by Travis Perry
Sam had seen the dragon at a distance, but he’d never seen him up close. As he waited quietly for the dragon to fall asleep, his curiosity got the better of him and he peeked out and stared at the great beast.
The grayish-green dragon was smaller than Sam expected, but his wings were enormous. The dragon’s face was smooth like a salamander and he had really big eyes. His skin was layers of scales from his snout all the way down to the tip of his tail. Sam guessed the dragon could give a pretty good swat with that tail and he made a mental note to stay out of range. The wings were almost transparent, like the wings of a dragonfly.
Sam laughed to himself. A super large dragonfly didn’t sound too scary.
As the sun sank lower on the horizon, Sam shivered. The dragon lay on the pile of obsidian. His eyes were closed and his breathing was slow and heavy. When Sam motioned, Ahni took a small step toward the entrance of the cave.
On her second step, she kicked a stone and the dragon stirred and opened his eyes. Then he arched his neck, raising his head. He blinked once or twice and opened his mouth wide, showing two rows of sharp white teeth.
Ahni screamed. The dragon jerked and turned toward her.
Across the cave, Sam felt a wave of fear. He yelled, “Hey! You! Over here!”
The dragon whirled his head around. Sam shouted, “Run!”
The dragon scrambled to his feet, his full attention on Sam. He hissed loudly.
Sam’s heart thumped wildly and he broke into a sweat. Breathing a prayer, he slipped a rock into his sling. Then he spun his sling and sent the rock flying. The obsidian bounced off the dragon’s body and the dragon turned to look where it had fallen.
Sam put the second rock into his sling. Sweat ran down his forehead and into his eyes. But there was no time to wipe his face, so he whirled the sling around and he scored a direct hit on the dragon’s neck. The stone bounced harmlessly off the dragon’s tough scales.
The dragon let out a deafening roar. Sam dove behind the boulder just in time to avoid the flying acid. He fought back his fear so he could concentrate. In his haste, he fumbled with the third chunk of obsidian as he loaded it into his sling. He darted out from the rock and aimed straight at the face of the beast.
The rock smacked into the dragon’s forehead and stayed there, but then the dragon shook the stone out of his scales and sent it flying across the cave. With a roar, he reared up. In that moment, Sam bolted out the cave entrance.
The dragon let out another roar. Sam stood flattened against the wall of rock on the ledge. He felt a rush of wind and grabbed on tighter to the rock as the dragon flew out of the cave and into the darkening sky. As Sam tried to settle his pounding heart, he looked down to see tiny burn holes in the sleeve of his tunic.
When Sam was sure the dragon was gone, he looked for Ahni. He found her huddled behind a boulder, trembling. “Are you all right?” he asked.
Ahni hugged Sam tightly. “I was so scared!”
Sam gave her a squeeze. “I was too. We better get off this mountain before it gets dark.”
Sam and Ahni carefully made their way down their steep narrow trail in the fading daylight. Once they got back to their campsite, Ahni burst into tears. “He ate another goat!”
Sam said, “I know, but we found out where he lives. We’ll go home and tell everyone and they’ll capture him.”
Sam built a fire as Ahni continued to sniff. Finally, he said, “Ahni, we’re OK. We escaped. And I’m sure your parents won’t let the dragon get Galla.”
“You don’t understand,” Ahni sobbed. “It’s not just the goats. It’s everything! It’s my mother! She’s going to die! And I think I’m getting The Sickness, too!”
Sam jerked his head. “Ahni! Are you sure?”
Ahni nodded. “Look!” she held out her hands.
Sam squinted in the firelight. Ahni had light burns across her palms. “I don’t think those are The Sickness. I have them, too.” Sam held out his hands. “You’re really sure you’re getting The Sickness?”
Ahni sniffed. “I’m sure. Oh, Sam, what are we going to do?”
Sam watched sparks fly up into the night sky. He was silent for a long time before he said, “I think we need to find help. We’ve already tried the Healers in Emerson. Maybe someone in New Dorado will know what to do.”
