The Snowy

by Dave Schneider

  “Okay,” said Sparky. “So how much?” He took out his trading coins.

  Beanpole grabbed them all, held up one finger and let go of the boot.

  “That was for two boots, not one,” said Sparky, pointing at the other behind Beanpole.

  Beanpole shook his head no and held out his palm.

  Neff picked up one of her boots.

  “Watch out for Sprout,” said Notch.

  The short Scavenid jumped in front of Neff and grabbed the cuff of the boot she was holding. Copycat. Neff took out her coins to count.

  Sprout grabbed them all. He let go of the cuff, straddled the other boot, a vapid smile on his face, and stuck out a hand.

  I should have known. Neff frowned.

  “This is nuts,” said Notch. “Time to get serious. Hang with me, guys.” He quickly picked up both of his boots. Beanpole stepped away from Sparky’s boot and grabbed the cuffs of Notch’s.

  “Oh, well,” smirked Notch. He dropped both his boots.

  Beanpole managed to catch one. The other fell on his foot. He squeaked, then hopped in a circle on one leg, still holding the boot. He shoved it under his arm and picked up the other. Notch smiled, reached into his pocket, pulled out his coins and held up two fingers.

  Beanpole shook his head no and held up one finger.

  “Two can play this game,” said Notch. He put the coins back in his pocket, and throwing up his hands, turned toward the next booth, and said loudly, “Who needs these boots anyway? I can always get new ones.”

  Both boots still in hand, Beanpole bumped past Neff, caught up with Notch and gently touched his arm with the toe of a boot.

  Notch paused and raised his eyebrows. “Yes?”

  Beanpole put both boots down in front of Notch, held up two fingers and shook his head yes with a smarmy smile. Notch dropped the coins into Beanpole’s hand and grabbed his boots.

  “What about our boots?” cried Neff, still holding one of hers.

  Notch handed his boots to Sandy and stepped toward Sprout who was still straddling Neff’s other boot.

  Sprout frowned, spat and tapped the palm of his hand. He glanced pleadingly at the Snoflian guards who were watching, amused.

  “Okay, okay,” said Notch, “you carried the boots all that way. Fair is fair. You have to cover transportation costs and earn a reasonable profit. Let’s see.”

  He put his hand to his chin in thought, looked up at the circling seabirds, then pulled out his mobile phone. “Still got some juice,” he said. He turned on the flashlight app and lit up the back of the booth. It was littered with dead stuff. He winced. He flashed the light in Sprout’s face, flicked it off, then played a pounding rock tune.

  Sprout’s eyes went wide. He tilted his head, listening. Then he grinned. Notch turned off the tune and took a picture of Sprout. He showed it to Sprout, but Sprout didn’t respond.

  “Wow. He can’t see himself. He doesn’t know what a photo is,” said Notch. “I heard about that happening, but didn’t believe it.”

  Notch flicked on the light again, pointed it at Neff and Sparky’s boots still on the ground. Then he held out the phone. Beanpole gleefully grabbed it and shined it at Sprout. Sprout stood blank-faced for a moment, then snatched the phone from Beanpole.

  “Seems we swung a deal,” said Notch. “I needed a new phone anyway. Get your boots.”

  Neff and Sparky grabbed their boots. Notch took his from Sandy. The four walked away, followed by the chuckling Snoflian guards.

  Sprout stood transfixed, opening and closing the apps, while Beanpole held tightly to one corner of the phone.

  “Be great if you could call them later,” said Sparky, “you know, just to let them know you care.”

  “Notch, you’re a born negotiator,” said Sandy.

  “Learned from my dad. Only thing is, now I’ll have to negotiate with him to get another phone. He’s tougher than I am.”

  They explored a bit further, then turned back.

  They came to a booth they had bypassed before, because it had seemed empty. But this time a young Scavenid ran from the shadows waving a white, rectangular object. The Scavenid’s mother put down her weaving and followed him forward, as if to ask, “What’s he got there?” But then she smiled. Her son had found something and was making a deal of his own.

  “Whoa,” said Notch. “A US Postal Service envelope. Where on Earth did you...? No. Wait. Not Earth. Where on Snoflia did you find that?” He held out his hand. The youth handed him the crinkled envelope.

