Prologue Previous Chapter

Lam

“Will you please slow down?” Reya snarled, beads of sweat dripping slowly down her reddening skin.

Lam glanced at Tohm, and they both slowed to a halt, pulling their heads out from under her arms, letting her stand unaided.

“I didn’t say stop.” She snapped. “You’re supposed to be helping e.

Tohm pointed at the top of the hill. “Look…” He said, gasping for breath. “They’re almost… at the top…”

Lam turned and shaded his eyes with one hand. Sure enough, Oola had reached the top, and was already disappearing over the top of the ridge. As he watched, waves of vertigo ran through him, and he stumbled sideways. Tohm caught him. “Hey, careful.”

“What are you doing?” Reya asked.

“Keep going…” Lam said, sucking in air, the earth spinning beneath his feet as he clutched at Tohms’ shoulder. “We’ll catch up.”

Reya stared at them icily, sending chills trickling down his spine. Without a word she turned and started up the hill, bending low to keep her balance.

After a few more breaths, the dizziness passed, and Lam stared up at the top of the ridge again, just in time to see Mika and Armis vanish behind the rocks.

He ground his teeth together for a moment, before his body’s demand for air forced him to suck in another series of deep breaths. Letting go of Tohm, he stood up, and started kicking at the jagged cliff-face next to the path.

“What’s up, Lam?” Tohm asked.

“They’re all up. They’re getting to see it first.”

“So?”

“Mika and I always played a game, to see who could find new stuff first.”

Tohm blinked. “And?”

“And she’s getting to find it all by herself. And I’m stuck here with you and R-”. He paused and glanced at the woman’s retreating back, already darkening with sweat. If she had heard him, she did not show it. “I’m stuck down here with you and the most ungrateful, annoying person in the whole world.”

Tohm stifled a chuckle.

Lam stared at him. “I can’t believe you volunteered me for this.”

Tohm shrugged. “She needs help. Oola said the other day that Reya has been complaining that people aren’t helping her enough.”

Lam frowned. “What does Oola have to do with this?”

“Nothing!” Tohm said, flushing.

Lam studied Tohm’s face for a moment, as the man blushed furiously. Ah.

Shaking his head, Lam looked back at the top of the hill. “What do you think they’ll find up there.”

“Grass.” Tohm said, and paused for a moment. “And a river.” He paused again. “And probably some hills.”

Lam sighed. “You don’t even notice.”

“Notice what?”

“Well, the fish. Don’t you wonder if there are any fish living in the stream at the top of a waterfall? How do they keep from going over the edge? And what about the animals? What kinds of animals live way up here? Look how high we are.” He said, sweeping his arm across the mass of green hills that dominated the southern horizon. The had seemed so huge during the climb, but seemed so small now compared to this one.

“And what about the hills?” He asked, turning back to Tohm. “Do you think there are even more up ahead? Or are we at the top? And what about that village? Is it close? Is the fire still going? Are we-”

“Okay.” Tohm laughed, holding up his hands. “You win. I’m sorry you’re not in front.”

Lam looked up the hill. Reya was sitting on the ground less than a spear’s throw ahead, rubbing her ankle.

Shaking his head, he stumbled forward. “Come on.” He muttered, walking towards the stricken woman. “Are you allright?”

“Leave me alone.” She said, staring at the waterfall.

He stared at her for a moment, and shook his head, not certain he had heard her correctly. “What?”

“Just go away. I don’t need your help, and you don’t want to help me.”

“Reya.” Tohm protested, “What are you talking about? Of course-”

“Oh shut up.” She snapped. “I heard you, laughing at me; laughing at the fat girl waddling her way up the hillside.”

The two men looked at each other, and then back at her. “We – uh – we weren’t laughing at you, Reya.” Lam said uncertainly.

“Just. Go. Away.” She said, her words dripping with poison.

Anger and humiliation fought for dominance. “Fine.” He said, mimicking her icy tone. Turning, he started marching up the hill, glad to be rid of her.

“Lam, wait up.” Tohm called, and he slowed down until Tohm drew alongside him.

They marched together for a little while, before he stole a glance back at Reya. She was sitting again, rubbing her ankle, her whole body shaking.

“What is wrong with her?” Lam asked, bewildered.

Tohm shrugged. “She doesn’t want our help.” He slapped Lam on the chest. “Hey, let’s go see those animals you were talking about.”

