After the Dark by Spencer Labbe

Author:Spencer Labbe [Labbe, Spencer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781948208024
Publisher: Little Pieces of Paper Publishing
Published: 2017-11-10T00:00:00+00:00

13

The Song

Pil awoke, refreshed. For a second he forgot where he was and then a gentle breeze and a canopy of leaves brought his memory sharply back. He lay idly, staring up at the branches swaying gently along with the wind. And then something else caught his attention, a rhythmic but gentle twang and thud, which came from the forest beneath him. For a moment Pil listened to it, afraid.

The smart thing would be to not move, but as the twanging and thudding went on, curiosity overtook him. Very slowly and cautiously, he peeked down over his hammock. A breath of relief came from him as he recognized the small form of Sandy. He was holding the bow and apparently practicing with it.

Pil swung lightly out of his hammock and descended noiselessly to the ground. Sandy had not noticed him. He was holding a notched arrow and concentrating intensely on the small grouping of feathers in a nearby tree. Pil watched as Sandy took a deep breath and let the arrow fly. It landed with a gentle thud in the crowd of arrows.

“Nice shot,” said Pil.

Sandy jumped up and swung around so quickly he tripped over his own feet, landing in a heap on the ground.

Pil repressed a laugh and reached his hand out.

Sandy took it gratefully. “Thanks,” he said, embarrassed as he got to his feet. “I — I just thought I should practice. I wasn’t too loud, was I?”

“No,” said Pil smiling. “Probably a good idea to practice. You’re not too bad a shot either.”

Sandy smiled uncomfortably. “Thanks. I thought about being a Legacy, you know…” he said timidly. “I mean, before Exidite.”

“Good goal, that,” said Pil with a smile. “Thought of it, too, actually, but you have to be sponsored to get into the Pit ’n’ Bows, and no one would sponsor a kid from lower town.”

“That’s not true!” Sandy objected. “I’m sure. I mean, if anyone could do it, it would be you.”

Pil laughed. “Why me and not you?”

“It’s — I dunno,” said Sandy thoughtfully. “You have this presence, like — like some light, you can't help but notice." Pill looked at him skeptically, wondering if he was joking. “You talk like I’m Harlem or something — I’m no different from you.”

“Me? I’m always messing up,” said Sandy with a shrug. “You — you always know what to do; you can make the hard decisions.”

Pil frowned. “I don’t want to — I — it’s not like I think I’m better or anything…” Pil tried to explain awkwardly.

“No, I don’t mind!” said Sandy truthfully. “It’s good. We need someone like that — like a leader.”

“I don’t want to be — I mean, I just feel like it’s my responsibility,” Pil explained. “I know it’s not my fault, but Todd put me in charge. I don’t want to —”

“Pil, I know that, but you’re still good at it. I trust you; we all do.”

Pil felt awkward. Had he been acting bossy, certainly towards Dirk and Felicity, but only because he felt like it was his fault they were here.

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