Chapter Six: Operation High Tail — Part 5

Blake stumbles along under George’s steady hand, unable to argue, because George’s grip is something like iron. In a matter of minutes, he finds himself below deck, on a cot, where, if he were capable, he would be grumbling. Instead he lies on his side, coughing up blood from a raw throat, feeling pitiful and hopeless. A small hand touches his shoulder, and he’s about to shrug it off when he realizes it is Heath. He reaches up, takes her hand, and squeezes it gently. He doesn’t have to look back to know it’s her, just as he doesn’t have to open his eyes to see that Joe is laying near him as well. Joe’s hand is already gripping his, and though he is quiet, Blake’s eyes fill with tears.

Above Deck, Daria looks and moves like she’s drunk, though in truth she’s working with the rhythm of the ship, slowly bringing it out of its porcine wobble and roll, stopping its porpoise-like buck and fall, trimming its sails tightly and precisely until the deck finally settles level and stays that way. Even though the forest below is settled, and the scrubby green of Tó Naneesdizí is coming into view, Daria has little or no energy to maintain it. She has rested in cycles, playful naps to keep her wit, while most of her crew has taken ill along with their injuries, and only George and Jude can hold the Deck with her. With a half hour before she comes into the null, Daria’s entire body feels stung with painful electricity, like when a leg goes tingly from sitting too long in one position, only the tingles are faster and quieter.

George and Jude are at the right front guide sail, and left back guide sail, respectively, and are going to work with Daria to try to bring the ship ground level in the null of the arch. She can see a water arch very close to the one she’s come in on, and hopes there won’t be a back channel of water to contend with once the arch percussion occurs. The final half hour moves as if in a dream, George and Jude swinging the belly of the ship at an angle by shifting their sails opposite their counterparts. Percussion blasts out from the ship, causing the air to draw still and mute, the wind to die instantly, and the shaking the ground in all directions. Half a second later, the massive airborne lake is pushed by the shockwave, reshaping itself on the side facing the Edgewind with massive ripples that hold in place for hours following the event.

Somehow, the tents hold, and the people crowding around them, having been warned prior, and made ready to help, have either braced for the blast, or are getting back up onto their feet because of it. Freed of the pressure of gravity, Daria pushes off from the Captain’s hold, looking over the side of the ship toward the tents. Jon and Teri wave to her, looking somehow worried and smiling just the same. She smiles and waves back, pulling herself back to the Captain’s Nest so she can help George and Jude pull and store the sails. In a moment, Daria and George have pushed off from the Edgewind in opposite directions, drifting along until gravity asserts itself enough to bring them down. Each has a screw anchor, and they tighten it squarely into the ground, pulling the rope through and locking the Edgewind into place.

Jynx is out of the ship last, having spent the time tightening everything in the hold and rooms down, lest something drift unexpectedly during their departure. Jynx had been caring for the injured the entire trip, quietly out of way, out of thought, and now, as her pale skin reflects the bright sun, Daria is suddenly reminded of the quiet, protective girl who loves her so much. Even as Daria heads back, Jude is moving the sick and injured, strapped into their cots, to the deck, and Jon and Teri aren’t far behind her, drifting through the low gravity and into null gravity as if they’ve lived with it their whole lives. On deck, George and Jude raise the cots from the deck, and then start shoving them, one by one, toward the tents. The cots slowly drop to ground, landing gently some fifty feet short of the anchor. Teri and Jon help Blake with the bundle of medical supplies, moving away from the ship with their massive load.

Once grounded, Jynx becomes one of several hands that lift the cots and carry them to the tents for primary inspection, where Kia, Teri, and Jon get the injured out of their clothes and establish a triage list based on need. ChoCho is at the top of the list, followed by Paige, Joe, Kiyoshi, and Heath. Blake signs something angrily, and Teri signs back. This banter is heated, and goes back and forth until Kia steps up to Blake.

“I don’t know or care what the fuck you’re saying, but you’re in my tent wasting MY time. Leave me and my crew to tending the injured, and don’t let me see you back here until I call for you.”

Blake skulks off into the desert, looking rash.

Kia looks over at Jynx, “Death Girl, go keep your noisy friend from being stupid!”

Jynx, who has been hovering over ChoCho with a look of worry, nods, and walks after Blake, pausing long enough to grab a canteen and a pack filled with food that had been brought down from the ship. ChoCho stares at the tent canvas, glowing brightly. Somewhere nearby, Daria has been stripped of her clothes by Teri and is being settled gently inside under the shade of a dark green tent into a light linen bed where she can get some rest.

ChoCho looks up at Jon, smiling at her with his lopsided grin. “Killed two birds with one stone, didn’t she?”

“Kia’s really good at that. It’s why she’s in charge, and we are merely her minions. Now let’s just get a closer look at that sword cut, shall we?”

ChoCho winces as Jon raises his arm, finding an angry but well tended wound, which she inspects with carefully placed fingers shielded by purple gloves, causes a concerned look to cross her face. She clucks with concern as she checks each section, so ChoCho tries to be tough for her, not wanting her to worry. He doesn’t know why, but he can’t help but try to keep her from worrying. The expression of concern is new to her, ChoCho thinks, though Daria would be certain to calm herself. Soon Kia is over by their side, a grimace on her face that ChoCho is certain is not new. She’s less appreciative than Jon is of ChoCho’s suffering, more down to business.

“Doctor Jon, could you please assess the wound and detail its treatment.”