Aynsefian

It’s getting dark. Maybe that’s why I can’t see them. I’m seriously worried, though. Maybe I’m dreaming. I’ve had more than a few dreams lately. This could be another one of them. Then again, my shoulder and head still hurts, and I remember the fall that caused them to hurt. That’s too much detail. No, I’m definitely conscious.

So why can’t I see them? All I see is rocks.

Salvation keeps trundling along. His numbers get smaller and there’s still no sign of them. He’s a machine, so he might be fallible. Maybe I chose the wrong setting? Or I misunderstood what “find life” means? I’ve never used that option before. Maybe he’s just finding me continually and just leading me anywhere. I try to banish that thought but it’s possible and it’s troubling.

I don’t remember this area. Then again, things always look different when you walk in one direction compared to the return journey on the same path. Especially when it’s an unfamiliar planet.

Still, all I see is rocks. I’m seriously worried now.

Salvation’s readout says zero-point-zero-nine-two. They are supposedly ninety-two metres in front of me but I see nothing. What’s going on?

That’s a weird shaped rock. Actually… it’s not a rock! It’s them!

The wind has blown dust and soil over them, obscuring them and camouflaging them against the planetary surface. Relief courses through me and I feel foolish for doubting Salvation. He’s amazing.

He stops and bleeps triumphantly again. I would have expected this sound to wake them if they were asleep, but they don’t move.

This time I run again, throwing caution to the wind. It wouldn’t matter what I threw to the wind, actually. It would take whatever I threw to it and carry it away instantly, never to be seen again. Another joke. Not the right time. The situation is urgent and dire.

I reach them and can’t immediately tell who is who. I have a horrible feeling that they are dead.

I rustle the first body and turn it over. Desperately I brush soil off the face mask. It’s Arlyss. They don’t respond to me moving them. Their mouth just lolls forward horribly.

My stomach turns and I break into a cold sweat. I consider opening up their suit to check their pulse, but that would expose them unnecessarily to the cold air. Assuming they're still alive, even. I’ll try Cindlyss before I do that. Maybe, just maybe, they survived. Arlyss looks very bad indeed on first impressions.

I move Cindlyss in the same way, hoping for a miracle. Their eyes open briefly.

Hope rushes through me. At least one of them is definitely alive. Feeling horrible but still uncertain about Arlyss, I hurriedly pull off my backpack and out comes all of the vials. I need to show them all to Cindlyss so that they know I found water. I hope they understand me.

It seems not. Their eyes are opening and closing, but they seem barely conscious. Maybe those last few kilometres earlier today killed them both. I knew they were not built for physical punishment, but maybe I overestimated how much I could push them.

I feel awful. My only hope is in the water I’ve brought with me.

I open Cindlyss’ mask. They clearly can’t do it themselves. I lift them up to a slightly raised position, resting their head across my knees. I have momentarily forgotten the injury to my shoulder. Bolts of pain go through my body. I ignore them. I must save Cindlyss at all costs. Help is so near.

I prise open their mouth and pour water in gently. They stir within my grasp, by the minutest amount. It’s helping. I pour some more. Then some more again.

It’s working. They open their eyes fully now. They appear far away, however. I wonder if their mind is gone.

I glance momentarily at Arlyss. I could swear they fidgeted. I must be imagining it. I’ll get to them as soon as I can.

Back to Cindlyss. I pour the rest of the vial into their mouth. Then another. And another. Gently. It works like magic. I can’t believe it. Cindlyss sits up, leaning away from me. Water is all they needed. I hand Cindlyss another vial, showing them the other eight, all full. They drink the vial by themselves.

They look exhausted, but they look alive. They look hopeful. I’m amazingly relieved.

My thoughts immediately turn to Arlyss. Are they dead or just severely dehydrated too? I see Cindlyss, out of my peripheral vision, reach across me and lay a hand on Arlyss. Now there is definitely movement.

My heart soars unbelievably. They’re alive too. Oh my god. I’m so, so thankful I got here in time. My joy is almost unbounded.

