The Alien Library (14 page)

“Why leave so soon?” she asked.

“The news will travel, speculation of how this happened. Jefarin has a will, and it will doubtless stir up more trouble. We need to be with Tendar.” He eased from the bed and saw her covered. “I’ll fix you something more for the throat in the morning.”

“What do I pack? Not that I have much,” she mused, then yawned.

“What you have, Cam, whatever you have.” He blinked, speculation growing on his face.

“Aren’t we coming back?” she whispered.

“Of course, but it might be some months.” Daniel bent and kissed her softly. “I am glad we are reconciled.”

“Yeah, me, too.” She closed her eyes. The trauma of the last few hours proved more than she could resist. She was tired and slept without dreaming.

Daniel went to his quarters, gathered ingredients to ease her throat, as well has lighten the bruises of his own struggles. Sil and the rest were busily gathering the supplies to see them to Opal Bay.

When they were unable to find the dragon scale in the morning, the assumption was made that he had lost it sometime before. Daniel speculated that the drugs had caused it to fall off. As they’d knelt next to the flower bed, Daniel itched to touch the soil, search for some sign that Jefarin had been there. But the soil had done a thorough job. The planet absorbed even his clothing.

A glint shone near the shadow of the bench and Daniel reached out. Sil hissed, something in Kharmon. Daniel nodded. “I know, but look, it’s a ring. Do you remember his wearing a ring?”

“No, but I wasn’t looking. Don’t touch it, Dani. Here, use this.” Sil handed him a dry stem from a nearby shrub.

Daniel could respect the Kharmon customs. He used the stick gently to reveal the ring. “That is too small for him. More feminine.” He looked over at Sil. “May I take it?”

Sil thought a moment., “Yes. It must not have been on his person or Ix would have taken it back. Perhaps it was lost by another.”

“Or left by someone,” Daniel softly speculated. Then they rose to their feet. “Who stays?”

“Darjing will stay, and Chana. Both Emerson and George will stay, and Theo. The library will be sealed to all but Theo,” Sil answered. “Few humans are in residence right now, since the eve of conclave was known.”

“How many backalongs will we use?” Daniel asked the practical questions as they left the courtyard.

That evening, as the setting of the sun heralded the end of mourning, the party left for Opal Bay.

By then, Honi approached Teemin’s estate, having broken covenant and ridden a juvenile backalong to death to make better time. Her news saw a second party on the road to the seashore within hours.

They walked for three days. Sil carried Cameron when exhaustion took her. Daniel, who had more fortitude and was accustomed to the Kharmon pace, simply didn’t need the sleep. Cam would drift in and out, listening to the comforting chatter of the rest, usually during the hours of darkness.

The first night, she enjoyed the unfettered view of the stars and the newness of being outside the estate walls helped her keep up with the rest. When she began to stumble, Sil swept her into his arms. The daylight saw her awake and able to take to her feet again.

They walked through miles and miles of flowering fields, gently rolling hills and the occasional call of rare birds and singing lizards. The second waking showed her a terrain change. Now there were small trees, less flowers and more shrubs. She knew there was a term for this sort of environmental change, but couldn’t recall it. The third morning saw the trees larger, but the undergrowth less. She wondered at this and Sil told her they were approaching settled lands. The backalongs grazed what they could reach.

“These are the animals we’ll be riding to the coast?” she asked. “It’s an interesting name.”

“You’ll see why they are called that,” Daniel answered. “Cameron? You are clear on what to say regarding Jefarin’s assault on you? You were wearing your office tunic, doing your duties…”

“Yes, Daniel. Tell the truth. Don’t elaborate. Be honest about my fear. I have the sketch of the room I hid in, and how it saved me.” She nodded. “You are nervous.”

“I know, I am sorry. Pindari sent the message of his death, but death is so rare here. It has been a very long time since I have seen the Kharmon deal with the reality. And Teemin was so angry before, now he has a new reason,” Daniel said with a sigh.

“Will the issue of my status be tangled up in questions about his father’s death?” she wondered.

“I hope not. Pindari said she will address the need to keep the two issues separate with her sister. And Thandin will likely fight for it, also. But it’s very uncertain,” he answered. “Make no mention of the growing bond between we three.”

“I know, Daniel. I know.” She shrugged. He was being very adamant about some issues. Not even allowing discussion between the two of them should any Kharmon be nearby. He warned that too many of the Kharmon would fight their closeness and possibly use it to prove Tendar had crossed over and allied himself against his race. The though saddened her, but wasn’t viewed with much surprise. In the end the two species walked parallel lines regarding identity.

She wondered how the trip on the backalongs would progress. She sighed and peered into the trees. The flying lizards she’d spotted were beautiful. She understood some were domesticated to the extent that they served as homing pigeons did on her world. They carried the mail. Mail lizards. She snorted, amused at the vision of one in a uniform.

