By Sheri Yutzy
Nila tipped back her head and let the crushed rocks spill into her mouth. Wind cut past their tent, and she clamped her hand over the cup to keep the dust inside from escaping.
“I suppose you drank it all.” Vo wiped dirt from his face with his upper arm.
“Get your own crush.” She winced as a fragment caught in her throat before the biomelters stored in her trachea could reach it. The sun had licked up all the water on this planet centuries ago. Science had helped them adjust using the biomelters, and a few animal species had evolved on their own.
Vo stared out at the jagged Balaa Mountains filling the horizon like a boneyard. “I’m going to drink from the peaks, one day.”
She glanced at him as she stowed her crush cup in her hip bag. “You think it’ll feel any better?”
“It’s supposed to be pure. No dust, no mineral afterburn.”
Nila rolled her tongue, trying to bring her biomelters up to her teeth. The tiny robots that turned solid matter into fluids were growing more sluggish every day. Hydrating her body was a constant battle. “Worth the climb if that’s true.” A cough mangled her last word.
Vo studied her. “You could use some pure crush.”
“I’m fine.”
He snorted. “You’ll say that when the sun finally makes collision.”
“Why did you bring me here, anyway? I heard the shreps are harder to find in the Balaas.”
He stepped outside and mounted his rockbike. “I found something I want to show you.”
She sighed and followed him. “Please tell me it’s not an Ancient Earth artifact.”
“Not exactly. Come on. Sun’s almost down.”
Nila fired up her rockbike and followed him across the dunes. Its thrum eased her tension as they reached the open plain and opened their throttles. The wind whipping her hair behind her was still not enough to dispel the residual heat from the scorching sun. Maybe they’d find a huge herd today—bring back enough for both of their families. Doubtful, since Mol—Vo’s little brother—ate more than him despite being fifty kilos lighter, but it was nice to have dreams/goals.
The sun had vanished behind them when they finally reached the foot of the Balaas. Nila relished the cooler air, brushed the coat of grime from her skin. She swung her legs off the bike, striding toward the shrep trail they always followed. Vo was suddenly ahead of her, then there were two of him, wearing identical black sunjackets.
“Nila?”
She blinked. The vision disappeared. “I’m—”
He jogged toward her. “If you say fine one more time…”
Why am I on my knees?
He knelt and cupped her face. “What is it?”
Her throat was on fire. “My melters.”
“What? I thought you had a good year left!”
She shook her head. She hadn’t told anyone about her biomelters’ sudden decline. She’d had to drink more and more crush, but the minerals in her supply further clogged the melters until they’d begun to shut down.
Vo swung her into his arms like an empty sandbag.
“Where…” If her throat had worked, she might have protested.
“I’m going to save you.”
Oh, please. He couldn’t carry her to the peak. It was too late for that. The weakness spreading through her limbs made that clear. “Vo…”
“Shut it.”
He broke into a jog as he took the right fork—the steeper one. This one didn’t lead to the peak, so where could he be going? Their passage around a clump of sand trees startled a herd of shrep. Nila’s vision was too blurred to make out how many.
The fire in her throat spread down into her chest. Is this how I’m going to die, in a dustcloud of burning agony?
She swore in her head as Vo stumbled to a halt, setting her to the side of the path.
“I’ll be back.” His footfalls sprinted away.
Curse him. He could have left her on the sandfloor, at least. The fire deepened, and with it came a thirst Nila had never experienced. Something her ancestors had dealt with every day, if the myths were true. She yearned for something, anything to put in her mouth and swallow. Her hand scrabbled along the path and came up with a thin layer of dust. She tried to open her mouth, but her lips were so withered she could hardly tell if she’d done it.
Maybe it was best this way. Mom could stop worrying about Nila’s melters and focus on keeping her own up to date.
“Nila, stop.” Vo slammed down beside her.
She turned toward him, but he was only a dark shadow holding a bowl of something that shimmered. He lowered it to her lips, and the foreign smell filled her nose. She tried to cry out, pull away, but could only wheeze and twitch.
“Water, Nila. I’ve found water. This is what I wanted to show you.”
He’s delusional. Water would destroy her biomelters completely. That’s why no one looked for water anymore—they could survive without it.
Still, whatever was in his bowl glittered and swayed, bewitching her. Not a bad way to die, pretending to drink like their ancestors had. She parted her lips and the clear liquid spilled into her mouth, quenching the fire and sending a cool wave throughout her body.
So, this was water. She drained the bowl and let her head drop. “I hope you have more of this.” Her voice sounded full of rocks and her belly felt heavy.
His grin came into focus. “I found a lake.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
AHHHHH I love this SO MUCH!!!! The concept, the tech…so much crammed into one little piece. Fantastic.
Truly, water is the best.
Great story. A unique world created in a few pages – strong emotion captured there as well. Well done.
Thank you I enjoyed the story. It was a very clever post-apocalyptic tale with a good ending..
Interesting premise. Good world building.
Love the worldbuilding in this piece. A strange new world, indeed. And the story makes me for more. ;)
Ooh, what an interesting world!
Loved this!