sovbooks 586. For your life, 3
586. For your life, 3
(Myls)Sanïssia dropped me on the main level of the garden and then went for a swim into the sea.
These levels are artificial but organic constructs from Grape.
Floating trees growing in the shape of discs, and all sharing roots like cables with each other.
Some discs hold buildings we all built up together. Other just grow lush as they gathered soil, and the ball trees everywhere grow even wider than in their original habitat, under our alcoholic gardner’s care.
The top levels hold only woods. Trees growing on top of weird trees.
Seen from a distance, the intricate structure looks like a giant tree, but it’s really a colony of moss and jungles alongside structures able to float. Not that it isn’t impressive in itself.
On the main level is Grape’s main chamber, which also is the living room of the... building.
Zeslinry welcomes me back warmly. A little too warmly maybe. I notice the cup and bottle a little further as she hugs me.
M – Grape! You got her drunk again!
Our drunken overlord laughs it off, not even trying to deny it.
I know how it goes since I’ve been trapped countless times too. It starts with a friendly chat and just water or a fresh juice. And gradually, she increases the alcohol intake.
And before you know it, while you’re having a nice time, you find yourself as merry as her.
M – Well, good that you’re both here anyway. I’ve got to tell you about what’s coming...
~
Grape can be serious for a few minutes as well on occasions.
She thinks about the storm that’s coming our way.
M – We could probably take shelter in the dam, but what about the garden?
The thing is even if the flying trees look like they could float away to safety, they truly cannot. They all are bound to roughly the same spot or they become uprooted and die. So the garden has roots and can’t fly away to safety.
G – Could Sanïssia withstand it?
M – It’s much bigger than that. Even she shouldn’t fly through that.
G – Hm... Well, there isn’t much to do then.
Wait, that’s it?
Grape laughed at my face.
~
Grape brought the entire garden to land around the fields. She had to stretch some root filaments to their limits, and some of them broke. We lost some levels. But in less than a day, all had returned to the ground and anchored itself there.
In the distance, the cyclone appeared as a bluish or grey dark wall.
Zes and I made our way to the dam’s inner chambers, while Grape finished her work.
The turbines room is dark, because we haven’t found spare light bulbs in the ruins around. So we lit a fire in a small chimney and torches here and there.
The ruckus of the last functioning turbine is loud when you’re near but manageable at the other end of the room.
Small windows let us see the sky darkening as if night was falling.
M – Reminds us of our old home hm.
Z – We did have a few biblical storms yes, nearly on a yearly basis. We always managed well.
Zes is still a little flushed, but not drunk. She keeps smiling though, and looking at me oddly, making me uneasy.
M – What?
Z – Hm, nothing. I’m just happy.
She doesn’t share much of my anxiety.
Outside, the downpour starts. It creeps on me, making me restless.
Zes lies on a couch and asks me to come by her side. Another hug ensues.
M – You’re clingy today...
Z – You don’t like it when I am?
M – I... uh...
And here she laughs again.
M – Grape is rubbing off on you...
It’s a loud laugh now. I’m forced to lie down against her. It’s embarrassing, but also soothing.
The thunderstorm rages outside. It drips water here and there inside. We will have a lot to repair and rebuild I can already guess...
I end up dozing off against my will.
~
I wake up in the middle of the night. It’s still raining outside, and it’s all damp inside. But it sounds like the worst is already behind.
Grape looks asleep over her bed. That’s odd, but not worryingly weird. Zes isn’t here. That however...
I stand up and look around.
I walk through puddles and corridors. I go by the main scenic room, its windows now all broken to pieces. She’s there, leaning against a pillar, gazing outside at the rain. It does look somewhat nice.
M – Zes?
Z – Oh, you can’t sleep?
It’s too dim to see her face.
M – I was wondering where you went.
She giggles.
Z – I’m so glad, and grateful you know... Thank you Myls.
M – Don’t... mention it.
She shares her drink with me. I smell it first. I think it’s only water, but can’t be too careful around here.
We stay there a while, feeling fuzzier nonetheless.
Z – Come on, back to bed, hm?
Pulling my hand, we returned to our shelter room.
But she keeps clinging to me in the most unusual manners! That makes me feel stressed...
M – What’s gotten into you Zes?
Z – Hm... I told you. You’ve made me happy.
I don’t know what to say to that. I’m unable to move to attempt to escape her embrace so I just sweat nervously now.
M – You know how I feel...
Z – Hm hm. I’m not going anywhere.
Not much happened next as she held me near her. Aside my heart feeling like it exploded a time or two. And loads of nervous sweat all over me.
But I was able to hold her as close as I desired to me.
All of her. I was still not relaxed.
In the end what I wanted wasn’t quite about sex. I realised she figured that out a long time before me. She already knew. I held her, her skin and her smell tighter to me, until I fell asleep against her.
~