1 CHAPTER 10: KARRASS
A day away from the spaceport! Most of the ships currently dock were either being repaired or modified or they were declared beyond repair and scrapped for their reusable materials. No new vessels were expected to dock until sometime tomorrow. Karrass hadn't had a day to himself in a long time. Not since he first dropped his rank and left the military.
He had gone to the base as usual to report in for work. He was told that he wouldn't be needed; that there was little to do he could not accomplish in a short time. Karrass went around and inspected each ship's repair job. He was greeted stiffly by his older subordinates and with adoration by the younger trainees. When he finished, Karrass left for his home.
As he walked, Karrass thought of things to amuse him for the remainder of the day. Timo worked for a government official, so it was a given that he would not have time to spare. There were always his other friends, but they were more along the lines of bragging buddies.
Karrass was in too good a mood to hear who was with so-and-so, how she "was," and what could be the possible punishment if she ever got caught and gave him off. That's the way it always went. A form of thrill seeking, since "being" with a guy before marriage was cause for punishment and an extremely dishonorable act. But that didn't mean that boys got away total unscathed. Any guy who was caught was handed over to the father of the girl for whatever service the father demanded of him. It was unfair though, seeing as how the boy got away with his reputation intact.
I could always do with a little extra sleep, Karrass weighed the option against turning around and finding his friends. Sleep won. Since he had seen Mariel more and more often, the way he thought about females had changed. He was about to move on to the subject of Mariel and the fact that he had not seen her for the past few days when he saw a person stumble towards his general direction.
He stopped and was compelled to watch her the valiant struggle to rise. He had no idea that this dirty, ragged girl was and what she was trying to accomplish. He felt a profound pity for her, whoever she was, and began to approach her. The closer he got, the worse her appearance became.
It was obvious that she had suffered.
There was something about the way she carried herself that struck a chord in Karrass' mind. The girl's proud; although beaten air was familiar. He stopped to ponder this and considered who she could be. At first, he gave vent to the idea that it could be Mariel, but dismissed it as a wistful thought; a wish even.
There is no way she could have come this far alone, on hoof anyway. He argued with himself. It was news around the base that she had supposedly run away. Karrass did not know what from, and furthermore, the hushed conversation came to an abrupt halt when War Prince Breeyar came within earshot. Karrass had not heard anymore talk concerning the matter and had let it rest that she was far too sensible to do that. Even if she had run, no matter the reason, she would have been seen and taken back to her family.
If only, Karrass thought once again of the natural enchantress that had made off with his heart with the first words she had spoken to him. He decided to help the girl.
He walked over to her. She stared up at him, eyes wild, and abruptly turned her face to her shredded hand. Karrass came to stand just behind her. He noticed that one of her ears had been ribboned and that a few deep scratches marred her shapely upper back. Several burrs had caught in fur on her flanks.
Hey! Are you all right?
Fine, she answered. The thought-speech reply would have been a course bark, had she a voice.
Do you need help? You look as if you are in pain, Karrass came to be standing beside her. He looked down at her. She continued to crouch in the grass.
No. She was being very short with him. He didn't like the fact she felt that she had the standings to be short with him when obviously she was very near to being in his debt.
She sounded far too familiar for his liking. He tried to lean around to see her face, but she parried his every attempt.
Turn around, he tried to coerce her into showing him her face. After a few more tries, he gave up and reached for her. She turned aside to avoid his hand. Karrass hated to humble her so greatly, but seeing no other way, he caught her by her chin between his thumb and forefinger. He jerked her head around.
Her countenance was undeniable.
Mariel, He said in shock as he tore his hand from her face.
A day away from the spaceport! Most of the ships currently dock were either being repaired or modified or they were declared beyond repair and scrapped for their reusable materials. No new vessels were expected to dock until sometime tomorrow. Karrass hadn't had a day to himself in a long time. Not since he first dropped his rank and left the military.
He had gone to the base as usual to report in for work. He was told that he wouldn't be needed; that there was little to do he could not accomplish in a short time. Karrass went around and inspected each ship's repair job. He was greeted stiffly by his older subordinates and with adoration by the younger trainees. When he finished, Karrass left for his home.
As he walked, Karrass thought of things to amuse him for the remainder of the day. Timo worked for a government official, so it was a given that he would not have time to spare. There were always his other friends, but they were more along the lines of bragging buddies.
Karrass was in too good a mood to hear who was with so-and-so, how she "was," and what could be the possible punishment if she ever got caught and gave him off. That's the way it always went. A form of thrill seeking, since "being" with a guy before marriage was cause for punishment and an extremely dishonorable act. But that didn't mean that boys got away total unscathed. Any guy who was caught was handed over to the father of the girl for whatever service the father demanded of him. It was unfair though, seeing as how the boy got away with his reputation intact.
I could always do with a little extra sleep, Karrass weighed the option against turning around and finding his friends. Sleep won. Since he had seen Mariel more and more often, the way he thought about females had changed. He was about to move on to the subject of Mariel and the fact that he had not seen her for the past few days when he saw a person stumble towards his general direction.
He stopped and was compelled to watch her the valiant struggle to rise. He had no idea that this dirty, ragged girl was and what she was trying to accomplish. He felt a profound pity for her, whoever she was, and began to approach her. The closer he got, the worse her appearance became.
It was obvious that she had suffered.
There was something about the way she carried herself that struck a chord in Karrass' mind. The girl's proud; although beaten air was familiar. He stopped to ponder this and considered who she could be. At first, he gave vent to the idea that it could be Mariel, but dismissed it as a wistful thought; a wish even.
There is no way she could have come this far alone, on hoof anyway. He argued with himself. It was news around the base that she had supposedly run away. Karrass did not know what from, and furthermore, the hushed conversation came to an abrupt halt when War Prince Breeyar came within earshot. Karrass had not heard anymore talk concerning the matter and had let it rest that she was far too sensible to do that. Even if she had run, no matter the reason, she would have been seen and taken back to her family.
If only, Karrass thought once again of the natural enchantress that had made off with his heart with the first words she had spoken to him. He decided to help the girl.
He walked over to her. She stared up at him, eyes wild, and abruptly turned her face to her shredded hand. Karrass came to stand just behind her. He noticed that one of her ears had been ribboned and that a few deep scratches marred her shapely upper back. Several burrs had caught in fur on her flanks.
Hey! Are you all right?
Fine, she answered. The thought-speech reply would have been a course bark, had she a voice.
Do you need help? You look as if you are in pain, Karrass came to be standing beside her. He looked down at her. She continued to crouch in the grass.
No. She was being very short with him. He didn't like the fact she felt that she had the standings to be short with him when obviously she was very near to being in his debt.
She sounded far too familiar for his liking. He tried to lean around to see her face, but she parried his every attempt.
Turn around, he tried to coerce her into showing him her face. After a few more tries, he gave up and reached for her. She turned aside to avoid his hand. Karrass hated to humble her so greatly, but seeing no other way, he caught her by her chin between his thumb and forefinger. He jerked her head around.
Her countenance was undeniable.
Mariel, He said in shock as he tore his hand from her face.