Only Human

The hotel staff was cleaning up the remnants of breakfast when I arrived. So much for food, I thought as I folded my arms, and walked to a chair in the lobby. I sat down just as my stomach growled.

“Kate girl.” Said a blissfully subdued voice. Not that I wanted to hear anyone talking right now, but I was glad they, at least, weren’t yelling.

I looked up to see the stick bug standing over me with a worried expression. It was impossible for me to tell anymore who this was, or what gender they are.

“Hi.” I said then turned away, and thought about where I was going to get breakfast, although my appetite seemed to have ebbed.

The stick bug pulled another of the chairs closer, and sat down. “Kate girl?” He asked, reaching out a spindly hand to grasp mine. I turned my hand over to let him hold it, and sighed. “Limdo rememberin’?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I remember you, Limdo,” I shrugged. “It’s just hard to tell you part from Trykah and Sehrah, both I met today by the way, they’re probably out looking for a little pandinus girl who’s already been found, and probably on her way out of the city with her father.” I sneered, more at the thought of Samael than Daisy. I felt bad for Daisy – in a way, she reminded me of myself; helpless, vulnerable, but trying so damn hard to make friends despite being held back. Although it was her father holding her back, and not a horrific memory of being raped.

“Yah,” Limdo nodded. “Trykah Daisy seen town leavin’.”

I nodded, not looking at him.

Limdo’s head twitched up when my stomach growled particularly loud, and a small smile formed on his face. “Kate girl eatin’ not morning meal?”

I shook my head. “No, I was too busy yelling, and upsetting probably my only two friends on this planet while feeling sorry for myself because I was raped recently, and I also pissed of Sa-ma-el,” I sneered. “So he told me to stop calling him Sam, and stay away from his children.”

Limdo hummed, and nodded. “True,” he shook his head slightly. “All temper O’o pushin’ away.”

I frowned slightly, and looked at Limdo. “I don’t understand what you just said.”

“Oh.” Limdo sulked slightly. “Worryin’ not, Kate girl.” He waved a hand. “Still wrong feelin’?”

I shrugged. “I’m bummed out, if that’s what you mean, and I’m quickly moving into depressed, and hungry.”

“Kate Limdo dwellin’ eat.” Limdo grinned. “Limdo family Kate meet.” He stood, still holding my hand.

I considered it then shrugged. “Sure. “I stood. Worst comes to worst, your family will eat me, and then world will be better off.” I let the stick bug drape a lightweight arm across my shoulders as we walk toward the entrance to the hotel. I felt around my pockets for my hotel key, and groaned. “Wait, I don’t have my hotel key.” I turned. “I have to get another from the clerk…again.”

The clerk quirked an eyebrow at me. “Is everything alright, miss?” she asked as she reluctantly activated another key for me.

I shook my head. “No, but it has nothing to do with the stick bug,s o don’t worry about him.”

She gave me a tight smile as she passed me the key. “I’ll have to charge you for the two keys you’ve lost. It’s a down payment you’ll get back after you check out.” She emphasized the last bit none-too-subtley.

I didn’t say anything, just took the key, gave her a curt nod, and after she assured me the payment (§150 with exchange rate) would be returned to me, I nodded again, and turned, stuffing the card securely in the side pocket of my shorts. This one would stay there no matter what. I kept my hand stuffed securely in my pocket as we walked.

Limdo babbled about something that I was barely able to follow between my distracted mind, and his accent. I did notice as we walked, the familiar smell of charred slugs, and heard Hook calling out over the crowd in his pseudo-Pompeiian accent.

I veered away from the booth, walking on the opposite side of the aisle. I didn’t care if he saw me, but I told myself he wouldn’t, and I didn't look up. I did stop at a necklace vendor, who claimed she made all of her goods, and charged exorbitant amounts of money or water in exchange for them.

Limdo grabbed my arm in his skinny, gentle grasp. “Kate girl.” He gasped. “Side walkin’ from Limdo?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know what that means, but I’m not trying to get away from you, it’s just.” I glanced at the slug tent, and a cold chill ran down my back when I spied Hook staring straight at me. I turned my gaze away.

Limdo pursed his thin lips at me. “Kate girl slug snatcher talkin’, yeah?”

“Yeah, I’ve been talking to Hook a lot. He’s a nice-ish guy.” I shrugged. “I don't really want to talk about him.”

