Free A Girl Called Badger (Valley of the Sleeping Birds) by Stephen Colegrove

scanned the strange objects from the old times with medical equipment. They were smooth with no seams or visible openings. Readings from the inside showed many complex structures, but none of the sensors gave him a single data point. Wilson gave up trying to get any information from them directly.
    One day he returned from the midday meal and saw Father Reed in the medical room with a very pregnant middle-aged woman. Wilson stepped inside to help Reed put away the display and medical connectors.
    “––be fine, Brownie,” said Reed. “How are the boys?”
    The woman laughed. “You know as well as I do. I spend half the time chasing them around and the other half cleaning up the mess.”
    “Finally, my apprentice is here,” said Reed. “Brownie came in for a minor pain but everything is normal.”
    “Good evening, Citizen Allen,” said Wilson.
    She chuckled. “Don’t be so formal.”
    “Come back for a check-up in a few days,” said Father Reed. “Yes, I see that look, and of course you’ve done this before. Think of it as a social call.”
    He helped the pregnant woman slide off the table. Wilson guided her through the doors of the entrance tunnel and returned to the treatment room.
    “I have a question, Father.”
    He handed over the bundle of objects. Reed carefully unwrapped the cloth.
    “Where did you find these?”
    “In the tunnels, while fixing the hot water.”
    “That was weeks ago!”
    “I ... um ... I forgot.”
    Reed sighed. “Never mind. These are parts of the body––gifts from the founders if you prefer––given to us during the name-giving ceremony.”
    “These things are under the scars?”
    “Of course! Do you need me to draw you a picture?” Reed paused. “I take it there were human bones nearby.”
    Wilson nodded.
    “Then we’ll need to visit the Tombs immediately.”
    “With no body? These are just old scraps,” said Wilson.
    “It’s more important to bury these ‘scraps’ than any dead flesh and bones.” Reed held up the yellowed cylinder. “The body is born from dust and unto dust it returns. These are sacred objects, vessels for the soul, and through them we transcend the dust of mortal life. This singular reason is why the dead pass into the Tombs.”
    “I still don’t understand.”
    “Thank founder you’re a little caterpillar and still have time to learn, then.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Now tell me what’s wrong with you, apprentice.”
    “Sir?”
    “You’ve been moping about for weeks, and today I’ve been told you’re still bothering the hunters about Airman Chen.”
    “Well, I–”
    “I’ll grant she’s been the unfortunate center of attention lately but there’s no reason to be so distracted from your studies.”
    Wilson’s ears burned. “I’m just worried about her. If I could find–”
    “Your concern is noted but misplaced. The matter is under control.”
    “What about a cure for her sickness?”
    “It’s being handled, Ensign.”
    “But how? What’s the plan for treatment?”
    Reed carefully placed the artifacts onto the cloth and bundled them up. “Nothing for you to worry about.”
    “I don’t believe it,” said Wilson.
    “What was that?”
    “I don’t believe it!”
    Reed stared. “What’s wrong with you?”
    “Me? What’s wrong with you? Don’t tell me you’re working on it, because that’s not true. You’re doing nothing because you know she’s going to die!”
    He stormed out of the room and the quarters.
     
    THAT NIGHT HE SLEPT in the cabin at the corral. Robb was happy to leave and Wilson wanted to be alone. Not that he found it easy to sleep. He had the dream again. But instead of his father, he chased Badger through a field of sunflowers. She was always out of reach and gone when he woke up.
    Alfie took over in the morning and Wilson walked to the village slowly, like a dead leaf nudged by the breeze. He ate breakfast at Barracks and loitered until a few villagers came in. He bundled up a bowl of