I do the same with Arlyss as I did with Cindlyss: lift them up slightly and cradle them against my knee while I give them water, ignoring the pain in my shoulder, again. After two vials, Arlyss regards me solemnly and actually speaks in my language. Their words are barely audible above the howling wind.

“Thank you.”

“Oh Arlyss, you are so very welcome. Oh my god, I’m so glad you’re alive! Both of you!” I let joy suffuse my voice without restraint.

I glance back at Cindlyss. They are regarding me with almost absolute exhaustion. I realise how much of a close-run thing this was. We made it. We will make it. We just need to get them back on their feet and up to the cave.

I explain to them, as best I can, that I found water. Well, actually Salvation did. I point at him. I send him a bolt of the purest love I can feel. My god, he really was our Salvation. Well, it’s not over yet. But things are better now with water and shelter nearby.

The wind still howls. The air is cold. My shoulder hurts so much. It’s constant and strong. We’ll live, though. We’ll recover. With water and plant life, who knows? Maybe some of it will be edible. We’ll work out the rest after that.

I’ve handed the other vials to Arlyss and Cindlyss. They both wave them off. They seem to understand that there’s more water close at hand, but they preserve four vials anyway. They’ve just had four vials each in one sitting, though. It’s as much as they’ve had in the last two days in total. They’re still being cautious and I can understand that, but they must feel so much better now.

I let them sit and recover for a few minutes. We are still being buffeted by the extreme conditions on this planet. This place in particular is so lonely and exposed. The only sound is the constant, howling wind.

It’s only been a week since I was sitting comfortably in Nikse’s living area, reading the literature about Melcheisa. I recall how nice they made their galaxy sound. No mention of brutality or barbaric laws. No mention of banishment or desolate planets. I wonder why I was so duped.

That seems like a whole other world now. Comfort, warmth, satiation, perfect company, emotional stability. You name it. I had it all.

That was all only a week ago. It feels like months. The wind howls again. This time I have a strange response to it.

I like it.

I know why I like it. Because I can escape it. I can get inside the cave and be out of it. I can be far enough away that I can’t even hear it. Not only that, I can be next to water and lay down on some soft moss and sleep. It’s a pleasant thought. There’s been a few of them today. I cling to them with all I have.

I look at both Arlyss and Cindlyss in turn. They seem like they want to go with me now to where I found the water. The vials are all back in my backpack. I motion towards the cave. They understand and begin rising to their feet. I am already heading over to Salvation to set his mode again, to take us back to the water.

My shoulder aches badly and I wish the ache would go away. It’s not going to any time soon, I don’t think.

I glance at the Purlinians to see if they need my assistance with walking. They seem okay. I will keep watching them closely this time, until we are inside the cave.

The distance up the slope to the cave mouth doesn’t seem as long this time. Maybe it’s the water. Maybe it’s the renewed hope. Or the familiarity.

I don’t care. I just want to get out of the cold and the wind for good.

As we approach the cave, I can now watch my companions. They are still moving slowly. Exhaustion was and still is a very prevalent concern. Nonetheless, I’m confident they’ll make it.

We’re inside and my joy at reaching shelter is strong. This time I’m more awake and conscious, and can take it all in. The respite from the wind is glorious. I revel in it. I’m sure the Purlinians do too. Then I realise something else.

It’s warmer in here.

Not by much, but the change is noticeable. It also feels as if the warmth is coming from inside the cave. That strange backlight is still there, too. I can see it again. I really want to ask my companions what it all means, as this is their forte: understanding new planets. All in good time.

We trudge slowly after Salvation. This time the uncertainty is gone and I can’t wait to see his creek again. The one he found. I said I wouldn’t love machines anymore, but oh my god I love this probe. How can I not? He saved my life. Our lives.

As we move towards the creek, I can see more and more grassy plants again. It’s so heartening. I can also better appraise the enormity of this cave too. It’s several hundred meters high at this point and seems to go on forever.

Just what is this place? What have we stumbled on?