Chapter 13: Rescue

Nyk walked through the village to a group of women sitting around a wooden tub. Andra was removing the skin from some inkroot with a bone scraper. She looked up at him. “So, how went the big night?”

“I’m not the sort that kisses and tells.”

“Did everything go according to plan?”

“Not quite.”

“I didn’t think so. I saw Vipsa with some other girls. She’s positively glowing. I don’t mind telling you, Nyk, I’m a little jealous. I wonder how Sukiko will react.”

“I did this for the well-being of all of us.”

“Keep telling yourself that,” Nayva said and tossed a root into the tub.

Andra dropped her root into the tub and looked at her hands. They were stained a deep purple. She picked up the last inkroot and began scraping. “I suppose you think this is amusing.”

“I said nothing.”

“I’m not amused,” Nayva added.

Nyk slipped the communicator out of his pocket. “I received a lock again.”

“Did you transmit the distress signal?”

“Yes. I lost the lock, but it’s back.” He sat beside Nayva. “I’ll send the signal again.” He pressed a control on the handheld device. “There, an acknowledgement. Let’s see if anyone answers us.”

Nyk held the device on his lap. One of the elder women picked up the tub of inkroot and carried it toward the fire. She dumped the contents into a large earthen pot sitting on the communal blaze.

A young woman brought a small bucket and handed it to Andra. She lifted it to her lips, but the youth waved her hands as a signal to stop. The girl dipped her hands into the liquid.

Andra smiled and nodded. She dipped her hands into the bucket. When she removed them the inkroot stain was gone. The girl handed the bucket to Nayva.

The communicator chirped. “Distress signal, identify yourself,” came a voice.

Nayva picked it up. “This is Lexal-One. We were forced down on the southern continent.”

“Lexal-One -- we’ve been looking for you. What is your condition?”

“The craft was destroyed. Pilot and two passengers in good condition. We request rescue.”

“Acknowledged. We’re more than happy to oblige. We’ll need to form a rescue party. Keep your communicator on standby and we’ll call with details.”

“Acknowledged,” Nayva replied. “What’s the situation in the capital?”

“Situation is good. The capital is in friendly hands.”

“We’ll stand by for your call. Lexal-One out.” Nayva jumped up and embraced Andra. “We’re going to be rescued!”

Vipsa approached Nyk and he made room for her. She sat beside him and placed her bark tray on her lap. He looked at her face, illuminated by the glow of the communal fire. She leaned against him. “You were right about Borryk,” she said.

“What do you mean?”

“His taunting ... he came to me today, asking me to pair.”

“And?”

“I told him I couldn’t -- I was already promised to Gan. I’ll be sleeping in his hut tonight.”

“So, you’ve already paired with Gan. You’re a special girl, Vipsa. I hope he realizes it.”

She nodded. “We’ll see how it goes. I hear you’ll be leaving us, soon.”

“Yes, we expect in a day or two a craft will come and take us home.”

“I’ll miss you, Nykkyo. Will you ever return?”

“I won’t say never. I’d like to return and find you paired with a man who cherishes you -- whether it’s Gan, Borryk or someone else ... I’d like to learn you’ve given strong children to the village.” He took her hand. “I’d like to see the villagers accept and trust you as their healer.”

“You’re a member of our village, Nykkyo. You’re always welcome, as is your far-away woman.” She mopped the remaining tuber paste from her tray with the last chunk of meat. “I’ll take your trays.”

Bek took his place to deliver the night’s installment of his story. Vipsa returned and sat beside Nyk. He slipped his arm around her and she leaned against him. “I’m sorry you won’t hear how Bek’s story ends,” she said.

“Andra knows the story,” Nyk replied. “I’ll learn the ending from her.”

“Andra knows Bek’s story?” She leaned to look at Andra. “How does she know it?”

“It’s an old story, common to both our people. Let’s listen.”

Nyk sat by the brazier in the lodge. To his right was Kyto and to his left Ylak. The chief sat across and some other tribal elders filled the circle. Kyto loaded the pipe with the hallucinogenic powder and passed it to Nyk. “It’s an honor to take the first draw. I grant it to you in light of your departure.”

Nykkyo lifted the pipe to his lips, inhaled deeply and held his breath. He exhaled slowly through is nose and passed the pipe to Ylak. The boy lifted it to his lips but did not inhale -- then passed it on.