Exposure
William helps Stephane get comfortable in Van Buren.
“I suppose you don’t get many visitors,” Stephane says.
I said, “No, I’m afraid not. It’s as Rogger said. We like people, but are not accustomed to them. We’ve had only ourselves for some time now.”
They smile and remove gloves. “Nice knife.”
“I’m sorry?”
Stephane nods toward the facón peeking out from behind my leather jacket.
“Oh. Yes,” I say. “Thank you. I found it in a cave.”
“And the jacket?”
“Here. In Van Buren.”
“That’s the name of this place?”
I smile and nod. “Yes. We believe so.”
They unwrap their strips and undo their buckles, peel away the sand-caked layers of clothing down to under clothes, worn thin and sweat-stained.
I avert my eyes.
“Do you come from modest folk?” they ask.
“I guess.”
“You guess?”
“Yes. You see, I don’t really recall where I’m from.”
The pile of gear about their feet looks like a small hill now. They step from it, sit down, pull off their boots and shake them out. “You and your companions may search my possessions. Anything you do not approve of or wish to take as payment, please. Help yourselves.”
“We would never do that,” I say.
Stephane smiles. “You’re an odd one, William. I like you.”
I blush.
Rogger returns, breathing heavily. “William!”
Stephane and I look at her.
“I can’t find Pem. I think she’s left.”
Panic seizes me, and I run toward Van Buren’s teeth.
“Wait!” Rogger says.
“No! I’ve got to find her!”
I hear then why Rogger called. The loud hiss and dull roar of the whiplash storm, on its way, as Stephane had warned.
My left hand reaches for the teeth, against my restraint.
I feel smooth skin against mine and the undeniable electricity of connection.
Stephane wears a sad smile. “Don’t, William.”
The pulse in my chest to rescue Pem sinks like a stone in the ocean. “Okay,” I say.
Rogger pushes her head between us, suspicious eyes above fluttering beard. “Well, I see you two have had time to get good and cozy.”
“I’m Stephane,” they say, and take their lovely hand from mine, give it to Rogger.
She eyes it like a thing, a trap waiting to be sprung. “Yes. So you said.” Then, she gives a quick shake. “Rogger.”
“Well met.”
Rogger nods quickly, grunts.
“Where are you from, Rogger?”
“Halite.”
“I know Halite.”
“You do?”
“Yes. I spent a summer and a fall on crew there. Then did some tectonics for the mine boss.”
I see a new look on Rogger’s face, one I can’t place.
“Hmm.” Rogger says. “Which mine?”
“Goldslag. But the crew had all over. Halcyon. Morokuma. Orichalcum.”
“And the boss?”
“At Goldslag?”
Rogger nods.
“Bewoo. The bigger one. Not Lim Bewoo that works the amethyst.”
Rogger smiles. “I shared a wet nurse with Bewoo.”
“Really? You don’t say.”
A darkness washes over Rogger’s features, then she stomps to the pile of Stephane’s equipment. “Let’s see what you have here.”
I whisper. “You’ll have to excuse Rogger. We’re not used to company.”
Stephane whispers back. “It’s all right. I quite like dwarves.”
Their eyes sparkle like a sea I’ve never been to. I can’t break their gaze, nor would I if I could.
Next time: “Something Mystic” ← click to keep reading!
Read the first cycle in installments on the Adventures in Secrecy website: 1 > 2 > 3 > 4 > 5 > 6 > 7 > 8 > 9 > 10 > 11 > 12 > 13 > 14 > 15 > 16 > 17 > 18 > 19; or, in a continuous scroll on Tablo: https://tablo.com/t-van-santana/gaucho/.
Read the previous second cycle installments on the Adventures in Secrecy website: 1 < 2 < 3 < 4 > 5