She’d been feeling decidedly lighthearted, all things considered. She assumed it was due to the end of waiting. She regretted Jefarin’s death, but admitted the relief it brought her. Teemin had been unpleasant, but Jefarin had been scary.

They crested a steep rise and she gazed out over a vista she could never have imagined. She stumbled, then just stood.

Daniel chuckled. “Interesting, aren’t they? I always find it amusing to see how new Thinkers react to them.”

“Those are backalongs?” She blinked. “They go backwards?”

“Backwards to us, forward to them.” He smiled as he surveyed the herd. “We’ll likely be on one of the smaller ones. The others have already begun loading the larger pair. Our ride will be between the two males.” He pointed. “The larger ones are mature males. The smaller are immature females or males.”

She followed his gesture and saw the Kharmon that had hurried ahead of them lifting totes up a ladder to the slightly concave back of a huge backalong. It stood over twenty feet, and that just took into account the legs. They resembled turtles, she supposed but the shell was upside down? It certainly looked odd. The neck curved up, as if the animal were looking over its shoulder. It appeared unnatural to her eyes.

She shook her head. “How do they eat? Do their necks flex enough to bend entirely backward? Would it be backward?”

“They don’t eat from their head. They have feeder tubes on the bottom, where they curve downward,” Daniel explained. “They do have a mouth, of sorts. But it is for vocalizing. They can be quite loud when mating.”

“Do they fight? Is that why those are all males?” she asked, allowing him to urge her moving again, down the slope toward the herd.

“No, but the females have been moved to encourage the males to join them. Warning is usually given that there is a need for transport, and the herders move the females to the destination. Or vice versa. It depends on the season and whether the young still need a mother’s care.” He smiled. “They are friendly, but take care not to walk under them. They don’t eat animals, but the younger ones might accidentally attempt it.”

“What is their gait like?” She’d noticed they had six legs, sturdy, resembling tree trunks.

“When at speed, quite smooth. They could traverse what we just walked in a single day. They don’t generally travel that fast. It will take four days to reach Opal Bay at the pace we’ll take. They move faster at night.” He continued to speak of backalong habits as they joined the rest.

Cameron asked if she could touch them and again was warned not to wander underneath them. She understood and slowly approached the one being loaded. The skin felt dry and leathery and the legs ended with long claws curving upward from blunt looking feet. She looked for Daniel, but he was too far away to ask but saw a familiar face. “Sil? The feet look quite fierce. Do they have to fight off predators?”

“No, but they do traverse rough terrain, sometimes quite steep. They can dig in with their feet. And they swim, the toes are webbed.” He smiled and stroked the leg next to her. “This old male is Ushma.” He pointed at the smaller animal. “That is one of his babies, Ughly. And his brother, Uffrain.”

“Ughly? He doesn’t appear any different…” She paused. “Okay, what does that mean in Kharmon?”

“In a hurry.” Sil smiled. “He’s a fast walker. You and Daniel will ride him. The rest of us will be on the other two.”

She gazed up the leg, a long way above her. “Anyone ever fall off?”

“No, but one can jump off,” he replied. “The shell curves inward slightly and the skin rises even higher. You will get used to the slope. The elders are more flat.”

“Why aren’t they kept closer to the estate?” she asked him.

“Because of their appetites. Once, long ago, they were used to lay siege to an estate. They are powerful and walls fell to them.” He sighed. “It was long ago, but rules were established that are still kept. It goes against their nature to do such damage. It took a great deal of time to restore them to a placid state.”

“Oh. All right.” She stroked the leg. “I am sorry they were used so poorly. When do we leave?”

“We’ll eat first.” He patted Ushma. “Stretch your legs, Cameron. We won’t be stopping until we’re there.”

With a nod, she took his advice, and moved away from the loading area to a small group of trees to stretch and prepare for the rest of the trip.

The gait did take some getting used to. She found it easiest if she lay on her back, her eyes watching the great head scan the land ahead of them. Daniel laughed at her clumsiness, the first real laugh she’d heard from him since Jefarin had died. She didn’t regret her own inability to move gracefully on Ughly if it made Daniel laugh.

She gazed with fascination at the colors on the skin, not obvious when she’d been examining the leg. The soft shell she rested on was lovely. Not only did it reveal subtle shades of green and blue, but it also felt luxurious. She removed her shoes and let her feet enjoy the texture. Daniel told her the backalong enjoyed the sensation of her skin. At that revelation, she made certain to flex her toes and stroke with her hands as she relaxed. It was good to be off her feet.

