Chapter Thirty-Six
Once the public announcement had reached its despicable conclusion, the Gildan population drew away from their meeting place and returned to their homes. Dorme and I followed Narrn back to his, finding the atmosphere even less congenial than before.
"They will sacrifice Abnah!" Asbey was panicked, fear creasing her gaunt features.
"No they won't," Narrn promised, grabbing a can of something from the shelf and prying it open with a single fingernail. He proceeded to pour the contents, which resembled some type of gelatinous meat byproduct into a questionably clean plasteel container and then began to divide it up.
"They will!" Asbey argued. "He is too curious for his own good. This isn't the first time he's gotten into trouble. When it comes down to it, you know the tribe will hand him over."
As if unaware the older ones were speaking of him, Abnah sat alone in the dust, carefully drawing circular patterns on the floor. I wondered if all of his mental faculties were functioning properly. He had yet to speak, even to his own family.
"I won't let them." Narrn strongly accentuated his words before turning to hand Dorme and I each a bowl of the protein jelly.
"Uh…no thanks," Dorme replied, receiving an immediate glare from me for her slight insensitivity.
"We appreciate your hospitality," I quickly explained, "but we brought our own supplies, and would not dare take what little you have. Besides, you're being placed on half rations now, and you need to conserve." I said, hoping we had not offended him.
Narrn listened and then looked back at the meager amount of things in the cabinet, obviously deciding what I'd said made sense. Instead, he gave one bowl to his sister, and the other to his little brother. I frowned in slight disgust as I watched Abnah lap the goop up with his fingers, depositing it into his mouth with glee.
"I need to talk to you about the man in the video." I once again addressed Narrn. "The man you call the Dark One."
Narrn tossed the empty can into a receptacle and reached for a thin wafer, which he began to munch on. "What about him?" he asked between bites.
"His real name is Count Dooku. He was once a Jedi, but he's apparently turned to the Dark Side of what's called the Force."
"The Force?" Asbey repeated with genuine curiosity.
"The Force..it's kind of like…" I struggled. I'd never had to explain it before, and was having difficulty.
"It's the hidden power Jedi use to move stuff with their minds," Dorme explained. "It gives them strength in battle, and sometimes even tells them what they should do."
Close enough, I figured.
Her simple explanation had drawn the youngest's eyes from his food, and he looked at Dorme, his brow ridge lowering with sudden and deep concern.
"What is it, Abnah?" Narrn asked. Instead of the young Gildan responding to his brother, though, he turned to his sister and began making hand motions and gestures with his arms, and even with his eyes, which he blinked and widened in a variety of movements.
"What's wrong with him?" Dorme, who was often guilty of speaking her mind when she shouldn't, directed the question toward me, although it was answered by Narrn.
"He doesn't speak. The Dark One took his tongue when he was quite young, after he'd gotten caught trespassing in the resort the first time."
I was absolutely appalled! Who would do that to a youngling? What kind of monster had Count Dooku become?
It was apparent after a while that Abnah was attempting to communicate with his sister, especially when she began making similar motions in response.
"What is he saying?" Narrn asked his sister.
Asbey tenderly caressed her smaller brother's forehead ridge before he returned his attention to his meal and she rose from her kneeling position in front of him.
"He is worried about the Force man. He thinks it's his fault the man was captured. He feels bad and wants us to help you find him." Asbey told us.
"Out of the question!" Narrn exploded. "We are not risking what little is left of our family to save this human!"
Asbey approached her older brother, and placed her narrow grip upon his forearm, her eyes saddening. "Even if that human saved Abnah? You know he was up top again. He was looking for treasures when he was caught by one of the Dark One's ruffians. They were taking him away! And it was this human...this Jedi who saved him! And in return for that kindness, we are going to turn a blind eye toward his own suffering? Narrn! Does that seem just? Are we no better than the Dark One? Do we not feel? Do we not have empathy or care for no one but ourselves?"
"Enough!" Narrn shouted before he twisted around and walked out of the compartment, leaving Dorme and I both in a rather uncomfortable situation, but with a newfound respect for little Abnah and his sister.
"Don't worry, Abnah," I said, kneeling down, and touching his head with my hand, finding his hairless skin as cool as the underground, which had become his home. "We'll find the Jedi who helped you, and he will be fine. I promise."
A small smile creased his face, but behind his eyes there lingered worry, a mere reflection of my own, I imagined.
I then rose from the floor to focus upon Asbey, who's gaze was as compassionate as it was determined. "I am sorry," she said, "but my brother is very protective of his family."
"That's not a bad thing," Dorme told her. "It just proves how much he loves you."
"Sometimes, such strong emotions stop you from doing what is right." Asbey said to Dorme before returning her attention back to me. "I wish we could help you."
"You can," I stated simply. "All you have to do is just show us the way."