Into the Setting Sun (Chapter 1)
By Oonagh
Disclaimer: Nothing has changed since I wrote my last story, I still don't own Earth 2.
Author's Note: This is a repost of a story I posted last week. I guess something went wrong with the original post as the story kept vanishing from the listings. So I'm trying again and hopefully I'll have more luck. Chapter two is already written and typed - it was posted too - but I'm going to hold off on posting it till I see if this works.
Twenty-seven days ago I went to sleep and lost three weeks of my life. To me it seemed as if no time had passed but everyone else had moved on into the future. It's been two days since I rejoined the group and I see so many changes. On my first night back we had a party – Bess's idea, I think – and at the end of the evening I looked around for my tent and couldn't find it. Everyone was very apologetic – they'd just grown used to leaving my tent down. Uly, it seems, had been sleeping with the Danzigers. Three short weeks and yet so much is different. I feel disoriented and frightened. My place in this group was always so certain, it kept me grounded. But now, as I listen to Danziger explain the plan for crossing the river, I feel adrift. What is my place now?
Danziger stood beside Devon on the bank of the river nervously watching Alonzo drive the rail across the almost-causeway. Alonzo stalled slightly and Danziger stepped forward as if to help. Devon laid a hand on his arm.
"Don't worry, Danziger. He'll make it. Your plan is a good one." Danziger started. He'd almost forgotten Devon was there, she'd been so quiet all morning. And most of the previous evening. They'd reached the crossing spot late the night before and Danziger had laid out his plan for Devon, expecting her to take over and change it beyond recognition. To his shock, and disappointment, she'd merely nodded and said, 'It's up to you, Danziger. You've had more time to work on this than me.' And all this morning she'd stood by, silently. Her unusual behaviour had not gone unnoticed by the group who had been casting wary looks in her direction for the past few hours. Julia had muttered something to Danziger about delayed shock – the euphoria of her miraculous recovery and the reunification had worn off and reality had hit home. Danziger supposed that made sense – three weeks was a long time to lose – but he was still worried. Even now, as she reassured him, she sounded vague and distant. Danziger chose to overlook that and responded to her words rather than her tone.
"I hope you're right, Adair. We can't afford to lose anyone or anything crossing this. We're short enough on equipment as it is. And if we lose the 'rover we may as well just sit down and wait for death." He glanced at Devon, waiting for her frustrated response to such blatant pessimism.
"You're right about the 'rover. But your plan will work." Danziger shook his head at her calm response.
"Well I'd better go get the 'rover ready." He walked away, reflecting ruefully that he had never thought he would see the day he'd be deliberately provoking Devon to fight with him. While she'd been asleep he'd promised himself that their relationship would change when she woke up – that, now that he understood how difficult leadership was, he'd be more supportive and less combative. But now he'd be grateful if she just launched one small sarcastic attack at his pessimistic paranoia.
For two days the whole group had rejoiced at the return of Devon, whole and unchanged. She'd spent those two days laughing and joking, catching up on events and on gossip (it always amazed Danziger that such a small number of people could inspire such a huge amount of gossip, but there it was). Danziger had relegated leadership to her gladly although, by necessity, he made the plans for their immediate future. But now things had changed. Devon seemed to be withdrawing into herself, leaving Danziger in charge once more. Which he hated. But what concerned him more was Devon. He had hoped and fought and even prayed for her return. He had missed her – missed her wisdom, her optimism, her leadership, her laugh. And he thought he'd got all that back. For a short time he had his friend, the group had its leader and Uly had his mum. And now, Danziger was afraid, they were losing her again.
Danziger reached the transrover and forced the worried thoughts from his head. It would take all his concentration to manoeuvre the unwieldy vehicle safely across the river. He and magus had spent the morning making sure all the equipment was doubly strapped down. He had considered moving as much as possible and having people carry equipment across but in the end he'd decided that was too risky. One wrong step would send the equipment and the carrier into the fast-flowing river and they would be out of reach within seconds. In that situation, however, the transrover's weight would stand it in good stead, buying time to haul the vehicle out. Danziger did one last check of the straps and then swung himself into the 'rover's cab. Yale was already in the passenger seat, ready to keep an eye on the caterpillar tracks on that side of the vehicle to make sure they stayed on the rocks.
"Ready to go, Yale?" Yale nodded, his usually calm façade showing cracks.
"May God protect us." Danziger raised an eyebrow but then decided that, in the circumstances, a prayer couldn't hurt. He added a self-conscious Amen. Then he started the engine and began to move slowly forward. Ahead of him he could see Baines and Alonzo waiting, armed with grappling hooks, just in case. He knew that Morgan and Walman were on the bank behind him, similarly equipped. Danziger let out a heavy sigh and took a deep breath back in, willing himself calm. He alternated between looking out the windscreen and glancing down at the tracks on his side of the vehicle. Yale remained silent – he would only speak if something went wrong on his side.
