by Nancie Neal
Rhada reached to close the door but then changed his mind.
"Is there a problem?" the voice from the box asked.
Amnika looked at Rhada.
"There's actually two," Amnika said. "The first, I don't want to talk about yet. The second is that you don't have a name."
"Roniathan," the box said. "I found it in the language archives."
"That sounds pre-city." Rhada hesitated. "Roniathan."
Amnika noticed that Rhada was one of the few Natisiens who can pronounce the 'th' sound.
"Yes, it was one of the many languages recorded then. It means 'Horizon.'" Roniathan said.
"I like it," Amnika stated.
She checked in on Roniathan's progress. He already had a simple model ready for her on his display.
"I will improve on it after each simulated test," He explained.
"I'm already impressed," Amnika said, "but now I need to go to sleep. Tomorrow, I'll go to the caves, and I won't be back until the day after."
"I understand," Roniathan said.
Amnika studied the model for a moment. "Put this on a data crystal so I can show my father. I think he'll be interested in seeing this. It is a simple model, but it is also a testament to Roniathan's abilities."
"You don't want to wait until I have a better one?" There was a light beep after every time Roniathan finished a sentence.
"You do have Zakkon's interest already."
"Yes, I have his interest in you." Amnika looked up from the display. "But this is a new project. He might be interested in a prototype ship."
"What's that beep?" Rhada said. "I keep hearing it."
"It's a debug beep. It's supposed to go off every time Roniathan speaks." Amnika walked towards the door then turned around. "It's why I was so frustrated when he didn't say anything. There were no beeps."
"I wasn't speaking," Roniathan said.
"Well, I realize that now. We are going to have to discuss what the problem was so I can learn from it." Amnika sighed. "I do need some sleep."
Amnika left the room, and Rhada followed her.
Once Amnika was in bed she asked, "Can you sing that song again?"
"What are you going to do when I'm gone?"
"I will imagine that you are singing the song again," Amnika said. "Hopefully, I'll fall asleep before it ends, because I don't remember the ending."
Rhada laughed.
"It does make a good lullaby."
Rhada began to sing about a small child who played all day and explored every corner. The child in the song was tired and needed a safe place to sleep.
This time Amnika was able to hear more of it but still didn't catch the ending.
Chapter Seven
Amnika woke up to the sound of the door buzzing. The room was still dark. Rhada turned and put his feet on the floor.
"Nahaeda," Amnika whispered. "Does he stay up all night?"
"Sometimes," Rhada whispered back. "It's odd that he would be here so early."
They waited a moment, and the walls began to glow. Amnika's mother or father started the morning timer. In a few moments, the walls will be as bright as sunlight.
"We are already awake," Amnika said. "We could go down now."
The room was light enough that Amnika could make out some of his features. His eyes glinted in the dim light.
He looked her for a moment. "I don't see why not." Rhada put his over shirt on and went down the lift, leaving Amnika behind to dress.
She grabbed her community clothes and put them on, tossing her nightclothes into the laundry chute. Then she grabbed her cape and carried it down with her.
She looked up at Nahaeda, who stopped talking with her father. Amnika put her cape on, and her father helped her fasten it. Then she went over to Nahaeda who got on his knees to give her a hug. He was still a little tall for her. He lifted her so she could wrap her arms around his thick neck.
Amnika noticed the smell of the cave and the forest on the furs that he wore. His knotted red hair tickled her face.
"I'm still a little sleepy," Amnika said.
Nahaeda grunted and shifted her over, so he cradled her. In spite of being ten cycles, Nahaeda's arms were big enough to cradle her like a toddler in one of them.
"I'll carry you. You can sleep on the way to the caves."
He pulled her hood up over her head and made sure that her cape covered her completely. Moments later, Amnika heard the door open and felt Nahaeda move.
