The Crimson Peril by R A Nargi

Author:R A Nargi [Nargi, R A]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: N17
Publisher: Bogwood Press
Published: 2021-05-25T04:00:00+00:00

Our camp site for the night was in a small caldera that provided some protection from the winds which started kicking up and blowing hard as the sun dropped.

We began to set up camp, and Kira explained that we were still a few hours away from the bridge across the Cauldron. That was when we would have to face the Naba-Sa’im.

If all went well, they’d let us pass and it would be relatively smooth sailing to Ganga Kos. This time tomorrow we’d be at the port.

“And if it doesn’t go well?” I asked.

“Our dead bodies will probably be dumped in the chasm. Or eaten. Not sure if the Nabas do that or not.”

“A cheery thought,” TenSix said. “What about me?”

“Oh, you’ll be tossed down the chasm for sure,” Kira said. “The Nabas don’t trust technology.”

Later that night when everything had quieted down and we had retired to our tent for the night, I offered Kira another massage.

“I’m wiped,” she said, as she crawled into her sleeping bag. “Raincheck?”

“You’re not getting sick of me already, are you?” I asked.

“Needy much?” She grinned at me mischievously, but then opened the flap of her sleeping bag. “How about we cuddle?”

“Works for me.” I slid in beside her and she nestled in my arms. Her skin was soft, but cold.

“You’re freezing,” I said.

“I know. You’d think I’d be used to the weather here by now, but I’m not. And it gets super cold at night in the Wastes.”

“I can tell.”

We ended up talking and holding each other until we fell asleep. And as I was drifting off, it struck me that I couldn’t remember ever feeling so comfortable with anyone. Usually, I was either very consciously trying to perform, or I was blasted out of my mind. Or sometimes both. I never just relaxed and was there for the other person. Was I some kind of weirdo? Or did I just have questionable taste in bed partners?

The next morning TenSix again greeted us with cups of moxa.

“Are we ready for our big day?” he asked.

“Ask Kira,” I said.

“I’m ready. As ready as I’ll ever be. You guys need to just keep quiet and let me do the talking.”

“Not a problem for me,” I said. “But we should have a plan in case something goes wrong.”

“All kidding aside, if something goes wrong we are toast. There’s nowhere to run. And even if we were somehow able to escape a couple of dozen Naba-Sa’im—”

“Couple of dozen?”

“Yup. On each side of the bridge. Lined up. Ready. Anyway, even if we could escape, this is the only crossing on the Cauldron. At least as far as I know. We’d have to go around it. And that means a several-hundred-kilometer detour.”

“I vote for not angering the Naba-Sa’im,” TenSix said.

“That’s the idea.”

“But you’ve never had any problem with them in the past, have you?” I asked.

“No. As long as we have the tribute, we should be fine.”

“And what is this tribute? Baubles? Gems? Weapons?” I had noticed a few crates in the sled which didn’t look like samples.

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