by Mira Maxwell
He strides closer, following Mallyk as he walks towards us. Mallyk’s always overjoyed to see his new bride, and I’m curious to see if he’ll disclose their true relationship to the outsider.
As he approaches, I get a better look at the stranger. He's wearing far more clothing than the warriors usually do. Leather pants and a linen shirt peek out from underneath his cape, while the other warriors usual uniform consists of a breechcloth and boots. I wonder if he's more susceptible to the cold due to his age. Maybe his tolerance is fading along with his ability to heal.
As he moves closer I see the raised scar tissue under his uniform. The slashes of raised tissue across his chest, and I wonder if this big brutish warrior standing in front of me is self-conscious. I soften a little towards him.
“Diana, I'm glad you’re here,” Mallyk says as he approaches us. He reaches out for his bride and she quickly slides into his arms. He nods towards Cardyk. “This is our old friend, Cardyk. He led the men before I took over.”
“It’s an honor to meet you.” He offers his hand to Diana with a slight bow. “I've spent the past hour talking to Mallyk, and at least half of that time was spent discussing his bride's loveliness and pleasantness of character.”
I guess Mallyk didn’t hold back about their relationship. If Diana is concerned, it doesn’t show. She may be a hard-core adventurist but she still blushes in pleasure at the compliments. Love does that to people.
“It's a pleasure to meet you,” she says. “Are you here to stay?” I give her a look.
“Yes,” he says. “I would've sold my soul to be free of the wall. When I was finally given approval to return to the warriors in the field, I couldn't get here fast enough.”
“And what will your role be now that you're free to join us?” Diana asks. I jab an elbow in her side, shocked at her forwardness, but Mallyk and Cardyk aren’t bothered. In fact, they both appear a little amused.
“Your loyalty to your mate is impressive,” Cardyk addresses Diana, “but you needn't worry. I have no designs on your husband's position. I'm just happy to be back among the warriors.”
“You found the company at the wall to be lacking?” I ask. I’m more than a little curious. We passed through the wall on our way into the city. I didn’t realize Attalans actually lived within the wall, an idea that’s fascinating and depressing all at once.
“Living among the old and infirm is hard on a warrior,” he says. “Helping the new recruits was satisfying, for a while, but staying behind as they went off to fight was just too difficult.”
Mallyk clasps his shoulder. “Well, life is about to get a whole bunch easier for you, old man.” Cardyk’s eyes darken at the taunt. “I'm giving you the best assignment in the camp. You are going to be keeping an eye on Mina for us.” Mallyk motions to me and I struggle to keep the shock off my face. Cardyk glances at me before he responds, and it’s a look I can only describe as dismissive.
“Certainly you have something more pressing that needs my attention,” he says. “I'm sure one of the younger men or new recruits would be happy to play nursemaid for the young girl.”
I bristle at his words. I was hoping he'd be excited about the prospect of being my bodyguard but I can tell from his furled brow and his clenched jaw that he's less than happy about his new assignment. I’m annoyed, but I’m also dead set on having him as my bodyguard. An old pro like him is exactly what I need. Someone with years of experience who can ensure my safety because everything on this goddamn planet is trying to kill me. And, there’s just something about him that intrigues me.
“Keeping Mina safe is the most important job we have right now,” Mallyk explains. “She needs to synthesize the compound that is going to save her planet and the mobile lab doesn't fit through the gate of the outpost, so it needs to stay parked outside. That means we can’t protect it like I would like. She needs to be out there working all day and we need someone out there to make sure she and the material is safe.”
“I promise I won't be a bother,” I say. “You can just sit in the lab if you want while I do my work.” I know I sound pathetic, but I can’t seem to stop speaking. “I have a few books and tablets if you want to do any reading or listen to any music.” I'm trying my best to make the assignment seem more luxurious but I can tell from his deepening scowl that that's not what interests him.
Diana tries a different approach.
