by Dale Furse
Sam knew her too well. ‘Okay, okay,’ Nell said. ‘I couldn’t say anything in front of Zenez but Lesel told me, if I find the information contained in those missing pages a whole race of people will be filled with sorrow.’
‘Who?’ Tanat asked, placing his hands on his hips.
‘I don’t know. I’m guessing that whoever is messing with me is trying to protect that race. But that means they know what’s in those last pages. I need to know and I know Lesel agrees with me.’ Not an absolute lie. Lesel had never said Nell shouldn’t find out. She shook her head. ‘It’s time they answered for what they’re doing to me, my family and my friends. And it’s time that whatever is in those pages is brought out into the open whether it’s painful or not.’
‘I understand and I will bow to Ma’s wisdom,’ Tanat said. ‘I will help in any way I can.’
‘Thanks.’ Nell threw him a relieved smile and continued to Mount Kel’s entrance.
Catching up to her, Sam said, ‘I hope it’s not you who gets hurt.’
‘Don’t worry.’ She shrugged his concern off and looked around for the old Kroll.
Sam mounted a different Kroll. ‘Race you to Lesel’s,’ he said.
The Kroll rose and, at normal speed, flew into the sky.
‘Better hang on, Sam,’ Nell said, winging sedately beside him.
Sam screwed his face up at her. She glanced at Tanat and they both laughed.
As they neared Lesel’s landing bay, the frail Kroll appeared over the apex of the mountain, descended and hovered above it.
‘I’ll see you both later,’ Tanat said, veering away. ‘Be good.’
‘We’re always good,’ Sam called after him.
‘So there you are,’ Nell said silently, landing in front of the old Kroll.
Sam collected some hay out of the shed and dropped it before the Krolls but the one he had ridden flew away. ‘I guess he wasn’t hungry,’ Sam said with a shrug.
After chomping some green grass, the old Kroll looked up. ‘I need your attention,’ he said, and resumed eating.
‘You have it, so tell me what’s going on.’ Nell was getting impatient. One minute he acted as if what he had to say was important and the next, he refused to speak.
Sam dumped another handful of grass in the feed bin. ‘Will you stop feeding him?’ she shouted.
‘What’s your problem?’ Sam frowned. ‘If we’re not gunna feed him then let’s feed me. I’m hungry.’
‘Can’t you see I’m trying to talk to him? Please.’
‘Fine. If he answers, let me know.’ Sam took the hay back out of the Kroll’s bin, returned it to the pile in the shed, and shut the door.
The old Kroll objected with a grunt at Sam’s actions.
‘We’ll get you some before we leave,’ Nell said, and stood in front of the Kroll with her hands on her hips. ‘What’s your name?’
‘I am Melt,’ the old Kroll answered, and dipped his head.
‘What’s going on, Melt?’ Nell decided she’d better mindspeak.
‘Are you ready to meet Pren, oldest of all the Krolls?’ His voice held a note of awe at Pren’s name.
The Kroll before her looked like the oldest of all Krolls. She sucked the inside of her cheek. ‘I want to know who he is first.’ The thought of a trap crossed her mind.
‘There is no trap,’ Melt replied as if offended. The reverence returned to his thoughts, as he said, ‘Pren was alive long before the s came. He knows much that others do not.’
Sam sat heavily on the bench and muttered, ‘Hurry up.’
‘Just wait,’ Nell snapped. She gazed out across the mountains. Pren was here before the s. That meant before the people of Wexkia had separated into s and Phibs. She was much more interested in talking to such an old Kroll than making sure Sam’s stomach was full. She hoped she could talk to him like she did with Melt. ‘When can I see this Pren?’ she asked.
‘I don’t know if he can answer your questions but he wants to meet you and asks if you would be available this evening?’
She thought for a moment. She would need to come up with a good excuse to go out alone at night. The Kroll interrupted her thoughts. ‘You can bring the Human.’