  Notch grabbed the tab and looked at the Scavenid. No response. Notch pulled it open.

  The Scavenid youth jumped back.

  Notch carefully reached in and slowly withdrew a piece of paper. “It’s from your dad,” he said, handing it to Sparky.

  “My dad? You’re kidding.” Sparky grabbed the note. “He addressed it to ‘whoever is there’. He says he knows we went through and asks for news about us. Awesome.”

  “You’ve got to keep that,” said Neff.

  “A souvenir,” said Sandy.

  The Scavenid youth stood expectantly, his mother hovering behind.

  “I’m out of coins,” Sparky said, “but....” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his Swiss Army knife, his initials, SP, on the handle. “...I do have this.”

  “Give it to him” said Neff. “He’ll never have what you have. Make him happy. You’ll have a friend for life.”

  “Plus a story to tell your grandkids,” said Sandy. I hope.

  “Show him how it works,” said Notch.

  Sparky opened the blades, magnifying glass, wrench and scissors, with which he cut off a corner of the envelope. He handed the corner and the knife to the youth who was thrilled. Sparky put the note back in the envelope and slipped it into his pant-waist.

  The young Scavenid proudly held up the knife to his mother. She grinned toothlessly and hugged him. The youth’s father emerged from behind the hut and went straight for the knife. The mother batted the father’s hand away and spoke harshly. The father crossed his arms and backed away. He frowned at Sparky, then walked away.

  “I guess that’s settled,” said Notch.

  “I hope,” said Neff turning toward the compound.

  The mother strode off behind the father, shouting at him, as he headed behind the booth. The youth stood still, opening and closing the knife.

  On the walk back, Neff eyed the Trappid side. “I’ve been hoping to see Snowy.”

  “Me too,” said Sparky.

  “And me,” said Notch. “Think the Trappids have him? Or something worse?”

  “I hope not worse,” said Neff. “Oh, oh. Look.”

  Two Snoflian sea warriors were jogging toward the Trappid docks carrying a stretcher with an unconscious Trappid, his hands dragging in the dirt. The Snoflians rolled the Trappid onto the dock, folded the stretcher and returned to the compound.

  “That’s the Trappid chief!” said Notch, staring.

  “Trrad’s father!” said Neff.

  A gang of Trappids scurried from the huts, lifted the chief, and dumped him on the deck of a boat.

  “I bet he got slumbersprayed,” said Sparky.

  “He was probably looking for Trrad,” said Neff. “It’s kind of sad, really. I wonder if Trrad knows.”

  CHAPTER 54

  Megamaran

  IT WAS DUSK. The massive trimaran swayed gently by the dock, its three prows pointing to sea. Swells rolled silently along its hulls. Gull-like seabirds circled soundlessly overhead.

  A gangway from the dock to the deck slid up and down in a dance with the swells. Eight refugees sat near the bottom of the gangway, waiting. One was Trrad.

  A Snoflian officer had just told him that a Trappid chief had tried to enter the compound. The chief had been slumbersprayed and taken back to the Trapp
ids. Trrad knew who it was. He felt homesick for the first time since he left, wishing his father could be different.

  Five of the refugees waiting were Lowconz, friends of Tyfoona and Pizeela. Two more were Seanids, island dwellers who had come to the trading point on an ancient fishing vessel, which they had sold to the Trappids.

  “Megamaran is ginormous!” Notch said, looking up, as he and Sparky stepped onto the dock, followed by the others.

  Trrad saw them and jumped to his feet. He smiled when he saw Tyfoona behind them.

  “I think he’s in love,” said Neff.

  “Should we tell him about his dad?” asked Sandy.

  “I think he knows by now,” said Neff.

  They climbed the ramp. “Welcome,” said one of two waiting Snoflian sea officers. One officer led the Lowconz, Trappids and Seanids to quarters on the farthest hull. Grell went to the middle hull where the Snoflians were quartered. The other officer led the four humans to quarters on the right hull. Their names were on their doors.

  “Organized,” said Sandy, “Nice.”

  “Personalized sea pods,” said Notch.

