Adverse Effects by Alicia Nordwell

Author:Alicia Nordwell [Nordwell, Alicia]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, pdf
Published: 2015-03-12T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

HOW THE ship managed to not break apart when we crashed, I’ll never know. None of us came out of it unscathed; bruises from the webs laced our torsos, and Yaseke ended up with a bloody nose. It didn’t look broken, fortunately. The kids wouldn’t stop crying, but I let Yaseke deal with them. A jagged piece of metal had barely missed me when we slammed into the ground and tumbled around before we came to a stop. I was able to pull the broken metal sheet out of the corner it was wedged into with only a few cuts on my palms so I could escape.

Fashioning a couple of bags was my next goal. I had no idea what was on this planet, but staying at the site of the crash was a bad idea. Who knew what the commotion would attract?

I had to hope the atmosphere alone wouldn’t kill us. Of course, if it was going to, we were probably already screwed. I could hear the hiss of the shuttle’s atmosphere escaping, indicating fuselage damage. Shearing the safety webs off the chairs, I tied the edges together quickly to make pouches and then sliced a few of the inner loops to make shoulder straps.

We would all have to work together, so I made small bags for the children. They could carry a bottle of water, a few ration bars, and a blanket each. If we became separated or we had to hide them, they’d have enough supplies until I could get back to them. I tested one of the bars. It appeared to be edible, though extremely bland.

Our luck seemed to be holding out. We were alive; we had food, water, and some blankets. The extra ones could be used as makeshift wraps. The heat was building in the ship. I wiped sweat off my forehead with the back of my forearm.

“I think we’re about ready. We need to get out of here.”

My tziu was crouched down on one knee, Pira cradled in his arm as she hiccupped. Maerit was a little more composed as he patted his sister on the back and knuckled his wet eyes with his other hand.

“Hey guys”—I crouched down next to the kids—“look what I made for you. See these bags? We each have one with the things we need. You guys gotta be my brave soldiers and carry yours, okay?” I didn’t know what to do with kids. I’d never been around them much, but I’d give this approach a chance.

Yaseke and I couldn’t carry them and still manage our own bags and weapons.

Maerit nodded. “I can do it,” he said staunchly. “I said I’d be strong for Pira. I can carry hers too.”

Pira leaned back in Yaseke’s arms. “I can carry mine,” she protested. “I’m strong too!”

Thank heavens for sibling rivalry.

I smiled at them, holding out their bags. “That’s my brave soldiers. We’re going to get out of here, find a nice place to rest, and wait for our friends to come pick us up.

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