Chương 35: Ch 21b - Picnic

The tiny leaves of the plant tickle her palm as they are jostled back and forth in the wind. She continues to absently graze her hand over the uneven crown of the shrub as she takes in the view. The large flat stone she has chosen for her perch is on top of a small mound, giving her just enough elevation to see the drop down to the rocky shoreline below. Waves ring out a rhythmic clacking cascade as they stretch up and claw back the loose shale between the rocks.

It reminds her of the noise of the pebble beaches she had visited as a child. The sea here is not unlike her memories of the North Sea. Deep and cold with powerful waves that crest close to the shore. Those beaches in East Anglia had teamed with the sights and sounds of life; soaring sea gulls, skittering crabs, large pulsating jelly fish that occasionally washed up on the shore. She wonders what the sea here contains. Fish? Are there sharks and dolphins and turtles too?

Does the similarity in humans mean similarity across all species? She tilts her head back to search the sky. She doesn't recall seeing any birds. High, wispy clouds streak the aqua marine sky allowing sunlight to warm her face. A dusty brown circle hangs high in the sky above the scrubland to her left, its edges hazy in the early light. The Moon? A moon, her mind corrects her. The Moon orbits the Earth. A heaviness grows in the pit of her stomach.

She turns back to the sea and closes her eyes; lets her thoughts drift back to the North Sea as she pulls in a deep lungful of the salty air. The sound of approaching boots disrupts the metrical sound of the waves. She keeps her eyes closed, wanting to stay in her moment of serenity, but the hairs on the back of her neck start rising to attention, piercing through her bubble.

"Cara," Wyndeer says in his matter-of-fact greeting.

"Wyndeer," she returns, twisting her body to look up at his approach.

"You're outside," he announces as he draws by her side.

"I am," she agrees. He stares out at the sea, a muscle twitches in his clenched jaw.

"Who gave you permission to go outside?"

"No one. There wasn't anyone in the rec room when I came downstairs. I thought I was allowed out here?"

"We agreed you would remain observable."

"I am," she says proudly, pointing a finger behind her. Set a short distance away, in the building, is the long table they had sat at the day before, barricaded by the wall of windows.

"I made sure I was visible."

"Visible means you can be seen," he scolds.

"Observable means we know where you are, what you are doing, where you are going and why. If it's not clear where you are going, you must ask first."

"Oh." She drops her gaze to the vegetation at her feet. His shadow drapes over her legs and across the ground in front of her, running a dark carpet between two grassy tufts.

"Come inside, we need to talk," he orders. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

"Could we talk out here?" she forces herself to look up at him, "Please?"

"The team is eating. You need to eat," he says gruffly.

"I've already eaten," she declares quickly, still wanting to prove she is following his rules. She moves an arm away from her lap to reveal a half-eaten box of the peanut-mint-mango discs Draig had introduced her to. She had woken up just before dawn broke, fully rested and hungry. A cautious swallow and a glance in the mirror had reenforced her feeling of recovery. Gone was the violent bruising on her throat, replaced by smears of fading yellow.

She had downed the full jug of water that had been left in her room and congratulated herself on a very satisfying burp upon completion. After walking quietly along the upstairs hallway, she had half jogged her way down the stairs and along the corridor. There were noises coming from behind the door across from the rec room but, with her mind focused on food not curiosity, she had instead turned towards the kitchen area.

As she peered in boxes and rummaged through open pallets, light had started streaming through the large windows as if to invite her outside for a picnic.

"Crackers aren't a meal," Wyndeer frowns.

"Oh, I have more." She rises to show him. She stretches out the base of her jumper to reveal further small boxes nestled in the hammock of the material.

"And fresh food," she adds fishing out something that had reminded her of a short, fat cucumber, and another piece that resembles a plum the size of her hand.

"But then I realised I don't know if you have to peel them first, or perhaps even cook them." Her shoulders slump as she lets out a sigh. He studies her with a bemused look in his grey eyes. She stretches her jumper out further, spreading its contents so they can be more easily seen.

"Would you like a-?" She frowns, realising she doesn't know the name of anything.

"Would you like something?" Noting he no longer seems annoyed at her she decides to be bolder.

"We could eat and talk out here?" He opens his mouth to say something then appears to change his mind.

"Sit down," he says. He gestures to someone through the windows behind them then sits down, not concerned for the vegetation squashed below his large frame.

"Give me the estgo," he says holding out an open palm to her.

"A what? I don't know what that is," she says rummaging through her food stash to see if anything is written on the items.

"This one." He plucks it from her lap. He turns the squat cucumber-like item in his hand, examining the knobbly skin. Reaching down, he feels into the long pocket that runs along the outside of his thigh and pulls out a black rod. With a click a double-sided blade the length of his fingers springs out of the top. Adrenaline screams across her body as she jerks back from the knife. Wyndeer slices deftly down the length of the fruit, removing its skin to reveal a juicy orange flesh.

With a quick flick he chops off the top, slices a round, and spears it with the end of his knife.

"Estgo," he says, pointing the blade at her to offer up the piece of fruit.

"Estgo," she repeats, trying out the word. Her thumping heartbeat calms. She tentatively puts the fruit into her mouth. It is even more juicy than it looks, fizzing on her tongue then releasing a burst of sweetness as she chews.

"It's good," she concludes. He nods as he chews, slicing another round for her. They sit in silence, watching the sea, chewing on slices of estgo. When the fruit is finished Wyndeer wipes the blade on his trouser cuff, retracts it with a click, and slides it back into his trouser pocket.

"Time to go inside," he announces as he stands up.

"Uh, I thought we could talk out here?" she says in disappointment. His hand flexes and squeezes at his side.

"Draig needs to join us," he says, the gruffness has returned to his voice.

"Oh." Her stomach tightens as her apprehension builds.

"Put the food back then join me." He pauses mid-way through his turn up towards the building.

"And, in the future, go directly to the rec room when you leave your room. If there is no one there, you wait."