‘Okay, we’ll meet you here just after dark,’ she said, and tried to block the connection. It wasn’t that she was mad at Melt for listening to her thoughts, she was irritated at herself for exposing them. She had practised so hard throughout the last year to hide what she was thinking when talking through connections. She thought she had succeeded. As the excitement welled in her at the thought of learning more about Wexkia and herself, she found it difficult to control her thoughts. Her emotions definitely interfered with her training.
Melt drooped his head and Nell touched his neck.
He said, ‘Once a connection like ours is made it cannot be unmade. Don’t be upset with either of us. The Kroll’s mind is more potent than that of other beings, though we don’t readily reveal that fact.’
‘You can always hear me?’
‘No. Once you or I are separated by sight, it is no longer strong enough for conversation but as long as we’re both on the same planet, we can feel each other.’
‘Oh, okay.’ Hurrying to the shed, she grabbed a handful of blue flowers as a treat for Melt. Piling them on top of what was left of the hay, she said, ‘See you later.’ Walking straight past the bench to the Lesel’s door, she said to Sam over her shoulder. ‘Come on.’
‘‘Bout time.’ Sam jumped up and caught up with her. ‘Are you gunna tell me what that was all about?’
‘We’re going to meet Melt back—’
‘Melt?’
‘That’s the Kroll’s name. We have to meet him back here after dark.’ She walked through the door and down the sloping hall into the main house, explaining to Sam her connection with the Kroll. She also told him everything Melt had told her.
‘How’re we gunna—’ Sam began, but they were already face to face with Lesel in the sitting room.
‘How are we going to what?’ Lesel said, eyeing both of them.
‘Nothing.’ Nell narrowed her eyes at Sam.
Lesel took Nell’s hand in hers. ‘You might need my help with whatever you’re up to, so I suggest you tell me.’
Nell sighed. ‘We need to be able to go out tonight. Alone.’
‘Without Tanat? He won’t like it.’
‘Where is he anyway?’ Sam crept to the open doorway of the dining room.
‘He’s out at present,’ Lesel replied, still eyeing Nell.
She gave her grandmother a pleading look. ‘Will you help us? It’s really, really important to me.’
‘I can see that.’ She smiled with closed lips, patted Nell’s arm and paced the room. ‘I suppose I could accept the invitation,’ she said more to herself than anyone else. She faced Nell. ‘All right, I will trust you. I don’t like it, but I’ll help.’
Nell hugged her. ‘Thanks you.’ Of course, she would help. She was the best grandmother in the universe.
***
After lunch, Lesel took them to a education centre. As they walked down a hallway, Nell hoped the afternoon would pass without any further problems. She had to meet Melt just after the second sunset ... and then, Pren. Guessing the doors either side of the hall led to classrooms, Nell was surprised to see a Phib teacher go through one.
Lesel explained. ‘The Gramlax council decided to exchange teachers with Linque in the belief the children’s education would benefit from the interaction.’
While she spoke, a short, bull-necked passed carrying a large, and by the look on his red face, heavy box.
Nell absently touched the box as it passed. ‘Hey,’ she called out to the .
Sam and Lesel stopped.
‘Can’t stop,’ he said. ‘I have to get this to the compactor.’
‘Wait.’ Another about Lesel’s age had opened a door to their right. He wasn’t much taller than Sam, and with his short hair and pale face, had no distinguishing feat
ure that would set him apart from the average . However, he had an air of authority about him when he spoke.
Bull-neck stopped with his load. His shoulders slumped as he placed the box on the floor. ‘Yes, sir?’ he asked with downcast eyes.
‘Where are you going?’ the assured asked.
‘To the compactor.’
Bull-neck’s eyes glanced up and down the hall, hardening as they met Nell’s eyes. Nell glared back. Uh oh. That box had something to do with her. She guessed by its size and apparent weight what was inside. She jabbed her finger at the box instead. ‘Does that box have books in it?’ she said, pointing down at the carton.
‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ Bull-neck said.
Assured moved out of the doorway and into the hallway. ‘Lesel. What are you doing here?’
She marched up to him. ‘Panap,’ she said. ‘It looks as though we’re here to stop a theft.’
‘A theft?’ Panap appeared baffled.
‘I would listen to this young woman,’ Lesel tilted her head toward Nell.