“Good.” Limdo grumbled. “Not wrong feelin’ Kate girl.”

“Kate is fine.” I said. “You don't have to keep calling me Kate girl.”

Limdo smiled, and draped his arm around my shoulders again. “Fine feelin’, Kate gir – uh – Kate?”

I chuckled. “Nevermind, keep calling me Kate girl.”

Limdo grinned. “Smile good seein’.” He led me down a short alley to the next street. He sat down on the sand after raising a red flag on the pole there.

“Let me guess,” I said, sitting down next to him. “We’re waiting for transportation.”

Limdo chuckled. “Kate girl aiport crawler rememberin’?”

I nodded. “Yeah, the neat bug bus thingy.”

Limdo nodded. “Crawler city smaller, cart pullin’ kind. Fits few, and carries most.”

I thought about that then grunted amusedly. “So, it doesn’t carry much, but everyone gets on anyway?”

Limdo nodded. “Kate girl Limdo more understandin’.”

I shrugged. “Kate girl listening limdo?”

Limdo laughed.

“What?” I watched him. “Did I say something weird?”

“No.” Limdo chuckled. “Kate girl Limdo listenin’.” He said. “Listenin’ to,” He pointed at himself. “Listenin’ am.” He pointed to me. “Kate girl Limdo listenin’.”

“ohhh.” I blushed. “So, I’m the subject, and you’re the secondary subject, followed by a verb?”

Limdo tilted his head, eyes wider. “Kate girl teacher bein’? “ He smiled.

I shook my head. “No, I study genetics – animal kin genetics, actually.”

“ahhh,” Limdo leaned back, though his arm was draped over his knees.

I happened to glance down the street behind him, and jump when I saw his arms resting behind him on the street.

“Woah, you have backward-facing arms.” I gawked.

Limdo glanced over his shoulder. “my arms bein’?” he asked with a confused frown. He lifted my nearest arm with his free forward arm. “Kate arms bein’.” He shrugged.

I turned away from his backward arms so it didn't seem like I was staring. “Sorry, I don't mean to stare.” I looked at him. “I’ve never met anyone with arms like yours. I like it.” I added.

Limdo smiled. “Limdo Kate girl understandin’.” He winked then looked up. “Crawler finally.” He stood, offering me his hand.

I took it and stood, brushing sand from my backside. The big red-brown bug stopped, a covered wooden cart being pulled behind it. It wasn’t terribly full, and I followed Limdo’s lead as he climbed in what I thought was a window, and found a good amount of space on the very front pew.

“This isn’t so bad.” I said, glancing back the people, most of them in hushed conversations – one who looked beetle-like winked at me, and I quickly faced forward again.

Limdo nodded. “Mornings crowded not being so much.” He said.

I nodded. “Like the buses back home.” I said nostalgically. “Oh, do you know where I can get a decent recipe for a sandtrap?” I asked.

Limdo took a deep sigh, and folded his rear arms in thought, tapping his chin with his free forward arm. “Pandinus recipe best, but Kate girl O’o wrong feelin’s.”

I shifted. “I’m a little peeved, yeah, besides I don’t think he would give me the recipe – he’s more mad at me then I am at him.”

Limdo nodded. “Limdo Moma sandtrap recipe.”

I looked at him. “Moma?”

A large, round creature got on next to us, squishing me against Limdo. Limdo pulled me halfway onto his lap to the give the robust creature more room.

“Sorry.” Limdo said.

I shook my head. “No, it’s okay, he’s big.” I whispered, thought the way he shifted, I thought he might’ve heard me.

We got off the ‘crawler cart’ two stops outside the city in what I would call a campground of sorts, but Limdo breathed in, and smiled as he called it ‘home’.

The tents were large, and held up with curved and straight wooden poles, the exteriors made of a thick, shiny hide.

“Crawler Cart timin’ good.” Limdo said as we walked. “Sun high risin’.” He shaded his eyes against the sun rising above the dunes.

I nodded. “Yeah, looks like a hot day today.

Limdo agreed.

We came to a tent around the middle of the camp, and Limdo hopped up as a frail-looking stick bug came out, and shook out a couple of rags.

“Moma!” Limdo cheered. “Limdo here bein’!” He cheered.

“Lili!” Moma hugged Limdo with a big smile. I knew those smiles, I gave them to my son every day.

