The Travelers - Chapter 15

*Space Monitor – a satellite capable of taking photographs in space, among other things.

*Grotter – an Arlytian animal—kind of a cross between a squirrel and a groundhog

*Wicker Tree – an Arlytian tree similar to what we would call a Banyan Tree

*Formulas – recipes; the term can be used for food recipes, but also chemical recipes.  It’s a rather fluid term.

*Control Solutions – a chemical composition that samples of solid objects can be put in to test for safety levels.  It’s not entirely accurate, but the results are good enough to determine if something is safe to be touched, and it can help determine what other tests will need to be performed.

*Splash Gloves –Special gloves made of a material to protect against anything that could cause harm if touched.

*****

Chapter 15

“Come on, show me!”

“It’s not done yet.”

“It’s not going to be done till the trek is done.  I want to see it now!”

Corbin laughed, and then hated himself for laughing, but Kel seemed to have that effect on him.  It was the second night of the group trek and everyone was settling down in their shelters and getting ready for sleep.  Most of the Travelers were sharing shelters with two or three in each.  Kel and Corbin had ended up bunking together the two nights the group had set up camp, and now Kel was teasingly harassing Corbin to show him the map he was drawing of Neveah per his assigned task, but Corbin was holding back, feeling self-conscious and also like he wanted to show it to Charge Seren first.  After all, he was the one who had assigned the job and he was the one whom Corbin wanted to impress.

“I want to get Charge Seren’s approval on it first,” he said definitively. 

Kel gave him a look that seemed thoughtful and then understanding, even if he was a little disappointed.  “All right, lad.  Save it for Seren.  Can I at least see something you’ve drawn?  My artwork looks like I have hooves for hands.  I want to see something good,” he insisted.

Corbin bit his lower lip a moment before pulling his bundler close and digging out a small drawing book.  He flipped through a few pages, paused, then flipped a few more before settling on a picture.  He offered the book a little shyly to Kel and the other man took it carefully, so as not to smudge the paper.

He studied the drawing for several long seconds, his expression unreadable, which made Corbin more than a little anxious.  He rarely showed drawings that weren’t work related to anyone.  It was always something he did for himself, but Kel, somehow, was quickly becoming the closest friend he’d ever had, and since friendships were few and far between for Corbin, he was willing to concede to showing a picture or two to Kel just to keep him around.

An almost breathless whisper escapes Kel’s mouth after the seemingly long silence.  “Wow.”

“Really?” Corbin said hopefully, then berated himself.  Of course he’s going to say wow.  You’re right here.  Most anything else would be rude to say.

“Really, Corbin,” he insisted, and he sounded sincere.  “I’ve seen the pictures taken from the space monitors, so I know this is a drawing of Arlytia, but there’s so much more here.  You make the planet look so vivid, almost like it’s alive.  I almost feel like I could see it spin on its axis right here in the picture.”

Corbin felt a warm glow in his stomach over the description.  “I drew it before we left,” he explained quietly.  “I don’t want to forget Arlytia, so I drew a lot of pictures so I can remember since we’re never…”

His voice faded as it hit him that he was never going back to Arlytia.  He’d had the revelation before, but whenever it hit him, it seemed just as painful as the first time.  He’d never go back, never see his secret places he used to escape to when being around people became too much; never see the family of grotters that he’d named and watched grow over the years; never climb the wicker tree where he liked to draw his building ideas.

He sighed.  In a lot of ways he had always been more attached to the planet of Arlytia than the people who lived there.

The warmth of a hand fell onto Corbin’s arm, distracting him from his maudlin thoughts.  He looked up to see Kel staring at him with concern. 

“Are you ok, lad?”

He nodded, but he knew it wasn’t believable, and Kel’s concern for him made him feel like a child being upset over the loss of a toy.  He was too old for such foolish melancholy.  He glared at Kel.

“I’m fine.  Are you done looking at my stuff?” he asked roughly, and grabbed for his drawing book.  The forceful grab was too sudden for Kel to realize what was happening and the page with Corbin’s drawing of Arlytia ripped.  Corbin gasped as he heard the tear.

“No!  No!” he said desperately, not understanding why it hurt so much to think of the picture being torn, but feeling the pain nonetheless.

Kel moved swiftly to his side and spoke soothingly.  “Calm down.  Calm down, lad.  It’s ok.  It was just the corner of the page.  Your picture isn’t ruined.”

It took another couple seconds for Corbin to confirm that was true, and his breath whooshed out in relief.  Irrationally, he hugged the book to his chest and refused to look at Kel, although he spoke to him.

“Just leave my stuff alone.  I’ll show you if I want to.”

He heard the harshness of his voice, and knew Kel didn’t deserve it.  The man had been nothing but kind to him, but Corbin wasn’t good at managing himself when emotions got out of control and the world felt off-kilter.  It was one of many reasons people tended to keep their distance from him.  That, and he had a knack for arguing when he was upset.

Not knowing what else to say, or if he should say anything, Corbin left the covering of the canvas, but didn’t go any further than to sit outside its confines.  With most everyone having settled in for the night, he figured he’d be left alone. 

And for about ten minutes he was left to his self-imposed isolation.  Then he was startled from his despondency when a hand appeared through the opening of the canvas.  It held a paper that was placed face down next to him before disappearing back inside.

Curiosity won over stubbornness and Corbin picked up the paper and turned it over.  A pathetic, truly pathetic, picture of what Corbin guessed was a person…or an alien…or a deformed fish (he really couldn’t figure it out) was on the other side. 