The head appeared to move constantly. Though that could be the gait making it seem that way. It reminded her of a swing. She’d never been on a ship, but thought it might be similar. She wondered if she’d be motion sick, but Daniel assured her that wasn’t a possibility.

“People do just not feel well sometimes! Don’t they? Ix can’t see to every bump and scrape!” she commented.

“Yes, but motion sickness is centered in the body, not on it. You won’t get sick,” he simply replied. He stood balanced at the front. No, the back, of Ughly. Or did they call it the front? It was the direction they were traveling, so she decided she’d call it the front. Or maybe the bow!

It wasn’t long before she drifted to sleep. When she woke up, the light had faded and Daniel was at her side. He smiled as he handed her a package.

“Dinner.”

She sat up and they ate in harmony, watching the stars slowly appear. He showed her how to stow the food, should she get hungry as they traveled. Then he removed his tunic and lay down next to her. “Cameron, I love you.”

She started, then turned to look at the doctor. “Oh, well, thank you. I think I love you, but honestly, I’m not certain what love is. I thought I loved my husband, that he loved me.”

“I imagine it was real at one time.” He stroked her arm. “I admit, there is the attraction from Tendar’s touch, but it is more than that. Much more. I’ve met so many Thinkers. I have loved many, been loved by many. You are different. You feel different. I loved Pandra-i.  I believe I loved Jefarin, at the beginning of things. I understand you are uncertain.”

“I want to say it and mean it, Daniel. To understand it and believe in it. The same as I want to believe in Ix and what it means for me. For my heart.” She sighed.

“You have been more certain since the harvest fear, the panic attack.” He ran a hand up her leg.

“I have. Which is funny! I would have thought I would be more frightened and uncertain.” She swallowed, turned to look up at the sky, and changed the subject. “Why can we see so many stars here and so few from the estate?”

“Tendar’s home is set in a valley that is subject to mists and fog. The soil holds more moisture. A meteorologist explained it to me once.” He followed her eyes. “Ughly’s head is in the way.”

“It’s more fantastic this way. I can see his head against the night sky.” She slid down to lay next to Daniel. “Backalongs can see in the dark?”

“They have an extra eyelid that illuminates their surroundings for them.” He idly stroked his cock, then set her hand alongside his. “Touch me.”

She smiled to herself. “I do appreciate your directness and ability to vocalize what you want. I like knowing what feels good to you.”

“That feels good. You feel good. I feel good next to you.” He kissed her shoulder. “Good enough?”

She giggled. “Will Ughly watch us?”

“If he weren’t hemmed in by the other two, he might. He will enjoy our skin. Take off the tunic.” He experimented with her appreciation of direction.

Cameron never forgot that night. Daniel moved slowly and with patience, every touch extended to include Ughly. He even rolled her over and rubbed her nipples against the backalong’s skin. A slight hum was the result from the head above them, yet the pace never changed.

“He will remember us,” Daniel whispered to her.

She could smell the backalong, and it reminded her of Tendar, of Kharmon. They traveled all over the shell for the next few hours, experimenting with the slope and how it facilitated different positions. He kept her awake most of the night, determined to erase the deep betrayal she obviously still felt in regard to her ex-husband. He whispered words of praise to her, in his ancient tongue and others he had learned in his long life on Ix.

The next afternoon, she stood next to him at the higher edge of the shell. “The air feels so good on my skin.” For the first time since arriving, she was comfortable with being naked.

He ran a hand down her arm. “Ix loves you.”

She chuckled, “I am overwhelmed with lovers.”

“Easily.” He wrapped an arm about her waist. “Soon, the terrain will change. We will climb, before a long descent to the ocean. There is less restriction on how close we can approach Opal Bay, and will only need to walk for an hour or so when we leave Ughly.”

“Good, the sooner we’ll see Tendar.” She sighed. “I swear, I can feel him, feel his longing. Are you sure he is recovered from healing me?”

“All he needed was some distance. The ocean helped, I’m certain of that.”

“What will the ocean look like?”

“Like a great body of water,” he said with a grin. “Opal Bay is fairly sheltered. The house is near a rocky area but the rest is sand, with lightly crashing waves.”

“What color is the ocean?” she asked directly.

“Oh, that is what you meant.” Daniel closed his eyes. “I want you to see for yourself. It’s lovely. The sand is soft, and we will swim.”

“Will I see a dragon?” She cuddled next to him, her face raised to catch the breeze. Her hair fell gently down her back.

He stroked it as he answered, “I don’t know. It is possible. Sightings are rare.”

“But you’ve seen one,” she stated.

“I’ve seen several, usually at a distance. They are shy. We will search the shore for the scales.” His hand ran down to lightly touch the scale Pindari had gifted this woman with not so long ago. “It is doubtful we will find one, but we’ll look anyway.”