by P J Strebor
A few of the local girls had said “Hi Nathan,” then giggled at his awkwardness. Some of the boys had tried speaking to him as well. His reply wasn’t unfriendly just typically brief.
Moe surmised that being new to the school, and to the province, he probably felt like an outsider, knowing no one but his newly acquired family with whom he still struggled to get past his the arms length relationship. Then there was the trifling matter of Bellinda and six years of Pruessen slavery to consider.
In class, Nathan never asked questions or for that matter ever volunteered to answer them. If he was called upon to answer a question he would do so, and usually his answer would be correct. On the odd occasions when he gave a wrong answer, Moe suspected that he did so deliberately. Why he would do such a thing baffled her.
Although taciturn, he seemed friendly enough, but any attempt to continue a conversation with him took on all the difficulties of home dentistry. Yet, she had never met a boy quite like him. Moe feared that she could be suffering from the terrifying effects of her first crush. He, on the other hand, probably didn't know she existed, even though they sat next to one another in class.
Moe burned to understand this strange, bright boy, and so had decided that today would be as good a time as any to start. She steeled herself as she marched up to the tree under which he sat.
"Hi," she said.
Nathan looked up from his pad and smiled gently. "Hello, Moe."
At their first meeting her mother introduced her by using her given names, Mary Anne. Moe detested that her parents had chosen to lumber her with such a girlie name. It had taken only a short time for her to rid him of that nasty habit. After that initial time, he never called her anything but Moe. Just as well if he wanted to stay healthy. Yet, it turned out to be another beginning that went nowhere.
"Hi," she repeated, feeling a little foolish. "Ah, what are you reading?" He handed her the computer pad and she tapped up the title of the novel. "The Odyssey? I've never read Homer, what's it about?"
"It's about a man who gets lost on his way home," Nathan said. "He has to endure many battles and overcome great opposition, but when he finally arrives back at his home he kills everyone who has dishonored his family." His eyes stared off world for a moment. "He believed in honoring his family obligation."
"Charming," Moe said, handing the pad back to him. She franticly groped for something to fill the silence between them. "Not exactly Laurel and Hardy."
"Who?"
Fighting against her growing frustration and imminent meltdown Moe pushed on. "I think it would all be Greek to me anyway." Her smile faded. He just sat there, evidently unsure whether to laugh or cry. Still he had nothing to say.
He made her feel like an idiot rather than the naturally likeable person she cared to think of herself as. His attitude infuriated her to the point where her infamous temper took over.
"That's a joke you know?" she snapped. "Don't you have a sense of humor? Or is it that you're too good to mix with the rest of us."
His eyebrows came together above his nose. He rubbed the bump that marred the perfect line of his right eyebrow. Several times he glanced at her, sizing up whether or not he should continue. His beautiful gray eyes took on a shade of pained confusion. He drew in a deep breath.
"I've been out of touch with things for a while. You know?"
He held her gaze for a moment before looking away. Shame forced her to do the same. When he actually decided to say something he certainly made it count. In that poignant moment of realization she felt as though a wild boar had gored her in the stomach.
Moe wanted to ask him a thousand questions so that she could, in some small way, begin to understand the kind of life he had led that brought him to this place in life. However, Bernice and Caleb had been unequivocal on that subject. Moe had been told to treat the subject of his past with the greatest delicacy. Old wounds, she had been told, should not be reopened.
She knew about Bellinda of course, and could only imagine in her worst nightmares how terrible it must have been for him. Yet for the first time it struck her as more than a speculative exercise. He carried the nightmare with him every waking day. She could not imagine what it would be like to lose your entire family. However, she suspected that something else lurked in his past, some terrible story of loss and suffering. Something had happened to him, leaving him in his current condition. Confused, solitary and cautious.
They sat for a time without exchanging a word and in that silent place of their own making grew the beginning of a unique understanding between them.
“It must have been bad, ah, in the north.”
He nodded thoughtfully then caught himself. “I don’t remember much.”
“Well you don’t need to worry. I’ll protect you.” She smiled and was rewarded by a return gesture.
“Thank you very much, Moe. I’ll sleep easy knowing you’re growling at the foot of my bed.”
Moe laughed and another miracle happened. He did too.
They exchanged other fleeting comments throughout the rest of the day but within that reticent context the first tenuous strands of friendship were born.
Moe learned that his closed mouthed attitude did not fully reflect his true intent. He simply chose to speak only when he had something to say. Considering the amount of rubbish Moe heard from people, she could not argue with his approach. He did not feel the need to fill the silent times between his words with inane chatter. Once she got used to the unaccustomed silence it actually felt pretty comfortable.
By the end of the school day she had decided that Moe Okuma and Nathan Telford were going to become genuine friends. Even if it killed him.
After class, she followed him out the front gate to where the waiting air cars gathered in herds to chauffeur the students to their homes. Lucy ran up to Nathan and gave him a long hug. He brushed a curly brown tassel from her eyes.
“Did you have a good day, Lucy?”
