A few minutes later I set off, following Eskar into the forest. It’s the first time I’ve wandered away from the clearing and the ship since arriving and I glance back, afraid I’ll get lost, but Eskar is with me. We spend the morning walking through dappled light. I inhale the forest, the scent of decay and life. Insects buzz and dart, and bigger things jump through the trees far over my head.
Eskar leads me to plants I assume are safe to eat. White and green berries are a yes, the tantalizing purple ones are a no. A plant with large green and yellow leaves is good for the roots if Eskar’s bounce on the ground is any indication.
“Boil the roots?”
Another enthusiastic bounce.
“You like these?” I dig up a couple. He may not have a body, but I am getting to know him. On the way back he hovers close, and I talk a bit about growing up and ask him questions. I eat some berries as I walk. I can’t deny the relief that floods me at seeing the ripped in half Paohl ship.
That night after roasted roots, I make a mark on the wall counting off the days.
Every day it gets a little easier.
I stop scanning the sky after day twelve. We are lost. And in a few years forgotten.
Wraight starts moving around and taking a shift keeping watch at night. But no one disturbs us. Harding hunts, I gather roots and berries under Eskar’s guidance and teach the guys what to eat too.
I cherish my morning walks with Eskar and our stunted conversations. Every day I fear that I’ll run out of things to say. But there is always something new to see, an animal to comment on, or a memory to tell him about.
The ice on the river melts, and the berries disappear.
I’m tired of washing using a bowl of hot water and a scrap of cloth in the defunct heads on the ship. I need to bathe and wash my hair. I look an absolute sight, I know this because there is a mirror.
“I need a towel and I need to wash, in the river.” I announce to everyone over breakfast. “I don’t care that it’s going to be cold, but I can’t do this any longer. And I also want to wash my clothes.” It’s an impossible dream but we have nothing better to do so why not spend the day figuring this out?
Eskar tilts side to side, something he does while thinking.
“It’s kind of like having a pet.” Harding lifts his cup of warm water toward Eskar. “One you don’t have to feed.”
Eskar zooms up to Harding and bobs in his face.
Harding leans back. “That was a compliment. It’s nice having you around.”
“And one you can’t touch.” Wraight adds. He’d also gotten curious and Eskar had let him burn his fingers.
“You can wear a fur while your clothes dry.” Harding offers.
“Great.” I know how they’d made that fur, and while we’d eaten the meat, I’m not thrilled about wearing the hide. “Or I could put on some Paohl clothes.”
“Fur will be warmer.”
True. And what is the point in bathing if I put my dirty clothes back on straight after. “Eskar, have you seen any suitable bathing spots. Away from camp?”
He bobs.
“How about I take a look and make sure it’s safe?” Wraight says. His flight suit is ripped and streaked with old blood. To ward against the chill he wears a Paohl jacket that looks about ten sizes too big.
Eskar zips side to side.
“Ladies first, Wraight.” Harding smiles.
“Does that mean you’re second?”
“It sure does.” Harding finishes his water and gets up. “I’ll grab you a fur, Larkin.”
The fur is hot and heavy as I follow Eskar downstream. There’s a small fork in the path I hadn’t noticed before, and we follow that up a way before stopping at a small pool. Maybe the stream hadn’t existed until the snow melted. Now all the icy water collects at the base of a small trickling waterfall that is twice my height, before making its way to the main river.
If I dwell on the cold for too much, I’ll talk myself out of it, so I strip and toss my clothes into the water before scrambling over the rocky side. The water bites my legs, and I almost leap straight out. But I have to retrieve my clothes and now I’m wet I might as well wash.
