Of a Strange World Made (Colony of Edge Book 1) by Anthony W. Eichenlaub

Author:Anthony W. Eichenlaub [Eichenlaub, Anthony W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781950542079
Publisher: Oak Leaf Cemetery
Published: 2020-12-02T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Hector moaned like a dying water buffalo when Ash cinched the makeshift bandage into place, but the bandage held. The worst of his wounds split the flesh an inch under his ribcage, and the skin puckered in a way that made Ash’s stomach roil.

“If she’d had a real weapon I’d be dead,” Hector said, almost to himself.

Ash shot him a sideways smile. She picked up a piece of Marta’s med printer, turning it over in the dim light. They would need to print more formula for the baby before long. The stuff Hector had printed earlier was almost all wasted, but Ash found a few containers of it near the cave’s entrance.

“At least you’ll get a good story from this,” she said.

“Yeah, the story of how a woman half my size kicked my ass.”

Ash gestured with a flourish. “Because you were too chivalrous to strike back, and she took advantage of your gentle nature.”

“I was trying to knock her out in one hit.”

“So, you’ve learned your lesson?”

“Don’t hit girls?”

Ash shadowboxed. “Use lots of little punches.”

Hector laughed, but the movement jostled his wounds and he ended up alternating between laughter and tears.

“We have to find her,” Ash said.

Hector’s laughter stopped. “I don’t know, Ash…”

“The storm’s coming. She won’t survive outside of the colony, especially without this cave for protection.”

“Ash, we won’t survive outside of the colony.” Hector heaved his body up, propping himself into a seated position against the wall. “And the baby won’t either. She probably ran back to town, and that’s where we should go too.”

“Are you stable?” Ash asked as she picked up another piece of the printer and fitted it. Most of the parts weren’t broken so much as forcibly disassembled. There was still a chance they had enough parts for a working device.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Hector said, wincing.

“We can modify the spider to carry you and the baby in the back compartment, and I’ll drive.”

Hector sputtered. “You’ll what?”

“I watched you drive. It’s not so hard.”

“So, I’ll be your cargo?”

A big grin crossed her face. She slapped Hector on the shoulder. “You’ll have company.”

Hector’s expression remained skeptical, but there really wasn’t another way. With Ash’s help, he got to his feet. Once standing, he was able to hobble out to where the spider sat. The wind swirled around the cave’s entrance, pulling his hair up at all angles and threatening to topple him. He worked the controls on the back of the walker, opening the modular abdomen so he could climb in.

Ash found another piece of the printer: the control module. She powered it up, verified that it acknowledged its motley assortment of parts, then stowed it in the back of the spider, along with the remains of their feedstock. Maybe if Hector had time, he could work the thing and produce something like food.

Ash left the baby sleeping in a pile of blankets while she helped Hector into the spider. Every second away from the little guy sent nervous jitters down her spine. She almost felt like a real parent.

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