“It was alright, I guess. How about you.”
Around a soft smile he said, “Better than yesterday.”
“You’re funny sometimes.”
“Funny ha-ha or funny odd.”
“Both.” She giggled.
Nathan snorted and tussled her curly hair. They may as well have been siblings. What a change.
Moe stood back while they went through the big brother little sister ritual. As he took her hand and began to walk towards the parking area, Moe took her chance.
"Nathan," she called.
He swung around with an awkward jerky movement then smiled openly. "Hello Moe." They had come to an understanding of sorts during the day and it showed in his moderately relaxed manner. "Is this where you beat me up after school?"
"What? No. Of course not."
His mouth formed a wry curved line. Moe rolled her eyes.
"Can I have a word with you?" she asked.
He nodded.
"You're pretty good at history and I'm struggling with that assignment on political turmoil in the early twenty first century. So I was hoping you might help me out with it."
"I don't see a problem with that," he said. "When did you have in mind?"
"Now." She saw the uncertainty in his eyes. "And after we finish, my brother will fly you home."
He considered the proposal for a moment then nodded.
"Good," she said breaking into a grin. "And because nothing is for nothing, if you help me with history, I'll teach you how to have fun."
"An historic event in itself," he said returning her grin.
He turned around and leaned down. "Lucy, I'm going over to the Okumas. Tell your mother that I will be in by dinner time. All right?"
"Will you help me with my homework when you get home?"
"You bet."
"What will I tell mother if she asks what you're doing?"
"Tell her that I'm…having fun."
CHAPTER 12
Time: 22nd June, 312
ASC.
Position: Penkovsky Homestead, Mullally Province. Planet Kastoria.
Status: Hunting for clarity.
Moe stepped from the landing pad as her brother took the craft up and back home. She shifted her light pack on her shoulder and strode to where Caleb and Abner stood by the front verandah.
“Mornin’ Moe,” Caleb said.
“Mornin’. And to you too Abner.”
“Yeah,” Abner said.
Abner Lawrence, Calebs best friend, a born marine, a man not to be trifled with. But not a big talker.
Nathan stepped onto the porch. Bernie snatched a speck from the shoulder of his shirt.
“Nathan, dear, you be careful today. For me, alright.”
Bernie should know better. That sort of open affection only embarrassed him.
“Yeah, alright.” He let her give him a peck on the cheek then joined the others.
He forced a tight smile and nodded.
“What’s that?” Abner asked, staring at Nathan’s weapon of choice.
“That my old friend,” Caleb said, “is a bow.”
Abner shook his head.
“He bagged two hares with it, just last week. Nearly four kilos each.”
“We’re not hunting bunnies.” He cast another disapproving eye onto Nathan’s weapon.
Caleb carried one of the projectile weapons, Moe a standard pulsar rifle.
“Alright you two, listen up,” Caleb said. “This is Abner’s show. He has the contract to remove the rogue, so he calls the shots. You do what he says when he says. Got it?”
“Yep,” said in chorus.
Caleb nodded to his friend.
“Let’s go. You two, stay close.”
Moe looked at Nathan and rolled her eyes. A shrug of the shoulder was his response.
He’s been in the province for six months I’ve had four of those to humanize him but he’s still not a big talker. Oh well, baby steps.
A hard twenty minute slog brought them to the firebreak between the plantation and the tree-line.
“Our beastie was last seen heading in this direction through the rain forest,” Caleb said. “So we’ll head on in and look for signs.”
Abner nodded.
“Like buffalo shit,” Moe ventured.
“Scat,” Abner corrected.
“Pay close attention to Abner,” Caleb said around a growing smile. “He’s an expert when it comes to shit.”
As the three of them laughed Abner shook his head. Just the trace of a shortly formed smile darted onto his face. They moved under the forest canopy, the relative coolness drying the sweat on bodies. They headed roughly north. After an hour Abner found scat. Moe pulled a face when he dug his hand into it. He sniffed his finger.
“About two hours old.”
Out of the corner of her eye Moe caught Nathan tense. He nocked an arrow onto his bowstring, turned, aimed at Abner and fired.
The arrow passed dangerously close to Abner’s ear before striking the snake in the head. The reptile squirmed, uncoiled from the branch and dropped from the tree onto Abner’s shoulder. He cried out, and jumped about brushing the snake away.
“Fucking snakes. I hate fucking snakes.” He shuddered.
Abner was beyond a doubt the toughest individual Moe had ever met. His display of emotion shocked her.
Everyone stared at him. He composed himself. “I don’t like snakes, that’s all.”
Caleb stood up from examining the dead reptile. “Take a look.”
Abner eyed the snake, his lip curling. “Shit. Tree viper.”
“Well?” Caleb motioned his friend to Nathan.
“Ah, thanks kid.”
Nathan held up his bow and raised his eyebrows.
Moe laughed and this time even Abner joined in.
How did Nathan spot the snake? More questions for my list.
“You know my friend,” Caleb said, “in some societies if someone saves you life you have to be their slave.”
