Kylis nodded. 'For now.'
'Yes...' Miria shifted her weight back and forth, reluctant to leave her alone but anxious to meet the plane.
'Go on,' Kylis said.
'Yes. I must...' She hesitated a moment more, then leaned quickly forward and embraced Kylis. 'This is such a terrible place,' she whispered. 'Somehow I'll change it.' She turned abruptly and hurried away.
Miria walked silhouetted against the lights and lantern. Kylis watched her go. At least she could hope now. She realized she must find Jason and tell him everything, but most particularly that Gryf was alive and out of the prison. Perhaps to be free. Then he could contact Jason's family--
'Oh, gods,' Kylis groaned. 'Miria! Miria, wait!' She ran toward the enclosure, stumbling from exhaustion.
She reached the bank above the fence just as Miria put her palm against the lock. The gate swung open.
'Miria!' Kylis cried. She was afraid Miria would not hear her over the engines of the plane, now inside the enclosure. But she cried out once more, sliding down the hill, and Miria turned.
She met Kylis between the bank and the fence, taking her elbow to support her as she struggled for breath.
'Jason's family,' Kylis said. 'Redsun thinks he's just a transient but he's not. If his people knew he was here, they'd ransom him.' She remembered most of Jason's name, his family name, and told it to Miria. 'Can you tell them? Just send a message?'
Miria's eyes widened. 'Is that who he is?'
Kylis nodded.
'It will have to be done carefully, to keep his identity a secret, but I can do that, Kylis, yes.' Then she sobered. 'You'll be alone-- '
'I'm all right alone. I've always been alone before. I can protect myself, but I can't protect Jason from the Lizard. Will you do it? Will you promise?'
'I promise.'
Kylis clasped Miria's hands for an instant and let her go. Miria went inside the enclosure and boarded the plane. The engines screamed, and the aircraft rose, sliding forward like a hovercraft through the
gateway. Clear of the fence, it rose higher until it had cleared the height of the marsh plants. It accelerated straight north.
Kylis watched it until he was out of sight. She wished she had seen Gryf, but now she believed Miria; she could believe he was alive.
In the eerie gentle light of dawn, as Kylis started away, the harsh spotlights dimmed one by one.
Published by Alexandria Digital Literature. (http://www.alexlit.com/)
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