Vessel (22 page)

In the morning, I awoke to a gray winter day and the ashes of my little fire. Every single part of me ached. I lit another match, wishing I had something to cook. I thought of Kinder and Recks, and wondered what had become of them. I examined my fingers in the daylight. Nothing appeared to be in danger of permanent damage yet, although the skin was still red and raw. I wished I had some salve for it. Instead, I chewed on some dried meat and tried to focus. I’d never anticipated this; but then again, nothing in my life had ever been predictable.

A slave, then freed, enslaved again, and now free again—truly on my own this time. I could go anywhere, disappear into the woods and never see another Reticent. I knew how far their territory stretched now, what places to avoid, their strongholds, and their weak points. But I couldn’t go until I knew what happened to Recks.

I decided to find the road to Prague and follow it. I should only be a few hundred yards southwest of it. There were only a few towns between here and Prague. I’d search every one of them if I had to. Someone had to have seen or heard something.

I stood and tried my leg gingerly. The knee was soft but not as painful as I’d feared. The cold must have helped the inflammation some. I grabbed my bag, kicked some dirt over the embers, and set off once more.

The morning went fairly well considering the night before. The road was roughly where I figured it’d be, although I wouldn’t walk on it. I kept to the trees. No one went by until I reached a small village perched on a slope much like Roma. A few houses were scattered along the roadway, one of which had a sign hanging from the roof with only a picture of a boar’s head. It seemed to be a public house, a place where everyone gathered, as I saw several groups of men go inside.

The day turned drizzly, and I wore my cloak over my head. I remembered Recks’s warning about traveling alone, how it was better to appear like a boy, and I was glad I’d worn leggings and heavy boots. They were dirty now, which was good. It’d make me look more like a peasant. I watched until the road emptied and then stole across the street toward the tavern. Hunched over, I crept around the side of the stone cottage, finding a window open enough that I heard the men inside.

“Something’s wrong, I tell you,” said a gruff voice. “The fire must be huge. The plume stretches for miles.”

“Someone has to go see,” said a younger one.

“You know it’s forbidden.”

“Perhaps they need help?”

“Reticents don’t need our help. Besides, they’d send word if they did.”

“They could be unable?”

“Then what could we do? Nothing.”

“Did you ask Recks?”

Blood shot to my head at the sound of the familiar name, making me dizzy. I knelt down on my knees and hugged the wall. Was he here?

“He’s gone,” said a third voice with a kind tone.

“Gone?”

“Said he had to go.”

“Good riddance, blasphemer! No wonder they threw him out,” said the gruff voice. “Shoulda killed him meself.”

“Oh, like you could ever best that one,” said a kinder voice.

“Mother Sun’s a lie? I’m surprised she didn’t strike him dead on the spot. Never heard such tripe in all my life. He’s probably the one that started the fire. You’ll wish you’da killed him before it’s all over, Soren.”

“Pipe down or I’ll throw you out,” said another voice. “What he said made sense. Made a lot of sense. Nobody’s going to Gora to see your crazy smoke so forget it.”

Recks had been here but not executed? Maybe I could talk to this Soren, find out what he knew? How long ago had Recks left? Must have been only this morning. I’d catch him if only I knew the way. Where would he go?

My heart stopped when I realized exactly where he’d go. He’d go back to Gora for me. I forgot about Soren and ran for the woods and back toward Gora. I had to find him before he got there.

My knee didn’t let me run for long though. The ache in it grew into a burn as my footing slipped in the pine duff covering the slopes. I stopped and rubbed it to ease the joint. Normally, I could’ve run all the way back to Gora but not with this injury. I cursed Kinder aloud to the trees. The wind sighed in their branches.

I tried not to panic. Recks wouldn’t march right in to Gora would he? Surely, he would see the reactor was on fire and stay back. I wished I had told Recks more about Kinder’s plan, but Kinder forced me to hold my tongue.

I shoved all my worries into the back of my mind and started again, slower this time. The hillside I’d chosen to traverse became mountain-steep. I needed to find an easier way. I worked my way south all afternoon. It wasn’t long before I caught sight of the smoke plume the old man spoke of, great black billows against the gray sky reaching thousands of feet into the atmosphere. Who knew what kinds of particulates were in it? I knew I should run in the opposite direction for my own safety. My knee wavered, and I sat down again. That’s when I saw the track in the mud.

It was a Reticent’s boot, no doubt about that, given the shape of the toe. I touched it with my hand to measure the size. It was too big to be mine. The only men wandering off the side of this road would be Recks, or perhaps Kinder.

I was close, so close. It wouldn’t be long now. I smiled to myself just before strong arms grabbed me from behind.

I struggled to pull free of the stranger’s hold on me. Already on the ground, I was at a disadvantage, my balance compromised. I let myself fall back toward the earth, hoping my attacker wouldn’t anticipate the move. My weight wasn’t much, but the sudden shift loosened his grip for the one second I needed. I rolled away and kicked at him. The toe of my boot connected with his jaw and knocked him backwards. I was up before he was, shot through with adrenalin, and went to kick him again since I had no weapons but my hands and feet.

His hood fell off his head, and I saw the face I’d been searching for.

“Recks?” I gasped.

He looked up at me. “What are you—”

I cut him off with my kiss, kneeling on the ground beside him. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” I cried between kisses, his face in my hands.

“Sorry for what?” he managed to say.

“I kicked you.” I was unable to stop my tears, but Recks only laughed and pulled me close to his chest. The thud of his heart against mine calmed me.

“You can kick me every day as long as you promise you’ll never leave my side again,” Recks teased. I laughed through my tears.

“How’d you get away?” he asked when I’d settled down. “I saw the smoke. What happened?”

“When you didn’t come back, Kinder decided it was time to leave. He set the fires as a distraction. I was so worried about you. He said you were probably dead.”