“Funny.” Abner did not seem amused.
They continued to track the beast for the better part of the day, finding a track here some scat there. Leaving the forest behind they stepped onto the baked lower plains. And there it was. The Kastorian plains buffalo that had been causing havoc to plantations for weeks. He’d gotten a taste for the sweet green leaves on the vines and would return again.
“Lord, he’s a big bugger,” Caleb said. “Look at the spread on those horns. Got to weigh in at three tonnes.”
“Closer to four,” Abner said.
An after effect of the ancient war fought within Tunguska, the animal populations on many planets grew monstrously large. Including the introduced species.
The buffalo’s territorial dominance was threatened by the newcomers. His head went down, he kicked at the loose soil with a hoof and bellowed a loud warning.
Abner cocked his rifle, stepped forward and stopped.
“Come here, youngster.”
Nathan stood beside him.
“You think you can hit him with your bow?”
“Hard to miss,” Nathan said.
“Yeah, but you have to hit him in a soft part. These critters are as tough as battle armor.”
Another bellow made Moe jump.
“I’ll try,” Nathan said, and nocked an arrow.
One last bellow and the buffalo charged. Nathan waited with his bow arm down waiting for the range to close. And waited.
Shit.
Finally he raised the bow, paused for only a second and loosed the arrow. It dug into the cheek under the left eye. The beast kept coming.
Abner aimed and fired. The buffalo’s head snapped back as the bullet struck him between the eyes. The 12.5-caliber shell had a two-hundred grain charge behind it. He collapsed to the ground sending up a cloud of dust.
Nathan walked over to the fallen beast and laid his hand respectfully on his head. He retrieved his arrow, cleaned the blood off in the soil and returned it to his quiver.
Abner showed the same respect then stood and placed his hand on Nathan’s shoulder.
“Nice try. Keep practicing.”
A compliment from Abner came as often as a solar eclipse. Nathan’s fleeting smile said he knew as much.
Abner pulled his enormous hunting knife and knelt down beside the fallen beast.
He looked up at Nathan. “Do you want an ear?”
“What?”
“An ear. As a memento.”
“Ah, no thanks.” Nathan eyed Abner’s weapon. “Will you let me fire it?”
Abner chambered a round and handed the rifle over. Nathan pointed the barrel to the ground and felt the weight. Not too much for a skinny fourteen year old. He brought it to his shoulder and aimed down the sights. He did that three times, getting a feel for it.
“Safety?”
Abner snorted. “Off.”
Nathan turned to face a large rock that stood a good hundred meters away. He raised the weapon.
“Anchor yourself or the recoil will drop you on your arse. Here, dig the butt into your shoulder.”
He showed Nathan how to position his feet, angle his body to absorb the brutal recoil. Satisfied he stepped back.
Nathan raised the weapon, sighted and fired. The shot went slightly wide of the rock. He muttered something Moe suspected was rude.
Handing the gun back he said, “Thanks, Abner.”
“You are welcome, Nathan.”
He rejoined Moe. “How’s the shoulder.”
“Still there.”
“It’s got quite the kick, hasn’t it?”
“Hmm.”
One thing she knew for certain about her new friend. He did not like losing.
She would continue his education and bring him out of himself not matter how much he resisted her efforts. What more would she learn about him in the future?
CHAPTER 13
Time: 6th January, 314 ASC.
&nb
sp; Position: Port Cranbourne. Planet Kastoria.
Status: Moving on.
The city of Port Cranbourne stood at the mouth of the Zamesta River, on the shores of the muddy waters of the Bay of Sorrows. The capital of Kastoria, it was the commercial and administrative hub of the system. It contained the largest concentration of people on the planet boasting a permanent population of just over a million people. Essentially Kastoria had developed into a world of widely dispersed farming communities with the bulk of the population spread thinly across its two main continents. As such, Port Cranbourne also had the distinction of being the only place on the southern continent with the facilities to educate students to a senior high school level. From all points on the continent's geographical map junior high school graduates flooded into the port to complete their education.
For Moe the day began as any other day in the eighteen months since moving south. Up just before dawn to join Nathan for the first of his exercise workouts. A leisurely ten click run from the dorms down to the bay and back. Nathan always pushed her to go faster so she pushed back. It worked well for both of them.
“I never thought I’d say it,” she said, having caught her second wind, “but I actually miss Taylor’s Bend.”
“I know what you mean,” Nathan said. “I miss my family.”
“What?”
“Wadda ya mean, what?”
“That’s the first time you’ve called the Penkovsky’s your family.”
“No, I do it all the time.”
“Buffalo shit.”
He chuckled and managed to shrug while maintaining his pace.
Another breakthrough but not the first Moe had seen come over her friend in the last year and a half.
“Hey, remember our first day at school here?”
He smiled. “Yeah.”
“I was scared to death.”
“Not me.”
“Once again, my friend, buffalo shit.”
“Hmm, first time away from home had all of the kids a little rattled.”
