Interzone Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazine #212 by TTA Press Authors

Author:TTA Press Authors [Authors, TTA Press]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Publisher: TTA Press www.ttapress.com
Published: 2011-11-08T22:44:26+00:00

* * * *

"No sign of her?" Yan said.A weary Bej Saihan stumped back into the campsite. "None." He took off his hat and wiped his face, looking entirely human, and not at all like a creature of the gods. "We checked the valley. We checked all the ravines in the area. We even dredged the marshes, just in case. Nothing."

More search teams returned throughout the morning, but already the expedition members had turned their attention from Ah-ne's disappearance to the final preparations for departure. Stacks of crates awaited transport to the ship. A crew dismantled the remaining tents. The settlement had vanished, leaving a bare clearing and scattered trash heaps. Yan had packed up the last of his own belongings, and now oversaw the transfer of the lab equipment onto the ship.

Only when he was about to board the ship did Hari return with Che at his side.

You could tell he was more disappointed than Bej himself, Yan thought, taking in the man's stained shirt, his mud-caked boots, and the dark bruises beneath his eyes. "I'm sorry," Yan said softly.

Hari shook his head. "We tried. She wanted to go."

Che took Hari's hand. "Come," she said softly. "We all have work to do."

Hari smiled at her wearily. "That we do."

Yan watched as the two walked through the empty site toward the ship. Briefly he wondered when things had changed between them. Then he turned to his own chores. Che was right. They all had work to do. And Lian would need help with storing and labeling the last of their samples.

Within the hour, the last crates were aboard, the last transport skiffs hauled up. The ship's motors chugged to life, the solar sails expanded to catch the sun, and the ship slowly backed away from the shallow bay. Yan leaned against the rail, watching the island shrink slowly to a small point on the horizon.

In five or six days, they would arrive at the new island. More work lay ahead--it would almost be like starting over--but Yan didn't mind. A new island meant a new chance. Who knows, perhaps it was best that Meh had left him. He should forget about her entirely and concentrate on someone new. Someone like Lian, who seemed to appreciate him better.

The winds shifted and blew hard against his face. He drew a deep lungful of the cool salt-laden air. Already he could breathe more easily.

Copyright © 2007 Beth Bernobich

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