AKLESH (Under Strange Skies) Read Online Free Page B
Author: Samuel Jarius Pettit
primitive was only trying to help kept flowing over him. Still, back on Orestus, if anyone had dared to touch him without his permission, that person could’ve been put to death.
“So angry,” said Kai, as his fingers gently rested on Gar’s temples, sensing his inner turmoil.
The native’s touch was soothing. The prince assumed he had not meant for it to have this effect but liked it. Had this been another situation…
“Close your eyes and try to relax,” he said.
Gar did so. Soon his vision faded and new images began to slowly take their place. In his mind he heard Kai’s voice. It was gentle and soft, like a whisper.
“ See what I see… ”
***
The first few moments were the most disorienting for Gar. He had never seen through another person’s memories.
He saw the small group. They were on their way back to the campsite after a good day of fishing. Their catch had been plentiful. Of course, the area around that point was always rich during the beginning of the season. Kai, Chi and Cho were carrying the large casting nets. Tyro and Che had the leather bags full of the their bounty that was tied over long poles, which they carried over their shoulders. It was a great haul and there still were two more days to add to it. Everyone was satisfied.
It was a clear day and their path had taken them along a small cliff that overlooked the large lake. The white and tan trees were just starting to burst forth with the beautiful lavenders and purples that they would wear for the entire season of Dryrise.
Kai was the dreamer and constantly staring at the heavens. So, he was the first one in his group to see the plummeting shuttle.
“Look!” he exclaimed in astonishment to his companions, pointing high into the sky above the water.
They had all heard of sky ships at some point in their lives. Every 20 years or so emissaries of the sky tribes would come and visit their world.
These visitors would do a great counting of the people. Or course, the tribe folk were not permitted to go to the stranger’s ships. But, it was commonly known that others lived in the heavens.
These occurrences were rare and there were none expected anytime in the near future.
But the sky ship they saw on this day was dangerously out of control.
It was more like a red blur than anything else, with a jagged golden tail of smoke spewing out from behind it. They all realized the horrifying truth at the same time. With a piercing shriek the sky ship was going to crash -- and it was speeding right towards them. No one knew what to do.
There was no time to react.
The great object skidded, broke apart then slammed into the water about 50 feet away from the cliff with a great boom. The sound rattled the trees and sent a spray of water high into the sky.
The mist from it fell upon them like rain, even as far up as they were. As the water cleared the five hunters could see part of a red and gold pod float above the water for a single moment then vanish beneath the surface.
The twins, Cho and Tyro turned to each other stunned. Only Kai kept his eyes transfixed to the spot where the sky ship had submerged. Before anyone knew what was happening, before Kai himself even realized what he was doing, the young tribesman ran to the edge of the precipice and leaped.
He soared through the air gracefully and cut into the water. If there was one thing Kai was good at, it was diving and swimming. Having spent a great deal of time there he knew the lake well.
That specific area was very deep. He swam quickly to the spot, filled his lungs with air and plunged into the depths. His strong arms pulled him through the grayness but could find nothing.
His lungs began to feel the ache from lack of oxygen. Soon he’d have to return to the surface.
Just as it was almost unbearable, an image became clear. It was a human form floating in place below him. Kai gave three firm kicks that pushed him towards the body.
It looked up to him. Kai
“So angry,” said Kai, as his fingers gently rested on Gar’s temples, sensing his inner turmoil.
The native’s touch was soothing. The prince assumed he had not meant for it to have this effect but liked it. Had this been another situation…
“Close your eyes and try to relax,” he said.
Gar did so. Soon his vision faded and new images began to slowly take their place. In his mind he heard Kai’s voice. It was gentle and soft, like a whisper.
“ See what I see… ”
***
The first few moments were the most disorienting for Gar. He had never seen through another person’s memories.
He saw the small group. They were on their way back to the campsite after a good day of fishing. Their catch had been plentiful. Of course, the area around that point was always rich during the beginning of the season. Kai, Chi and Cho were carrying the large casting nets. Tyro and Che had the leather bags full of the their bounty that was tied over long poles, which they carried over their shoulders. It was a great haul and there still were two more days to add to it. Everyone was satisfied.
It was a clear day and their path had taken them along a small cliff that overlooked the large lake. The white and tan trees were just starting to burst forth with the beautiful lavenders and purples that they would wear for the entire season of Dryrise.
Kai was the dreamer and constantly staring at the heavens. So, he was the first one in his group to see the plummeting shuttle.
“Look!” he exclaimed in astonishment to his companions, pointing high into the sky above the water.
They had all heard of sky ships at some point in their lives. Every 20 years or so emissaries of the sky tribes would come and visit their world.
These visitors would do a great counting of the people. Or course, the tribe folk were not permitted to go to the stranger’s ships. But, it was commonly known that others lived in the heavens.
These occurrences were rare and there were none expected anytime in the near future.
But the sky ship they saw on this day was dangerously out of control.
It was more like a red blur than anything else, with a jagged golden tail of smoke spewing out from behind it. They all realized the horrifying truth at the same time. With a piercing shriek the sky ship was going to crash -- and it was speeding right towards them. No one knew what to do.
There was no time to react.
The great object skidded, broke apart then slammed into the water about 50 feet away from the cliff with a great boom. The sound rattled the trees and sent a spray of water high into the sky.
The mist from it fell upon them like rain, even as far up as they were. As the water cleared the five hunters could see part of a red and gold pod float above the water for a single moment then vanish beneath the surface.
The twins, Cho and Tyro turned to each other stunned. Only Kai kept his eyes transfixed to the spot where the sky ship had submerged. Before anyone knew what was happening, before Kai himself even realized what he was doing, the young tribesman ran to the edge of the precipice and leaped.
He soared through the air gracefully and cut into the water. If there was one thing Kai was good at, it was diving and swimming. Having spent a great deal of time there he knew the lake well.
That specific area was very deep. He swam quickly to the spot, filled his lungs with air and plunged into the depths. His strong arms pulled him through the grayness but could find nothing.
His lungs began to feel the ache from lack of oxygen. Soon he’d have to return to the surface.
Just as it was almost unbearable, an image became clear. It was a human form floating in place below him. Kai gave three firm kicks that pushed him towards the body.
It looked up to him. Kai
Readers choose
Natalie Herzer
Sandra Worth
Laurent Seksik
Barbara Eppich Struna
Angela Foxxe
Megan Mulry
Linda Kay Silva
Unknown
Hella S. Haasse
Glenn Cooper