Free The Empty by Thom Reese Page A

any other look her way. I knew I must remain nearby lest she be harmed.”
    “Why not simply kill Wilhelm and free your sister?”
    Oskar seemed astounded. His face crumpled into a peculiar expression and his eyes narrowed so much so that Dolnaraq could no longer see the green of them. “Have you learned nothing of human society in all of our time together?”
    Dolnaraq remained expressionless.
    “Civilized men do not simply kill other men they do not like,” added Oskar when it became clear Dolnaraq was offering no response.
    “I have learned that civilized men do in fact kill one another for numerous reasons; many of which are less substantial than those you’ve just presented.”
    “It is illegal—immoral.”
    “And quite common,” added Dolnaraq.
    Oskar shook his head. “The point is this: Frieda is the reason a learned man scrapes up manure in this shabby little establishment. I signed on in order to be near to her. Now, I do believe its time you continued with your reading.” Oskar rose, set the metal stool aside, and strolled off to tend to the elephant.
    * * * *
     
    The relationship between Dolnaraq and Oskar was more than that of teacher and student. Just over three weeks into their lessons together, long before Dolnaraq had much benefited from Oskar’s teachings, the young reyaqc was, once again, depleted. His energy level dropped significantly no matter how much he ate and drank. His limbs shook and his vision blurred. Oskar approached the cage as Dolnaraq lay huddled in the corner. “Otto, you are ill, my friend.”
    “It is time. I require essence.”
    Oskar became nervous at this, obviously recalling the last time Dolnaraq had claimed a need for “essence.”
    “What is this essence? You’ve mentioned it before.”
    “It is…essence. I know no other way to explain it.” The words were slow and difficult to speak. Dolnaraq was weak, and he was not yet fluent in the German language.
    “The essence,” asked Oskar. “Did you take essence from me when you attacked me last?”
    Dolnaraq nodded.
    “This is why your face has changed, why you’ve come, in some fashion, to resemble me?”
    Dolnaraq nodded again, cradling himself in his own arms as a bone-deep shiver raced from one end of his form to the other.
    “What will happen if you receive no essence?”
    “I will die.”
    Oskar nodded and paced left and then right before the cage, his hands buried in his pockets, his fingers fiddling with the keys within. “If I should offer you essence, what would become of me?”
    Dolnaraq stared blankly at the man for several seconds before speaking. “You would become my giver?” he asked, astonishment oozing through the syllables.
    “Giver?” asked Oskar.
    “One who gives freely of his essence.”
    Oskar nodded, continuing to pace, continuing to rattle his keys. “Again, what would become of me?”
    With great effort, Dolnaraq pulled himself across the straw strewn floor and to the bars. “If you were to become my giver, I would become more like you.”
    “And me. What danger is there for me? I am told that I was in near coma for three days after your last… After you took essence.”
    Dolnaraq stared at Oskar. The green eyes bore both curiosity and fright. The generous mouth neither grinned nor frowned, but seemed taut with anticipation. Both hands were pressed deep in Oskar’s pockets and Dolnaraq could hear loose change and keys clicking together as he worked them round and round the tiny space. The small man smelled of adrenaline, and Dolnaraq sensed Oskar was battling a very strong urge to flee. “If I take from you,” said Dolnaraq. “If I am careful, you will most likely live.”
    “If you are careful?”
    Dolnaraq nodded.
    “And if you are not careful?”
    Dolnaraq stared blankly forward.
    Oskar rattled his change some more. “How very careful can you be?”
    Dolnaraq did not answer immediately, but stared at the man for many seconds before saying, “I will try.”
    Oskar