Bull-neck stared forlornly at the box.
‘What is in there?’ Panap demanded of the .
‘Old files and exams, sir,’ he replied, meeting Panap’s eyes.
‘Open it,’ Panap said.
‘But, sir, the compactor will move on shortly.’
‘I said, open it.’
Sam didn’t wait for the thief to react; he crouched on his heels and ripped the box open then proceeded to pull out the books. They looked like the book Nadar had. Brown covers had the words Book of Wexkia embossed across the front. Nell picked one up from the middle of the pile and flicked through to the last pages; exact reprints, without the last pages and all.
Sam sat back and grinned up at Nell.
Panap commanded Bull-neck. ‘What is this?’
The thief straightened and said, ‘I do not believe this is suitable reading material for children. Other teachers agree with me.’
‘Oh?’ Panap pointed to the door he had come through. ‘We’d better discuss who these other teachers are. Go into my office and wait for me.’
The teacher hissed close to Nell’s ear, ‘Your demise is near.’ He stormed into Panap’s office, slamming the door shut behind him before Nell had the chance to react to his words.
Another threat.
Panap’s eyes softened when he spoke to Lesel. ‘I deeply apologise,’ he said, blushing. He looked at Nell. ‘This is Dar-Nellen, your granddaughter?’
‘It’s not your fault, and yes, this is Nell. Nell, Sam, I’d like you to meet Panap, the centre’s Lead Educator.’
‘G’day,’ Sam said.
Bull-neck was still on Nell’s mind but she managed a smile. ‘Nice to meet you.’
Panap gave a nod of his head then regarded Lesel warmly.
‘Well,’ Lesel said, appearing slightly flustered. ‘We’ll leave you to deal with your teachers.’ She hustled Nell and Sam down the hallway.
‘Don’t forget about our excursion at week’s end, Lesel,’ Panap called.
‘Excursion?’ Nell asked.
‘Date,’ Sam chuckled.
Nell giggled.
Lesel gave Nell and Sam a little shove. ‘Get along with you,’ she said haughtily.
Nell grimaced. So much for getting through the afternoon without causing trouble.
The tour was interesting enough, much the same as any Earth school, except the classes were in a mountain and the steep slopes had been cut and levelled for the playing fields. To go from one field to another, the older pupils had to carry the younger ones in their talons. Nell tried to act interested but Bull-neck was on her mind. So too were the other teachers who agreed with him. She wondered if the army against her was growing and what horror stories were being told about her?
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
THAT EVENING LESEL PREPARED A MEAL FOR NELL and Sam and sat them down at the dining table. As soon as Tanat entered the room, Lesel cornered him. ‘We have an invitation to a council dinner tonight and we are late.’
Nell started at the sternness in her voice then widened her eyes at Tanat’s reaction. He agreed to go without a fuss.
He said, bowing flamboyantly, ‘It would be an honour, Mother.’
‘Go change, and hurry.’ Lesel watched him leave. ‘You two, eat,’ she said to Nell and Sam then left the room.
Tanat could have refused his adopted mother, but he clearly adored Lesel and would do anything for her. Dar-Seldra was lucky to find him.
Before they left, Tanat warned Nell, ‘You will stay here.’ He turned to Sam. ‘And you will make sure she does.’
Sam said, ‘Yeah, um ... I thought we might watch those documentaries on some other planets.’
Nell nodded and hoped her smile looked as if she was enthusiastic at the prospect of quiet night in. Lesel mouthed behind Tanat. ‘Be careful.’
Sam started to leave the room as soon as they had gone.
‘Wait,’ Nell said. She proceeded to clear the table.
‘Why?’
‘They might have forgotten something. You always do.’
‘Yeah. I guess you’re right. We may as well finish off here anyway.’ He popped a small dumpling in his mouth.
***
Melt was waiting on the platform. He honked and floated forward, waited for Sam to straddle his back, then flew off immediately.
Nell followed them past the mine they had visited earlier and then high into the air. The air thinned as she rose and her ears popped. Though it didn’t worry her, the lack of oxygen affected Sam’s breathing. She flew close to him. ‘Breathe a little deeper and longer and you’ll be fine.’