  The megamaran got under way.

  The travelers met for dinner in the galley.

  During dinner, the captain, his face red, came up and asked, “You like sea pods?”

  “Cozy,” said Neff. “Thank you for asking.”

  “Cool hammock. Awesome ship,” said Sparky. “Thanks.”

  “Efficient design. Quite comfortable,” said Notch.

  “Almost like home,” said Sandy. “Thank you.”

  The captain read from a handheld device in halting English: “We track wormwhirl to Snoflian resort called Seasandia. Wormwhirl has settled there, at least for a while. It must be on vacation. Ha, ha. Seasandia is beyond Snofliana. We will leave refugees at Snofliana, take on supplies, sail on to Seasandia. From there humancs will transit home. We hope. Questions?”

  “Uh, thank you for your humor, and for your confidence-building speech” said Notch. “May I ask how long the voyage will take?”

  Grell translated.

  “Two days,” said the captain. “Snofliana tomorrow. Seasandia next day.”

  “Will we have time to look around Snofliana?” asked Neff.

  “No time. Must leave quickly.”

  “Oh. Will we be able to see anything at all?”

  “Yes. From boat. Come back other time, see more,” said the captain.

  “I would love to come back,” said Neff.

  Sandy frowned. I might have to come back for Grandpa.

  Notch squinted. I’d like to learn more about their technology.

  Sparky smiled. I’’d come back for the fun of it.

  The four soon hit their hammocks, buoyed by thoughts of finally going home. An ocean breeze flowed gently through Neff’s partially open porthole. She snuggled under the blankets and stared at the large moon through the oval window. The small moon was gaining on the larger.

  “Oooh,” she said in delight. She threw off the covers and tiptoed to the porthole. Mollie hopped to the floor, scampered over to Neff and nuzzled her leg. Neff picked her up. They looked out.

  Two moonbeams shimmered across the vast seascape. “It’s like seeing double,” whispered Neff. Moonlight glistened in Mollie’s black eyes. “You’ve never seen the sea either, have you?” asked Neff , “even though you live on this planet.”

  Mollie nuzzled her nose into Neff’s neck. Neff swayed gently with the craft as it rolled through the swells, petting Mollie’s head. The animal purred. Neff breathed in the sea air and thought of her llama. Did she have her baby yet? I hope she’s okay. I’ll introduce her to Mollie. Mollie and the baby should get along. Mollie can protect her from coyotes.

  Mollie suddenly perked up. She slapped her front paws on the rim of the porthole, looked out to the right, and hissed.

  Neff peered out. Two ebony sails, like massive batwings, were sliding up to the megamaran. Pirates? Must be pirates!

  A figure all in black flung a hook up to the deck above Neff. A rope hung from it. Ninja pirates? Another figure came forward, grabbed the rope and began to climb. We’re being taken. I have to tell someone. She plunked Mollie onto the hammock. “Stay,” she whispered. She ran out and hammered on her three friends’ doors.

  “What’s up?” croaked Sparky, opening the door, glancing up and down the passageway.

  “Are you okay?” asked Sandy from her doorway rubbing her eyes.

  “What’s going on?” asked Notch, stepping out and scratching his head.

  “Pirates! They’re boarding us. We’re being captured. Look! Out your window!”

  Sparky ducked into his pod and came running back. “She’s right. Where’s Grell?”

  “Who knows,” said Notch. “Nothing like emergency planning.”

  “Got to get to the middle deck,” said Sparky. “Go this way.” He ran to the far end of the passageway, away from the pirates, the three on his heels. He pulled open the hatch to the stairwell. It was lit in a soft red glow.

  “Be careful,” whispered Neff.

  Sparky tiptoed up the stairs. He grabbed the handle to the deck hatch and gradually pressed down. It clicked. He slowly pushed the door open. It squeaked. He stopped. He leaned on the handle to weight the door and pushed again. No squeak. He sidled through the half open door onto the deck, Notch just behind, one hand on Sparky’s shoulder.

  “Hi!”

  Sparky jumped. Notch stepped back into Sandy who in turn backed down a stair into Neff who stumbled back down two steps and grabbed the rail.