“Yes, he would. Where is the old bastard anyway?”

I told him about the truck and the accident, how I woke up alone and set out to find him.

“The men at the Boar’s Head said you were thrown out by the Reticents, but how could that be?” I asked.

“Oh, I think Anders meant to have me killed. He just didn’t see to it himself. Weevil got sloppy. Or Mother Sun interfered with his baton perhaps? Soren took me in for the night.”

I hugged him tighter, afraid he might disappear again. “What happened? Did they find the pin?”

“No. I think Anders finally got sick of my mouth. I have a hard time keeping it shut.”

“And Stef? Were you able to … ”

“Yes, it worked. I’m pretty sure anyway. Miserable wretches.”

The smile faded from Recks’s face remembering it. I ran my fingers through the dark hair hanging over his eyes, pushing it out of his face. His eyes, like mine, were tired and rimmed with dark circles. A fresh red scab crusted the corner of his swollen lips.

“How much did you sleep? You don’t look so good.”

“I don’t feel so good either. Weevil’s baton hit me pretty hard. I’m sure I looked dead.”

“We should rest awhile, but perhaps not so close to the road. Can you climb the hill? There’s a place we can stay.”

“Might take me awhile, but yes, I think so.”

I stood up and offered him my hand to help him up. He stood and swayed. I steadied him with my arm around his body, such welcome warmth he was to me.

“I could’ve killed you, you know. What were you thinking sneaking up on me?” I asked.

“I didn’t want to call out, but I was afraid if you left, I’d never catch you. You’ll see I’m not moving too fast.”

“I don’t think there’s any rush.”

We took our time climbing the hillside into the thicker trees where no one would see us. The rain was lighter now, or maybe the trees protected us here. I’d been running on the energy of my fear for the last two days. Now that I’d found Recks, I was suddenly exhausted.

As we neared the crest of the hill, the pines thinned and a castle came into view. Unlike the ruins in Roma, this castle stood intact. Its walls were unblemished by time; its roof still held. Vines covered its white marble in dark, dusty green, even in winter. Mother Sun broke through the clouds, casting a buttery, late-afternoon glow. I’d seen pictures of such beautiful ancient places in my downloads, but this was far more than I’d expected. We stared in open awe at the sight.

“How did you know this was here?” asked Recks.

“It’s on the map,” I said, tapping my temple. “I didn’t know what it looked like though.”

“Is it empty?”

“The map doesn’t tell me that.”

“Then we should be careful until we know.”

Recks drew his small knife and held it ready as we silently approached the massive structure. I kept my eyes wide for any movement in the windows but saw nothing. Creeping around, we found all the doors sealed. There were no windows on this level, only smooth polished stone. After we circled the building and saw no one, Recks slowly climbed one of the ropey vines up to a window high above the ground. He broke a small pane of glass and reached in to unlatch the window.

I waited below while he disappeared inside. The sun dropped lower in the sky as her aurora grew brighter. Dusky purples and blues painted the castle like the twilight sky of a far-off land. It wasn’t as expansive as the Gora compound, but it was the most beautiful building I’d ever seen, like something out of one of Recks’s fairy tales.

This day seemed so unreal with Kinder gone and Recks and I free to go where we pleased. What would we do with our lives? I felt dizzy thinking about it. I never really let myself believe it was possible we could be free together.

Recks’s face reappeared at the window, a light breeze ruffling his hair as he beckoned to me.

“It looks all right. C’mon up.”

I adjusted the satchel on my back and climbed the vine. He waited for me at the window, his gentle hands ready to help me inside. Once in, my eyes adjusted to the late afternoon shadows as I looked around the room.

“I haven’t been through the entire place yet, but it seems deserted,” he said.

I sighed deep. All I wanted to do was rest. He pulled me by the hand with a smile.

“Come see this. You’ll love it.”

I followed him past the dusty furniture and down a hallway to an open door with the sunset pouring through. Golden light filled the room, streaming through a row of high-arched windows. All the furniture sat under sheets of clear plastic, coated with a thick layer of dust. The castle perched on the edge of a snowy valley surrounded by jagged, purple peaks with a view that went on forever. I walked to the window to look out across the world.

“It’ll be dark soon,” I said.

“There’s a fireplace here. I can find some wood and make us a fire.”

“That would be nice. Too bad there’s no dinner to cook on your fire.”

“What do you mean? Soren supplied me plenty well.” Recks smiled as he went to his pack on the floor and opened it.

“Really?” I shuffled over to see what he had. From the depths of his bag appeared a dense loaf of brown bread and some apples, making my mouth water. Recks handed me an apple which I immediately bit into, the juice sweet on my parched tongue. He found a small bag inside the pack.

“He said this could be boiled to make soup.”

I opened the bag and smelled the contents. “Must be some kind of bullion,” I said. “Smells delicious, like mushrooms.”

“Let me get this fire going. It’s getting dark in here.”

I felt like I should help, but I was so tired all I could do was chew the apple. He disappeared for a while and eventually returned with some wood and a copper pot he’d found somewhere.

“There’s an amazing kitchen downstairs.”

I yawned and drew my robes closer around myself.

“Better feed you. Looks like you’ll be asleep soon,” teased Recks. He dumped the bullion into the pot, poured water in it, and set it in the tiny fire.

“I’d eat it cold,” I offered.

“No, I mean to feed you a proper meal. Have some bread.”

He tore off a hunk of the loaf and put it in my hand. The touch of his hand was so gentle and warm, I was sorry when he pulled away.

“Do you think it’s safe here?” I asked.

“For now. The house is certainly locked up tight,” said Recks as he fed the little fire more fuel.

“House? This?” I ran my fingers along the granite mantel and brushed the dust from my fingers off on my leggings.