Part 6. Landing (continued)
Splashing sounds of water and screams from the shore made all of them forget about inventory. they rushed toward the sea, expecting some futuristic monster attacking Iyru. What they saw wasn't exactly what they had expected. A deep blue finned dragon, with black oily edges was splashing water at Iyru, who screamed when the cold water hit her.

"You!" she called, "Stop that!"
Grinning the dragon, substantially larger than the flitters that had been hatched on Earth, stopped playing and looked with deep sea-green eyes at Iyru. "Don't you want to play?" she asked.
"She can speak!" Oisin called out.
"Had you expected otherwise?" Fairlight asked dryly. "Does she have a name?"
"Safyre." the female spoke without hesitating, "That is my name."
"Why does she look like that?" Tasrin asked, earning him mad glances from both Iyru and the dragon.
"She's pretty of course, but why is she a fish?"
More evil glances.
Knux stepped forward, coughed and started, "I've been expecting this." He placed his O'ragnatus into the water with Safyre who eagerly started playing with her new friend. "I suspected it from the moment O'ragnatus hatched. I think the dragons evolve in their shell to become adjusted to the area around them. You washing some oil of Safyre's egg in pure untouched water must have given her just the energy she needed to complete her DNA and form herself."
"Do you mean they are sentient from before they hatch?" Enid asked, looking surprised.
"I'm not sure if they are sentient." Knux said, "It might be subconscious, preconscious or something else entirely. But it must be there..."
"Eh, Knux." Iyru said, "You might want to take away O'ragnatus. I really want some Sushi and he's starting to look good."
"You?" Knux asked.
"I think Safyre since I'm not that fond of sushi. Do we have something resembling fish to eat?"
"Eh. I think we might have fish sticks on board, freeze-dried and packed. Or we could try to fish."
Suddenly, Safyre splashed under and when she emerged again she held a nice large fish in her mouth. "I wouldn't have enjoyed these fish sticks." she said, "Neither does Iyru."
Iyru smiled, "How does she know that!"
"I think it's telepathy." Fairlight suggested.
"You should all try this." Iyru laughed, "It's such a funny feeling."
"Well, if it is the same for you, I'd rather get my hands on something more land bound. No offense." Tasrin said.
"Non taken." Safyre replied, "Why not hatch one of my kind on land then."
"She's got a point." Fairlight grinned, "Let's move down here so she can tell us more before we start making wild plans."

***

After having moved the base camp, Knux carefully hanging on to the fire so no more pages of his precious books needed to be sacrificed to start it. The company of six humans, plus one hatchling dragon made themselves comfortable on the beach.
"So where do we go from here?" Enid asked.
"Two people can leave by boat, and two by mini-heli. The other two can remain here to try to hatch an egg on land until the rest comes back." Tasrin said, "Assuming you want to hatch more eggs."
"That's why we came here." Knux said, "I think we might all try to hatch eggs before we go to the main research area."
"I would like a dragon." Oisin nodded, "But I wouldn't know which areas to start with. I think you only got one shot."
"The one that hatches is right for you." Safyre called from the place where she had seemed to be sleeping.
"How can you be sure of that?" Enid said, "Statistically, if I pick just one egg, it's got little chance of being the right one."
"I think she means they adapt to more than habitat." Knux yawned.
"oh, ok." Enid said, "Then what are we waiting for?" she asked, "Where will we be going tomorrow."
"We have to split up in teams of two." Tasrin said, "The problem might be there."
"Let's just try to work this one out." Enid said.
"I have to be on the heli team." Tasrin said, "No one else can fly it."
"I think I'd like to stay here." Fairlight said, "There are some amazing plants around that need my attention."
"I'll take the motorboat." Iyru said, "I want to see how fast Safyre can swim." she smiled, "Besides, I wouldn't ever dream of leaving her behind."
"I'll come with you." Oisin said, "After all I am to record history."
"I think that leaves Knux to go with me." Tasrin said.
"Hey! Don't I get a say in this!" Enid called out.
"I'm afraid Knux can't go." Fairlight added, "I'll need someone to record as well."
"So I'm going with you." Enid said, "We need to continue our talk anyway."
"Great."

***

Hours later, in the depth of night. Knux carefully opened his eyes and sat up. No-one made a move. Next to him, Enid lay snoring softly. Knux hoped she would mask most sounds he would make. Getting up softly, he trailed off toward the wreckage of the craft that had brought them here. Passing Tasrin, the lieutenant started mumbling. Knux froze, but he too was just an uneasy deep sleeper. Knux continued his way and soon left the campsite behind him and approached the ship. Staring up at the star-filled night sky he brushed away a tear and clutched the pendant tight, considering if he shouldn't keep it.
Finally he resolved and pulled the pendant away from his neck.
"Fare thee well." he said as the ashes were swept away on a sudden breeze.
"That's very caring of you." Fairlight suddenly said behind him, coming from the bushes.
"Did you follow me?" Knux asked.
"You rose rather noisily. No-one else awoke though. I'm a light sleeper."
"Did you think I did wrong?" he asked.
"Not at all. You did right and I had not expected it from you."
"You are not going to catalogue plants tomorrow, are you?"
"And have the military profit? Hardly." Fairlight smirked, "I have other plans."
"Being?"
"You'll see."
With this unsatisfactory answer, Fairlight receded back in the shadows, moving soundlessly like a cat back to her sleeping bag around the dwindling fire. She knew Knux would not return before dawn. Wakes tended to keep you up through the night.

Follow Enid and Tasrin in Mission to Veryi

LIBRARY