“I don’t know, Sam. We’re supposed go home. We have to tell them about the dragon. And New Dorado’s in the wrong direction.”
Sam poked a stick at the fire. “It won’t add much time. Once we get to New Dorado we can take the road home and it will be faster than hiking through the wilderness. Capturing the dragon won’t do us any good if we all end up with The Sickness. And we don’t even know if anybody’ll believe us. Some people laughed when Uncle Al said we had a dragon.”
Ahni dried her tears on her sleeve. “OK.”
Sam and the Dragon: Chapter 4
The next morning Sam and Ahni loaded everything on Old Red. The horse hung his head and his ribs showed through his matted and graying hair. Ahni petted his neck. “It’s all right, Old Red. Sam and I will walk.”
To Sam’s dismay, he discovered that the town of New Dorado was much farther away than he thought it was. For three days, they followed the line of cliffs through the Martian wilderness. And every day Ahni grew weaker. Sam grew weaker, too, but that was because he ate less and less as he watched their small supply of barley dwindle.
Finally, Sam suggested that Ahni ride on Old Red. It would be hard on the horse, but they could make better time if Ahni rode. The scorching sun beat down on them by day and the nights grew colder the farther north they traveled.
It was with great relief that Sam finally spotted New Dorado in the distance. It looked much like his own town of Emerson with scattered wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys of red brick huts tucked in among the fields.
As they entered the town, Sam saw rows of small brick houses mingled with larger wooden houses. In the center of town were the market and the town square and, just like in Emerson, the town square had a round brick cistern filled to the brim with water.
It was to the cistern that Sam led Ahni and Old Red. The cistern was very large and its walls were about waist-high. It had built-in basins for washing and there was a dipper for scooping out clean water for drinking.
After they all quenched their thirst, Sam approached a woman who was washing some clothes. “Excuse me, can you tell me where I can find the Healer?
She looked up. “You won’t find one here, son. Not in this little town.”
Another woman chimed in. “You should try Em’rson. I think there’s a Healer there.”
Sam looked around in desperation. They traveled all this way for nothing and he still had to get Ahni home. A noble rider approached the cistern on horseback. When he dismounted, Sam said, “Please, sir, my cousin has The Sickness and she’s getting weaker every day. Can you help us?”
As the noble scowled at Sam and Ahni, Sam realized that they were covered with red trail dust and must look a sight.
“Please?” Sam begged. “We need help.”
The noble drew water from the cistern for his horse. “I believe Madam Susan is due to arrive sometime in the next few days. You should go see her.”
Sam cocked his head. “Madam Susan?”
The noble laughed. “You’ve never heard of Madam Susan? She’s an adviser to Gov’nor Pederson, but she rides a circuit through some of the villages on the plain this time of year. You won’t find a better Healer in all of Tharsis.”
“Thank you, sir,” Sam said. He turned to the women. “Do you know anybody who would take us in for a couple days?”
The women backed away from Sam and Ahni. “No,” the first woman said firmly, “and you’d better leave. We don’t want your Sickness in our village.”
“Camp in the fields,” the second woman said. “There’s no place for you in town.”
By now, others had gathered around the cistern. They pulled their children close to t
hemselves and Sam saw fear in their eyes. “Go ’way!” another woman said. “We don’t want you here!”
Sam looked at Ahni. She was already so frail she could hardly eat. His shoulders sagged as he turned and led Old Red, still carrying Ahni, out of the town square. They were just past the last row of houses when Sam heard light footsteps behind him.
A woman caught up to Sam and Ahni. She quickly glanced behind her and then she turned to Sam, “We’re letting one of our fields lay dormant this season. You can take your cousin there if you need a place to camp.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” Sam said. “We really appreciate it!” He led Old Red and followed the woman several kims to her farm. The woman pointed to a bare and dusty field. “I’ll bring some ’tatoes for you and oats for your horse. You can get water from the brook. Please don’t come near the house.”
Sam nodded. “Thank you, ma’am, for everything.”
The woman shook her head. “You needed help. When Madam Susan ’rrives, I’ll make sure she knows you’re here.”