He controlled his ragged breathing and after several seconds, he raised his thumb signalling he was okay.
They flew still higher. Below them, and as far as the eye could see, were the lights of houses and the multi-coloured lights in some of the mountains where shops of all sorts, restaurants and cafés, littered the slopes. In front, she could make out the silhouette of a skinny mountain she hadn’t seen before. Out of nowhere, a light appeared on the top of the top of it. It was incredibly high, Melt rose to the top, and landed on a narrow ledge.
Nell had to hover until Sam hopped off and moved into the illuminated doorway. Melt looked even more like a huge seahorse than usual in the yellow glow of the light as he floated behind Sam.
Nell joined them inside. A Kroll slowly rose from a hay bed. He was older than Melt and swayed forward to meet them. If he had legs, some would have thought he was drunk. He bowed to Sam who bowed back with the same genuine respect he had for the Elders of his community.
Nell smiled at the ancient Kroll.
She heard Melt’s answer to Pren’s silent question. ‘Yes. This is the child of Wexkia.’
Pren’s eyes were candy apple green and regarded her warmly. When he was close enough, Pren laid his head on her shoulder, obtaining a connection. He nuzzled her neck. ‘I am glad to meet you,’ he said.
The prickly whiskers around his puckered mouth tickled. She giggled. His laugh resembled a calf’s soft bleat. As soon as he withdrew his head, she spontaneously threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. ‘I am the one who is glad to meet you,’ she said. The connection with the old Kroll was strangely different from the one she had made with Melt. It was as if she and Pren were destined to meet whether he had asked her to come or not. As if their connection was made the moment she was born ... no, the moment she was conceived.
‘You are right,’ Pren said, and his tone turned serious. ‘I have only felt such a deep connection with one other Wexkian.’ His eyes had a far away look in them.
‘You have met people from Wexkia? People like me? Oh, please, tell me everything you know.’ Nell sat on a rock while Sam sat on the ground and concentrated on his breathing.
‘It is a long story but yes, we can begin. You have read the book?’
‘Lots of times. All but the last pages, that is. Do you know where they are?’
‘I do not. However, if I discover their location I will be sure to contact you.’
‘Thanks,’ Nell said.
‘I will tell you of your ancestors. Would you like me to speak aloud so your friend can hear?’
‘You can do that?’
He bleated again. ‘You find it hard to believe?’ He honked a cough to clear his throat. ‘We have vocal cords; they are rusty, but I will do my best.’
‘I shouldn’t find anything hard to believe,’ she grinned and glanced at Sam whose breathing was steadier now. He didn’t look surprised that Pren could talk aloud. She loved how he took to new experiences so easily. ‘Can you tell us more about the Wexkian who connected with you like I did?
‘Ah,’ He gazed ahead as if remembering. ‘He was the Leader and among the first Wexkians to arrive on Gramlax.
‘You must understand that the inhabitants of the planet known as Wexkia were a murderous species. When they learned of the metal buried in our mountains, they came to Gramlax to conquer, perhaps to annihilate us. A contingent of Krolls met the new arrivals and the Leader touched the then oldest of all Krolls. The Wexkian had meant to learn if Krolls were sentient. However, a connection formed and all the oldest of Krolls’ love and empathy flowed through him.
‘As each inhabitant of Wexkia touched a Kroll, he or she experienced what you felt when you met Melt.
‘I was the last of the contingents to meet him and the strength of our connection altered his understanding of the cruelty of Wexkian deeds engulfed his being. It was as if they hadn’t realised the extent of the suffering they had caused.’ Pren lowered then raised his head high. ‘Suffice to say, as each Wexkian formed a connection, all became distraught at all the horrors they had committed.
‘Led by the Leader and his council, they vowed that all Wexkians should pay a price. From then on Wexkians travelled the universe, saving beings from injustice and disease, exchanging information and educating any who asked. That was the price they paid and they were happy to give their time aiding others.’
He stopped speaking and Nell said, ‘You can’t stop there. Did you and the Leader stay together from then on?’