Free Strange Attractors by Kim Falconer Page B

overhead, filtering the sun and creating shifting patterns. The air was filled with the warble, cluck and chitchat of dozens of birds. A river ran past, a short distance from his toes. He wiggled them, blue shrivelled nubs. He sat up, tucked his feet underneath himself and straightened his back, wincing at the pain in his side. ‘We came out of there?’ he asked, pointing at the rushing water.
    The opposite bank was further away than he could throw a stone. It looked dark and still in the centre but the edges bubbled, white water flowing around the rocks.
    ‘I did. You had to be rescued.’ Selene avoided his eyes.
    ‘How did you manage it?’ He shivered.
    ‘I dragged you. Come on. Let’s get into the sun. We need to warm up.’
    ‘Where’re my clothes? My pipes! Didn’t you get them?’ He looked around, seeing nothing on the shore but grass and sand. ‘Annadusa gave me those instruments. I can’t leave them behind.’
    Selene stood naked in front of him. ‘Be grateful you’re alive to play another tune, bard.’
    He reached for her outstretched hand and struggled to his feet, his face contorting. ‘You lost them? You lost my flutes, my clothes…my sword.’
    She let go of his hand and he fell back to the ground. ‘Don’t be stupid. They aren’t lost. They’re down there, in the depths of that rushing river, or perhaps at the bottom of the cave stream. You go right ahead and look for them, if you want to so badly. Dive down into that black hole and bring them up. Get my pack while you’re at it, and my sword, will you? I’ll be waiting over there, in the sun.’ She strode away. ‘Just don’t expect me to retrieve you ever again.’
    His shoulders sagged. He could barely stand, let alone dive for sunken treasures. He followed her into the heat of the day, careful not to tread on the bees. The sun warmed him immediately though his knees were still wobbly. He collapsed in the thick grass, shading his eyes. ‘You don’t have any clothes either?’ He looked her up and down, keeping his expression neutral.
    ‘Let’s review, shall we?’ She made a show of looking around. ‘No. They must be at the bottom of the river too, where I had to choose between holding onto my pack and saving your life.’
    He closed his eyes. ‘Sorry. I don’t remember what happened.’
    ‘Well I do. You didn’t come back. I stood at the edge of the cave pool and waited, counting my own breaths. When I knew it had been too long, by double, I dived in. You were right. It was a short swim to the other side but you had sunk to the bottom. I dragged you up, letting go of my pack to get you ashore.’
    He covered his face with his hands. ‘It’s not how I planned it.’
    ‘Not my first choice either.’ She sat beside him. ‘You weren’t breathing and your skin was grey. I pounded on your chest and you revived. But to answer your question—you’re right. We have no clothes, no food, no weapons and no flutes. If we don’t get help soon, we’ll be as good as drowned.’
    He groaned and sat up. ‘Do you see the mountain anywhere?’
    ‘Mount Pelt?’ She shook her head. ‘Nothing like it. I don’t think we’re on Tensar. Not any Tensar I ever scouted.’ She waved towards the horizon. ‘Does this look like Gaela to you, or Earth? Somewhere you and Rosette have been?’
    Shane didn’t answer right away. So far it didn’t but he scanned the horizon, hoping something familiar would appear. ‘I don’t recognise it.’
    She blew out her breath. ‘We need to find habitation before dark. The sun is already getting lower.’
    ‘If we do find anyone, how will we explain this?’ he asked, looking down at his naked body.
    ‘You’re the bard,’ she snapped. ‘Make something up. Come on. There isn’t much time left.’ She squinted towards the sun. ‘That way is east.’
    He struggled to his feet, rubbing his hands together. ‘Or west.’
    ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘Gaela’s sun sets in the