Chapter Two Reasons

Following her nose, Sintel stepped into a hall where at one time many people sat and ate at once. On a table near the door Braan had set out the food, with more than enough for both of them. The room was large, with windows looking toward the candle-machine and the other side of the building, where the black panels sat. She noticed they had changed position, still following the sun. She would have to ask about that. The windows were intact here too.

Braan HAD cleaned up nicely, just as she thought. He was a bit taller than her, fit and strong but not bulky. He had brown hair with strands of lighter brown intermixed, medium brown eyes, and tanned skin. He had changed from his work clothes as well.

She was glad now she had taken the nice, hot bath and put on her spare clothes. Her normal ones were soaking in the tub now.

"Your wound is bleeding; let me look at it," he said, gesturing at a table where a wooden box sat. It proved to be full of medical supplies.

He took off the crude bandage and looked carefully. "It will probably scar, but it won't get infected." He took out a bottle and put some on a cloth. "This will sting a bit."

Indeed it did. But Sintel sat stoically and just said "Ouch." in a monotone voice.

Braan was impressed. Not only had this visitor cleaned up well, she was brave. He judged her to be about twenty-two.

Finished, they sat down and Sintel looked over the meal. Some kind of roast meat with fat still clinging to it that smelled wonderful, a white round vegetable she didn't recognize, and mint tea. There was something else in the glass, though. She pulled one out, finding it to be a clear cold cube that made the drink cold too.

"What is this?" she asked, holding out the cube.

"Ice," he replied, "It's frozen water. You've never seen it before?"

She looked at the cube closely before putting it back in the drink. "No. I've heard of it, though. A man from north of Ishtar told me about it. I didn't believe him."

"Oh, so you're from Ishtar?" he said, slicing off some of the meat and putting it on her plate, "I thought that place was long abandoned." He added some of the vegetable.

She shook her head. "There are lots of people there. But everything is decaying, and nobody does anything about it."

"Is that why you left?" he asked, filling his own plate and digging in.

"No. I'm searching for a friend," she replied. She had cut up a piece of meat and speared a piece with a skewer. "Mmmm... this is good!"

He smiled. "Glad you like it! Eat your fill, we have plenty. And cold sliced fruit for after. Did you think you would find your friend here?"

"Oh, no. I saw that... candle... go up last night, and wanted to find out what it was," she said.

"I see. Well, that will take some explaining, so let's wait until after dinner," he replied, "In the meantime, tell me about your travels."

It wasn't the first time she had told the tale, so far as it had gone, and she doubted it would be the last.

So Sintel told him of finding the injured baby dragon she named Scales, healing him and bonding with him. Then the adult dragon had grabbed him, and taken him away to the west, and she followed soon after.

She talked about the changes in the land and weather she had experienced, as well as the different people she had encountered and spent time with. She spoke of the despair of getting lost in the Bamboo Forest and not finding a way out until her food was gone.

Last she told him of the lands just to the east, where wind and water had carved the yellow rock deeply into spires, and the dangerous animals that lived there. The rocky highlands that stretched into the distance were her next goal.

The story wound down to the present as they finished the chilled fruit.

He was silent for a bit, taking it all in. Then: "So, how long have you been looking for Scales?"

She frowned. "I'm... not sure. The seasons seem to change everywhere I go. Hard to keep track. But it's been a good while."

"Well, good luck to you. I hope you find him safe, and soon," Braan said. "If you're done, let me clean up and I'll explain what I'm doing here."

She helped him put away the food and wash dishes. The running water was unusual for her. "In Ishtar, only a few houses have it. Most houses have the fixtures, but they don't work."

"Understandable, if it's decayed as badly as you say it has," he nodded.

Finished, she followed him to a door directly across the hall. Inside was a room full of books, scrolls, and papers. A metal spiral staircase near the back led up, so she guessed they were under the second-story room.

He sat down at a table, and gestured for her to take the other chair. "So," he said, "What do you know about the planets and stars?"

She sat and thought a moment. "Well, I know the world is like a ball that goes around the sun, and the Goddess goes around the sun with it. And I know the stars are other suns with other worlds around them. And I know the shapes in the sky and the names of the stars."

"Very good! That will make things easier. Did you have formal schooling?" he asked with a smile.

"No, my parents taught me until they died," answered the redhead, sadly.

"I'm sorry," he said. Then: "That 'candle', as you call it, is a machine that allows travel from one world to another."

She gave a whistle. "That's amazing!"

"You don't believe me?"

"Sure! If ships can sail across oceans to other lands, why can't a machine fly there?" she asked, reasonably.

Braan was impressed. This girl wasn't terrified and superstitious like many he had met. He suddenly noticed her eyes were golden-red, almost hidden by her loose dark red hair.

"Well, the reason for these machines, which are called 'rockets', by the way, is because we are leaving this world for a new one," he said.

"Why? What's wrong with this one?" she asked, wrinkling her brow in confusion.

"Things everywhere are getting worse," he began, "Trade reducing or stopping, new things no longer being invented, people letting everything go to concentrate on surviving. My country was the most advanced in the world, and it was starting to affect us as well, so we decided to go elsewhere and start over."

"Seems like a lot of trouble to do that..." she said, thoughtfully.

"It is. But resources are dwindling as well, and we needed to leave while we still could," he added. "We've been doing so for the last hundred years."

"So... what was that candle, I mean, ro... rok...?"

"Rocket. It was the second of two cargo sections. I'll be leaving in the one left," he said, gesturing vaguely toward the front.

"So when are you leaving?"

He hesitated. "In more than twenty-six days, and less than thirty-five days."

"Where are you going?" she asked, eagerly.

"To a place on the Goddess," he answered slowly. Many religious groups would consider that a blasphemy. He might have to defend himself against her.

But her face lit up. "Really? You can LIVE there?"

"Sure!" he said, relieved, "The plants and animals look different, but it's just like here."

"Okay, I'll admit I don't really understand, but that's okay. You know what you're doing," she said.

"It's almost dark, let's go see the other rockets," he said, standing up.

They went outside and looked toward the west, where the sun had set and the light fading fast. Suddenly from over the edge of the building came a moving star, followed by a fainter and slower-moving second.

"The brighter one is the rocket you saw, and the other is the other two parts joined together already," he explained.

"Is everyone from your country going?" she asked, watching the swiftly moving objects as they sailed east.

"Yes. Our numbers had dwindled to the point it was possible to build enough rockets." He looked at his visitor. "I am the last to leave."

She had more questions, but decided to save them for now. The excitement was wearing off, a full belly making her sleepy, and she felt safe here.

They watched the two stars as they traced a path through the heavens, then went inside. Saying good night, Sintel went to her room, locked the door, and turned off the light. She was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.