Chlorophyll and Gasoline by SJ Fleming

Author:SJ Fleming [Fleming, SJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-10-18T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

Beyond that single awkward, ‘oh,’ Suzy was completely silent and unmoving. Every time she went into that weird statuesque limbo, Willow felt uncomfortable. It didn’t seem natural for something alive to be able to sit as still as a stone.

“I... I just feel a bit of...uh...responsibility, I guess.” Willow explained.

“Why?”

“Well, uh, I woke you up out of sleep mode, right?”

“Yes, you did.” Suzy said with little in the way of emotion.

“Well, I just feel like...I need to make sure you can adjust to this world. It’s...it sounds pretty different from what you’re used to, as far as I can tell. So, I want to help you to be happy here.”

“I see. That is admirable. Thank you.”

Willow nodded, inhaling deeply. It was hard to admit that to Suzy. Really hard. She didn’t know exactly why.

“Now, Willow,” Suzy said, motioning to the area around her vaguely. “Is it possible to get a vine similar to the one that you use to descend near here? With this new information, I feel slight discomfort at the idea of constantly going back and forth near the Stamen when I need to gather things from the Undergrowth. I do not wish to be seen, if there is a chance it could compromise your efforts.”

“It’ll be hard for me to get one of those, I think,” Willow mumbled. “I don’t know if Juniper is growing them right now. I’ll ask.”

“Thank you, Willow. I appreciate it.” A moment passed before she spoke again. “Now, I did make some interesting discoveries during my latest sortie into the city. It might be of relevance to you!” She shuffled around a bit, trying to find whatever it was. Before long, she produced a large knife, thick, broad, and lightly pitted. One end of it was a blade, the other a series of teeth, like the jaw of some metal predator. The handle felt rubbery and looked smooth, but it gripped her hand well. She instinctively put the blade against her skin, and scraped away the fine hairs. It was a sharp knife, that much Willow knew. Heavy, too.

Suzy looked on in concern as Willow rubbed the knife against her arm. Willow noticed how she struggled not to say anything.

“Oh,” Willow said, handing the knife back. “I was just testing the sharpness.”

“I see…” Suzy nodded, apparently not entirely convinced. “Well, if it ever dulls, you can come and see me. I don’t have a whetstone, but I might be able to do something.”

“You’re…you’re giving this to me? Are you sure you don’t need it yourself?”

Suzy handed over the knife again, and then the sheath. It was hard material, thick and rough-looking. It felt more like bark than anything, despite looking like it was covered in sand. Pure black, too. Yet another material Suzy was familiar with, but Willow understood nothing of. The knife slid into its sheath easy enough, though it seemed to lock itself in place when it had gone a little past its hilt.

Willow didn’t see a strap or a button or latch, it just seemed to hold itself perfectly in place.

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