The Slain takes the kemet bladder
from his pack.
Unreels a wire from his armour.
Wedges the end
beneath the bark
of a pendulous tree
not familiar to Odymn.
Blue sparks follow the wire.
Wisp of smoke
from smouldering bark.
A sizzle as the wire
burns its way
into sapwood.
The Slain fits
a spigot to the opening,
connects it to the bladder.
Drip by indigo drip,
the bladder inflates.
The Slain catches
a drop with his finger.
Slips it into Odymn's mouth.
Odymn's laugh
freezes in the air.
Her body
turns rigid.
For a second
the Slain thinks
she does not like the taste.
Withdraws his finger.
But her mouth
does not close —
stays in a tight "o".
Blood drains from her face.
Her eyes lose focus,
strabismic, tragic.
Small twitch
beneath one eye.
Alarmed,
he tries to take her hand.
Her fingers, icy cold,
refuse to bend.
He touches her shoulder
and the moment is past.
Her mouth curves in a smile.
Her eyes blink, focus on his.
Her fingers close.
"What kind of tree is this?"
she says.
YOU ARE READING
Meniscus: One Point Five - Forty Missing Days
Science FictionAfter the Slain is shot, Odymn and an Argenop elder work together to try and return him to good health. As they journey towards the Themble, survival is a challenge. Odymn must add to her foraging skills and survive an attack by the vicious kotildi...