“Actually, you're right, maybe someone younger would be a better fit,” she turns to address her husband. “God only knows who would like to get their hands on the Eclaydian. By the time Mina finishes her work, it's going to be twice as powerful as plutonium. I'm sure there are all sorts of people that would love to get their hands on it. I need to be confident the warrior with her has the ability to keep her, and the material, safe.”
Diana is good. Pushing his buttons is easier than I imagined. He instantly capitulates. “I didn't mean to offend you.” He bows his head as he addresses me. “I'd be happy to accept the honor of your protection. What time do we begin tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow? I want to get out there and get started right now. There’s so much work to be done. I need to calibrate the equipment, sterilize-”
I feel Diana’s hand on my shoulder. She pulls me away as Mallyk leads Cardyk back to the men. “Come on, Mina,” she says, “he just got back and all of the warriors are excited to see him. Give him some time to celebrate. Why don't you start tomorrow morning?”
“Very well,” I say, but my words are clipped. We don't have any time to waste but it seems my plan of starting my research tonight is a fool’s errand. I’m not happy about it. “He just better not show up drunk to the lab tomorrow,” I mutter as I watch the men break out casks of drink to celebrate their old comrade’s return.
Three
MINA
I wait for him the next morning near the outpost gate. I keep looking at my watch, anxious to get going and start on my work. The lab is fifty feet away, right on the other side of the wall, but I can’t get to it without my muscle-bound escort. There's no sign of him yet.
“An early riser, I see.” Speak of the devil. He trudges towards me across the yard. True to his word, he’s not drunk – he’s walking in a reasonably straight line and he’s not slurring any words - but he doesn't exactly look bright-eyed and bushy-tailed either. In fact, he looks decidedly cranky and I'm thinking he still isn't thrilled with the assignment.
He motions to the warrior at the top of the gate and the heavy door begins to open. It may only be fifty feet to the lab, but I’m still going to have to trudge through deep snow drifts. God knows what the weather will be like when I return. I've dressed accordingly: heavy winter boots, snow pants, and a heavy jacket.
I needn't have bothered.
He scoops me up into his arms and carries me like a bride across the threshold. His body is so solid it feels like I am relaxing against a slab of granite. My first instinct is to struggle against him. I'm a grown woman. I can walk out to the lab on my own. But there’s a pleasant feeling that washes over me and stops any protest. A fluttering in my chest. A warmth that rises up my neck and creeps across my face. Being tucked in his arms, protected from the harsh wind and the snow, is more pleasant than I would've imagined. I tuck my head against his chest and take in the clean woodsy smell of him through his thin shirt.
He bounds across the snow like a wild animal, carrying me above the drifts like I weigh nothing. It’s the first time I’ve felt safe on this insane planet, and I find myself wishing I would have been assigned a bodyguard weeks ago. Then I realize it would have been someone else, instead of Cardyk, and I’m perplexed at the unease this raises.
It doesn't take long to reach the lab and he quickly deposits me in front of the sliding door. I type in the access code on the numeric keypad and the main entrance slides open with a soft whoosh. I lead the way inside and he follows closely behind me, scanning the room for anything out of the ordinary. His alertness is rather charming.
�
��It's only been out here for about 10 hours,” I say. “I hardly think you have anything to worry about. I'm pretty certain we’re safe.”
“Assuming you’re safe on Attala is always a mistake. Constant vigilance is the key to survival.” I appreciate that he’s taking his task seriously, but his intensity freaks me out a little. I know everything here can kill me. I need someone to reassure me and quiet my fears, not reinforce them. He must note the look of horror on my face, because when he continues, it’s in a quieter tone. “But you are correct. Things seem fine. For now.”