“She’s your mother.” I said.

Limdo turned. “Moma Kate meetin’.” Limdo gestured to me.

“Limdo Kate havin’?” Moma asked.

“Moma!” Limdo grumped, folding his front and back arms as he blushed. “Kate O’o Hook bad Feelin’.”

“Hook!” Moma propped her hands on her hips, and squared me with a look. “Slime wearin’ gutter slug creeper!” She snapped.

“I take it you all don’t like Hook very much, do you? Or is it all Cockroaches.”

Limdo and Moma did a little hand prayer thing, and muttered.

“Noooo no.” Moma shook her head as she guided me into their home. “Roach good quiet folk bein’. Hook!” She spat – literally. “Hook slime slug creeper. Kate girl Hook goin’ not, my hear you?”

I nodded.

Limdo stood behind me, one hand on my shoulder, the other outstretched as he replied. “My say you!” He exclaimed, tossing both hands in the air.

“You say my?” Moma sighed, and rolled her eyes. “Kate girl Hook still goin’?” she shook her head.

I shrugged. “What can I say, I’m a tourist; I guess I don’t know any better.” I mumbled.

“Aww,” Moma wrapped me in her skinny embrace. “Kate girl Moma Limdo stayin’ far away Hook bein’.”

I sighed. “I’m not sure what that meant, but thanks…I think.”

“Moma home bein’ Sehrah Trykah!” Two more stick bugs piled into the space then looked at me. The one who had called out immediately wrapped me in its embrace. “Kate girl Sehrah worryin’!”

“Oh. Sehrah, sorry. Why were you worried?” I asked, though I suspected I knew why. She’s been helping me look for Daisy, and it probably looked like I disappaeared into thin air after that.

That was basically the answer. “Sehrah Trykah O’ma Daisy searchin’. Then Fly O’o Kate bad sayin’ feelin’ watch.”

I blinked, my brain having absolutely no easy time processing what she had just said. “Uh…”

The flap into the home pushed aside again, and Fly the dragonfly walked in. “She was looking foh Diasy when I bumped into hah.” He said. “I mayhap exaggerated our encounter. I undehstand it was simply a misudehstanding.”

I nodded, hearing his voice making sense. “You’re not a dragonfly.”

“No, but my name is Fly Dragon.” He smiled.

“You’re an ant.” I smiled ruefully.

“Well, yes.” Fly said. “You know ants?”

“I know Ant accents.” I said. “Anyway, sorry about what happened. I’m starting to learn things about Samael.”

“Yes, O’o Tzt’zki has a ratheh shoht fuse.” Fly walked over, and sat down with Trykah, who looked like he was lighting up a bong.

I sighed. That’s all I needed; bug druggies.

“Trykah Fly hopi not bein’.” Limdo grumbled as he opened the front of the dwelling, and waved some of the clear smoke out.

Trykah exhaled slowly, ending on a chuckle. “Limdo tight windin’.”

Sehrah shrugged at Limdo then sat down with Trykah and Fly.

“Come ohn, Kate.” Said Fly. “Really, it won’t haht you.” He snickered as he took the pipe passed to him.

I shook my head. “Thanks, I did weed. It wasn’t anything but a nuisance that made me tired.”

Fly shrugged as he inhaled. “Suit yohrsehlf.” He exhaled, and handed the pipe to Sehrah.

“Oh, snitter hatch winders!” Moma scolded as she carried a tray of pyramid-shaped pastries to the table. “Out smokin’ twee carriers!” She propped the front open.

It was the same reaction Shera had to when she’d found me and Carly smoking weed in our dorm, except it was more colorful, and full of hisses. God love her, I thought as I chuckled, and shook my head.

“Out go smokin’!” Moma shooed the three out as they each grabbed a pastry and scurried out laughing.

Limdo then led me by the hand to the wooden platform that I guessed was some kind of table, and we both sat down with Moma.

“Now Kate Moma all tellin’.” Moma offered me the plate.

I took one, and shrugged. “Look out stomach.” I said as I took a bite. Nothing crawled out, or bit me back, or oozed. “Sweet potato.” I chewed and swallowed. “Peas, and curry – hey! These are samosas.” I said.

Limdo tilted his head. “Samosas?” He asked.

