by Robin Roseau
"What's sex like with a Catseye?"
"Oh god," I said. "Seriously?"
"I can ask Violet. I bet she'll tell me."
"Squirt, it's really, really good. But you know, Violet's my only one."
"But they're really, really good with their tentacles."
"Yeah," I said. "They are."
She turned around and went back to her bed, sitting down with her knees pulled up. "Are you all right, Squirt?"
"No one has ever asked me out. I don't know what to do if someone does. How do you get someone you like to ask you out?"
"I'm sorry, Audra, but you're asking the wrong person. I never managed to get girls in high school to ask me, and I was too chicken to ask them."
"What do you do on a date?"
"Well, it's kind of like hanging out, but you hold hands."
"And kiss."
"Yeah, well, Catseye don't really kiss."
"They don't?"
"They suck instead."
She laughed. "Yeah. But what if Posey makes me go out with someone who wants sex or something."
"If Posey makes you go out with someone who wants sex, I will kill her."
"You shouldn't say that."
"I'm not kidding, Squirt. If someone gets pushy that way, and you're not interested, you tell them 'no' and find another way home."
"Seriously?"
"Seriously."
At that moment, a message flashed on my screen. "Five minutes."
"Looks like it's almost time," I said.
"Yeah." She looked over and smiled. "Skye. Thanks for being an awesome big sister."
"When it comes to awesome sisters, I think I won, cause you're the awesomest."
She giggled. "That's not a word."
"And yet you know what I meant, so we can decide it's a word if we want."
"I have to get ready," she said.
"Yeah. Good luck, Audra."
"Good luck, Skye."
* * * *
We didn't see Jasmine. Instead, the guards that came for me escorted Posey and me to our starting location. They led us out together, and then while we stood in the sun, they latched our arms together. And then, as we'd seen for the mating challenges, our hands were absorbed by the pillar that marked our home base. When I could see and hear properly, the jumper was gone, and it was just Posey and I together in the small clearing.
We each had a small backpack with water, power bars, and a small first aid kit. If something bad happened, Jasmine would send in a medical team. That happened during some mating challenges, but it wasn't as common as one might have thought.
"You know, when we set our traps, there's something we didn't consider," Posey said.
"What's that?"
"We can't let ourselves get caught in our own traps."
"Which is why we know where they are."
"Yeah, but we made it look like they're on the trail, and they aren't. If we run through, our footprints might give it away."
"Oh hell," I said. I thought about it. "We'll have to disguise the path we take."
"Yeah. That should work." She grinned. "Did you and Audra compare notes?"
"We talked about it but decided it would be cheating."
"Are you sure you didn't offer hints to your sister?"
"Not a one."
"I know about your conversation with Violet about your mom. I bet Audra is willing to help you win."
"She decided it would be cheating. I let her work it out. We didn't offer each other a single hint."
Posey nodded. "All right. Because Violet and I did compare notes, and if you and Audra cheated, we were going to each throw you into a trap."
I laughed. "Ah, but where are we going first, partner? The Moms or Violet?"
"The Moms," she said. "But if you and Audra had cheated, then I'd have waited until we were separated then dragged you to Violet's trap. As long as we weren't caught by The Mom's first, I'd have time to toss you into a trap and then run and collect your sister."
"We still have to beat The Moms."
"Yeah, and they refused to say a single word. We don't even know who the prey is."
One minute warning.
"Do you think I can win?"
"Yes, but if I were a betting woman, I wouldn't bet on you."
"It's a big arena," I said.
"Tell me. If you were the hunter, what would you do the moment you were free?"
"Run back here and lie in wait."
"And who runs faster? You or a Catseye?"
I stared at her. "Shit. It's not The Moms that I have to worry about. It's Violet."
"Yeah. And my chance of catching Posey is lower than Violet's of catching you. I have a better chance to catch Mom. But what path are you going to take after we're freed? If you run straight to the next one you could easily run right into Mom."
"Shit," I said again.
Ten second warning.
"Do you have suggestions, partner?"
"Be unpredictable."
"I've never outthought a Catseye. I don't think it will be today."
"Good luck."
Go.
Our hands were freed from the pillar. Posey and I set off at a fast jog, the fastest pace I thought I could keep up for the distance I had to run.
* * * *
We reached the first of our traps and came to a stop. We walked up near the trap but then together stepped into the brush on the right. Then we turned around and crawled backwards along the trail, erasing marks as we went. Once we were far enough to have gone around, we edged off the trail, broke a few branches, and then ran onto the trail and took off again.
We had to do that a second time, and then we neared the edge of our territory.
"The trail is obvious."
"Yep. We're going to have to cut through the jungle."
"Yeah."
We edged to the left, and traveling grew a lot slower.
We managed to avoid setting off any traps, but it didn't take long before we realized something simple.
"How are we going to find their base?"
"We're going to travel until we hit a trail, then back off and judge direction," she said. "Any time we run into a trail, we can adjust. We'll have to hope."