About half way across Danziger began to relax slightly. So far so good. Things continued smoothly until about ten feet from the slowly approaching bank. The 'rover rocked to the left with a huge grinding sound and, at the same moment, Yale spoke.
"Loose rock. Turn to the right, John." Danziger grimaced, using all his strength to keep the 'rover under control.
"Can't. No room." The 'rover rocked again and the wheel was ripped from Danziger's hands, turning of its own accord. The front left wheels slipped off the rocks leaving the 'rover slanting into the river.
"Get over here, Yale. Put your weight over here." Yale scrambled upward, pressing Danziger against the cab door, and Danziger could see the tutor's lips moving in what he assumed to be silent prayer. Danziger too called for help, but not from God.
"Baines, Alonzo, get those hooks out here."
"We're here, Danziger. Getting you hooked up now. On our signal turn the wheel right as hard as you can."
"You got it, Alonzo." Danziger wished his view wasn't obscured by the rover's position. He always felt better when he could see what was happening.
"Now!" Alonzo's voice in his ear jerked Danziger into action, following the pilot's instruction. At first nothing happened but then the 'rover began to slowly right itself. Bit by bit they edged towards the bank until eventually the tracks found grip on solid ground and the 'rover rolled out of the river.
Danziger released the breath he'd been holding and swung out of the cab, anxious to check the vehicle for any damage. True and Uly immediately launched themselves at him and grabbed on to his waist.
"Are you okay, dad?"
"I really thought you were going in the river." Both kids sounded terrified so Danziger stopped to give them a hug.
"Don't worry. I was perfectly safe. Alonzo and Baines knew what they were doing." True nodded and after a moment Uly copied her, although Danziger was unsure just how convinced they were. He ruffled Uly's hair and joined Baines in checking the 'rover's undercarriage.
"Everything looks fine, Danziger." Danziger just grunted. He wouldn't feel confident about that until he had a chance to have a really good poke around. He crawled out from under the 'rover and went in search of Devon. He found her standing on the bank with Yale, looking back across the river.
"It looks like it was a good thing we brought the transrover across last, John." Danziger looked where Yale was pointing and saw a huge hole in the causeway. There was no way anyone could cross the river that way now. He shuddered slightly but then forced the 'what if' thoughts from his head.
"Adair, we need to stay here tonight. I don't want to drive the 'rover on till I check her over." Danziger braced himself for Devon's negative response – she always fought against anything that slowed down their progress towards New Pacifica. But today was different.
"If you think that's best Danziger. I'll tell everyone we're setting up camp." Devon walked off in the direction of the rest of the group, most of whom were clustered around the' rover. Danziger looked at Yale questioningly. The tutor shook his head.
"I think we just need to give her time. Let her adjust, John. She's been through a lot." Danziger sighed.
"I know. But I was so glad to have her back." Danziger spoke without thinking and then rushed to cover his mistake – he suspected Yale already had the wrong idea about how he felt about Devon.
"I mean, leading this group was a nightmare. I was happy to hand responsibility back to the woman who signed up for it." Yale nodded, a slight smile on his face. Danziger scowled and stalked off. He hated the fact that his nascent friendship with Devon was so often misinterpreted. The friendship had been so hard won and even now he was occasionally shocked to realise he was friends with a woman like Devon Adair. And friendship was all he wanted. Devon was definitely not his type, despite what Yale might think.
Danziger reached the rest of the group and was relieved to find that Devon had assigned everyone jobs and camp preparation was well on its way. Devon had roped Uly and True into helping put the Adair tent up and the three of them were fighting with the canvas, with much giggling from the two kids. Uly spotted Danziger and called out to him.
"John, John, come and help. The tent's trying to eat us!" Danziger laughed and shook his head at the boy's imagination. Then he saw Devon's face and his smile faded. All of a sudden she looked lost, her enjoyment at playing with the kids gone for a reason he couldn't fathom. Danziger walked over to them and helped put the tent up. Then he and True turned their attention to their own tent. Uly came with them to help but Devon politely excused herself.
"I should go and make sure there are no problems." Danziger nodded, glad she appeared to be taking on the mantle of leadership but vaguely uneasy about her timing. It almost seemed that she was making an excuse to get away from him and from the kids. Danziger dismissed that thought instantly – that just wasn't Devon. He knew few parents who were as devoted to their kids as Devon was to Uly. She was never happier than when she was with her son. It was that fact that had first made Danziger realise that she was more than just a spoiled rich girl.