Strandline

Strandline - Episode 2: Unexpected

The burst of light coalesced into a man in mid-stride. With the setting sun behind him, the man was a silhouette scrambling toward the pile of shipping containers in the middle of the deck. After a few steps he stumbled, landing hard with a thump. Something else clunked on the metal deck as well.

Miguel stepped in front of Kristin, who wasn’t about to argue. He exchanged a look with Petra. She nodded and took a step toward the newcomer. It’s okay, she broadcast telepathically.

Kristin fought the urge to shake her head. Telepathy was something else they told her she’d get used to.

The man didn’t respond.

Petra tried again. Can you hear me?

The man propped himself up on one elbow. With his back to Kristin, Petra, and Miguel, his view was of the wall of containers and the darkening sky behind them. “Craig!” he cried.

I guess not, Miguel remarked.

“Hello there.” Petra said, using the same gentle tone she had with Kristin a few hours ago.

The man whirled around. Although shadows still obscured the details, Kristin could see that he was moderately dark-skinned, wore stained work clothes and boots, and held one of his arms against his chest. He brandished a large wrench with his other hand. “Stay away from me!”

Petra slowly moved her hands out so the newcomer could see that she was unarmed. “No one’s moving any closer.”

The man got to his feet and looked around as best he could while keeping an eye on the three of them. “Craig!” Desperation tinged his voice.

“You’re the only one who arrived,” Petra said.

“That’s impossible.” Then he frowned up at the ship’s bridge, and some sort of realization dawned. “This isn’t the Champlain.”

“No, this is the Lachesis. A Greek freighter.”

“Shit.” He started to lower the wrench, then turned to face Petra, scowling. “Are you Greenmen?”

“No!” Kristin blurted. Miguel shot a displeased look at her over his shoulder, but she didn’t care. He and Petra might be Greenmen, but she sure wasn’t!

“We’re not,” Petra said. “We’re nictans headed back to Strandline.” She nodded toward the bridge. “You can ask the captain.”

The man lowered the wrench, but didn’t let go. “Damned Greenmen attacked my ship. Craig—my friend—tried to get us out of there. He’s a nict.” He glanced around, worried. “I need to find him. He got burned bad.”

“I’m pretty sure he’s not here,” Petra said. “I don’t sense him.” She looked over her shoulder at Miguel, who shook his head.

The newcomer’s frown deepened. Kristin felt bad for him; he was having almost as bad of a day as she was. He asked, “Could you send me back there?”

Petra bit her lip. “Not tonight. I’m tapped out, and I’d be guessing at where ‘there’ is. You might land in the ocean or worse.”

“Worse?”

“Inside something solid,” Miguel said softly.

Kristin’s eyes went wide, as did wrench guy’s. His voice was almost a whisper. “Seriously?”

Petra nodded. “You’re lucky you got here safely.”

“I guess so.” His arm fell to his side, all of the fight drained out of him.