So that's what we did. We did our best to travel in a straight line, but eventually we hit a trail.
"Is this the trail to the middle or the one along the edge?" I asked.
"Um. I think it's the one to the middle."
"You think?"
"You're the one who lives here!" she said. "Can you see the sun?"
"Not through the canopy. Shit."
"I wish we had a compass."
"Don't your eyes tell you things like that?"
"Jasmine made us disable all the special features," she replied. "Look, we have to guess. I think it's the one to the center, so we need to turn right."
I thought about it. I looked both directions. "Okay," I said. "Sure."
We backed off the trail and turned right, moving away at an angle. It took thirty minutes before we hit another trail.
"I hope this is the right way," Posey said. "Left."
"Yeah."
It took us two hours before we were crouched in the underbrush at the edge of the clearing that held the base for The Moms.
"They have GPS," Posey said. "Unless they hit one of Violet's traps, they've been to Violet's base, and one of the Moms has long since returned."
"Probably. I don't see her."
Posey looked around, found a fallen stick -- they were everywhere. And she threw it into the clearing. Then we listened. There wasn't a response.
"We're inside the ring that can be trapped," she said. "It's clear from here. We can run for it, or we can circle around and try to find Mom."
"We can try to crawl. The grass is high."
"Sixty meters is a long way to crawl."
"If I were waiting, I'd be watching the path leading away," I said. "If we run in, free our hands, and then run back out this way, then if you make a lo
t of noise, you could draw Mom away. The jungle is dense. We don't need to be that far for her not to see me."
Posey looked around. Then she pointed to a massive tree. "We'll come right through here and past that tree. You hide behind it, and I'll keep running. Maybe Mom will run right past you."
"Okay."
"Ready, go!" We stood up, entered the clearing, and then ran as hard as we could for the marker. We were halfway there before we saw Azalea. She was right where I'd expected her, and she was moving closer, but not yet running. I was right. She intended to cut me off.
We made it to the marker. It took a few seconds to free our hands. By the time we were free, Azalea was running towards us, and we took off the way we'd come, Posey holding my hand and pulling me after her, helping me run a little faster.
We made it to the brush before Azalea could catch me. We ran as hard as we could, and as we passed the tree, Posey gave me a little backwards push, just enough to help me come to a fast stop. Posey kept going, and I ducked behind the tree and crouched down.
If Azalea saw me do it, I'd be easy to catch. If she chased after Posey, I had a chance.
Azalea ran right past me, not five feet away. I was ducked down, so if she glanced in my direction, I didn't see her. Fifteen seconds later, I couldn't hear either of them anymore. I turned away, tried to guess the sun, and began moving slowly.
From that point on, I was on my own.
"Well done, Skye," Jasmine said to me. "Who knows when Azalea will figure out she's chasing Posey? Avoid her traps, and you only have Violet to worry about."
"And getting lost," I suggested. "Let's not forget getting lost."
She chuckled into my ears.
I got lost.
It wasn't entirely bad. I didn't wander into a trap while getting lost. Azalea didn't find me while I was getting lost. But I was thoroughly lost.
"Jasmine, are you listening?"
"I certainly am," she replied.
"I'm lost."
"How long have you known that?"
"A while. I wouldn't suppose you'd sell me a clue?"
She laughed. "I tell you what. I'll mark your current position on the map. For everyone."
"It's not going to follow me, is it?"
"No."
"Will you also tell me which direction I'm facing?"
"You don't have a clue, do you?"
"None at all."
"I'll give you a compass, but only until you get the token from Violet's base," she said. "For a price. I need your help with something, but it's in the future, perhaps a few years from now. When I ask you, you'll help."
"Agreed."
"I'm going to talk to the other prey and see whether they want the same offers."
She was "gone" for a few minutes then she came back. "Each of the prey has accepted my offer and agreed to my price. I am adding the compass." The map overlay in front of me was enhanced with a compass marker at the top. I turned my head, and the compass changed. I thought that was pretty cool. "And now here are your locations. The hunters get to see where all three of you are."
A spot on the map flashed at me. I'd wandered most of the way back to my own territory and had been going completely the opposite direction I thought I had.
I turned around and began to run. I thought Azalea would assume I'd run the shortest route towards Violet's marker, and so instead I headed at an angle well towards the center of the big arena.
I passed one trail. That had to be the trail from Azalea's base to the center. I kept going, but I couldn't keep running, and I slowed down again.
Running wouldn't help me, now that I was clear of the area I'd been. I didn't think Azalea could track me, or hoped she couldn't.
The compass helped significantly, and I thought I kept a relatively straight line. I reached another trail, this one at the right angle to be from Violet's base to the center.
I kept going then turned right, attempting to parallel the trail but well wide of it.
It took almost another hour, but I reached another trail. I hadn't seen anyone since Azalea ran past me, chasing Posey. I backed off the trail and turned right again. This should bring me to Violet's base.
Ten minutes later, I was crouched at the edge of her clearing.
