“It could. You never know,” he said, trying to convince her to be realistic.
“I’m not ready,” she protested again.
Murdock, patient, looked at her. “Rose, do you trust my judgment?” he asked in a loving way.
“You know I do,” she said emphatically.
“Then it’s settled,” Murdock said, removing the quiver and handing it to her.
Rose took a deep breath and removed the bundle of spears she was carrying, setting them on the ground. Her hands shook as she donned the quiver and accepted the bow from him. Murdock picked up the bundle of spears and tied them diagonally to his back, then accepted the spear Rose had carried. After they finished the weapons transfer, she immediately pulled out an arrow and nocked it, just as he had taught her. Then they set off once again.
“Just don’t shoot me in the back,” he quipped over his shoulder.
“No promises,” she returned, chuckling.
Murdock had decided to head back to the spot at which they had taken a deer the last time. As they walked silently through the woods, Murdock periodically glanced over his shoulder. He knew she was following him, but she made no sound. Rose held the nocked arrow point down, with her index finger over the arrow to hold it, just as he had taught her.
He beamed with pride as he returned his attention to the trail. He couldn’t be more proud of her. She was turning out to be a far better student then he had been at her stage. All she needed was a little more confidence.
On the way to the hunting spot, Murdock decided to check the stream crossing he’d set as the boundary for his territory. He had not returned since rescuing Rose, and he had wondered for some time whether the others had respected his turf. He knew they hadn’t, but felt he needed to check.
During one of their rest stops, Rose asked again about her rescue, and Murdock retold the story to her.
“I don’t understand how you heard me cry out even though I don’t remember doing it, especially because you were so far away from the site,” she wondered aloud.
“Well, it was night . . . and you know how quiet it can be at night,” he responded.
“If I were as far away as you’ve said, I don’t doubt you, of course, but that’s well past the hearing range of any human.”
“I’ve always had good hearing . . . and I suspect that Beron had more than a little to do with my hearing you. Does it really matter?” he said, looking at her blankly.
“It’s just that it’s a puzzle that’s been gnawing at me. Any other special abilities I should know about?” Rose asked.
“None that I’m aware of,” he said. Then he told her, “You take the lead from here.” She nodded, and they stealthily walked on.
Several hours later, though Murdock figured they were only halfway to the area in which he wanted to hunt, he called for them to halt. He looked around, found a likely campsite, and started making the preparations. Rose returned the arrow to the quiver, and beginning to gather firewood, she helped prepare the camp without Murdock’s telling her. They had been walking roughly parallel to the stream since leaving the cave, and he knew they were only a couple hundred yards from it. So after getting a fire started, he headed for the stream to fish.
As he approached, he heard someone in the water. He quietly continued until he saw someone standing in the middle of the stream. The person seemed to be talking to the water. Even in the quickly deepening gloom, Murdock knew the individual was Collier. Though Murdock was fairly certain Collier hadn’t spotted him, he checked the area anyway to make sure. Then, certain no one had spotted him, Murdock headed upstream a few hundred yards before crossing. Then he crept up on Collier as quietly as he could.
“Here, little fishie,” Collier, who stooped over, was saying to the water. “Come to Papa . . . ‘cause Daddy needs to eat!”
Murdock tried not to laugh as he got as close behind Collier as he could.
“Does that help?” Murdock asked him quietly.
Collier turned, fell back into the water, and tried to get away as fast as he could, crab-walking backwards.
“Sweet holy Jesus,” Collier yelled, wide-eyed and panicky. “I wasn’t doin’ nothin’, Mr. Murdock! I wasn’t on your side of the stream!”
“Didn’t say you were,” Murdock replied quietly. “You do need to work on being quieter, though . . . and more aware of your surroundings.”
Collier stood up and started to shake the water from his hands and arms.
“You could’ve let a body know you were around,” Collier complained. “Not that I’m trying to tell you what to do or anything,” he quickly added.
