"Why've you been so distant?" I finally asked, giving voice to what had bothered me all day.
He finished his food, and after sniffing carefully at the bowl to make certain he'd missed nothing, he circled once and lay down on the floor. Almost delicately, he began to lick his paws. "I haven't meant to be distant," he finally replied. Kipp turned his amber eyes up at me. "It's just the proximity to Elani that's a concern. She has accepted my rejection of her, uh, attentions, but it's hurt her heart." Kipp's eyes rounded. "I wouldn't hurt a kid like that for anything, Petra. It makes me feel bad."
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at my thoughtful friend's dilemma. So, instead, I sat next to him on the floor, my legs crossed so that I sat with my elbows on my knees. "Kipp you are so gentle and kind, that I know you let her down easily. But it's always disappointing to be rejected."
"Has it happened to you?" Kipp lifted his head up and opened his eyes wider.
"Oh, yeah, and it still burns a little down deep."
That night, we both slept well. Kipp snuggled close, his head across my chest, my fingers tangled mindlessly in his fur. Outside, the storm increased in intensity; the winds moaned as they wove through the trees, causing the north side of my house to creak in protest. The thunder rumbled, causing a pretty little antique tray of amber glass to dance on the dresser top. But in my house, with Kipp by my side, I was safe, warm and loved. And that was more than enough.
Chapter 5
A cabin in the vicinity of Gatlinburg was made available to us as well as reservations for two hotel rooms in Chattanooga. Of course, a drive to Chattanooga from the North Carolina piedmont could easily be accomplished in a day, but I felt no need to hurry. After the late evening chat with Peter in the snug security of his car while the falling rain pooled like liquid mercury on the hood, I was convinced that ample bonding time for us four, as a team, was probably not a bad idea. The fact Peter and Elani's first time shift had gone smoothly was a positive and indicated promise for their future adventures. Philo, as usual, would take care of all my business while I was gone. He had done this for years and probably knew my account information and bills better than did I. Having bid him, dear Juno and crusty Fitzhugh good bye, I waited at home for Peter.
With a last walk through my house, I checked the dryer since I was notorious for forgetting to retrieve that last load only to have to deal later with a hopelessly wrinkled mass. My typical solution was to spin it again, watching anxiously while hoping a few extra minutes would do the trick. Thankfully, the dryer was empty, and my sink was clear of dirty dishes. Kipp padded softly behind me, his stealth remarkable considering his bulk. His toenails, however, clicked on the worn wooden floors, a soothing tonic to my soul.
"It'll be okay, Petra. As much as I've worried about so much time spent with Elani, she is acting very mature." Kipp nuzzled my hand. I wondered if he was comforting me or was I, him?
I smiled mentally and projected a funny picture in my mind that Kipp immediately sought out. He did the same, and we played our telepathic mind game of silly tag, back and forth, using up the time until Peter arrived. Pausing, I glanced out my back window, the one in my kitchen, and marveled at the rapid change of the autumn leaves that year. The sun shone through the canopy of oaks, which had turned butter yellow; to the left was a lonely, perfectly shaped maple that seemed as if it was on fire, with blazes of brilliant orange red color overwhelming all the other trees. Just then, there was a mental tingle in the back of my mind, and I knew Peter was close by, probably pulling up at the curb.
With my duffle in one hand, I ushered Kipp out the front door. A surge of cool air hit both of us; I was grateful I'd packed a warmer jacket since it would be even colder in the mountains. I'd suggested, since Technicorps was insisting we travel, that we take a scenic route across North Carolina to Cherokee before picking up 441 that crossed over the peaks into the Great Smokey Mountains Park. It would be a lovely drive, and I was grateful we didn't have to compete with all the other nature lovers for a place to stay. The cabin, owned by Technicorps, was available and waiting. Taking my seat next to Peter, I smiled as he pulled out into the street. He was wearing a thick sweatshirt and a fleece vest, looking the part of an adventurer in search of a holiday.
"We can take turns driving," I offered, not wanting him to think I was just along for my wonderful company or scintillating wit.
"Oh, I don't mind," he answered. "This SUV is sweet, compared to my small car. I kind of feel like I'm driving a tank."
