“And she’s more predictable than humans,” I say.
Griffin turns to me. I can’t see his face, but his eyes glow in the dark again.
“Yes,” he says. “We’re staying here for the night. Tomorrow, you’ll tell me where you want to be dropped off, and we’ll go.”
“Okay.”
I have to think of a place as far away as possible without pushing my luck.
“But tonight, you cook,” he says, before disappearing down the hatch.
Very well. I better shine with my meal tonight.
3
Books.
“At first, we called them evil creatures, invaders, titans… We thought we were under attack. But then, in the first years after the Rise, many researchers realized that they had been here all along. Those creatures were found in legends, in old songs, and on murals. They have been on Earth since the dawn of time. Humans knew them; we just forgot. They went dormant thousands of years ago, for a reason that still escapes us. They aren’t invaders; they’re old gods that woke from their deep slumber. They are immortal and unkillable.”
Extract ofThe Rise, A Human History, by Neil Hofman, published in 2049.
As it turns out, it’s easy to cook a wonderful meal when you have incredible ingredients at your disposal. I made some stew with rice on the side. I found deer meat in the freezer. Beet informed me that Griffin is a skilled hunter. Then I added a few different vegetables—some that I never even tasted before—and spices. Spices! Even salt can be hard to find so far inland. Some, like cinnamon, live only in collective memory. The Rise happened twenty-seven years ago, and it marked the end of the major trade routes.
I serve the food in bowls and make sure to present them nicely on the table in the galley. There are five stools around it.
“Where is he?” I ask Beet. “Dinner is ready.”
“He’s coming,” she says. “He can hear you, you know, even from his room. He has enhanced hearing, and you’re really loud.”
“Thanks,” I say.
She can be grumpy all she wants. I’m too happy to care. I haven’t eaten such a meal in a long time. Hot and full of flavors.
Seconds later, Griffin’s wide shoulders fill the door frame.
“It smells good,” he says.
I smile, gesturing at a stool. He takes a seat.
“I improvised something for you. I hope it’ll be to your liking.”
He nods and reaches for his spoon.
But as he brings it to his mouth, Beet says, “Oh, no. You’re not keeping that stupid hood on for days. Nobody cares what you look like, Griffin! The man cooked you dinner. The least you can do is show him your face.”
I freeze and look at Griffin. I expect him to be angry, or at least retort something. But he just sighs deeply and pulls his hood down. I see his face for the first time. He has a sharp jawline and cheekbones. As I already knew, his hair is dark and wild. Two little black horns peek out of his hair. I understand now why he insists on keeping his hood up. But his eyes are one of his most impressive features, horns included. They’re a bright red, and he has slits for pupils, like a cat.
I bite my lip to avoid saying something stupid, like “wow, cool eyes.” I don’t want to make him regret showing me his face.
“Thanks,” I say instead. “Dig in, please.”
I feel my face warm up. He’s kind of hot and creepy at the same time.
I take a bite of my stew and moan. I tasted it while I cooked, but together with the rice, it just tastes like heaven. I can’t remember the last time I had rice. It doesn’t really grow in the wastelands and has to travel long distance with traveling merchants to reach us. Damn, I still can’t believe that I went from being tied up in a caravan to be sold into slavery to eating this meal around a table in a day.
We eat in silence. Even Beet doesn’t come to our rescue.
Once I’ve refilled my bowl twice, and I can’t swallow another bite, I don’t know how to keep myself busy. The silence gets awkward. I spend most of my time alone during my travels. I’m not great at socializing.