Murdock took up a position, speared a fish expertly, and tossed it to the bank. “Have you eaten lately?” he asked Collier while spearing another, tossing it to the bank as well. He hadn’t looked at Collier at all, and if he hadn’t been talking, the other man wouldn’t have known that Murdock noticed him at all.
“Been a while,” Collier responded, wiping his mouth on his sleeve. He rocked nervously from one foot to the other.
“Well, when you’re done—” Murdock speared a third fish, “—playing in the water, you can come to the camp. It’s about two hundred yards that way.” Murdock indicated the general direction of the camp, picked up the fish on the bank, and started off in that direction. Collier followed him cautiously. As he approached the camp, Murdock gave a little whistle and walked into the empty camp. When he hunkered down to clean the fish, he saw Rose hiding behind a tree, bow at the ready. Collier wasn’t far behind him.
Murdock paid attention to cleaning the fish. “You’re a long way from home, aren’t you?” he asked Collier without looking at him.
“I suppose,” Collier answered cautiously. “From your point of view, I am, but not from mine.”
“They kicked you out, didn’t they?” Murdock asked.
“No, they didn’t kick me out . . . exactly,” Collier responded, guarded.
“Pick up that water skin and rinse these fish, okay?” Murdock requested, holding the fish out. Collier did as he was asked. The other man did glance in the general vicinity of the knife Murdock used to clean the fish, but his action wasn’t enough to unduly concern Murdock. After Collier rinsed the fish and Murdock had put them on sticks to cook, Murdock stood up.
“Can I trust you, Collier?” he asked, staring the man in the eyes warily.
“Hey, you invited me,” Collier stated. “I can leave if you really want me to!”
“Okay, fair enough. Let’s say that we agree to eat and talk and to trust each other while we do. Does that sound reasonable to you?” Murdock asked.
“Sure,” Collier agreed with a shrug.
Murdock gave a quick motion to let Rose know she could come into the camp. He had done so quickly, and he was sure Collier didn’t see the motion.
“You look a lot thinner than I remember, Collier,” Rose said from behind but close to him.
“Sweet Jesus!” Collier jumped up and almost landed in the fire, stumbling around, but managing to keep his feet. He missed the fire and the cooking fish. “What is it with you two? You don’t always have to sneak up on a body!” Murdock watched as the light slowly turned on in Collier’s brain. “Hey, you’re Rose Griffen, aren’t you?” Rose nodded. “You’re supposed to be dead!”
“Sorry to disappoint you,” Rose quipped indignantly.
“Not what I meant, sorry,” Collier apologized. “It’s what we were told. Whittier told us that Murdock took you and killed you.”
Collier hunkered back down close to the fire, staring into the flames. He appeared to enjoy the warmth, which helped to dry him.
“So, what happened to you?” Murdock asked as he tended the fish. Rose sat close by on a log, weapons close at hand.
“Nothin’ much.” Collier shrugged.
“Rose is right. You have lost a lot of weight; what happened?” Murdock asked again trying to carry on a conversation to draw the man out.
“Well, after you scared me out of five years’ growth,
and I’m not complainin’ — I deserved it, should’ve heeded your warning. After we all got back to the transport pod, I basically lost my job. Metzger, the one who got it, continued to ridicule me, and the rest mocked me, basically became an outcast. While I had the job, I ate pretty good and regular; after, not so much.” Collier wound down a little and sat looking into the fire.
“What about Rose?” Murdock asked again.
“We were told that they were trying to work some trade with you, and you got mad and stole Rose. They said they saw you rape her and beat her and carry her off, threatening to kill her if they tried anything,” Collier told them.
“Did you believe that?” Murdock asked.
“Not really,” Collier replied, frowning and still staring at the flames.
“Why not?” Murdock asked. He wondered if Collier was hypnotized by the flames.