One morning several days later, Ahni was so weak that Sam couldn’t convince her to eat at all. He helped her move to a blanket he had laid on the ground outside next to the tent and then he walked a little ways away out into the dry field. He slung dirt clods at a juniper tree while he tried to gather his thoughts.
In the distance, Sam saw a cloud of dust. Soon, he realized there were two horses and riders coming toward the farm. Sam stood and watched as they rode up to him and dismounted. A spry older woman, her silver hair held back in a clip, approached Sam. She had an unmistakable air of confidence and a kind look in her eyes. Sam almost cried when she said, “My name is Susan and I’m looking for a little girl who needs my help.”
Sam bowed. “Thank you, ma’am. I’m Sam and my cousin Ahni’s by the tent. She’s very sick.”
Sam walked with Madam Susan to the tent. When they reached Ahni, Madam Susan exclaimed, “Oh, child! We need to make you strong again!”
Ahni smiled weakly. “Hello.”
Madam Susan scooped Ahni up into her arms. Sam hardly dared to get his hopes up, but he marveled at this woman whose simple presence made him feel better already. She turned to Sam. “You and Ahni must stay with me tonight. Pack your belongings and we’ll go.”
While Sam folded the tent and loaded everything onto Old Red, Madam Susan carried Ahni to her servant, Charles. Together, they helped Ahni up onto the white barrel-chested stallion. Charles held Ahni in front of him as they rode back into town.
Madam Susan brought Sam and Ahni to the guest house of Lord Wilkes. There, she asked another servant to prepare a hearty chicken soup. While they waited for the soup, Madam Susan found a place for Ahni to lay down and she gave Sam a quick tour of the guest house including Lord Wilkes’ library of old books from the Time of Magic.
The soup smelled heavenly. Sam thought he had never tasted anything so good. Ahni could only take a little broth, but her color improved after she drank it. While they ate their lunch, Sam did his best to report to Madam Susan everything that had happened.
As Madam Susan listened to Sam’s story, the wrinkles in her brow grew deeper. “We’ve not had dragons here before, and certainly not had them take livestock. What did he look like?”
Sam shuddered. “Scary! He was short, but his wings filled the cave and he was so close I could see past his sharp teeth and down his throat. He roared acid at me!”
Madam Susan scratched her head. “What did his body look like? Was it big and heavy?”
“No, he was kind of thin like a salamander, but instead of soft skin he had scales.”
Madam Susan was quiet for a minute. Then she said, “This could be a new kind of dragon. I’ve never heard of one that could live and fly at this elevation and your description doesn’t quite match the description of the lowland dragons.”
Sam shrugged. “All I know is he was going to eat me! He was going to eat Ahni!”
“Hmm... It sounds to me like he was responding to your attack. What would youhave done if you were him?”
Sam tried to picture himself as a dragon. “Oh... I see your point. I was just so scared!”
Madam Susan nodded. “That’s perfectly understandable.” Then she added, “Please, show me the magic box and the sticks.”
Sam dug the magic box out of the saddlebag. He placed the box and the magic sticks on the table. Susan looked at the sticks first, but she didn’t touch them. “Have you noticed any burns on your hands?” she asked Sam and Ahni.
“Well, yes, actually,” Sam said. He held out his hands. They’re not bad, but I don’t know what they are.”
“Let me see your hands, Ahni,” Madam Susan said. Ahni spread out her hands.
Madam Susan rang a bell for a servant, who quickly appeared in the doorway. “Bring me the magic counter, the one that clicks,” Madam Susan said. The servant disappeared. While they waited for her to return, Madam Susan asked, “What do you do with the sticks?”
“We use them as bed warmers,” Sam said. “Well, Ahni does, anyway. I let her have both of them.”
The servant returned with a small black box. Madam Susan turned a switch and held the box over the sticks. “Click, click, click,” went the box. She scanned Ahni and then Sam. It clicked fast for Ahni, slower for Sam.
“What does it mean?” Sam asked.
“It means you have found some ancient fuel,” Madam Susan explained. “In the Time of Magic it was called refined uranium. And it’s what is making your family sick.”
