Crais(22)

“We do not have any servers here. I will fetch some platters and you can choose what your liking is,” she said before walking away.

I spent the time watching the people, the way they interacted, talked and moved around each other. I could see no segregation and no one sat alone. Most of the tables were covered in what looked like plates of greens and long lizard-type creatures. My stomach turned a little at the thought of eating a lizard. Especially while it was still whole.

“They aren’t going to bring us one of those animals camped out on the platter, right?” Lucy’s pale features were taking on a green tinge. “’Cause I can’t eat something once I’ve seen its eyes.”

“Uh-huh, sure, Luce,” I said, knowing her eating habits all too well.



Ten minutes later, while ripping off large chunks of the succulent meat from the leg she held, Lucy shook her hand in my direction, flicking me with droplets of juice.

“Don’t get high-handed, Abigail.” She took another bite, her mouth full for a moment, before she swallowed. “It was a lucky guess this time.”

I laughed, my own hands full of creature. It was so tender and juicy, flavored with aromatic herbs and stuffed with greens. Delicious.

“We are delighted that you are enjoying our tarakor lizard. It is one of the more prevalent creatures on Crais, living above and below the suns’ wrath.” Channa waved her hand. “But please, you must also eat the greens. Their nutrients are essential for survival. We insist.”

Her tone implied that this was a serious suggestion. We really did have to eat the mound of greens on our plates.

“None of the others left any food at all,” Talina said in a low voice. “I like that they don’t waste. We also limit wastage on Spurn, especially from the Sacred Isle.”

Well, from my experience half of Earth used to starve and the other half – over-fed greedy wasters. Although the dark days had evened it out; everyone had to learn how to starve a little.

Once I’d finished my food, I felt an immediate increase in energy. Maybe there was something to this ‘greens’ theory.

“So, tell me of Jordan’s words and how I may help you on your journey.” Channa spoke formally. “And please tell me your story. Very little happens here. I’d love to know of your adventures.”

We’d gathered a small group of Crais inhabitants again. They were sitting on the stone benches surrounding ours, just listening in silence.

“I’ll explain as quickly as I can, but we don’t have much time to linger. And we’re also interested to know as much as we can about your world as well.” I was curious as to what these tribes did all day, stuck under the ground.

I started at the beginning, explaining about First World and the six youngling planets. Lucy and Lucas chimed in with any of the facts I forgot. Talina was quiet except for small details about Spurn.

“Your world is almost all water?” Channa regarded Talina with wide eyes. “I cannot even imagine the majesty. The only water on Crais is that which runs directly through the centre of our world. The sacred lake, where you were initiated, is our largest reservoir, and everything else runs off it.”

“In a way our worlds are almost opposite,” Talina said. “We have too much water and you have not enough.”

Channa sighed. “If only we could share our resources between worlds. The two suns have parched our land of living creatures. But there are a few species who have evolved to survive. The nomads are the only humanoids. They need very little in the way of moisture and seem to garner energy from the suns’ waves.” Channa gesticulated with her hands. “There are the nomads, and the dragoonas who rule above. Other than that only smaller reptiles, insects and arachnids.”

“If this is true, how was the tribesman who saved us out in the sun?” Lucas’s question jolted me.

That’s right: he was above ground.

“For two cycles a day the suns eclipse each other. The larger is weaker, and blocks much of the smaller. This lowers the temperature so that we can walk in the shadows and hunt the lizards.”

Behind us, someone spoke. I spun around to find a young girl.

“Most of us do not venture above. Only select groups of hunters from each tribe are permitted. For the rest of us, we know nothing but these caves.”

She lowered her eyes, her reptilian skin shimmering in the mid-lights. Some of the tribespeople’s skins were more scaled than others.

Channa nodded. “That’s true. But we’re grateful to have survived. Millions of our people did not.”

They seemed like such a sad race. One would think, since they didn’t know any different, they wouldn’t resent the way they lived, but I could see they did.