quickly. Tovi broke out in laughter, startling the animal. He scurried back about a meter and stood watching.

  Klunk’s voice interrupted the exchange between Azyrean and rodent. “What is it you laugh at?”

  “The squirrel—it eats whatever I throw it and then waits for more.”

  Klunk’s laugh joined Tovi’s. “Ah, then the squirrel is smarter than you. It sits and plays cute. You give it your food. It eats for free and you do all the work.”

  “But it’s fun. And besides, it gets hungry, I’m sure. I have more food than I need. Why not give it some?” Tovi tossed another few nuts and a piece of carod.

  The squirrel grabbed the nuts first and consumed them quickly. Afterwards, it crept over and examined the carod, picking it up, sniffing, and looking at it from different angles. Finally, it nibbled on a corner of the root, paused to look at Tovi, and then finished the rest. It remained standing on its hind legs, apparently in anticipation of the next treat.

  Tovi shook his head. “No more. That’s it.” He wrapped up the pouch and returned it to his pack. “Should we pull the carods now?” He stood and stretched.

  For the next hour, the two gathered the root vegetables in relative silence. Tovi focused on
looking for snakes before grabbing the stalks. As they finished their chore, he started to secure his pack but noticed the squirrel still standing, about a meter away, staring at him.

  “Okay, okay. Just a few more.” He opened the pouch, retrieved a small handful of nuts and gently tossed them toward the rodent, who didn’t flinch at all. It picked up the nuts, one at a time, and ate them at a considerably slower pace than before. No doubt, it was getting full. “Time for me to go, little guy. Goodbye.”

  The squirrel crept closer and, in a single smooth motion, leapt onto Tovi’s shoulder. The young Azyrean shuddered and almost brushed the animal off. But instead, he twisted his head so he could see the small rodent, who had perched on his two hind legs right below Tovi’s ear.

  “What? I don’t have anything else for you. Now go.” But he didn’t raise a hand to the squirrel, who continued to sit motionless.

  Klunk shouldered his pack and turned to face Tovi. “Ha ha. You now have a pet, huh.”

  At that instant, something clicked for Tovi. A pet.

  Chapter 39: Tovi

  “Yes. It will work.” Tovi stood in front of Klunk, looking up with determination at the ogre.

  “A fierce rock dog is not the same as a squirrel.” Standing at the perimeter of the kraal, he turned to stare out at the sunset.

  Tovi moved around in front of him. “Yes. I know that. But it’s the same idea. If you get their trust with food, it will work.”

  Klunk chuckled. “Ha ha, Tovi. The beast has no need for me to give it food. It would try to eat me and then take my food. It would feast on me before I could ever open my pouch.”

  The young Azyrean hung his head. The point was a good one. How could they keep a large animal like that from attacking while they tried to give it food? There’s got to be a way. As the sun dropped below the horizon, the two wandered toward the hut. Tovi reached up and scratched his ear as he ambled along, his mind on pets and food.

  “Thank you for your thought, Tovi. You are kind, but this is a problem that I must solve.”

  As they entered the hut, Mamaw greeted them, “There you are. Come. I have the meal ready.” She set out two plates of meat, nuts, and carods. “Tomorrow Papaw will be home. You must go out and gather greens for his coming home meal.”

  A twinge of fear nipped at Tovi’s heart. The only interaction he had had with adult male ogres was with the chief. Tovi hoped that Papaw would not be as eager to get rid of him as Mamaw was. He had no idea what to expect, and he hoped he would not have to go out and live in the desert.

  ◆◆◆

  As they lay down for the night, the little squirrel scampered out of Tovi’s pack and curled up, nestling in the curve of his neck to sleep. Klunk’s snoring provided a steady rhythm in the otherwise silent hut. Tovi stared up as he lay on the pad waiting for sleep. He idly petted the squirrel and his mind wandered back to Pangrove, where his mother and father were probably getting used to not having him around. Then he remembered the dream—Marzi was not home either. She was out there in another world. It was very green and had lots of trees. Maybe she was looking for him too. But she was looking in the wrong place. She would never find him. Maybe he needed to go look for her, but he didn’t have any idea where to begin searching, and besides, he had never seen trees as large as those. It certainly wasn’t desert where she was.

  “Hello again, my small friend.” The voice in his head rattled the young Azyrean.

  “Where are you? Why can’t I see you?” Tovi tried to see around the hut but, aside from a scrap of moonlight that streamed through the door, everything was black.

  A chuckle coursed through his head. “In good time, Tovi. In good time. For now, I visit you in your sleep and I have things to tell you.”

  “Wait. I’m asleep? I feel awake.”

  “Of course, you do. But, yes, you are still in dreams. There are things you must know. I will share some of them tonight. I will bring more later. For now, know that you have done well. Those things you see are true. Tomorrow Klunk’s father will return. You are right to be concerned, but things will work out, you will see. You have learned respect and that matters here. Keep doing what you are doing.”

