Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 91775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Chalath snorts with amusement, and Colleen scowls at both of them. They all stop walking, though.
Harlow taps Rukh on the shoulder and he nods. She turns to us, bright orange braids peeking out from under a furry round hat. “We’ll take a break and then pick up again in a little bit. How’s that?”
Her mate looks less thrilled at stopping, but Rukh never likes to bother with anyone much outside of Harlow and his kids…or maybe his brother Raahosh. I’m still a little surprised they came with us on the trip, but I think that’s more Harlow than anything. He’d follow his female to the ends of the earth. Or ice planet. Whatever.
Chalath throws down his blankets and gestures at them, indicating that Natalie, Noj’me and Colleen should join him on the furs. I’m kind of amused that all three of them promptly ignore him, sitting on their packs a short distance away. The ancestor brothers sit on a rock, talking quietly amongst themselves and adjusting their boots while Harlow hands snacks to her kids.
Rem’eb sets his pack down and gestures that I should sit on it. “Rest your feet. You need your strength.”
I indicate that he should sit so I can sit in his lap, and a little smile tugs at his mouth. It’s the first one I’ve seen today, and it feels rarer than diamonds. He sits on the blanket, cross-legged, tail thumping, and automatically reaches for me. When I sit in his lap, his arms go around me and he pulls his cloak over the two of us.
I snuggle down against his chest, content.
“Your idea was better than mine,” he admits, lips moving against my hair.
“I have lots of amazing ideas,” I say, even though I know he won’t understand. “Stick with me, baby, and you’ll find out.”
He just nuzzles my head, pulling me close. The wind picks up, snow drifting off of a rocky outcrop in the distance, and my gaze goes to it. Rem’eb’s does, too, and he leans in close to me again. “How big is the above?”
“Very.” I make an expansive gesture with my hands.
“I do not trust it. It is too open.”
“Why?”
“Anything could fall on you from above.” Rem’eb gestures at the sky above us.
I bite my lip to stifle my laughter.
“How high up does this place go?” he continues, feeding my amusement. “If I stand atop that cliff, can I touch the puffy white thing high above?”
The cloud? I chuckle. “No. You need to be a lot higher to touch those.”
“And where does the snow come from? And the wind?” Rem’eb shakes his head again. “Far safer down below, where nothing invisible is blowing air upon you.”
He’s so funny. “It’s just wind.”
“At least below it is warm,” he grumps, and I’m both amused and achingly sad at his words. If he loved it up here, maybe he’d stay longer. Maybe warmer weather could entice him to stay if I cannot.
I just lean in against him, closing my eyes and trying to drown out the world around us. I need to treasure every moment we have left together. I need to remember each minute with clarity so I can think about them in the years to come when I’m alone with our child and he’s back with his people.
Rem’eb strokes my arm with one hand, his fingers moving over my sleeve. “Are you tired?”
I shake my head. “Just relaxing.”
He might not understand my words, but I think he gets my tone. He grunts and is quiet for a moment, then whispers, “I wish I could be like Set’nef and Noj’me. They love this travel.”
Opening my eyes, I glance over at Noj’me, who is excitedly talking Colleen’s ear off while Natalie hugs her knees and gazes off into the distance. Tal’nef and his brother are a bit farther away from our small group, but Set’nef’s wagging tail—and the way he constantly looks around with amazement—makes it clear that he’s enjoying the journey.
But I guess Rem’eb doesn’t. “Not you?”
He glances down at me, his expression thoughtful. “I would give anything to stay in your hut forever. As it is, every step we take feels as if I am walking toward losing you. So, no, I am not enjoying this journey.”
Oh. My eyes fill with tears. I sniff, hating the wetness that cascades down my cheeks because it’s just going to freeze up. I press my face against his chest, hiding my sadness. “Then don’t leave.”
But I know it’s selfish even to ask.
It takes another day of travel before the sight of the old spaceship rises in the distance. It’s on its side, like a tipped-over box standing alone on a flat plain.
Chalath is the first one to spot it. “Is that decrepit hulk what we’re looking for?”
“The Great Oracle,” Noj’me squeals, thrilled. She clasps some of her hands beneath her chin, her others waving excitedly. “It’s so big!”