Starting one of the smokeless fires wasn’t difficult, but Rose and I still struggled slightly. Neither of us


    had ever done this before. After it was burning we were each given something to eat.


    “Hannah instructed us on what you could eat. The food we eat while out here would not be suitable for


    you,” he said.


    “This meat is easy to prepare and it can travel with us. It is filling for us and also for you. It is a good


    food for you to bring on a long trip like this one.”


    The Lesson continued as Thom told us what we were eating. He told us how the small animal we were


    enjoying was trapped and prepared. I remembered reading about them. The gapu reminded me of a


    squirrel when I’d learned about them.


    Thom watched Rose and me closely. If our eyes drifted to where our families were he would scold us.


    He didn’t want us watching the vers. We were two independent beings.


    We were introduced to many men in the camp after dinner. The men all greeted us politely and


    weed us. Many congratted us on our freedom. I noted privately that our men did not receive the


    same reception.


    Fuji joined us after a while. She seemed shell shocked and sat dully next to us refusing to speak. From


    her point of view, this situation seemed impossible. I wished she would listen to me as I told her we


    would be fine.


    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    Pallets were furnished us by Thom. Rose, Fuji, and I would sleep next to our fire. We weren’t required


    to take a watch tonight. Later when we were trained and ready, Thom told us, we may help take watch.


    It just depended on whether that was something we would be good at.


    Iy on my side on the pallet and stared at the poorly lit beach in front of us. The t ck water did


    not soothe me. My mind was awash with uncertainty and questions. This alien ce was unnerving.


    Everything had been so different since we’d been picked up at the Keepers. Even the transports, which


    I had be so ustomed to, were different. It wasforting to concentrate on the transport. It


    meant I could focus on something other than my family, who I wasn’t even allowed to Look at.


    The transports wererger and thicker, but the differences didn’t end there. They appeared to be


    armed. Things that resembled sleek metal cannons were mounted at all four corners. From where Iy


    they appeared to be about the height of a Paterian man’s chest.


    I finally fell asleep wondering if that’s really what they were.


    My dder felt ready to burst when it woke me up in the middle of the night. I realized I’d not gone


    since we were freed. I sat up looked around. I wasn’t sure where to go.


    I noticed a man many body lengths away from me. He was standing and looking out over the ck


    Lake. His posture told me he was probably on some sort of guard duty.


    A N G E L A ‘s L I B R A R Y


    As I stood the man turned to look at me for a moment. He shed a friendly smile before turning to


    stare back over theke.


    “Excuse me, Sir,” I whispereding up beside him.


    “I am Tryne rescued from the Barnaspound,” he said softly.


    “It is a pleasure to meet you. When we meet those we do not know from the camp we call them


    cousin.”


    “Rachel from Earth,” I responded, remembering my lesson. “I need to make waste, Tryne. Where would


    I do that?”


    “Bucket on the other side of the camp,” he pointed. “My Brother is over there and will show it to you.”


    I walked quietly as I could across the beach and used thetrine there. The smell of waste was thick


    here. Most of the men were set up to sleep away from this area.


    Only three families were near thetrines. Evan’s bright eyes met mine and I gave him a fleeting smile.


    He returned it and pointed me back to my paltet.