Under a Starless Sky novel Chapter 32

They gathered the nonperishables to walk back to his cave. Irksome came in, picked up a one of the remaining gunny sacks, and started to walk with them. The three females walking with him emulated him. Candace laughed. It was awkward for them carrying bags, and they set it down, adjusted, picked it up. TL commented on the eagerness to help and suggested a harness, which was now available in his bag, via site to site replicator- as opposed to his magic. Shen instructed them to put them down, using hand gesture. They complied. Irksome made a noise and a hand gesture. TL removed the harness from his bag. He explained, coming closer. Irksome submitted, lowering himself to the ground. Candace immediately understood, and hooked up sacks so that the weight was balance.

On command, Irksome stood, carrying most of the load. The other three knelt, also wanting to carry. When the last had nothing to carry, it protested something fierce, throwing so much of a tantrum they redistributed the weight so that they were all carrying.

“They’re like children,” Candace said. “In their understanding and wanting…”

“That’s how I see it,” Shen said.

“Yet, they are like adults in their skill at hunting…”

“Children are much more devious, manipulative, and cunning about getting their needs met, and they can be equally deadly, sometimes out of need, sometimes out of mischievousness,” Shen said.

“There is that,” Candace said. She was sullen. “I have killed creatures when there was no need. I was just…”

“Human,” Shen said.

Candace let tears flow. “I am sorry, Shen.”

“It is what it is. I hold no grievance.”

“That’s not true…”

“I let it go in measures,” Shen said. “Come, let’s get you home.”

With help of the Irks, instead of going to his cave, they made their way straight to West Midelay. They had walked some distance when she realized something. She brought them to a stop. She planted her staff hard in the dirt and let go. It was dark.

“Your divining of heart light has improved,” Candace said.

“It has,” Shen said. He didn’t offer to explain that his present sight was due to the tech in his uniform.

“I was not aware that Irks could see in the dark,” Candace said.

The Irks had stopped with them. Irksome lifted a leg and lowered its head and scratched. One of the females had a sudden coughing fit, it sounded like a smokers cough, COPD, like it might die. It was productive. It spat out a great blob of tar. It retched, shook its head, and recovered.

“That’s disgusting,” Candace said.

“The fresher it is the more potent,” Shen offered. He was puzzled by their keeping up, as all the evidence he had was they don’t travel at night. He wondered if it was their youth or they were going by sound and smell, maybe even feel. He wondered if their face feathers telegraphed information the same way cat whiskers did.

“It will be morning soon. Shall we continue?” Shen asked.

Candace took up her staff and they continued. It was the perfect breaking of day as they arrived. The emerged from the shadows to be recognized by the sun, and by the light of the guard simultaneously. There were already boys out playing, running, fighting. All morning came to a halt at the sight of Irk. Someone sounded an alarm. Shen told the Irks to hold with hand gesture. Even untrained, they complied with his gesture. Candace stepped forwards motioning for calm. The morning guard slowly approached Candace, their eyes on the Irks.

“I see your return,” Flame said, her eyes still on the Irks.

“I don’t think you see me at all,” Candace said.

Shen disconnected the supplies, removing the harnesses which disappeared as soon as he put them away in his bag. They truly didn’t fit in his bag, but no one was paying attention to him or this detail. Irksome touched its forehead to his.

“Return to the cave. Go. I will be alright,” Shen said.