V’x was tinkering with her back to us when we approached. She was trilling quietly as she fitted together some carved bits of wood on a large bench in front of her. Her feathers were in complete disarray, especially on her right wing where several stood straight out rather than lying flat against her body.
“V’x,” said K’eel, announcing us. V’x squawked and tossed down her work fluttering nervously, turning quickly and bowing to K’eel.
I gasped. The whole right side of her body had been maimed at some point. Much of her right wing was missing altogether. Her beak was misshapen, twisted to the right by a scar at its base. Her right eye was covered by a patch, that only partially hid the massive scarring to that entire side of her face.
With her head down, she chattered softly to K’eel in the Vrr’ak’l language.
“We need your help, V’x. Your creativity would be useful to us.”
V’x looked up and cocked her head. She eyed me nervously.
“Nate cannot fly, yet he needs to view the plains from the high platform.” K’eel nodded in the direction of the trail. “You cannot fly either, but you have been there, yes?”
V’x warbled. K’eel halted her with a raise of her hand. “Speak that Nate may understand, V’x. It is not fair to leave him from this discussion.”
“Very sorry,” stammered V’x. “I— These words are hard.”
“We must get to the platform.”
“Yes. It is difficult.”
“How do you do it?”
V’x remained silent, examining the ground.
“How do you get onto the platform?” said K’eel.
V’x shook her head slowly.
“Tell me!”
“You will be angry.”
“I am already angry. We must get to the platform.”
“You’ve actually made it up there?” I said.
“Yes. It is difficult.”
“Well, if you can do it,” I said.
“I do not wish to do it,” said V’x.
“But you will,” muttered K’eel.
“Maybe if you just tell me what you did, and I can try it.” There was terrible tension in the conversation. I hoped I could lighten it.
K’eel shot me a stern look, then turned back to V’x.
“Do you use ropes? How do you do it?” K’eel demanded.
“It is frightening up there,” V’x said, hanging her head.
K’eel fluffed in frustration.
“Look, Vix,” I said, “I’m trying to help you, but I gotta know what’s going on. Keel tells me that we can observe the Keepers safely from up there, so I gotta go, even though I’m not crazy about going up there.” K’eel snorted. “I was thinking with ropes and pulleys I could be hoisted up there. Hell, if done right, I could hoist myself. I know I can’t climb that tree. Do you have any suggestions?”
V’x blinked at me. “The Keepers will kill you.”
“V’x,” hissed K’eel.
“Have you seen them, then?” I said. “Is that how you got those injuries.”
V’x straightened. “My injuries are not from the Keepers. They are no business of yours. But I have seen them. And I have nearly been caught. I do not wish to die.”
“Well, if you can get me up there, I’ll do the dying, OK?”
“You are ridiculous.”
“Yeah, I know. But I’m here because a stink bug dragged me through a marshmallow wall. The whole thing is ridiculous. Help me out here.”
V’x cautiously gazed at K’eel. “I have a ladder of rope and wood.”
“A ladder? Where?” said K’eel.
“Hidden, of course.”
K’eel frowned. “Someone must help you then. Who?”
V’x looked away. “I no longer go up there. It is too dangerous.”
K’eel pressed her feathers against her neck and clicked her beak. V’x scratched at the ground nervously.
“Does it really matter?” I said. “If someone can set up the ladder, then I can go, right?”
V’x nodded. “Yes,” she whispered.
“So where’s the ladder?” I said.
“Hidden,” V’x said.
“Is it far?”
“No.”
“Would you please go get it?”
“I don’t want to.”
“Then tell me where it is, and I’ll get it.”
“I will get it.” V’x turned and limped away, disappearing into the woods along a narrow path.
I waited for K’eel to say something, but she continued to click her beak. She snapped up and glared at me. “V’x had better return. She had better.” She hopped a short distance away and plopped down, fluffing her feathers and leaning her beak against the ground. “She had better come back.”
Read Chapter 18.
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Penny Higgins - Storyteller • Artist • Scientist 