“You let me go when you could’ve killed me and Burns.” Collier paused a long time. “It didn’t fit that you would beat a woman. It didn’t sound like something you’d do,” Collier finished.
“Did they kick you out?” Murdock repeated.
“No, they just don’t pay me no mind. I go out by myself a lot trying to find something to eat,” Collier answered. “Whittier doesn’t feed everyone what they need. Keeps saying that all this is a fake and those watching won’t let us starve. But everyone is on reduced rations.”
By this time the fish were done, and Murdock offered Collier a fish. He took one over to Rose, who had been sitting quietly, listening. She looked as if she was trying not to tell him I told you so, but he could tell from her expression that she was thinking it. Murdock took his fish, and everyone started to eat.
“If it’s been a while since you ate, Collier, I’d eat that slowly,” Murdock warned.
“Tastes pretty good cooked,” Collier said after trying a couple of bites. “The ones I catch, I have to eat raw. I haven’t figured out how to make a fire. Say, what did happen to you, Rose?”
Rose related to Collier what had happened to her and how she came to be with Murdock. She didn’t mention the Oomah or their cave sanctuary.
“Did they really carve words into you?” Collier asked when she had finished. Rose pulled her dress yoke a little so Collier could see the top of a few of the letters. “Damn, that looks painful!”
“It was,” Rose responded.
“Where do you go from here?” Murdock asked.
“Back to the transport pod, I guess, at least that general area,” Collier responded half-heartedly. “Don’t have anywhere else to go. Besides, someone is waiting for me to come back.”
“Why don’t you leave that group?” Murdock asked.
“I don’t know enough woodcraft to feed or defend myself. . . .” Collier’s words trailed off to nothing. After a short pause, he continued, “Some of the others are on their last legs. Whittier has almost starved all of them to death.”
Murdock didn’t know what else to say. He didn’t like hearing that the others were being starved, but he also didn’t know how many others backed Whittier and company. He sat brooding.
“You didn’t like the fish?” Rose asked Collier.
Murdock noticed that he had only eaten half of what he was given.
“Oh, no, it was great, very filling!” Collier said, patting his belly. “You don’t mind if I take the rest with me?”
“Why would we mind? We gave it to you. You can do with it as you see fit. It just won’t keep for long is all,” Rose informed him.
“Well, it’s dark, and I should’ve been back before now. I wouldn’t want to worry anyone. Sure did appreciate the hospitality, though,” Collier said as he stood to leave.
“Thanks for the information, and the company.” Murdock smiled. He stood and shook hands with Collier. Collier looked shocked at the expression of civility.
“It was pleasant having you join us,” Rose piped in without getting up.
Murdock walked with Collier back toward the transport pod.
“You know, I could use some help for the next few days, need to harvest a deer. I’d be willing to share some of the meat with you, for helping, if you’re interested?” Murdock asked after they were across the stream. He did not find it easy to ask for help, but he could use it. More importantly, he could tell that Collier needed to feel useful.
“When is that?” Collier asked.
“It’s where we’re going and what we’ll be doing for the next couple of days. If you’re willing, meet me on my side of the stream up by the transport pod watering hole late in the day tomorrow. You need to make arrangements to be gone a day or two,” Murdock told him.
“Okay. You’re serious?” Collier asked, incredulous.
“Yes, I’m serious. Could really use the help and besides, you might learn more than you think,” Murdock said, trying to lift Collier’s mood.
Murdock watched Collier head in the direction of the pod. He waited until he was out of sight before returning to camp.
“What do you think?” Murdock asked Rose after he returned. He took a stick and absentmindedly stirred the coals of the fire as he kept an ear open for sounds of an attack. He didn’t trust Collier enough to be totally comfortable with his knowing their location.
Rose shrugged. “I don’t like to think that anyone could be so cruel as to allow others to starve just for politics or for entertainment. Don’t know what else there is to say.”
“What about Collier?” Murdock asked.
