Chapter 5

They scaled down the steep drop, and started toward the forest.
"We've got to keep moving," Lily told Fiona. "Otherwise, they might send in planes, and find us, and take us back."
"I can't go back there," Fiona whispered. She wiped her hands on her pants, and Lily saw red streaks on the colourless clothing. "But, wouldn't it be safer to travel at night? It's hard to see at night." Lily nodded.
"It would be," she agreed, "but we must get into covering, otherwise it will be easy to see us."
"What about the heat sensors?"
"I've got pleanty of memories of cold things," Lily replied. Fiona stared at her.
"Where did you get all these memories, Lily?" Lily hesitated.
"Jonas," she replied softly.
"Jonas? Your older brother?"
"Yes." Lily bent down next to the calmer water. They were far enough from the drop that the water did not rush so violently anymore. She wondered how she could get them to move along faster.
"Lily, did he violeate his training, then, and give you memories when you were so little?"
"Of course not!"
"But, Jonas was Lost."
"Lost, yes. But I don't think he was killed."
"Killed?"
Lily flinched.
"Killed," she replied, hoping to explain, "like the boy in the memory I just gave you. It means to make dead." Fiona nodded, but she had gone terribly pale. Lily cupped her hands, and drank some of the water.
Fiona stared at the water.
"I don't want to go for another swim," she said. Lily laughed.
"No, niether do I. Still, we should keep near the water."
"There may be more communities on the river."
"I don't think so," Lily replied. She stood. "Look over there, at those trees. Tell me what you see."
"Trees. Normal, everyday trees."
"Fair enough. What do you see beyond those trees?" Fiona squinted, and let out a gasp.
"Beyond!" she cried. "Like in my memories!" Lily nodded as the older girl turned to her.
"Green trees. No more Sameness. No more communities."
"So, that's where we are going to go?"
"That's where we are going to try to go to. I have no idea waht is beyond Beyond, but there must be something out there, people maybe, who can help us."
"And, what are we trying to do?" Fiona asked. Lily smiled.
"We are going to find Jonas."

They trecked along at a quick pace. Light was falling out of the sky, and it was getting dark. It was not getting any colder, though, and Lily was glad. In some of her memories, when night came, it got terribly cold. They reached the trees just before daybreak. By that time, Lily was thoroughly exhausted.
"I can't move another step," Fiona muttered. She plunked down at the bottom of a tree. Lily stared at the tree until a memory came, and she knew it was a maple tree. No fruit grew on maple trees.
"We can sleep here, I think."
Lily curled up on the ground. The ground was hard, moist and smelled funny. Still she was somehow glad that she was under the trees, where the air smelled fresh.
"Lily?" came Fiona's fearful voice next to her.
"What is it, Fiona?" she asked, trying not to yawn. It would be rude.
"What if tigers come?" Lily sat up, rubbing her eyes.
"Tigers?" she repeated.
"They are frightening beasts who eat people. They are striped."
"Black and orange?" Lily asked. Fiona puzzled over this for a moment.
"I think that was the Old Recievers word for it: orange. Yes, he said I'd never see a Tiger in a community, except as a comfort object."
"You won't see one here either, Fiona, I promise. Tigers like really warm, humid places."
"Humid?" Lily sighed. There was just so much to explain, and right now she didn't have the energy. "Warm, wet air," she explained as best as she could. "We are safe here, Fiona. We're still in the Sameness, and there are no animals here. Now, go to sleep before it gets too light out." She curled up in a ball again, and tried to sleep.

Lily jerked awake when a low hum startled her.
"Fiona, wake up!" she whispered. She grabbed the girl's arm.
"Lily, you're hurting me!"
"Be still," Lily hissed. She used her memory of a snow storm to bring their body temperatures down. They waited in silence for a moment, until the plane was gone.
Lily let go of the woman's arm as they shivered. She still had a fraction of the snow storm memory, but it was faded.
"I appologize for hurting you," Lily said. Fiona smiled sadly.
"I accept your appology," she replied. "But can we get out of here? I'm so cold!"
"If we move, we'll warm up," Lily said. "I don't think I could sleep now anyhow. Still, let's stay under the canopy tonight."
"Canopy?" Lily heaved a sigh, and explained as they walked.