The Gardener of Nahi

Chapter 21

Cassidian

A voice both strange and familiar brought me out of a fervent darkness, yet part of me wanted to stay where I was.  My mind had been sprinting towards something important (something I desperately needed), but then it was being ripped away into the light.  If my thoughts had fingers, they would have dug into the black dirt of that fertile ground.

     I gradually sat up on my elbows, shouting something out of my dry throat.  Like any dream, I knew what it was then, but now it escapes me.  Although in hindsight I assume from their odd reaction that I was speaking in fluent Nahese.

     “What the hell is he saying?” someone asked.

     “I don’t know,” said a soothing voice which was nearer to me.  “Sounds like the girl, though.” 

     The girl.  That statement let even more light in, and then everything came flooding back into my consciousness.  The innership outside the blown-out window.  Parted Hair hanging precipitously on the nanoladder.  Blue and the other woman pulling me up amidst dizzying heights.    

“Myria,” I shouted, looking around at the blurry forms around me (my vision was impaired for some reason).  “Where is she?” I asked.  Looking into the indistinct forms of their faces, I tried to make out expressions there.

     As I furrowed my brow in discernment something itched me terribly there, but when I brought up a hand I was stopped by someone with a gentle grip on my wrist.

     “Don’t do that,” said the quiet voice.  “The skin on your forehead is still attaching.”

     “Who cares,” said someone else whose voice was both younger and harsher.  “It’s not like it could be any worse.  The cut was done too long ago.”

“He’s definitely going to need reconditioning to heal the damage completely, which unfortunately I can’t do for him here.  And it will be costly too.”

“If it’s that expensive, I don’t think he’s worth it.  We should have dumped him when we had the chance.”

“You did a job on him, that’s for sure.”

     “We were flying through Torsian sky, doctor.  I think I did an adequate job given the circumstances.”

     “Yes, I suppose so.”  I detected a smile in his voice.

     My eyes had somewhat adjusted by then.  Looking around, I could feel plush softness with my downturned palms and I knew I was lying on a bed.  The room I was in was dim with nondescript walls, and seeing two darkened corners nearby I guessed that it was small as well.  Then something caught my eye.  At first I thought there were points of light floating in front of me like stars, but then I realized they were particles of dust hovering mindlessly in the stale air - illuminated by a sliver of light coming from a window haphazardly barricaded.

     There were two men near me.  One sat on the edge of the bed (he was the one with a gentle voice and grip).  Another stood near him but slightly further away and looked at me with disdain.  I recognized him.