"I'm interested in learning how to drive," Kipp announced from the rear, sticking his nose between us. It was typical of Kipp to think that there were no boundaries to his abilities. Privately I thought he might have trouble managing the steering wheel and floor pedals simultaneously, but that was just me.
Elani joined him, gazing between the two front seats at the oncoming traffic and quickly moving scenery. I noticed she was crowded in pretty close to my buddy, her silver and blonde shimmering fur brushing his, and he carefully made a little distance. At the same time, he sent me a message of worry, as he really didn't want to hurt her feelings.
To divert the lupines, I engaged them in a common symbiont mind game, where I conceived of a stray thought and then invited them to try and find it in my mind. Soon, I had the mental image of Elani racing, her body beautiful and sleek, alongside a magnificent Kipp, his muscles rippling in the sunlight, as they chased my little mind rabbit, like a pair of sight hounds coursing after prey. Mentally I took them over green, lush hillsides dotted with trees, down into shallow valleys where tall grass covered the meadow flats, and even angling through dense thickets of twisting vines and high wild shrubs.
After a couple of minutes, Peter laughed, and when I gave him a mental nod, he knew he was invited to join the festivities. He made believe he was a Pegasus-like creature and began to fly after the fleeing rabbit, causing Kipp and Elani to sprout wings, too, not to be outdone by a fanciful Peter. Their fluttering activity in my head finally made me dizzy, and I begged them to stop, as I surrendered the mind rabbit to a triumphant and surprisingly persistent Elani.
It was a classically pretty fall day for a drive, and of course the North Carolina mountains at that time of year were magnificent. The spring and summer had sequenced with just enough rain and an absence of blast furnace heat so that the leaves would be especially vivid and long lasting. We'd made our way to highway 411, and after a brief pause in Cherokee for a pit stop and a snack, we entered the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. Kipp and Elani, with their color discriminating vision, began to utter lupine ooohs and aaahs from the back seat. Kipp had his big head stuck out the window behind me while Elani was mimicking him on the other side of the car, their jowls fluttering in the wind. Peter continued to insist upon driving, so I shrugged my shoulders, sat back, and enjoyed the view. At the rest area at Newfound Gap, we pulled over and walked to the edge of a concrete and stone barrier. A mild breeze was causing the brightly colored leaves to shift, creating a washed, fluid blur of color, much like a finely painted watercolor that was oddly animated; the sky was that deep color of dark turquoise that seemed improbable in nature. I inhaled deeply and felt the cool air sting slightly as I filled my lungs. From across the rest area, Kipp turned and gazed at me, his tail wagging slightly. We'd picked an area where there were no people gathered as so to not draw attention to the large lupines who were decidedly off leash. Kipp was wearing his collar, as was Elani, but he hated the feel of it and even more despised the leather tether of bondage.
"There will be places where dogs are not allowed," I remarked to Peter. "We'll just see how far we can buffalo people." With all due respect to humans who depended upon their wonderful service dogs, symbionts simply had to be connected to their partners constantly. The team at Technicorps had written letters for both Peter and me explaining that Kipp and Elani were the property of Technicorps and had to be at our sides at all times as a critical component for a research project. It might fly in some areas, ma
ybe not in others. And it was not far from the truth. As a group we were working, on the clock, so to speak.
As we crossed over the state line into Tennessee and began a gradual descent into a valley, we decided to take a small detour and make the vigorous hike to Chimney Tops, with the realization that Kipp and Elani could not make the final, almost vertical, approach to the summit. After parking the SUV, I paused to change into my hiking shoes and pulled out a lightweight pullover. It was pleasant weather, cool but not really cold, but we would get hot with the exertion of the long walk. We figured that the lupines could stretch their legs and the chances of being challenged by any authority wondering why we had dogs on the trail would be minimal. At most, we would face some humans wearing puzzled expressions and perhaps a tattle tale or two might report us at the nearest station, probably Sugarland. Well, it wasn't punishable by incarceration, I thought to myself, and the worst would be a stern talking to and maybe a shaken finger in my face by a park official. I'd blink my eyes, feign ignorance and plead forgiveness.