By the time they reached the other side of the riochi farms, Amnika had realized that she couldn't sleep, so she shifted enough to peer out of her hood, allowing the cold air to nip at her nose. The sun was above the horizon, and Amnika could see the golden light reflect off the side gate. Her father stepped before of them and put his hand to the panel. The doors slid open with a loud whirr. They crossed under the transport tube, and the area lit with a bright flash of light as a car whizzed by overhead. Her father then scanned his hand to open the second door. Amnika saw Rhada step ahead for a moment and smile at her.
"You're not sleeping?" He asked.
"No." Amnika shifted so her hood would move back more. "I'm too nervous."
"There's nothing to be worried about, Amnika." Nahaeda's voice rumbled through his chest. "Now, hush, we must make this trip silently."
Amnika watched as her father put up his hood and tugged it a little over his face. The door opened, and they started down the first part of the trail. This part was easy. It was wide enough for two Natisiens to walk side by side and for the most part, the path sloped downhill gradually.
The eetchi birds screeched overhead as a warning to others that there were visitors nearby. Amnika looked up in the trees in time to see a smaller bird attack one of the eetchi birds.
Probably defending her nest, Amnika thought.
In the distance, a patri's bay echoed off the mountains. Amnika thought she heard a scant, and everyone stopped. Nahaeda pulled the hood over Amnika's face.
"I think it's too far," Amnika heard her father whisper. She could barely hear him over the sound of the breeze in the trees. "I can't sense anything."
Nahaeda grunted, and Amnika could feel him move again. She waited a few moments until she was sure they were safe. She shifted to push her hood off of her face back and saw that they reached the second part of the path. Another Natisien met them at the base of the mountain. Since it was too dangerous for an Inersien to climb, he offered to carry Amnika's father.
They continued moving up the mountain on the winding trail. Amnika looked over Nahaeda's arm and down into the cliff on one side of the path. At one point there seemed to be no bottom as a few clouds drifted into the area. Feeling dizzy, she quickly looked back up to the trees on the other side of the path. Nahaeda glanced at her and laughed.
Finally, they breached the top of the path. Amnika looked across the massive flat area that a previous generation of Natisiens cut out before they cut the cave. The rocks on the ground were smoothed down giving the city a textured look. The production huts filled the area and the sound of grinding, banging, and upbeat chatting was in the air. It reminded Amnika of the market in the city, except no pieces were exchanged here. Each of them had its own trade, and all items were put up for the tribe's use.
Whatever wasn't used was taken by the maker to the market to sell for pieces. The pieces then were used to buy trinkets, fabrics, and other items that couldn't be created in the huts.
Smoke rose from the back of the production huts as the bonfires were stoked to get them ready for cooking scant and patri for the market. The smell brought her out of her tired stupor. A little disoriented, she struggled to get out of her cape.
"Just a moment, Amnika," Nahaeda said, "I'll get you out."
Holding still, Amnika let Nahaeda loosen her cape and set her down next to Rhada. Amnika pulled her hood off and looked back at Nahaeda.
"Your father and I will make the preparations. Go and have some food."
Rhada motioned Amnika to
follow him, and they stopped at one of the huts. An older woman sat by a large stone bowl, holding a round stone in her hand. She ground a seed mix into a smooth paste. Another woman scooped out the mixture and put them onto leaves and sprinkled it with berries, then wrapped the leaves into small rolls.
"You know." Rhada took two of the rolls and handed Amnika one. "These are the same as the bars. They're just not pressed into squares and dried."
"Take more, Rhada." The younger woman grabbed a few more and handed it to him. "You need to eat."
Amnika tried not to giggle with food in her mouth. "I think fresh taste better."
They passed a few other huts that made clothing. The Natisien clothing was mostly leather from the animals they hunt. Amnika watched as one of the Natisiens turned a piece of leather into strips, then thread them through two pieces that made up the pants. Another made the leather into larger strips, then take one of the strips and put it on a female Natisien youth to bind her breasts. Realizing that the adolescent was topless, Amnika turned her head.
Rhada chuckled. "It's normal here."
"And it's normal for me to turn away," Amnika defended herself.
The next hut was where the leather was stretched and prepped. One woman scraped the brown, black, and tan fur off the skin. Next to her, another woman took a freshly scraped skin and dipped in a brown, liquid solution.