Even his harsh warning can’t dampen my enthusiasm for being back in the lab. It may be humble, but it’s like my second home. Most of the interior space is taken up with sophisticated equipment, sleek cabinets, and metal countertops. There’s a small living area in the rear of the unit, but it’s not what you would call cozy. A tiny kitchen, a dinette that seats two, a scratchy pullout sofa, and a bathroom that would make those found on cruise ships and trains appear spacious.
“I'm sorry I didn't have more time to ready things for you. I would've made more of an effort to make things nicer.” I move to the sturdy sofa in the back of the lab and grab a few books from a nearby shelf. “From my personal collection,” I say as I stack them on the table for him. “A few books, if you feel like reading.” I’m puzzled by his lack of enthusiasm for fresh reading materials. From a different planet, no less. Then something occurs to me. “Wait, are you able to read my language? I just assumed you could, since you speak it so well.”
“Yes, it should be fine,” he explains. “All of us have an optical translator implanted. It functions just like the auditory translator that allows me to speak your words with ease. I can read your language just as well as I can read mine.”
“Well, here you go then.” I motion to the sofa and he settles into it uneasily. I can tell he’s not used to sitting idly. Most of his life has been spent in action, and I imagine being cooped up all day with me will be difficult. I cross the room and get him a cup of water and grab a few freeze-dried snacks from the kitchen.
I don't know why I'm trying so hard to make this pleasant for him. I should be laser focused on my goal to synthesize the material and see my homeland. Sure, I recognize he must find this job unpleasant. But who hasn’t found their job to be unpleasant. I certainly have. He’s a big strong man. He can take care of himself. And me, if need be. And suddenly my mind jumps back to the feeling of being clasped against him, cradled against his chest only moments before. If I knew my first physical contact with an alien male would throw me for such a loop, I would have tried harder to integrate a desensitizing protocol in my mission training.
“I can fend for myself, woman,” he says. “No need to hover over me and look after me. Go ahead and do your work. I'll find ways to entertain myself.” His words are harsh but his expression is kind and playful. I suspect he liked me fussing over him more than he wants to admit. He settles back into the chair, a satisfied look on his face, and begins looking at the books on the table next to him.
I cross the room and flip the heater on high. The space heater is powerful and the space is small, so it only takes a few minutes and I’m toasty warm. I strip off my clunky boots, puffy snow pants, and all my other winter gear and hang it neatly in the closet.
I'm so happy to be back in the lab that I practically skip across the floor. I love everything about this place. The clinical smell that reminds me of a freshly cleaned hospital. The simple design, free of any clutter or decoration. Everything is space-age stainless steel and finely tuned. I'm in my element when I'm here.
I set my pack on the countertop and remove the glowing green material Diana harvested from the mountains. It’s hard to believe something the size of a bowling ball is going to save Earth, but it’s the truth. I just need to make a few modifications to it first. I reach back into my pack and search for the second most important tool: my notebook. It contains all the calculations and ideas and brainstorms I’ve come up with ever since we left Earth. Months worth of ideas. I just pray that the answer to our riddle is hidden in here somewhere.
I bend over the countertop, rest my elbows on the shiny stainless steel, and begin paging through all my old journal entries. It’s time to start my work, a moment I’ve been anticipating for ages, and all of a sudden, I have no idea where to start. I'm overwhelmed and not sure where to begin. Just start with something. Anything. And so I do. I hop from task to task, never getting more than five minutes into one before abandoning it for another. Should I read my notes first? Come up with a plan of attack? Should I run some preliminary tests on the material Diana has collected? Should I start cleaning and calibrating all of the lab equipment? I feel like one of those goats that faints when it’s stressed; right now I just want to lay down and take a nap. But I know I can’t.
I decide to start with the Eclaydian. I put on my gloves and remove it from its protective carrying case. I need to separate a small bit from the rest so that I can place it in the computer for cleansing and analysis. I quickly slice off a small part with the laser scalpel and deposit it into the whirring machine at my right. I close the small door and punch the button to activate it.
That wasn't so bad, was it? I cross my arms over my chest. I just need to keep my cool and keep making forward progress and everything will be fine.
