The tired girl wanted to wipe dirt from her forehead but only managed to smear the green blood that seeped through the ebony bangs. She proudly lifted her chin and narrowed eyes at the torn embroidered shawl which draped loosely over her shoulders. She shrugged and wiped her bloody hands on torn trousers which were made from rough cloth. The burning sand was uncomfortable on soles of her bare feet, the harsh sun rays stabbed her exposed back and her head ached so much that she lost track of her surroundings. She desperately wanted to swallow but could not through the searing pain in her throat and omnipresent sand particles.
"It's infuriating. Why can't it be a little cooler!" She turned to a young man at her side.
He just desperately sighed, curled his chapped lips and shrugged muscular shoulders. She could see just his silhouette in the stark light but she noticed he has been hurt. The lacerations on his face will make a very ugly scar, she thought.
The man looked angrily at the narrow, long blade of dull metal that was still heavily stained with blood. He opened his mouth as if to say something but then just quietly slipped the knife into his belt next to water bottle which has been empty for several days…Then he closed his eyes…just for a moment, to free them from the piercing light. He inhaled deeply the stifling hot air with the nasty fine dust that seemed to be everywhere.
"Damn!" He shouted in sudden bout of anger and kicked into the nearest stone so hard that the skin on instep scraped and he hissed in pain.
"How it is possible that they got Sanek? Bastards! What do we do T'Pen? Just what do we do…" He started crying. He didn't know if it was anger or the horrible pain that filled him and had to get out…He wiped his tears but it brought more dust into his eyes. He gritted his teeth and wanted to stop but could not…his shoulders were shaking and was forgetting to breathe.
The girl gently stroked his cheek with bloodied hand which was missing two fingers. She wanted to calm him down but felt bitter tears in her eyes as well…
"Stop talking about it, Sirel!" She yelled hysterically at him…her voice shook. "Don't remind me of it! I want to forget! My poor little brother!" Then she engulfed him in tight embrace and they stood there for a moment…moment that felt like eternity.
They started moving again. They walked slowly through the barren desert. Sharp points of mountains loomed on the horizon and all around them were scattered huge rounded boulders which looked like some invisible hand haphazardly threw them there. Reddish smoke came from fissures in the ground and few dry stalks that managed to grow in this inhospitable place were slightly trembling in the wind. They did not speak, only the girl was moving her lips in silent chant.
The evening was slowly approaching when they saw light of bonfires and torches. It was Cha'na-Tha'lu, oasis, which still belonged to their Clan. A small place in desert, which gave them hope.
When they passed through the gate, it was impossible not to notice the group which was gathered around a middle aged, unarmed man who was sitting on a large stone. They could hear his voice, soft but rich. He was speaking with conviction and his hands were folded his in lap. There was calm expression on his face, his eyes stared blankly forward but his words made sense.
Sirel and T'Pen didn't hear what he said. Their fatigue and grief did not allow them to listen. They wanted to be at home, wanted to drink and go to sleep.
"Who is that?" T'Pen asked quietly one of the women who gathered around the speaker.
"He's a dreamer…a fool…" The woman's mate replied for her and scratched his head thoughtfully. "They call him Surak."