Lam smiled. “Great idea.” He said. “Race you!” Without warning, he shoved Tohm backwards and started running, bouyant with excitement.

“Hey!” Tohm shouted, scrambling to keep from falling. Lam drove his feet forward as fast as he could, ignoring his shrieking muscles as the top of the ridge slowly bobbled closer. But Tohm was faster, passing him with ease just a little more than a stone’s throw from the top. In moments, Tohm was at the top of the hill, staring down at Lam. “I won.” He gloated, reaching out a hand to help Lam across the last couple of steps.

As he reached the top, Lam took a moment to savor the view before bending low to rest his hands on his knees. Rocky hills rose up to the east and west, while the river, which seemed like little more than a stream, wound between them as it ran down from gentler rise to the north, disappearing into the scrubby trees.

Just beyond the trees, a column of smoke rose into the air, vanishing into the reddening sky.

“Wow.” He said.

“Hey guys.” Armis said. “Help gather firewood.”

“Firewood?” Tohm asked. “What for?”

Armis stared at him. “For a fire.”

“We’re… making… camp?” Lam asked, incredulously, fighting to recover his breath.

“Yes.” Armis said, shaking his head. “It will be dark soon.”

Lam glanced at the western hill, and realized he was standing deep in its shadow, the orange sunfire dancing along the broken profile of the stone. “But the village.” He said, pointing at the smoke.

Armis shook his head. “We won’t get there before dark, and-”

“It’s not that far.” Lam interrupted. “And besides-”

“Lam. No.” Armis said. “Get firewood.” He turned away, and Mika jogged past him.

“Hi Lam.” She said, smiling, and then furrowed her brow, her smile faltering. “Where’s Reya?”

A crack of guilt shot through his gut. “She told us- She said to go away.” He said.

Behind him, Tohm started to walk away quickly, calling out to Pak: “Hey, let me help with that.”

Her mouth grew thin. “You left my sister alone on the hillside?”

“Uh.”

“You’re an idiot.” She said, eyes flashing. Glancing around, she saw Shara setting up the fire. “Shara, can you help me with Reya?”

“But she said.” Lam argued helplessly.

Shara stood up, and walked past Lam, shaking her head. “Try to show a little understanding, Lam.” The two women started back down the hill, calling out Reya’s name.

Frustrated, he watched them descend to meet Reya as she slowly ascended. Together, the three of them made their way back up the hillside as the shadows lengthened, bleeding the color from the sky. By the time they reached the top a handful of stars were already sparkling in the sky. The three of them chatted cheerfully as they walked past him towards the flickering fire.

“Ugh.” Barak said. “Shara, this meat tastes strange.”

“What? I didn’t make it.” She said defensively.

“I made it.” Kito said. “What’s wrong with it.”

“It tastes weird.” Pak said. “Not like Shara’s.”

Curious, Lam stepped over to the fire, grabbing a hunk of smoked meat and popping it in his mouth, almost gagging at the unpleasantly sour tang as he bit into it. Yawning reflexively, he let the half-chewed food fall t the ground, scraping his tongue on his teeth to get rid of the taste. Kito was staring at him, cheeks red, jaw quivering.

“Good.” Lam thought, smirking.

Armis stood up, and raised his hand. The rest of the clan turned to him expectantly. “If that is the village I think it is, then we shouldn’t have any problems. Many of your aunts and uncles probably still live there.” He paused and looked at the ground for a few heartbeats before raising his head, and looking each of them in the eye. “But – things may have changed. Be extra cautious tonight on your watches.”

He stared at Kito. “No wandering off.”

He stared at Tohm. “No falling asleep.”

Tohm blushed. Lam stifled a giggle.

Armis nodded his head. “Ok. Go to sleep. Barak, you and Pak have the first watch.”

Lam sought Mika’s eyes as the circle broke apart, but she never looked at him, or even near him, settling down next to Reya and Shara.

I’ll see her tonight, on watch. I’ll explain what happened then.

=-=

He’s running from something bright and terrible, seeking the safety of the darkness ahead. Trees surround him, their crowns bursting into flame as he passes. “Lam!” A pale shadow calls, dashing between the smoldering trunks towards him. As the shade approaches, he can see that it is his mother, her skin smooth and white. “Mom!” He yells. “I thought you were dead.” “Run!” She shrieks, shoving him from the side. He stumbles, turns to take a last look at her as she crumbles into dust as the golden fury overtakes her. “Run!” She shrieks again, her voice a whisper on the boiling edge of the storm.

