Free Frozen Prospects by Dean Murray Page B

leave you."
    "You
have to. There isn't any other way to get help."
    ##
    The
trip back was a thing of nightmare. Va'del couldn't run, but he
pushed himself to the point where his legs trembled and his lungs
burned, and then tried to find the energy to go faster. Halfway
back to the village, the hint of breeze that'd been present all
morning became something strong enough to provide a solid push. It
brought a measure of relief to the teenager's tired body, but also
increased the risk he'd be pushed into a misstep that would send him
tumbling down the mountain to his death.
    I
can't let that happen, I'rone is depending on me, and I can't let
him down again.
    Despite
the tears still flowing down Va'del's cheeks, dropping to his coat
to freeze unnoticed, he got the feeling he was in a state of shock.
His mind struggled to protect him from feeling the full effects of
the loss he'd just experienced. Even so, the exhaustion he felt as
he stumbled the last few steps to the village entrance was as much
emotional as it was physical.
    Concerned
guardsmen caught Va'del as he collapsed, and as soon as they
recognized him, a runner was sent for the village Headman. Va'del's
strength was gone, but he tried to choke out his message around
coughs before the darkness claimed him. As he heard footsteps
running down the corridor towards them, the teenager lost his battle
and slipped into unconsciousness.
     
     

Chapter 7
     
    The
darkness seemed petulant in its desire to hold Va'del. No matter
how the teenager tried to fight his way back to consciousness, it
seemed that a series of unexplainable forces were effectively
immobilizing him.
    Only
after Va'del had exhausted himself in a futile effort to awake, did
it occur to him to wonder why it was so important he do so. Powers,
we have to get back out there.
    His
sense of urgency redoubled, Va'del finally forced his eyes open and
looked around at unfamiliar surroundings which were barely
illuminated by a partially-covered glow sphere.
    The
teenager's cries for help came out sounding like nothing he'd ever
heard from a human throat. It wasn't until he thrashed weakly in an
attempt to get out of bed that he finally captured someone's
attention. Gentle but firm hands were soon restraining him.
    "Hold
still, you're too weak to get up."
    She
doesn't understand, I have to.
    "If
you don't stop now I'll gladly put you back under. Your lungs were
burned worse than any others I've ever seen. I'm not about to go to
the effort of clearing the liquid out of them again if you overdo
it." Once Va'del stopped moving the hands disappeared and the
covering was removed from the glow sphere. "If you promise to
stay there I'll send for the Headman so you can ask your questions."
    Not
trusting his voice, Va'del nodded, and then waited while the healer
disappeared behind the privacy screen. When the ancient,
white-haired woman returned, she was carrying a steel tray piled
with food and drink.
    "You're
probably too weak still to manage this by yourself."
    Va'del
quickly found that the healer was right. His hands were willing to
make the effort, but they shook too badly.
    A
short time later a stocky man arrived. As Va'del looked over the
balding man, he realized he'd never met the Headman prior to this.
    The
Headman pulled one of the low metal chairs around, and sat down
facing the healer and her patient. "I'm Headman Allen; how do
you feel?"
    When
Va'del didn't respond, the Headman sighed. "I suppose that is
a foolish question for someone that has been asleep for the last two
days isn't it? We sent a group out this morning. Would have
sent one out yesterday, but the winds were too bad. Honestly I'm
not sure how you made it back with that wind howling at you the
entire way."
    The
slim hope Va'del had been holding out withered away. There was no
way I'rone could have survived two full days in the cold without
help. The teenager wanted to scream and swear at the Headman, at
the healer, at the unfeeling heavens, but even in