Meagan made an impatient gesture and Elspeth sat on the end of the Daniel’s pallet, crossing her legs beneath her. “You didn’t,” she said, and carried on eating. She glanced again at Meagan, and then at Daniel, and said, “What is it you wanted to know?”
“Everything,” Meagan said, with a roll of her eyes. “So that should keep you talking all night.” She gestured again to Daniel. “Drink it all, and then rest. You’ll feel better tomorrow.”
He watched her as she made her way across the room. Aedan had emerged from one of the passageways that led onto the room, and they stopped to talk together. This room, Daniel figured, was a kind of central point — a gathering place and living space for the small community.
“Meagan doesn’t hold with tales of the past,” Elspeth said, sniffing at a packet of crackers. “She thinks it’s a waste of time learning them, she only wants to learn what she can use now. Like herb lore and so on.”
“Well, she has a point,” Daniel said, turning back to the girl. No, girl wasn’t right. She was a young woman, hardened and lean like all her people. “But I think that stories of the past can help us too, they can teach us lessons — point in the direction we should travel.”
“Aye…” She looked at him with surprise, eyes widening. “That’s what I think, that’s exactly how I feel. But no one here agrees, they say there’s no time for that. They say I’ve a head full of dreams.”
He laughed. “Oh, I can so identify.”
The expression puzzled her, but didn’t dim the light in her eyes. He recognized it at once, the pleasure of discovering a kindred spirit.
“So,” he said, “tell me about your people. Meagan says this world has no name.”
Elspeth pursed her lips and then said, “She’s right in a way. You’ll not find a soul in this room who’d give it a name, though I’ve seen it called the Lallans.”
“Seen it?” asked Daniel. “Where?”
“In the books,” replied Elspeth, but then pressed her lips together as if she’d revealed something she shouldn’t. Too late, though. Daniel had heard the magic word.
“You have books? Where? Can you show me?”
“I don’t like to show them. Most people mock me. They don’t understand.”
“I promise I wouldn’t mock you, Elspeth. I’d really like to see.”
But it was no use; the girl shook her head, braids fluttering about her shoulders and Daniel knew that pushing the matter wouldn’t help. He settled for the next best thing.
“Then tell me what you’ve found. Tell me about your past. Your people.”
“My people?” she said with a speculative look. “Do we not share the same past, Daniel? Or do you truly come from the world beyond the Eye?”
Teal’c shifted, making his presence known, a reminder not to say too much.
Daniel cleared his throat. “Ultimately, we all share the same past,” he said. “But some of us know more about it than others, and you strike me as someone who has a lot to teach.”
Elspeth nodded, looking pleased, her braided hair swaying and the beads clattering together. “That’s true.”
Scholars were the same the world over, it appeared; academic vanity was always their weak point. “And I would be honored,” he said, “if you’d share with me what you’ve learned.”
“Very well, then,” Elspeth said, settling herself. “The story of our people begins with the war.”
“The war that destroyed the Stargate?”
“The war,” she said, like she was telling a story, “that destroyed everything.”
And this, he thought, with a sudden fierce joy, this is why I still do the job. After the trauma of losing Sha’re, of losing his purpose, this was the reason he still got up in the morning.
“Tell me —”
“Daniel.”
Startled, he glanced up to see Jack prowling into the room. Brow furrowed he was scanning the area with his customary vigilance, checking for exits and hidden dangers. Daniel could practically see his fingers twitching for lack of a weapon. “Jack,” he said. “Feeling better?”
“I was about to ask you the same thing.”
He raised his cup in salute. “Much better.”
“Daniel…” Jack’s frown dug deeper. “What have I told you about drinking the local brew?”
“I did endeavor to warn him,” Teal’c said. “I was unsuccessful.”
Daniel met Jack’s gaze and held it. They were both smart men and they both knew the likely outcome if he didn’t get home soon. “I figured, what’s the worst that could happen?”