While Loni prepared a space for Scar, away from either of the others, the dark man, Da, and his mate, Lydia, disappeared down the ladder again. They took their back packs, and the plates and cups of the other couple, as well as their own. By the time they returned with food and beverages, Loni had Scar comfortable, and was sitting beside a sleeping Gem, obviously deep in thought.
Da and Lydia brought a considerable amount of food: plenty of fruit, breads, fruit juices, milk...but no meat. Scar missed meat, but...he loved fruit, so for now, it didn't much matter. He rushed forward, as was the usual practice, if he ate with Galar, to steal what he could, while he had the chance. However, he immediately rammed up against an invisible barrier, enclosing the area, where the spread was laid out on a cloth blanket.
That also, was the first time, he heard Loni in his head.
"Bring your plate and cup. And, you needn't fight...there is plenty for all."
Shocked, Scar stared at Loni.
Did I really hear him speak?
It was the first time he had ever heard Loni's voice.
Scar obeyed. And when he came back, he was allowed within the circle. Yet, there were conditions: every time he grew impatient, tried to rush or fight for what he thought should be his share, the barrier was raised against him...until he surrendered, and gentled.
Somehow, Loni did it...and wisely, Scar learned to respect this method. There was sufficient, so...Scar was content. Especially, when he finally got it in his head, they did not intend to deny him.
****
Loni had decided to trust Scar. He needed his help, and it was safer to take him with, than to leave him behind with Da and the women.
He chose after work to begin his project. The girls needed the rest, so Loni left Da guarding them, and the first evening, after the meal was over, he caught Scar by his arm, and led him away toward the drain bar-gate.
This first night was simply to orientate.
As his head topped the hole leading onto the ledge, and Scar's eyes went wide with the vision of the world above, Loni filled the man's mind with the images of what had happened to his brother. He didn't have to warn him farther.
Scar crawled gingerly, carefully to the edge of the ledge, and hesitantly peered over. Loni knew from mere sense, Scar fully expected to be grabbed by the Hydra.
He read also, in the mind of the man, the expectation that he, Loni, meant to do away with him, but at least, Scar no longer believed Loni or Gem had killed his twin.
Loni crept forward, to pull Scar back, but true to his training, Scar immediately cringed in fear. Loni waited until the man calmed, and was more confident to trust him, then Loni led Scar to the bridge. He placed a finger to his lips, and sent him a mental command.
"No sound," he cautioned, and Scar nodded.
The path was of boards held together with rivets, over metal tubes, with rails on the sides about waist high; it did not sway in the wind; was exceedingly firm, but always, there was the worry, the danger, of the predators: the Hydra, and far in the distance, what appeared to be dinosaurs. Their bellows resounded distinctly from afar, all the while the men inched forward.
Many fright-ridden steps later, the two arrived at the miniature dome-shaped structure atop the first tree. When they peered inside, they found it merely a shell, but it held piles of boards, rolls of transparent, paper-thin canvas, that appeared to be rain proof, and rails, as were used to construct the bridge, with the rivets, and tools to build all. There were also schematics, drawings of more domes and walkways. If you could not read the words, the diagrams were descriptive enough in themselves.
Loni was pleased. Apparently, someone had already planned the getaway he meant to set up. But, what had become of them? Had the Hydra done away with them?
****
The days that followed were busy; exhausting; and draining; filled with apprehension, and excitement. On one hand, what they were about, must not be discovered; on the other, it must appear, they were not lax at their duties. At first, their days were filled simply with gardening; the long nights, into the wee hours of morning, they built new structures out in the upper world.
After that, Scar and Loni hauled in the supplies, stealing them carefully, so that the fact they were missing would go unnoticed.
The first shed was still for storage. Here they put backpacks of seed packets, trays of seedlings, small grafting of fruit trees; bedding, blankets, various sizes of coveralls; soap, metal cooking containers...anything Loni felt they might need in the future.
All depended upon, whether they could get away unnoticed.
Scar understood to speak carefully, as they went about their secret duties, and never mention the project if others could hear. The one armed twin learned to obey Loni without question. His life, and that of his companion, depended upon it...the Hydra was a constant threat hovering in the background.
And so hesitantly, Loni and Scar, both, learned to trust each other.
At last, sometimes, Loni left Scar behind for a much needed rest, and took Da instead. The first night he did that, Loni was exceedingly nervous; he and Da returned much earlier than usual, but upon finding all sleeping, Loni was most relieved. After that, trust came