From behind her, a whoop rose up from the crowd and spread through the area. Amnika turned around in time to see a few proud hunters carry in their kills. Amnika watched as one of the hunters allow his scant's head to drop so that the animal's head was eye level with her.
"Young Inersien come celebrate hunt?" The Natisien asked in broken standard.
Rows of teeth flashed from the slightly open mouth. The tongue hung loosely and dangled from the muzzle. The lifeless eyes staring back at Amnika made her feel uneasy, and she took a step behind Rhada. She couldn't stop staring at the listless creature, though. Its tan, black, and, brown fur, usually smooth and slick, was matted. The claws that were meant for tearing flesh as well as grabbing their prey were splayed, but still.
Amnika took a deep breath as Mihka walked up with his catch and put his hand on the shoulder of the mischievous Natisien. "Young Inersien is here to train Rhada."
She let out a slow sigh.
"Amnika." The man grunted, his smug look gone. He shifted his catch back up onto his shoulders.
Seeing that he was about to kneel for an apology, Amnika stopped him. "It's okay," she said in Natisien dialect. "You were having fun. I'm not offended." She smiled at him.
The man smiled back and tapped his chest with two fingers of his free hand. He then proceeded to take his catch to the next hut, where they gut, clean, and butcher the carcass. Mihka put his hand on Rhada's shoulder as he passed to drop off his catch.
"He always gets his scant," Rhada said.
Amnika looked back at Rhada who stared at his half-brother. She smiled at him and continued walking. When she turned back, she saw two Natisiens split one of the carcasses' sternum so that the guts fell out with a loud squish. The smell of the innards combined with the scant's natural musk made Amnika nauseous. She covered mouth with her hand and stifle a dry heave.
"You do get used to it," Rhada laughed.
"Maybe we can go to where they make something else?" Amnika tried her best not to vomit.
Rhada chuckled again. He guided her to the hut where they made the beads. Beads were made out of the gemstones they found while digging their cave homes. All Natisiens wore beads on the end of small braids depicting their accomplishments.
Some of the Natisiens were boiling metal. "That." Rhada pointed in their direction. "That is where pieces are made."
Amnika watched them make beads for a while. One of the female Natisiens saw Amnika and offered to braid her hair. It was then she realized that she hadn't gone through her usual morning routine. She agreed to have her hair braided.
Around midday, Rhada gave her a riochi bar.
"You still think of me," Amnika thanked him.
The day went on until finally, the Natisiens started up the bonfire for the evening meal. As everyone began to gather around, Amnika noticed how many seats around were empty.
"Where is everyone?" Amnika asked.
"They're celebrating the new Cycle tonight. Everyone is happy, so they celebrate," Rhada answered.
"This is true," Nahaeda said. "Natisiens are very happy. They all want to celebrate. A few choose to stay behind to keep things going here."
Amnika and Rhada sat in Tribal leader's place.
"Third time." Amnika shifted to get comfortable on the rock.
"Sixth year, Eighth year, and Tenth year," Rhada grunted.
They both watch as Nahaeda and his wife placed the food in front of them. They ate, and Rhada made sure that Amnika had her fill with patri.
When they finished, Nahaeda had Amnika and Rhada stand so he can take their place. Then Rhada sat on the ground next to him. Before Amnika could do the same, Nahaeda brought her onto his knee.
"Inersiens do not need to sit on the ground," Nahaeda said.
Amnika glanced over at her father, who was standing nearby. He shrugged, and Amnika turned back to Nahaeda.
"Now," Nahaeda said, "I think it's time you know about Adeli."
"Adeli was the first known Inersien to manipulate energy. Before this, Inersiens were mostly telepathic and can only see each other's minds. This was also when the city didn't have the farm or the communities. Citizens relied heavily on the Natisiens for food and resources."
"While Adeli was still young, the Zherosha citizens reached the stars. This is when they run into the Exorlak. The Exorlak demanded that the Zherosha citizens become their slaves. This started the first war. The citizens were resourceful and resilient so they were able to defeat the Exorlak. Since they couldn't face the Exorlak head on, they would set up distractions and traps. This would cause the Exorlak to waste resources. They couldn't refresh their fleets fast enough."