Turning away, he runs, his eyes filled with tears as he hears her cry out in pain for just an instant.

The grass and trees give way to stone, grey and flat, stretching to the horizon. He staggers to a stop, glancing back at the fire, certain it cannot reach him here. But the fire is gone, replaced by mountains, towering into the sky, collapsing towards him, sending massive chunks of stone tumbling through the air towards him. He backs away, slowly at first as the smaller stones explode around him, flint-sharp shards slicing into him from every direction. He spins around, running desperately, feet slapping against the hard stone as the mountains chase him across the Earth. The stone sinks away, and he stumbles into a river, the mud at the bottom sucking at his feet, pulling him down into he chill depths. “Run!” Armis says, grabbing him, shoving him up on the other bank, even as the river drags his rescuer under.

Raggedly, he continues, his legs aching as he comes across an orchard of fruit trees, every bough heavy with ripe apples, mouth-watering peaches. Behind him, the world is quiet and dark. Gratefully, he reaches out to take an apple, and his chest spasms. Surprised, he looks down, to find a branch impaled in his flesh, the splintered tip protruding from his belly, red with gore. Smoothly, the branch withdraws from his body, leaving a dark hole in his clothes, cold as death. He falls to his knees helplessly as the hole grows, spreading across his chest, his arms, his neck.

“Lam, wake up!”

Shrieking, he bolts upright, his eyes filled with flashes of white, his teeth slamming together. “Ow.” He says as his face erupts in pain.

“Ow.” Oola mutters, slowly wobbling back and forth as she rubs her forehead. “You are hard headed.”

“I’m so sorry.” He said, his teeth throbbing.

“It’s okay.” She said. “Time for your watch.” Standing up, she walked unsteadily back to her skins.

If it is his watch, then Mika should be getting up too. He glances across the campsite, and sees her slipping back into her skins. She’s going to bed? But-

Shara walks towards him, carefully navigating her way through the sleepers. “Hi Lam.” She whispers as she gets close. “Mika asked to switch watches with me.”

“Oh.” He whispered back, his heart sinking. “Okay.”

“Come with me.” She said, grabbing his hand gently, pulling him towards a pile of rocks. She sat down, and patted the rock next to her. “Sit down.”

“Shara, I- uh.”

“Sit.” She repeats, insistently. Reluctantly, he sits down, uncomfortably aware how much alike these rocks are to the ones in his dream.

“Its a beautiful night.” Shara said, staring up at the sky. Looking up after her, Lam had to agree. The great white river of stars was laced with red and gold, glittering as it stretched across the arch of the sky.

He shivered in the cold, and rubbed his arms vigorously. “I guess she’s pretty mad at me.”

Shara shook her head. “She’s not mad. She’s worried.”

“Worried? About what?”

She paused for a moment, chewing on her words, and then stared him right in the eye. “Whether you treat all women the way you treat Reya.”

Lam blinked. “I don’t understand.”

“How could you not?” She said, throwing up her hands. “You boys are so clueless.” She shook her head, and stood up, walking away into the dark.

“Wait. Shara.” He said, taking a tentative step after her. “I don’t–” He stammered. “Tell me what you mean.”

Shara looked back at him, and shook his head. “I think you’re going to have to talk to her.”

She wouldn’t speak any more of it as the night crawled by. “I think we’re done.” She said, an eternity later.

Lam nodded gratefully. “Do you mind if I wake up Reya?”

She paused, and looked at him, head tilted slightly, a half-smile on her lips. “Alright.”

Reya was snoring softly, rolled on her side. He touched her shoulder gently. “Reya? Time to wake up.”

She opened her eyes, nodding sleepily. And then her eyes narrowed as she stared angrily at him. “What do you want?”

“I wanted to say sorry for yesterday. But we weren’t laughing at you-.”

Her eyes flashed angrily. “Yeah. Sure.” She said, turning away from him, climbing onto her hands and knees.

This isn’t going like I had hoped. “Reya, I–”

“Leave me alone!” She barked. Several people jerked awake. “Quiet.” Someone hissed.

He held up his hands. “Okay. Okay.” He backed away as she slowly found her way to her feet, muttering under her breath.

Sighing, Lam returned to his bedroll and tried to find sleep. But first the owls were too loud, and then the crickets, and then the birds. And then the sun was too bright and it was time to get up anyways.

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Saturday, April 29th, 2006 at 8:15 am.
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