I decide to change gears. I steal a glance at Cardyk as I open my journal to a fresh page. I fully expect to see him already lost in the pages of the Count of Monte Cristo, but instead, he sits there with his intense eyes focused solely on me. I struggle to keep my expression neutral as I turn away and start jotting new notes to myself. But I can't concentrate. I can feel his gaze burning into my back. I'm sure it's just my imagination, but I can’t help sneaking a peek over my shoulder just to double check.
Of course, he’s still looking at me. And now he even has a hint of a smirk on his face.
“The books I set out for you are really good,” I say. “Way more exciting than just looking at me all afternoon.”
“I find that hard to believe,” he says and I'm suddenly aware of the view I've been giving him: hunched over the counter resting my elbows on the table top with my back to him. A perfect view of my all-too-generous ass. I feel the familiar flush of heat creep across my face one more time.
“I'm a gifted scientist,” I say. “Practically a genius. It's unbecoming for you to sit there and stare at me like I'm a hunk of meat on your dinner plate.”
“It would be a waste of a pretty woman to spend my day looking at anything but you,” he says.
I've been called many things over the years with my petite frame, pixie haircut, and enormous gray eyes. Pretty has never been one of them. My mother always said the best I could hope for was to grow into my looks and I'm still waiting for that.
“It must be a long time since you've seen a woman,” I respond.
He rises from his seat and stalks toward me from across the room, like a lion after a rabbit. He closes the distance between us in seconds and tilts my face until I'm looking into his, with his thumb beneath my chin. “Make no mistake,” he says, “I've seen many women in my time. But never one more beautiful than you. There's something entirely bewitching about you.”
His compliment catches me off guard in the most delightful way. I want to bask in the glow of it for a while.
“You're really turning on the charm,” I say. “Especially considering yesterday you didn't even want to be my bodyguard.”
“That had absolutely nothing to do with you or your mission and everything to do with carving out a new status for myself among the warriors now that I've returned. I hardly even looked at you yesterday, which was my loss.”
“Okay big guy.” I place my hands on his massive chest to steer him back to his sofa. I give him a push and he sinks back into the cushion. I look through the stack of the books I'd set out for him earlier and select “The Iliad.” I open it to the first page and hand it to him.
“Did I say so
mething wrong?” He asks.
“I'm just suffering from whiplash,” I say.
He looks confused.
“You said I was beautiful and that you didn't even notice me in the span of 1 minute. You’re laying it on a little thick.”
“My not noticing you yesterday had nothing to do with you and had everything to do with me.”
I wasn’t expecting such deep introspection from him, and I feel a little foolish for my misconceptions. “It must be very exciting to see all your warriors again and to get back into the field with them. I would have a hard time concentrating on anything else too.”
“It was exciting,” he says, “but it was also a little sad. I don't begrudge Mallyk his position. He's been a wonderful fighter, but it's still hard to watch him lead the warriors I used to lead myself. To know that I'm on the way out while he’s still rising up. I had to put on a happy mask to hide the bitterness underneath.”
“And are you feeling better about it today?” I sit on the sofa next to him.
“It still stings,” he admits, “but I know I can carve a life out for myself here and make myself valuable to the men once again.”
“And I’m sure you will.” I rest my hand on his forearm and then rise to my feet. “I certainly like having you here. Everything on your planet terrifies me. I grew up in Florida. We don't even have winter there. This was the first time I've ever seen snow. And I could live without it.”
“So what is it like in this Florida where you come from?”
“It's a fantastic place. Everything this place isn’t.” I close my eyes and try to imagine the sun on my face. “It's warm and everything is lush and green. We can grow fantastic fruit there. And there are amazing theme parks. But the best part is the libraries and schools. Huge buildings filled with stacks and stacks of books where anyone can go to check them out and borrow them. And giant campuses where anyone can go to learn more.”
