Echoes from the Lost Ones Read Online Free

merry guffaw. I hadn’t meant to use such a nursery word, but when I looked at his soft brown eyes and slender arms I went all mumsly. Not like me at all. I began to wonder if the ‘dults had palmed a soother into my stew.
    “Wirt, take our guest and look to keep yer gaze upwind and hands inside yer pouch.”
    “I shall be as bro and see no harm come, as is the duty of the colony and Woodsfolk alike,” Wirt said and strode dainty-like to the threshold. I followed keenly, glad to be away from the smell of teenbull urge. I took a swift look back and saw three grisly looking Nearlys stare keenly at Wirt. They dug each other in the ribs and nodded their heads. Aiken walked up beside them and whispered who knows what into their ears. I shivered not knowing why and hurried outside to join my escort.
    It was dark. Not so strange for nighttimes I know, but in Cityplace the sky is always lit with the glare from road lamps and info boards. I lifted my head to the heavens and saw something wondrous.
    Stars.
    Millions of them winked and blinked, making shapes that looked like old, old cartooneys that Santy Breanna showed me once. Although I had witnessed these bright objects before when scouting with her, it had been a great lapse of time since I had perused them in all their might. I lost myself in their luminance until Wirt coughed.
    “’Scuse yer musings, but it’s cold and I forgot to heave on my thigh socks. The place for relieving is quick.”
    “Right, sorry. Lead me on.”
    He walked ahead and I could not help but notice how lightly he treaded each step. Although a hand taller than myself and thinner around the middle, he was as graceful as a kittle chasing a nanomouse in a slab-tech game. I kept close and listened for wolfie growls, or Agro steppings. He must have heard my fear and turned.
    “No Wolfie tonight, too clear and bright. Our Lady Moon protects with her generous gleam.”
    I had forgotten that the Woodsfolk believe so well in all things Nature, and confess to say, on witnessing the glowy stars, I understand why they just might.
    Wirt stopped by an interwoven willow screen and waved his hand to indicate I should go behind. Placing my feet carefully to avoid mushy lumps, whose origin I could only guess at, I slinked behind the concealment and let out a sigh. My bladder bulged beyond its capacity and I badly needed to change my reddie sponge. So I called out to Wirt, “Is there a special section for bodily fluids to escape?”
    “We mainly dig a hole and piss in there.”
    “Oh, right. I’ll just do that then,” I said and gouged the ground with the heel of my walkerboots. I loosened my trousers, dropped them, pulled down my Stayclean pants, and filled the hole and then some. Taking Brennus’s advice, I snatched some moss from the side of the screen and dried my parts. Then attended to my blood sponge. I did not, however, roll around in the dirt, but used a Moister from my Comfort bag to wash away the grime and mud from face, armpits and hands. Feeling as clean as could be expected, I returned to Wirt.
    “Better for the relieving?”
    “To be sure.”
    “Then let us to bed. Tomorrow ye must use yer powers and provide us all with...”
    He stopped quite sudden and put his hand over his mouth. I froze and heard the puff-puffing of a beast nearby. “Wolfie?” I asked preparing myself for flight.
    “No. Keep walking.”
    I did, but found it hard to keep up with Wirt, who paced speedily without the need to run. The animal noise grew louder, as did the sound of other foots. I was relieved at the thought that more teens or ‘dults were with us and slowed to catch my breath.
    “Stay with me, do not slack.”
    There was an urgent tone to his words, which left me quite confused. Until a hand grabbed my arm and yanked me to the ground. I didn’t stay there long. Years of training with Santy Breanna had made me well prepared for scrap.
    Agro was my first thought, but on rising, I noticed the familiar