Under a Starless Sky

Chapter 17

Shen arrived on the beach, delivered by Oa from the depths. Not once while in her care, did he suffer

the pain of not being able to breathe. He felt Loxy holding him till the last; she was warm, the water

beyond her cold. He emerged from the water dry. He walked up on shore, completely dry, no mud

sticking to him as we walked from shore to grass. It was dark. The water was dark. The sky was dark.

There was no discerning horizon or trees or anything. He felt alone again. He was hoping for

something more dramatic. Like, lying on the beach, feigning sleep only to be discovered and nursed

back to health and maybe loved by these people in a way that they could allow him his ‘perceived’

quirkiness. That didn’t happen. He didn’t want to be loved that way, and in truth, being perceived as

weak, needing perpetual mothering, was not a favored trait. He knew it, and they knew it. They broke

the mother connection early.

A cold breeze finally drove him from the water’s edge. The pocket on his poncho accepted both hands.

The gift orb was in his left hand. He turned it in his hand as he walked. The province fire was noticeably

larger than usual, and he made his way there, clicking. Guards met him before he emerged fully into

the light.

“Identify yourself.” Soella’s voice was evident.

“Just your friendly, useless fire hugger, seeking warmth,” Shen said.

Soella sparked her staff. It flashed and grew bright. The other two with her illuminated their staffs. He

was triangulated. They were ready to kick his butt.

“You made us think you were dead?” Soella asked. “What purpose did that serve?”

“I…” Shen said. He thought about telling them, but then, that might lead to more questions. Questions

he couldn’t explain and would only make him look crazier than he was. “I am sorry. I wanted to see if

anyone would miss me.”

Soella smacked him with her staff. When she brought it back, she tripped him, put him on the ground,

put a foot on his chest, and tapped the ground next to his ear with the butt of her staff.

“I should kill you for being such an idiot,” Soella said. “Who healed you?”

“What?” Shen asked. He was healed! Oa or Loxy had healed him and he hadn’t even noticed because

he was so absorbed in the situation.

“You were pummeled,” Soella said. “Everyone saw this. We suspected a broken nose, your left eye

was swollen. You look uninjured, which means, someone healed you. Who broke a protocol?”

“I suspect it looked worse than it did and the cold waters were remedy for all else,” Shen said.

Soella picked him up by his clothes, and dragged him back to the fire. The guards tapped their staffs

and the lights went out. On seeing him, Candace rushed him, went to one knee, hugging him. When

she was done, she backed up and slapped him. Tama approached, as did her friend and Eloa and

Mina. Tama was rather stoic as she drew closer.

“What I did was wrong,” Tama said. “But I have never known you to be cruel.”

“Don’t be too harsh on him. He is only a boy,” Eloa said. “Their jokes are not funny. Simple, pratfall,

clowning, mime.”

“Ladies, inside, now,” Florence said, clapping her hands.

Tama was the first to turn and walk away. Candace shook her head and left. Florence also chased

away the men. She, and two other masters remained, Rena the metal smith, and Gittan, a master of

forms. She was Yoga meets Tai Chi meets Chi Gung Fu.

“Explain yourself,” Florence said.

“Where should I start?” Shen asked.

“The way it was described, you were pulled under,” Florence said. “More than one witness saw that.”

“I was injured. I over exerted myself,” Shen said.

Florence’s eyes narrowed skeptically. “Candace reports your hands were outstretched, as if reaching

for help, and that you were sinking faster than a person should sink who knows how to swim. You know

how to swim better than anyone I know,” she said.

Shen swallowed.

“You are well known here,” Rena said. “You’ve never been known to lie.”

“Quite frankly, any explanation I might offer that contradicts anything you imagine is likely to be

dismissed,” Shen said.

“You saw it?” Gittan asked.

“No one sees it,” Florence snapped.

“Why would it let him go?” Rena asked.

“He’s a male,” Florence said.

“They’ve taken males before,” Rena said. “In fact, males are usually the first one taken.”

“Maybe they don’t like monsters,” Gittan said. “It’s not like anyone would want his gifts.”

Shen blushed, felt anger rising into his throat. Rena noticed.

“It must be difficult, not being able to hide your emotions,” Rena said.

“Your ugliness isn’t a secret, is it?” Gittan asked.

“Maybe you should stop saying it,” Rena said.

“The truth?” Gittan asked. “If he was a real man, the truth would make him stronger. You can’t change

your face, boy, but you can change what you emote.”

“Do you have anything else you wish to add?” Florence asked.

“No, F’Ma,” Shen said. He his hands were visible. He wanted to reach for the gift for comfort. He

wanted to pull it out and show them. He was afraid they would take it. He wanted to go away.

“Fine, take it to your grave,” Florence said. “If you speak of this incident, you will intimate it was a joke

in poor taste and judgment. Should you ever speak the truth of it, make sure there are only masters

present.”

“There is enough in the dark to be afraid of,” Rena said. “People don’t need ghost stories on top of

what is.”

“I recommend you leave at first light,” Florence said. “The sooner this gets put behind people the

better.”

Florence removed a satchel and tossed it to him. They departed, leaving him alone with the fire, and

guards that were out of direct fire light. Occasionally an eye sparked when it looked his way. In the

satchel he found his journal and writing supplies, and the empty courier bag. He turned and walked

away from the fire. It took time for his eyes to adjust. Part of his brain wanted to remain by the fire, but

eventually the clicking brought his other vision back and he managed to find his markers and made it to

first camp. He climbed and slept under a tent, holding onto the orb.