"If it says no dogs allowed, well, that doesn't apply to me and Elani anyway, since we aren't dogs," Kipp remarked in his clever way.
"We'll run that up the flagpole and see how it flies," I replied, ruffling his top knot, enjoying the feel of his warm fur against my cool fingers.
I was gratified to see that despite the fine fall weather, it was a little early in the morning and the parking area was relatively free of cars. So, after making certain I had Kipp's leash, we took off. The trail was almost 4 miles one way, so it was not long before we were warmed up. Kipp and Elani would dart ahead, playing tag like young lupines do, reveling in their health and energy. When they would hear humans approaching, they would quickly return to our sides, endure the leash, and we would all act serious and manage to pass the oncoming humans with a sober expression and a curt nod that brokered no discussion. At one point, I glanced at Peter and wondered what had brought him to this place. He was definitely growing on me and had potential and more than a little likeability that he had successfully camouflaged in the dark confines of the Technicorps library. He caught my eyes and returned the stare.
"What?" he asked, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"I decided that I like you," I replied honestly.
He let his head drop forward for a moment, not sure how to respond. After a long pause he laughed. "I like you, too," he said.
Up ahead, Kipp had managed to find a wonderful stick that was the perfect length and diameter for play and began to tease an increasingly frustrated Elani with the prize. As they played tug of war, I marveled over how easily lupines–as well as humanoid symbionts–blended into society.
"Have you ever been found out?" Peter asked.
His question made me wonder if he'd been reading my thoughts, but I'd have known if he had. Contemporary symbionts really couldn't manage that sort of thing without a clumsiness that was almost painful and definitely obvious. Kipp could, but then he was special.
"Yes, once," I replied. Unconsciously, my hand drifted up to the pearl necklace–my treasured gift from Harrow–which was concealed beneath my garment. For some reason, I didn't want to lie to Peter. On the other hand, I had no wish to unburden my soul. He was more sensitive that I'd have given him credit, and he had the good sense to not prod. Instead he chose a safer question.
"Fitzhugh says you've done stuff in the past that I shouldn't copy," he finally said, his cheeks reddened from either exertion or embarrassment, or both.
"Well, he should know," I replied, my voice gruff. "He used to keep a tally sheet."
We walked another mile before either of us spoke again. Kipp finally gave up the valuable stick to Elani, showing the gentlemanly side of his nature. He'd returned to my side and kept nuzzling my hand, demanding I caress his upright ears. He was being remarkably quiet in terms of his thoughts merging with mine, and I realized he was giving me time to get to know Peter without his, Kipp's, interference.
"How do you keep from making horrible mistakes?" Peter asked. "We're supposed to go back in time, engage humans, explore issues and mysteries and leave no footprint when we leave." He reached out and gently touched my arm to stop my progress. "I don't know how to do that, Petra. And I don't want to end up on Fitzhugh's wall of shame."
Kipp's head went up; there was a party of humans approaching. Telepathically, I suggested he and Elani beat it into the brush. In a flash, both lupines disappeared, and Peter and I resumed our walk.
"Peter, you're going to make mistakes; both you and Elani will make bad choices." I sighed. "Even with my experience, I still make them." I paused to glance up at the leaves of a towering oak. The sun was angling through the canopy and back lit the leaves that were the rosy-yellow color of a ripe, succulent peach. "You will engage with humans and find your feelings entangled with theirs before you know it. Without meaning to, you become part of their society and family." Of course, I knew intimately of what I spoke.
We made the remainder of our ascent in relative silence, with Kipp and Elani darting in and out of view. When we got to the last part of the trail, Kipp viewed the vertical climb to the summit; tilting his head, he tried to figure someway he could make that climb but recognized the impossibility of such a task. I had never been to the summit of Chimney Tops and had always wanted to do so; my companion, Kipp, generously urged me onwards. With Peter's assisting hand, I lurched over the last bump and was able to gaze out into the magnificent overlook that stretched across the Great Smokey Mountains. Taking a moment, I sat upon a rock so that I might soak in the beauty of nature. Off in the distance, a waterway glistened in the sun as it snaked its way through the hills and valleys until I could no longer follow its sinuous trail. The wind was more brisk in the absence of trees, and I pulled my jacket a little closer. Closing my eyes, I tilted my head back; the distinctive scent of wood smoke caught in the back of my throat. Most likely that fragrance was from someone's fireplace, where I could imagine a group of revelers sitting around the flames, laughing and enjoying mugs of hot apple cider.
