From the Ashes chapter 12
Disclaimer: You know the drill.
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The successful and ebullient rescue team left Bennett's ship early the next morning. Getting five people into the 'rail was a challenge. It wouldn't have been possible at all had Uly not been so small. Alonzo drove and Julia sat beside him. Uly sat in the back, squeezed between his mum and Danziger, a huge, happy grin on his face. Right now, as far as he was concerned, life couldn't get any better. Before they even started moving Danziger and Devon were wriggling around, trying to get comfortable.
"Tell me, Danziger, why exactly did you bring a four-seater vehicle for five people. I mean, I know optimism isn't your strong suit, but still…" Danziger scowled at her over Uly's head.
"I didn't want to leave the rest of the group with no small vehicles. I figured we could manage."
"Just shows what you know." Danziger's scowl deepened and Devon laughed. She'd been doing that a lot since her revival the day before.
The two-and-a-half day journey back to the camp passed quickly, despite the discomfort. Uly kept up a steady stream of chatter, filling his mother in on every detail of what the group had done since placing Devon in the cryo-chamber. Danziger was amazed at exactly how much Uly had taken in. Occasionally, Danziger or Julia or Alonzo managed to get a word in but mostly those three days belonged to Uly and no one begrudged him his happy chatter.
Shortly after noon on the third day the arrived back at camp to find everybody congregated around the campfire, waiting on them. True was the first to come running over, hugging her dad and then staring warily at Devon before hugging her too. AS if this served as some sort of cue, the rest of the group flocked around Devon, hugging her and exclaiming at her healthy appearance; the journey from the ship had served to put colour back in her cheeks. Bess cried, a huge smile on her face, as she greeted Devon. Yale wiped tears from his eyes and held her close for a long while – he had feared that he would never again see the woman he thought of as his daughter. And yet here she stood, laughing but looking a little overwhelmed at all the attention. Danziger let the greetings continue for a few minutes longer and then he intervened.
"Okay, Okay, let's give the woman some room to breathe." The people crowding around Devon fell back, abashed, and Bess and True escorted Devon to a seat beside the fire.
"Would you like something to eat, Devon? We've got stew with actual meat in it."
"Actual meat, huh? You've obviously been busy." True grinned at Devon and sat down beside her.
"We have. While dad was gone Walman and Mazatl shot lots of animals – we've got piles of meat now. And me and Bess and Magus smoked it. That's why my hair smells smoky. And Baines made some kind of machine. I forget the name of it but he says it'll make a surprise for everyone so we can have a welcome-back-Devon party." True stopped for breath and both Devon and Danziger looked quizzically at Baines who had a slightly sheepish expression on his face.
"A still. I made a still. It, um, didn't work very well, though. Only one batch was drinkable. But there's enough for a toast at any rate."
"And you're sure it's not going to poison us all?" Danziger asked cautiously, having been burned before by home-made alcohol.
"Walman and I tested it." Danziger glanced at Devon, who shrugged.
"Okay then, Baines. Bring it out and we'll toast Devon's return." Baines reached under the crate he was sitting on and withdrew a large canteen. He poured a little of the clear liquid into everybody's cup, passing over Uly and True who were given water by Yale. The strong smell caused most of the group to screw up their noses. Danziger raised his cup.
"To Devon. And to having everybody back together again."
"To Devon", the whole group chorused before swallowing the drink. Bess and Yale spat it straight out again and the rest of the group choked uncontrollably, except Baines and Walman who looked around, puzzled.
"What is that, about eighty proof?" Julia wheezed. Devon nodded.
"Baines, I can't help wonder what you and Walman normally drink if you both thought that was okay!" The rest of the group joined in Devon's teasing, the children looking on in mystified, but happy, silence. Danziger sat back on his crate and looked around at the laughing faces, feeling better than he had at any time since crashing on G889.
Once again this planet has blindsided us –taking Devon away and then giving her back. Terrifying us and then giving us hope. Hope that the planet is accepting us, that we need not fear the fate of Bennett's group. Hope that the colonists will find a home here. And with Devon back that hope becomes almost a certainty.
The end.
A/N: I have a sequel if anyone's interested. Please review, this is the first longish story I've ever finished and I'd really like to know what people thought. Even if they hated it, although in that case please tell me why.