  “I think I never see you again,” said Snowy, “Nice surprise.” He stepped out of the dark, his face blue.

  “Whoa,” whispered Sparky. “It’s you, Snowy. Hi. But there’s pirates....” He pointed at the stern.

  “Mm, they bring me. Gone now,” said Snowy, his face growing lighter.

  “Gone?” asked Sparky.

  “Snowy? You’re okay!” blurted Neff, stepping past Sandy onto the deck.

  “Mm.”

  “We were so worried,” she said.

  “Thank you,” said Snowy. Suddenly surprised by a fourth person stepping out, he backed up slightly, then said, “Uh...you Sandy?”

  “You know who I am?” she asked.

  “See you before.”

  “See me?” Where? He sounds like Grezz.

  “See you at cave, when you go for help. How come you here?”

  “She came through after you, chasing a snowsnake,” said Notch.

  “I wasn’t chasing it!” retorted Sandy.

  “Makes a good story, though,” replied Notch. He looked at Snowy. “I thought the Trappids got you. How come you got to hitch with pirates?”

  “Luck. Trappids take me to fiord,” responded Snowy, “put me in boat for Snoflian trading point. Want to ransom me. But pirates stop us. Find me buried under cargo. Drag me to pirate captain.” Snowy laughed. “Guess who!”

  “Argg?” burst Notch, “Your old friend, Argg?”

  “He made Trappids pay big toll for me. Trappid chief got angry. Argg tell him get lost.”

  “Not good for repeat business,” mused Notch.

  “Argg not care. Fiord belong to him.”

  “So Argg brought you here!” said Sparky.

  “Mm. Has very fast cat. Hops waves like rabbit. I lost meal, but we catch up. Now, must tell Snoflian captain I here.” Snowy smiled. “You sleep. See you morning.” He limped off toward the middle hull.

  The four burst into laughter, gave each other high fives and traipsed back to their sea pods.

  Neff opened her pod door, picked up Mollie, went to the porthole and peered out. The batwings were gone. So was the small moon. Neff stared at the big moon and its sparkling reflection in the waves. The moon seemed lonely now. She crawled in
to her bunk. I’m lonely too. She wept.

  Mollie’s tiny tongue licked her cheeks.

  CHAPTER 55

  Neff’s Vision

  “I HAD A VISION LAST NIGHT,” Neff said at breakfast.

  “Tell,” said Snowy.

  Neff closed her eyes. “I’m swaying in my hammock, listening to the waves, about to fall asleep. All of a sudden, I find myself flying. Above a fiord. Thousands of whitecaps sparkle in the water below me. Snow-covered mountains around me. Their steep cliffs drop into the fiord. Then I dive.

  “‘No,’ I say. I level off over the waves. I see foamy water gushing from deep gullies between the cliffs. I glide around a bend. I see boats, everywhere, and big, balooney sails.”

  “Baloooneee saels,” muttered Grell, smiling.

  Neff opened her eyes.

  “Grell sails,” said Snowy. “What else you see?”

  Neff closed her eyes again.

  “Another bend. I go around it. The fiord narrows. I see a beautiful village on both sides of the water. There are three bridges. The houses are low and round, tan and yellow, all covered in green and purple foliage. Some houses are on the fiord. Some are on small, curvy lanes that climb up the hillside.”

  “My village,” said Snowy.

  Neff smiled. “Then I see Snoflians. Lots of them, dressed in bright colors. They’re dancing in a big grassy park.”

  “Snoflians like dance,” said Snowy. “Good for brain, body, spirit.”

  “I like to dance too,” replied Neff, briefly opening her eyes. She shut them again. “Then I fly up the side of a mountain. It’s transparent. I see Snoflians inside!”

  “Solar glass,” said Snowy. “Then...?”

  “I keep going up. Then I float over a huge snowfield. I see Snoflians sliding down, winding through trees, flying off bumps, and then....”

  CHAPTER 56

  Snofliana

  “...I FALL ASLEEP,” said Neff.

  “Mm,” said Snowy. “Your seer gift. Humancs do not value seer gifts, yet. You must be strong. Someday it will be important in your culture. As it is in ours.”