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Updated: September 16, 2025
Sylviana knew he would say nothing more. Again she stroked his arm, felt his hand encircle her wrist, then rose to prepare a meal. That night as they lay together among the furs that made their bed, Kalus moved close beside her and buried his head against her chest. Though they had slept together many times, he had not yet tried to make love to her.
They walked together through the jumble of wounded landscape, now growing less stark with the blooming of flowers and the spreading of new leaves. She seemed to know the way by heart, and he followed her with every confidence. They spoke little, but there seemed no need of talk between them, and Kalus felt no awkwardness.
A few more months and no grizzly will dare to stand up to him. Looking at the powerful creature so close at hand, she found this easy to believe. For all her familiarity and trust, she could not help but feel a certain awe and fear. Even the muscles in Kalus' arm tensed involuntarily, as it came to a halt perhaps a dozen feet away. But the tension was not lasting.
'Is the girl all right? asked the man. He started to move towards her, but Kalus' rugged frame interposed. 'She is exhausted and feverish, and startled by the sight of you. She is of your kind, I think. I am not. Taking this in officiously, the man once more addressed him, offering his hand, which Kalus did not take. But he persisted. 'I'm Paul McIntyre, flight surgeon..... I'm a doctor, son.
'Then we should call to him, let him know where we are. Kalus could only shake his head at his companion's needless worry. 'He knows where we are. He just doesn't want the Mantis to know it too. Or did you not know he could kill us even more easily than the spider? Again he was surprised by her reaction. She seemed hurt and afraid. 'Don't worry, he added more softly.
They still had the reserves, though tapping into them so soon went against all his instincts, and roused the already powerful voices of fear inside him. And though to one who has never had to survive, literally, day to day, these emotions may seem mere words, to Kalus they were as powerful and menacing as the physical threat of a lion. How much more of this could his spirit endure?
'Unfortunately, one of the things we built the best were weapons, devices to..... Well, the argument was that they were to protect ourselves. But really, they had no other purpose than to kill. Some of the more primitive of these are in the Mantis' cave, though I have no idea how they got there. It was useless. 'We destroyed ourselves, Kalus. I don't know how else to say it.
Her companion is Kalus, of the hill-tribe. 'Such as these? 'Yes. They are to be wholly trusted. He broke away and went to the entrance, looking worried and weary of talk. 'Where is Shar-hai? When does he return? 'He is said to be hunting with his guard near the Carak, though there is no shortage of food.
The would follow a small, tree-blinded stream to the hills. The Hill. There could only be one. 'Sylviana. Kalus sat crouched and still among the twisted bramble that grew, overshadowed by oak and maple, at the base of the hill. He had reached the narrow vale first and seen them coming, as he thought, from the west.
But as she looked down at the bright bands of color encircling the serpentine corpse, she vaguely remembered something nasty about the coral snake. She moved away with a shudder. But remembering herself, she looked around quickly. Kalus was gone -he had not seen. And Rawlings was walking off without further comment. TOO CLOSE, she told herself.
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