“Yeah, there’s a restaurant run by a centipede, of course,” I smiled then explained when I realized the pair were giving me really amusing glances. “There’s a restaurant near the college I attend run by a centipede who always talks about the desert he lived in. He makes these, and calls them samosas.”

Limdo held up the pastry in his hand. “Is Ki.”

I smiled. “Mmm ki.” I gasped, and covered my mouth. “You don’t speak in hums, do you?” I asked.

Limdo laughed. “Kate hummin’ fine bein’. Not Pandinus.”

I smiled. “Okay, ‘cuase this is really good, and I don’t think I can eat without the yummy hums.”

Both Moma and Limdo laughed.

I told them the abridged version of my life, leaving out the messy relationships, and the part about my rape – it was just begging for miscommunication anyway. I talked about Piyo, and Shera, and her four kids who drove her absolutely insane.

“Kate girl baby havin’.” Limdo said ruefully as he consumed the last corner of his Ki pastry. “Kate girl mate havin’ then.”

I shook my head. “No. I’ve had relationships, but none of them long-lasting.”

Limdo seemed to perk up at that, and took another pastry as he smiled slightly, but said nothing.

Moma chewed slowly as she watched her son.

Limdo looked up. “Na?” He frowned.

Moma sighed, and shook her head. “Kate girl son name bein?”

“Piyo.” I said. “His name is Piyo.”

Fly poked his head in with an amused smile. “Did you say yoh son’s name is Piyo?”

I nodded. “Yeah, why?”

Fly snorted. “Do you know whaht that means?”

I sighed. “Kaito told me it means ‘strength’.”

Moma nodded. “Piyo language strength bein’ fine.”

Fly snorted, and laughed as he returned to whatever they were doing outside.

I frowned, and slumped.

Limdo smiled. “Piyo Phasmi language ‘food’ bein’.”

“My son is food?” I gasped.

“No, it means food!” Fly exclaimed from outside.

“Oh.” I said then chuckled. “That’s not so bad.” I shrugged. “Hey, that’s not so bad!” I shouted to the winged ant out front.

He laughed.

Limdo shook his head. “Fly Trykah Sehrah Fee smokin’.” He sighed.

“Fee?” I asked. “Is that what they’re smoking?’

Limdo nodded.

“Moma!” a sing-song voice called. “!m^kr’la-t+” The person clicked.

I looked at Limdo. “What language is that?” I asked.

“Phasmi.” He said. “Limdo Moma Sehrah Trykah language speakin’.”

“Oh, the clicks, of course. I forgot.” I shrugged.

Limdo smiled. “Kate eatin’ all?” He asked.

“I’m full, yes, oh, and thank you Moma.”

Moma smiled, and gave a slight bow as she exited to greet the caller.

“Well,” I sighed, pulling my knees up to my chest. “Now what?’

“Kate Limdo walkin’?” He asked.

I nodded. “Sure.”

We both stood, Limdo with his arm around my shoulders again as we walked out.

“Bye you two crazy lovebugs!” Fly shouted.

I resisted the urge to flip him a bird – not that it would mean anything to the ant anyway, even Kaito had trouble understanding human body language.

Limdo led me to a rockface near the encampment that shielded the western most huts from the midday sun. He hooked his hand into the side of the rock, and gestured with his back arms. “Limdo Kate cove showin’.”

“Cove?” I asked as I found footholds in the rockface. “Oh! Is it the freshwater sea?”

Limdo crawled into a large hole about twenty feet up. When I got there, he pulled me in, and we crawled a ways until the tunnel dipped down, and we came out on a wide ledge overlooking a deep blue body of water surrounded by high rock walls.

“Woooah.” I awed.

“Bye.” Limdo grinned, leaping off the ledge. He howled down into the water with a small splash.

I leaned over the ledge to seee Limdo bobbing in the water. He looked up at me, and waved. I shook my head. “No way, stick bug!”

Limdo laughed. “Schoolin’ kate girl swimmin’ not, yeah?”

“Yeah!” I shouted down.

“Fear crawler!” Limdo laughed.

I twitched. “Oh great,” I mumbled. “Now he thinks I’m afraid.” I stood up, and backed away from the edge. “I must be crazy.”

“Kate girl!” He called.

I took a short running start then leaped off the edge. I kept my legs straight as I hit the water, my body slicing through the water – expecting a blast of cold.