"What's it like?" Kipp asked.
I felt a stab of guilt since I never left him behind in such a manner. Lowering every part of my mind that might be a barrier, I invited him to see the world through my view. He eagerly searched my memories as well as current impressions. For a moment, I had an odd sensation as if Kipp was behind my eyes, his lined up with mine to see my visions.
"Beautiful!" he finally exclaimed.
I didn't want to leave him below for much longer, so at my urging, Peter reluctantly left his perch and led the way, again holding out a hand assist as needed. Kipp and Elani looked up at us, dancing in place in their excitement to move on.
"How's it going, Kipp?" I asked, meaning his cautious relationship with the young female lupine, as I watched her leap at Peter's chest in a moment of affection and playfulness.
"I think she's decided that we can be friends, which is a good thing," he replied. With a rough head butt that almost caused my leg to collapse, he barked softly and darted ahead, challenging me to keep up with him.
Jogging on the rough trail was not easy, but I took off in hot pursuit of my friend who stayed a tantalizing few steps ahead, even stopping to bark at me again in a provocative, teasing manner. Peter apparently was in good shape, because he and Elani chased after us, jogging along at an easy pace, laughing from time to time at Kipp's craziness. We passed several hikers who stared at us in surprise as two humanoids and two big dogs raced down the trail. We were hot and breathless by the time we got to the SUV.
"You held your own pretty well," I remarked, smiling at Peter as I tried to get my breath.
He ducked his head and the dark sweep of hair carelessly fell across his eyes, almost concealing the expression. Elani pushed next to him, and the connection that had developed between the two sparked. For a moment I wished they could share the unique bond such as the one Kipp and I had, but that was improbable; Kipp's nature made our connection special,
even for symbionts.
"I used to run track," he said. "Hated cross country but did okay on sprints," he added.
We felt we had tempted fate with Kipp and Elani, so with that thought in mind, we loaded up in the SUV and continued towards Gatlinburg. The cabin rested in a remote area where the presence of the lupines would not be an issue. There was a kitchen, so we wouldn't be pressed to find outdoor cafes that would allow Kipp and Elani to crowd onto the cold, hard pavement. After a quick stop at a grocery store, we continued along, using the GPS system in the SUV. Part of me missed a plain old fold up paper map, but those days seemed lost with flashy contemporary aids.
"You were born in the early 1600's," Peter remarked, his comment coming out of left field.
"Yes, 1604," I replied.
"You've lived through amazing times," he said, simply. "Computers, space travel, the digital age..."
"The discovery of fire, the wheel... uh, pestilence, plague..." I replied wryly.
The GPS, which Peter had named "Lucy", barked out a turn ahead with its mechanical, feminine voice, and Peter dutifully complied. We took a right and seemed to be on a narrow trail that almost didn't allow the vehicle; thick, overgrown hedges brushed against the sides of the vehicle and slapped the windshield. But in a moment, the woods opened up, and we were in a small clearing; in the center of the clearing was a rustic cabin of dark timbers that were aged and scarred from years of weather exposure. After Peter pulled the SUV to a stop, I jumped out and opened the back hatch so that Kipp and Elani could explore. Without hesitation, they charged around the rear of the building, circling it before I removed the first bag from the vehicle.
"I smell something odd," Kipp said, pulling his lips back from his teeth in a bizarre grimace.
"Me, too," Elani said, her dark eyes rounding a little as she pushed a little closer to Kipp.
I looked around; there were definitely no humans or we would pick up their thoughts. But the area was dense with wildlife. "There are raccoons, opossum, bears, deer and all sorts of critters around here. I'd be cautious that bears lurk thinking that people will feed them or maybe they can scavenge the trash." Looking down at Kipp, my voice became stern. "Be careful of them, Kipp. They're dangerous."
The Great Locomotive Chase, 1862 Page 5