While the picture was indecipherable, the words on the page weren’t.  In simple script they said, “Sorry.  Come back?”

He was tempted, but obstinacy made him hold out a couple more minutes; if not for his pride, then to try to figure out what that picture was supposed to be.  When he did dare to go back inside the canvas, he was tense, but found that Kel immediately looked over and grinned at him.  It was sweet and apologetic.

“I’m sorry, lad.  I wasn’t thinking about how personal something like your drawings could be.  I shouldn’t have pushed you.  I tend to be the same way about new meal formulas I create.  I don’t let anyone in on them unless I’m absolutely certain I want to share them; and…well, that’s never actually happened.  So, you’re a lot braver than me to share your art like that.”

Corbin’s mouth dropped open in surprise.  He’d been more prepared to get scolded for overreacting, or teased for his upset over a torn picture.  He wasn’t ready for understanding, and yet, it seemed like Kel did understand.

“Thanks,” Corbin said, his eyes dropping to the ground at the inner unsteadiness he felt.  “Sorry to snap at you.”

“No harm,” Kel offered in instant forgiveness.  “Hey, did you like my picture?”

“Um.”  Corbin had absolutely no idea what to say.  “Yeah, it’s…um…what is it?” he burst out.

Kel laughed once, loudly, before catching himself and smothering the rest of his chuckles behind his hand.  When he collected himself, his eyes were still amused. 

“I guess I could make myself sound mysterious and say it was an ‘abstract’, but I’m prone to honesty.  It was supposed to look like our canvas here, but I put a face on it with tears because you left it.  It was just silly…a picture to make you smile.”  He chuckled again.  “But I guess I confused you instead.  I warned you my art looks like I have hooves for hands!”

Corbin laughed then too and smacked Kel on the shoulder.  “You could definitely do for some lessons.”

“Well, at least it served its purpose and got you to come inside.  Anyway, it’s getting later than we should be up.  Good night, lad.”

And just that easily Kel lay down on his sleeping mat and comfortably settled in for the night.  Corbin took a bit longer to settle in as he thought how out of balance he felt, and yet wondered why there was still a sense of solid emotional ground underneath him.

*****

“Charge Seren.”

The tone was brisk with a hint of urgency.  Seren looked behind him to see Charge Amrynn moving at a quick pace to his side.  He stopped in his tracks, unwilling to go further until he understood the reason behind the tone with which she’d beckoned him.  With a raised hand, the other Travelers in group one stopped their march and waited as they were, understanding that the potential for danger was being warned.

Amrynn was soon at Seren’s side, and he noticed that her two husbands were only seconds behind her.  Where one was, he knew he’d almost always see the other two.

“What is it, Charge?” he asked seriously.

“This,” she said immediately, a gloved hand holding up a small vial of red tinted water.  “When we entered the wood an hour ago, I noticed some of the plants at the base of those angled trees we saw were growing in this liquid.  Since all the clean water we’ve tested so far has been clear or tinted purple, I wanted to check this fluid.  Right now I can’t tell if it’s the fluid itself, the plant that was growing in it, or the trees under which the puddles have formed, but this fluid is definitely not pure.”

Oz picked up immediately where she left off, making Seren wonder for a moment if Amrynn had been finished, but she didn’t complain when he spoke up.

“I have a sample of the sprouts that were growing in the liquid as well as a piece of bark, leaves and sap from those trees,” he informed the Charge Pilot.  “I have each sitting in control solutions for an expedited test, but it won’t be as accurate as what I’ll need to do back at the ship.  For now, we need to send a messenger to the groups to inform them that all Travelers need to keep their distance from the red puddles and all plant life growing in or around them.”

Seren nodded once, his demeanor in full agreement and his mind already making decisions beyond what Oz and Amrynn had suggested.  With a quick scan at the Travelers closest to him, he chose one and motioned the young woman over to him.

“Backer Mira, I have an assignment for you.”

“Yes, sir!” she said immediately, her eyes and voice serious.

Seren gave a nod to Oz and Amrynn, the two Charges quickly explained to the young Backer what they had just told Seren.  When they were done, he pulled her attention back to him.

“I want you to take a detailed look at Charge Ozias’s and Charge Amrynn’s samples, then I want you to be the messenger to Group 2 and inform Charge Carter of these findings and what they look like.  He is to pick a Traveler to send the message to the Charge of Group 3.  Each group leader knows the message system.  Included in the warning to stay away from these things, I want all Travelers informed that splash gloves are to be worn until they are told otherwise.”

“Yes, sir!” Mira repeated.

Seren nodded approvingly.  “Go then, but prepare yourself first.  Get your own splash gloves on and make sure your boots are secured against leakage as well.”

With a nod, Backer Mira readied herself in moments and then took off at a fast jog toward Group 2.

Seren returned his attention to the Trio in front of him.  “I need the three of you to inform everyone in Group 1 of these findings.  Charge Ozias, as soon as you get the first test results back on your samples, I want a report.  Charge Cayson, inform all medics in Group 1 of the danger and instruct them on any steps you feel will need to be taken if a Traveler is exposed and reacts to anything.  If any of the groups send word that medical help is needed, I want you heading out immediately.”

         “Yes, sir!” the Trio said unanimously, and immediately set off to inform their fellow trekkers.  Seren took the time to pull on his splash gloves and tighten his boots before motioning his group to move on ahead.