Glad for another Friday as I’ll need a couple of days to see where the story is going; probably when I’m early to church. Having Allie wander around in the cavern is going to get really old fast. And there’s no way a teen girl is going to physically fight her way out of anything.

Speaking of church, I’ve said in other places and interviews that my Catholic faith informs my works but does not drive them. Many of the Hartmanns are Catholic; some more than others. The Empress’ father doesn’t have any faith at all (and finds his daughter’s politics to be a constant source of contention).

Oh, yes: in this segment I finally catch up to that image which started all of this a few months ago. Hope to see everyone on Monday.

Enjoy my content? Buy me a beer!

Before shutting her mind down for a rest, Alicia thought about what she had just watched.  Moment by moment.  Where Allen’s head hit; where and what his fingers touched and in what order.

If no one comes for me, that may have to be my way out.  Thing is, was this was sent him back to his wife, Ryland, nearly twenty years after he vanished from that Galveston beach?  And all that two generations ago.  I do recall learning a bit of this story as a little girl.  I thought the fact there was now a twenty-year difference between their ages was a little weird, but also that he said wherever he was, that it was really dark.  Why didn’t he mention me?  Did he not want to?  Shock from the transference?  Maybe when he hit his head when he slipped just a few minutes ago?

She sighed into the dark.

And if that isn’t how he got back, where did he go?  Was it Kalí or someone like her who ultimately did it?  I’d rather not be lost in spacetime for the next twenty years; I want to see my family and friends now.

Realizing she was about to wander into an emotional minefield, she stilled her mind, opened her hearing, and was still.  Not quite five hours later, her eyes opened.

“More tired than I thought,” the young girl said softly.  Now, you never knew who might be listening.  “I’ve lost two people in less than a day and am alone in the dark.”

She reconsidered that with a tiny flare of her eyes.

“No, I’m not.” After a stretch, she was back on her knees, head pressed to rock.  “Almighty God.  Me again.  I am a little afraid right now.  Yes, I have Your gift of my demi-human body and all my training from my family, but this is still a bit scary.  I know all this has happened for a reason, so I shall not put You to the test and demand rescue.  However, I do pray You illuminate my soul, just as my eyes do the darkness.  All this I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.”

She sat up and crossed herself.  “Now what?”  A growl from her stomach answered her question.

“Allen just had to take his fishing pole,” she grumbled, putting her belt on.  “The little bits of plant are too flexible to make a rod.  And there’s nothing like a branch to attach to my knife to make a spear.  Which, I guess, would be dumb:  if the knife came off, me diving into that lake would not be smart at this point.”

“Time for some OODA.  So, time to take a look at where Allen caught his fish,” Alicia said, walking out of the hut.

Making it two just a few meters shy of the lakeside, she stopped and listened for nearly a minute.  Nothing.  She slowly went on until amongst the pale plants next to the water.  She recalled the line he used was not very long, so either the water was relatively shallow or the fish stayed close to the surface.

I wish I knew more about fishing.  Now was not a time to be talking aloud.  Grandfather Robert fished.  And hunted.  He wanted to take after his father, who was a sportsman who died only a few months before he was born.  I know he did sometimes go out on a small boat at night, I’ve seen the pictures.  It was dark, but he had a light he shined on himself and grandmother Eloise to take the picture.

A light.  Do fish like light?

Careful breath in.  Out.  She allowed her eyes to just barely shine white.

There they are, no more than a meter down.  They move slowly but that’s to be expected in a low oxy environment like this.  Carefully, Alicia let her fingers touch the surface before easing under to her palm.  The fish moved away, then came back.  Her eyes just a tiny bit brighter, she barely wriggled her fingers.  When one too curious came over to investigate, her enhanced nervous system scooped it out and tossed it some distance behind her.

A miracle of fish.  No loaves, though.  I shan’t be churlish.  Thank you, God.  She carefully put her hand back into the water.

Finishing her meal of three fish and a handful of leaves and stems she recalled Allen chopping before, she used the last bit of a stem as a brush to try to clean her teeth.

“I don’t want to think what my breath smells like right now,” she said with her eyes down.  Hands to her nose, she stood.  “And I smell like a trout.  Time for a rinse in the waterfall.  That does take me close to the Watcher, but I know now to take care.”

After her mom ripping off the word Argonath for the entrance to the Great Canyon, Alicia thought continuing the tradition was important.  “After all, Great Uncle Laszlo hinted at balrogs, didn’t he?  Hey, I guess that makes the Crabbies dwarves, I suppose.”

Taking the entire belt off first rather than just setting the pistol aside, she walked under the falling water.  Soap would be nice, but I’ve so source of fat or lye.  Well, I don’t think I do.  With human Allen gone, perhaps another foray into the unknown areas to the north?  He really didn’t seem all that curious about what had happened to him.

In recalling her distant relative, she made sure her footing was solid before moving to once again look at the shrine, pondering the orb on top.

…cia… was ghosted into her mind.  She took three steps back and looked around.

“I know I heard that,” she said.  “Someone was calling my name.”