I dropped to my belly and began crawling.
It takes a long, long time to crawl what seemed like a small distance, especially when you don't want to disturb the grass.
I did have to peek through the grass a few times, correcting my path. But I reached the marker without Violet catching me. I found the token with my name on it, stuffed it into my pack, and then turned left, crawling for the edge of the clearing heading towards home.
I could win!
Violet didn't catch me in the clearing, and I made it into the brush. I traveled a hundred meters and then consulted the compass. It was gone.
"Oh shit, she said she'd take it away."
"Just noticed, did you?" Jasmine said. "But you're not lost. Yet."
I reached a trail, and I was sure if I turned left, I'd go back towards Violet's marker. Right would get me closer to home. I was about to back off the trail and turn right, but then Mom appeared in front of me, a ghostly image.
"Honey," she said. "This side of the trail is trapped."
"Mom?"
"Jasmine left. She said she had to use the bathroom. She'll be back in a minute or two. I can only help you for a little bit. This side of the trail is trapped. You should cross over. Follow me."
"Lead the way."
Mom turned away, and she appeared to float in front of me like a ghost. I followed after her. We crossed the trail, and she led me for another minute or two before turning to me. She appeared to come closer, moving around me, and I turned to follow her.
"Jasmine is coming," she said. "Turn towards me." I turned to face her. "This is the way you need to go. Honey, there's a trail right down the edge of your territory and Violet's. It's not on your map. When you hit it, you know you're almost home."
"Thanks, Mom," I said.
"I have to go." Then she disappeared.
I began moving.
I found the trail she told me about. I passed it carefully and began to smile. I was on the edge of winning.
And then I walked, and walked, and walked. I'd hoped to reach the trail from our base to the center. Turn right and I'd have an easy walk to a win.
Mom appeared in front of me.
"Mom? I think I'm lost again."
"I know. Honey, I tricked you."
"What?"
"It's just a game, Skye."
I stared at her image. "You tricked me."
"I tricked each of you. I got all of you lost again. But Jasmine told me I had to get you more lost than the others. You're not just lost. You're really, really lost."
"I'm not in our territory."
"No."
"Why, Mom?"
"She offered something to me."
"More than Azalea offered if I won?"
"Yes."
"Will you tell me what?"
"Honey, I love you and your sister more than my own life. You know that?"
"Yeah," I said. "I know."
"To save your sister's life, I agreed to a twenty-year service contract here. I can't leave even to take a position with another ET. And I know you would do the same thing, if that's what it took."
"I know. You're right."
"I have ten years left, honey, and then ten more."
"For the cancer?"
"Yes."
"What did she offer you?"
"She offered to let me transfer my contract."
"To Boston."
"Yes. So I can be close to my daughters. Someone there has to offer a job, so I might not be able to go. And of course, I won't until your sister goes to college. But I'll be able to. Are you mad?"
"No, Mom," I said. "But I might start crying."
"Because I betrayed you?"
"Because I love you so much, and you love us so much."
"Of course. You're my daughter."
"Do you get to tell me where I am?"
"You have a choice."
"Okay..."
"There's a second token back at Violet's marker. If you agree to go get it, then you get the compass back and you get to keep it. But I don't tell you where you are."
"Or?"
"Or I tell you where you are. You get a flash on your map and fifteen seconds with the compass."
"I bet there's a price.
"Both hunters get your location on their maps for five minutes."
"What if I don't take either choice?"
"Then both hunters get a flash of your current location, and you get nothing."
"I wouldn't suppose you would tell me how close my hunters are."
"No."
"I don't think I'll stay free if they know exactly where I am for the next five minutes."
"So, go back to Violet's base or struggle through?"
"I get to keep the compass?"
"Yes. But I have to tell Violet that you're returning for a second marker."
"Are any of us caught yet?"
"Bluebell got caught in one of your traps, but she freed herself before Posey got there. Your sister has proven remarkably elusive, although she's moving very slowly. It's going to be close for her. She doesn't have her token yet, and Posey knows it."
I thought about it. "Will you tell me approximately where I am?"
She paused. "If I do, then your hunters get your location marked for one minute."
"But I get the compass?"
"If you agree to fetch the second token."
"Let's do that."
"You are back in Azalea's territory. You would have crossed the trail from her base to the center in another minute or so."
The compass appeared. I looked at it and ran, heading towards the center, as best I could envision.
* * * *
For the second time, I found myself at the edge of Violet's clearing. For the second time, I found myself crawling.
This time, I didn't make it to the marker. I heard rushing from my left, and when I looked, Violet was running straight for me.
I jumped to my feet and ran the other way.
I made it to the brush first, ran a dozen steps, then turned left. I hit a trail, crossed it, and turned right. It was the wrong direction, but if I lost Violet, she would assume I'd head for the marker.
As it was, it was probably a mistake.
I don't know if Violet knew where I was or not, but she made a significant racket somewhere behind me, and I found myself moving away, moving away, moving away.
