“You don’t starve there,” Rosa says, taking me in. “What do you have to do so they’ll feed you?”
“Nothing,” I tell her with a bit of a snap. “It’s not a brothel, if that’s what you mean. It’s a nice village with a good chief and ample food and drink. Some of the girls have married cavemen. By their own choice, I guess I should add, with no marry-me-or-starve thing going on. Yes, really.”
This is not the day to get on my bad side.
“Sorry,” Rosa says. “It’s just, we’ve got tribes on every side and we know what they want with us.”
“I know,” I say in a softer tone. “And I’m not saying my tribe is perfect. All I know is that my life improved when they took me in. I haven’t starved for a day since then.”
“So the thing is,” Quinn says, “that we’re kind of waiting for something.”
“Waiting for a Plood saucer to come and pick you up and fly you home to Earth?” I ask. “Yeah, we waited for that, too.”
All their shoulders slump.
“But,” I go on, “we do have a flying saucer. One that works.”
Their eyes widen. “Really? Then why…”
“Why am I here and not on Earth?” I finish the question. “We don’t know if the saucer works that well, that’s why. It might, but it’s a big risk to take. Or so I’m told. I’d fly the thing into space myself if they’d let me. And maybe they will when I get back with you chicas.”
The girls exchange glances.
“That actually sounds pretty good–” Beth begins.
Sage interrupts. “Yeah, it sounds terrific. Stuck in a caveman tribe where every man is just waiting to find you alone so he can jump you. Having a flying saucer dangled in front of you that might work but probably won’t, and anyway you’re not allowed to try. That’saftera long walk through a jungle justinfestedby fucking dinosaurs. I mean, I don’t see you with any weapon, Morgan. So excuse me for not jumping for joy. And it can’t bethatgood. When I first saw you, you were weeping your eyes out against a tree.”
I sigh. “That was about something else. Well, mostly. I can tell you, but you might not believe it. Anyway, do you guys have some water?”
“Wait.” Abigail runs off and returns with a waxy, green leaf that’s been fashioned into a deep cup, filled to the brim with tepid water.
“Thanks.” I gulp it down and hand it back. “I heard there’s no shortage of water, so…”
“Sure,” Abigail says and runs off again.
“Nobodyhasto come,” I tell them. “But if you’re surrounded by caveman tribes, and they know you’re in this crater, they’ll get in sooner or later. They’re some tenacious dudes when it comes to women. Or you’ll be taken when you’re out hunting.” I drain the second cup and hand back the cup. “It’s going to happen.”
Beth looks around the crater. "If we stay, they'll find us eventually."
Quinn nods. "And if they don't, we'll starve."
"I'd rather take the chance," Abigail says.
“That’s three,” I state. “Rosa? Sage?”
They look at each other.
“We’ve been safe until now,” Sage says. “And if two of us stay, we won’t struggle so much to feed ourselves. We won’t need to go outside anymore.”
I tilt my head to the side. “You better be absolutely sure that this is what you want. I’m not coming back here.”
“Well,” Rosa says, “if you get the saucer working properly, maybe you could swing by here and pick us up on your way to Earth?”
“Deal,” I tell them. I should probably try harder to get them to change their minds, but this is not the best time for me and I’m feeling all numb inside. “I guess there’s no reason to wait. Oh, one more thing. Do any of you girls have any gold? I know it’s aweird question. But maybe you had some jewelry on you when you were taken. Anything?”
25
- Vyrathion-