Sam swallowed hard. “These rods are making us sick?”
“Yes,” Madam Susan replied. “You have all been contaminated with radiation.”
Ahni gasped. “Will I die?”
Madam Susan smiled. “No, I don’t think so. But we have to decontaminate you and all your belongings.”
She gave the device back to her servant. “Miranda, please ask Lord Wilkes for a lead box and a set of tongs.” Miranda hurried out. “We are going to put these sticks in a place where they can’t hurt anybody,” Madam Susan explained. “It’s not safe to touch them.”
When Miranda returned, Madam Susan picked up the sticks with the tongs. She opened a metal box and put the sticks inside and then she closed the lid. “There,” she said. “Now the radiation can’t escape. I want both of you to wash everything, especially your clothes and blankets. Wash your horse, too. And when you’ve done all that, wash yourselves. Charles and Miranda will help you.”
Sam was stunned. Water was a valuable and scarce commodity in Emerson. Farmers like themselves took a bath only once every few months, maybe even once a year.
Charles carried Ahni and they followed Miranda to a bare patch of ground near the river, downstream from the town. Old Red pulled a cart with buckets which Charles filled from the stream.
It took all afternoon to wash everything. They spread the wet blankets and tent over shrubs to dry. When it was his turn, Old Red tossed his head and whinnied like a young colt as Charles doused him with pails of water.
Miranda strung up sheets between a few trees to make a small room for privacy so Ahni and Sam could each take a bucket and wash themselves. They emerged from their baths with faces scrubbed.
“I can’t imagine how much water we used,” Sam said.
Ahni giggled. “Me, neither.”
Sam looked at his cousin. “It’s good to hear your laugh.”
When they were done Miranda brought out the clicker and held it over the horse, the belongings and Sam and Ahni. “That’s much better,” she said. “We can return to the village, now.”
Sam and the Dragon: Chapter 5
Sam and Ahni entered the guest house. While they had been bathing, the house had also received a good cleaning. Everything sparkled, free of the red dust of Mars. Madam Susan smiled when they came inside. “Do you children feel better?”
Sam stiffened. “Yes, thank you, ma’am.”
Madam Susan nodded. “You don’t like to be called a child, do you, Sam?�
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Sam shook his head. “No, ma’am.”
Madam Susan laughed. “In the old days, settlers your age were called ’teens’ because you would be 14 or 15 in earth years. When they started counting age in Mars cycles, seven cycles sounded young, so they used the name, “child,” until kids reached the age of eight cycles and became adults. How about if I call you and Ahni almost-adults. Does that work?”
Sam looked at Madam Susan with new respect. “Yes, ma’am. Thank you.”
Madam Susan motioned for them to have a seat. “Very well, almost-adults, I’ve been looking at the magic box you found,” she said. “It could be valuable. Do you have any idea what it is?”
Sam and Ahni shook their heads.
Madam Susan pointed to large symbols on the box. “Can either of you read?”
Sam and Ahni shook their heads again.
“How are we ever going to make any progress on this planet if we don’t teach people to read?” Madam Susan grumbled. “These symbols stand for 3D. You have found what is called a 3D printer.”
Sam stared at the box without understanding.
Madam Susan explained, “You have to know how to tell the box what to do, but if you give it the right instructions then it can make whatever you wish.”
Now Sam really stared in amazement. “Anything?” he asked.
Madam Susan smiled. “Well, not quite anything. And you have to put something in to get something out. This printer works with plastic, metal and glass. Of course we don’t have plastic, but if you have a source of metal or glass then you can use it as material for the box to build with.”
“We don’t have glass, either,” Sam said sadly. “And I know Uncle Al wouldn’t want to spare any metal for it.”
Ahni brought a handful of the coins out of her pocket. “We have these.”
Madam Susan looked startled. “Where did those come from?”
“We found them in the dragon’s cave,” Ahni explained.
“Well, we won’t use them in the printer,” Madam Susan said, “but you can use the obsidian. Obsidian is volcanic glass.”