Stink Bug – Chapter 20

V’x began:

“When we were first here, we were lost. We saw the Keepers, their flying machines and wheeled carts. They marched around the open spaces surrounding the trees. We would try to approach them and they would shoot fire at us and we would run back to cover.

“I yelled at my tribe-mates, ‘Why do you run? Why do you hide?’

“They yelled back, ‘They will kill us!’

“I called them cowards.

“A group of young ones came to me and asked what I would suggest. I told them to attack and capture a Keeper. We did not call them Keepers then, but it doesn’t matter. One evening they gathered with me on the margin of the wood and we waited. One came close and we attacked.”

V’x paused. She groomed herself, gathering her thoughts.

“Four died. Two were taken away. I ran away when the fighting started, but was injured.”

V’x held out her broken wing and touched her face.

“I was taken for a coward. I was brought before T’r’bl and the others, including K’eel. We lost six young ones. It was my fault. They cried for justice. They cried for my death. I should be left for the Keepers. I should have died. They slashed at me. They beat me. They tied me.

“T’r’bl stopped them. She argued that I still had use. I was sent aside.

“I live alone now.”

“Wow,” I muttered. “I’m sorry. So you’ve been alone all this time?”

“They call on me sometimes. I build things. That’s what I do. It is my purpose here. I am sought when things need to be fixed or built.”

“I’m sure it’s lonely.”

“Recent years have been painful.” V’x sighed. “I am less liked than ever. Since W’x’tl was lost, I am hated.”

“Waxtel?”

“K’eel’s younger sister.”

“Oh no. What? What happened?”

V’x warbled sadly. “I betrayed them all.” She looked at me. “I made this platform. I meant to learn of the Keepers. I meant to attack them.” She looked away. “W’x’tl helped. We watched for weeks. We learned of them. We learned their patterns.”

She began to groom herself. It went on for a long time. I wondered if she forgot I was there.

“Vix?”

She froze, a feather still in her beak. She released the feather.

“W’x’tl flew up one day. Too high. Too late in the day. A flying Keeper swooped and took her. All that remained was feathers.”

V’x stood and turned away. She plopped down again at the edge of the platform facing away from me. “It is my fault. I cannot be forgiven.”

“I’m sorry, Vix,” I said softly. “Please tell me what you’ve learned. Maybe I can help make this right.”

Read Chapter 21.

Go back to the beginning.