"Zherosha citizens realized that the Exorlak will try again. So they knew they had to prepare. This was when they built the farm and the communities. The Zherosha citizens wanted to make sure that the city was self-sufficient. Instead of providing food, Natisiens began mining and manufacturing. The citizens took their newly gained knowledge and used it to build a better city."
"The Exorlak return, but they thought they knew the tactics and came prepared. The war dragged out for a long time until Adeli became an adult. By then, many Inersiens hid on other planets. Natisiens were getting sick because there were not enough Inersiens to help them get better."
Nahaeda paused for a moment as if to contemplate the moment.
"Natisiens need Inersiens to be well." Amnika looked up at Nahaeda. "Our energy helps your immune system."
Nahaeda grunted.
"The messengers visited Adeli. They told her to go and gather the other Inersiens to bring them back to Zherosha, where they belong. This was the time the Zherosha citizens met the inhabitants of Nahbor. Nahbor helped Zherosha to defeat the Exorlak. Adeli tried to negotiate a treaty. Even defeated, the Exorlak fought back and refuse defeat. Zherosha and Nahbor worked together and scorched Exorlak. so they couldn't return to attack Zherosha again."
"In the meantime, Adeli had a glimpse of the timeline and saw her death. The messengers warned her to not to defy the creator. She faced an unknown entity who wanted to destroy Zherosha. They believed that the city should not exist. Eventually, they killed her. Instead of letting go an accepting her fate, she defied the creator. She cast her consciousness out into our realm. Because of this, she was cursed to stay at the pool of light, waiting for a chance to redeem herself. When the one who is to replace her is ready, the pool will light up."
Amnika leaned back onto Nahaeda. "What was the entity?"
Nahaeda looked straight ahead. He seemed fixated on something in the distance. Finally, he looked down at her.
"It's not recorded," he
responded. "There is one that is to come before Adeli. One that is to tear down."
Everyone looked at him horrified.
"Sometimes, you need to tear down to rebuild better," He said. Again, he seemed distant. "Like the caves were destroyed before we found a better place."
No one knew what to say. Amnika looked at Rhada who was looking down at his hands.
"Come now," Nahaeda said, "It is almost sunset. We need to be at the top soon."
Amnika stood up from Nahaeda's lap. He picked up Amnika in one arm and her father in the other. Rhada followed them up to the top of the mountain. It didn't take long since the caves were already near the top.
At the top, the ground level off. After walking a while, Nahaeda stopped and put Amnika down by Rhada. Then he put Amnika's father down. Feeling anxious, Amnika looked over towards where the sun sets. She could see the water from the ocean. The two moons brought the water to its highest level during the end-of-cycle.
"I know I have to do this," She told Rhada. "I don't like what comes when I do."
"I know, but it's short," he consoled Amnika. "Only three times."
Rhada walked over to his father, who was only standing a few feet away. He turned and face the two Inersiens.
"You can share the pain," Father told her, "I'm right here."
Amnika nodded but decided if Rhada is going to be in pain, she can be in pain, too.
"When you are ready Amnika," Nahaeda said.
Amnika began to draw the energy from her center. It grew until it was strong enough to stun a small animal and she pushed it to Rhada.
It hit Rhada in the chest, and he grunted but didn't flinch. Amnika felt her nerve endings burn in her chest. It radiated through her arms and fingers. She took a few deep breaths until it passed.
"Good." Nahaeda seemed pleased. "Again, twice as strong."
"Twice?" Father and Amnika said together.
Amnika looked at Rhada. "Well, he is twice my size. It still may not bother him," She cast a thought to her father. She watched him took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
After checking with his son, Nahaeda turned to face the two Inersiens. Amnika looked at her father. He nodded in Rhada's direction. Amnika took a deep breath, and she pulled twice the amount of energy. This time she held it, and she was reluctant to throw it.