  Tovi wondered what was so important about that information. After all, if he was doing well, why tell him to do more of it?

  “Yes, you are right. That is not the important thing.”

  “What? You can read my mind?”

  The voice offered a hearty laugh. “I am in your mind.” It paused and then continued in a more serious tone or thought, whichever. “Your idea about the pet is the right one, Tovi. Kindness and respect ultimately produce better results than brute force. But Klunk is also right, food alone will not do it. Remember the crystal.”

  “What about the crystal?”

  “Be warned, though, the ogres have never used crystals for their power, only for exchange. This will create a wrinkle in their lives. Sadly, there is no way around it. The day approaches when crystals will become central to their survival.”

  “I don’t understand. What do you want me to do with the crystal?”

  “One more thing. The darkness I spoke of—it draws closer. It will touch you soon and you must be prepared. The time is not yet right for you to disclose our conversations. But beyond that, be careful of too much secrecy. Trust and respect are important to the ogres. Do not betray that trust. Klunk is your friend. In the end, his life will depend on you, and yours on him. Do not let him down.”

  Chapter 40: Jarek

  Jarek considered the problem at hand. “I guess I’m supposed to be working on a way to use the crystals for travel, or something like that.”

  Burns picked around in a small, canvas bag by her side. “I guess.”

  He was conflicted. On one hand, he hated admitting that he hadn’t a clue about where to begin. But on the other hand, he felt the need to confide in Burns, to talk things through with her. The question really was whether he felt he could solve the problem himself or if it would take them both working together. If he was going to need her help, then logic dictated that he would have to talk to her.

  He sat with his back against the cavern wall, drawing imaginary circles on the hard dirt floor with his fingers. “Look, I’m not even sure where to begin. I realize that crystals probably have something to do with all of this, but I don’t know what. And we don’t have crystals to experiment with anyway.”

  She responded without looking up, “We just take it slow, one step at a time. First thing we do is get some crystals.”

  He smirked. “And just where might we do that?”

  “We won’t. That’s what we have Corny for. He can get anything, pretty much.”

  ◆◆◆

  “Crystals are difficult to come by, I suspect, what with the king wanting them and all.” Corny squinted his eyes as he considered Burns and Jarek.

  But he wasn’t telling them anything they didn’t already know. Jarek decided to appeal to the young man’s ego. “I assumed as much. Probably impossible to acquire, but it was worth asking I suppose.”

  “Wait, wait, now. I didn’t say impossible, only difficult.” He rubbed his hands together. “Tell me about these crystals. I’ve never seen one. What do they look like?”

  Jarek tried to remember the ones at home. “They probably come in different sizes, but the ones I’m experienced with are about the size of my head, more or less. They’re kind of clear but colored, you know. You can see through them but not very well. You’ll know it when you see one.”

  “Anything else?”

  Jarek reached up and scratched his ear. “Well, yes. Color. Let’s see, the beam that brought me here was red. If we’re going to experiment, we want to make sure we stay in the area. So I need at least one red one. We want another color, too, just for comparison purposes. I suppose whatever is convenient. The most common, I think, are blue and green.” That was all he could think of at the moment.

  Corny stood. “Might take me a few days.” He shrugged and wand
ered off.

  Jarek glanced over at Burns. “You think he can do it?”

  “Well, if anyone can, it’s him.”

  ◆◆◆

  The next morning after breakfast, Jarek and Burns found their way to the cavern entrance and staked out seats in the sun. Since they would likely have to wait several days for the crystals, Jarek decided to engage in some logic discussions. “Once we get them, we’ll have to figure out how to pass beams of light through them. What do you think? Sunlight or, well, I guess you don’t have much moonlight around here.”

  Burns leaned her head back against the tree trunk and stared up at the sky. “Not right now. Moon’s gone dark. But in a few weeks, it’ll be back full and round. Might be able to channel a beam then.”

  “Of course. And it might take that long for Corny to get what we need.” As he was preparing to offer some additional insight, the skirmish party for the day emerged from the woods.

  Virgil, in the lead, strode past Jarek and Burns into the mouth of the cavern, calling back over his shoulder, “You might as well come in. We have some things to discuss.”

  Chapter 41: Jarek

  Jarek dropped onto the floor, sitting among the others in a circle around Virgil. Someone brought a coffee pot and filled mugs for the newly returned. A low buzz of conversation flooded the area, but the squad leader remained silent. Finally, Commander West joined the group and nodded, apparently a signal to begin.

  Virgil brushed his hair back off his forehead and glanced over at his party before beginning. “Okay. We’re all here. I’m afraid I have some unpleasant news. It looks like Wyndred has managed to acquire at least a rudimentary ability to travel beyond our land. We don’t know the details yet, but… well, I’ll let Jorstan tell you.” He gestured toward a young man who stood among the party.