He moves over to help me dig it out. It’s a hard container, one that would’ve once held scientific equipment. One of the things they took because it might be useful. I smile as I pull it out and open it.
Written on the inside of a case is a message in his language, and another in mine.
I hope you find this and that you find us. Call. It’s secure.
I lower my gaze and see the communications device. It’s been set to a frequency the colony doesn’t use. “They want me to call. What does your message say?”
“That you can use the technology that will help us find them.”
I turn the communicator on. They must have charged it before they left, but they also left the solar charging device.
Aldit lifts a bulky cloth item out of the box. “My pack. He opens it up and smiles. Now we have a blanket.”
The communication device pings, making contact with another one. I hope it’s in the hands of his brothers and not the colony.
“Hello,” I say, not wanting to give my name.
“Ruby, is that you?” It’s Sabine.
I start crying all over again. I can’t help it. I’m so relieved. Aldit puts his arm around me and listens as Sabine talks.
“We sailed along the coast to be further from the colony and to find a better site. I’ll send you the coordinates so you can find us, okay?”
I sniff and my voice sounds broken as I reply. “Yes, that would be great.”
“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine. We’re both fine.” I glance at Aldit. “Do you need to talk to Edilk or one of the others?”
“Edilk needs to talk to him, just a moment,” Sabine says.
We glance at each other as if knowing that can’t be good.
A few seconds later, Edilk is on the other end. “Take your pack, but re-pack the cache. The night of the fight, after you left, Tiril went with the human soldiers. One of us had to go with them, so we could keep the women.”
I close my eyes, already able to imagine what the humans are doing to him. They won’t be as friendly as the aliens were to us.
Aldit scowls. “He won’t know how to use these devices to find the new camp.”
“No, he won’t. So once Sabine has sent the coordinates, you need to make a map for him to follow.”
“We can do that,” I say. “How many days' walk do you think it is?”
“A month.”
Shit. My heart sinks.
I can tell from the expression on Aldit’s face he’s thinking the same thing. He draws in a breath. “I will see you soon, brother.”
“I look forward to it. Safe travels.” Then Edilk is gone.
The device pings again, this time with the coordinates. I open the map on the device locating where we are, and where the new site is.
I need to draw that for Tiril. I pull out the medical kit with its paper tag and black marker. It will finally serve a use. I flip it over and draw the map.
“How do you guys mark where you are and where you need to go?” I have put a dot to locate both sites.
Aldit takes the tag from me and writes a quick note in each location, then he places it in a plastic container and closes the lid. “We need to re-bury it, so it looks as though nothing is buried there.”