“He certainly has changed! His spirit seems to be . . . broken. Was that your doing?” she asked.
Murdock had not looked at her while they talked. “I’d like to think that it wasn’t.” He paused. “But I can’t be certain.”
They both sat staring into the flames.
“Was your offer about the deer-hunt a serious one?” Rose asked after a long pause.
“Yes, it was,” Murdock said. “As helpful as you are, taking a deer is a lot of work, and another strong back would be appreciated. Besides, Collier needs to feel useful, and I thought he might benefit from the experience.”
“And were you going to share the take with him?” Rose asked.
“Of course! I was thinking a front quarter for helping as much as I plan to make him work,” Murdock responded. It would be better than just giving him something to eat, he thought.
“It would be better than just giving him something to eat without seeing what went into it,” Rose said absentmindedly, staring into the flames.
Murdock’s head snapped up as he looked at her.
“What?” she asked.
“I was just thinking those very words. How do you do that?” he asked.
“Do what?” she asked innocently.
“Since we’ve been together, you seem to be able to read my mind,” Murdock said.
“Oh pooh! I think you’re confusing some sort of telepathy with just knowing each other to the point that we can finish each other’s sentences.”
“What about all the times I just thought about finding you for a kiss, and then you showed up and gave me one?” he asked suspiciously.
“You don’t think I might need a kiss and seek you out for one?” she asked warily.
“I’m not upset,” he stated. “It’s just that it’s —,” He paused. “— Unnerving, when it happens.”
“Why is this coming up now?” Rose asked.
Murdock shrugged. “It was something Beron said during our long sharing session.”
Rose sat on the log looking into the flames, hands in her lap.
“Okay, I’ve always been able to tell when someone close to me needed something from me, like a kiss or a hug,” she said after pausing to get her thoughts together. “It’s not mind-reading per se. It’s more like a feeling. I would say, empathy more than telepathy.”
“But you just said exactly what I was thinking,” Murdock rebutted. “And I didn’t mention the deer-hunt to you when I got back. How did you know about it?”
Rose thought for
quite some time. “My theory is that sharing with Beron and his mate has turned my empathy talent into something else. I didn’t read your thoughts. I did, however, know that you would make the offer in order to make Collier feel better. That’s something you would do. You’re that type of man.”
Murdock looked at her for a long time. He was unsure if she had finished her explanation.
“Just tell me one thing,” he said when it was apparent that she had finished. “Did you know Collier was coming with me into camp?”
Rose flushed. “I knew someone was with you,” she said finally. “I didn’t know it was Collier.”
“When did you know I was bringing someone with me?” Murdock asked.
“When you two were at the stream,” she said, looking into the fire.
They both continued to stare into the flames.
#
Several hours had passed since sun-down, and Mei Lee was getting cold and worried. Collier had told her he would be back around sun-down, but wasn’t there yet. The two had been staying in Collier’s little hideaway since the confrontation with Whittier in the pod. They both had managed to collect some boughs for them to lie on, as well as to help conceal them. Neither had ever seen anyone else around their hideaway, but there was always a first time. After all, they weren’t too far from the pool that the others used to get water.
When Mei Lee heard something heading her way, she held her breath and tried to make herself small and invisible.
She heard the whisper in the dark. “Mei Lee.” Mei Lee breathed again in relief.
“Here, Tom,” she whispered back.
When he entered, Collier took off his shirt and gave it to Mei Lee, who immediately put it on. It helped to warm her. After he had sat down, he gave her the half-eaten fish.
“Where did you get this?” she asked quietly. She was hoping for something to eat, but a cooked fish was too much to hope for.
“Eat up. I’ve already had mine,” Collier whispered close to her ear. “We’ll talk after you eat.”
Mei Lee ate greedily, and soon the fish was devoured. When she finished, she threw the remains toward the stream as far as she could.
“Where were you?” she whispered close to Collier’s ear. “I was getting worried.”
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