With Suvan taking the lead, we traveled by night. She walked through the sand in a careful but confident manner, using the stars to guide us. With the setting of the sun, the temperature had dropped, making me wish I hadn't lost my provisions and blanket. My feet were still bothering me, but the pain was now dull instead of the relentless throb it once was. With Suvan here, my prospects of surviving this journey were looking better. It was a stroke of luck that I hoped meant that better days were coming.
“Aren’t you worried about running into a Mutan?” I asked in a whisper as we came to the crest of a dune.
She snorted. “They are afraid of the dark. They return to their camp to huddle around their fires like little children. Perhaps they do not see so well at night. Of course there are plenty of other dangers beyond the Mutans. It is best to always stay on your toes.”
“Like what sort of dangers?” I asked. The Mutans were bad enough.
In the darkness I could just make out a shrug. “There is something strange about this land - something alien and forbidding. It breeds evil. Down in the valley, I’ve seen plants that eat flesh. I have also seen unholy creatures that inhabit the darkest corners of the ruined city. I’ve traveled to many lands with my father, but in all my years I have never seen anything like this accursed place.”
“Neither have I.”
After a few more hours of walking, dark menacing clouds began blanketing the sky. At the sight of these, Suvan motioned us to stop. She then began digging with big sweeping motions into the sand with her bare hands.
“Come help me,” she demanded.
“What are we doing?”
“Making a place to rest during the day. We will need to stay out of the sun and also remain undiscovered from the Mutan scouts. I would like to go further, but with that rain coming, I would prefer to stay dry. You also need to take those boots off and tend to your burns before they become infected.”
At her direction, we dug a pit two feet deep and approximately the length of my height. From her knapsack, she brought out a sand colored tarp which we stretched over the hole. Four long stakes were then driven into each of the corners, keeping the tarp flat against the desert floor. It started to rain, the water coming down with heavy drops. Suvan then crawled in, carrying her pack with.
“Come in out of the rain and take off those boots,” she said, her voice muffled by the sand and tarp.
With a shrug, I slid inside. It was dark in there. As I was taking off my boots, she was busy fidgeting with something from her knapsack. There was suddenly a spark, and a little flame flickered from a stub of a candle.
She said, “This rain will be good since it will cover our tracks. Now sit back and let me take a look at your feet.”
I did as she requested, feeling self-conscious from her attention.
With a yank that sent pain shooting up my legs, Suvan slid off my socks and pulled back my pant legs. She let out a low whistle.
“What is it?” I asked.
She replied with concern, “Your feet and legs are terribly blistered. There isn't much that I can do about it right now. You had better get some sleep, but keep your feet out in the open air. It's the only way they will heal.”
My stomach audibly grumbled.
Suvan laughed and dug into her knapsack. “Here,” she said, handing me small, thin strips of jerked meat.
I started eating it, but found that the taste was rather different. “What is it?” I asked between bites.
“Not many animals live out here in the desert. It’s lizard that I just killed the other day.”
I made a face, but my belly didn’t care. After I had finished with this small meal, I took a swig from her water-skin. Suvan put out the lamp. I then shut my eyes and tried to sleep, all the while aware of the young woman lying next to me. The rain outside increased its intensity, drowning out any other noise. Rolling to my side, I put my back to her, hoping she did not feel uncomfortable sharing this tight space with a total stranger.
To my surprise, she draped her arm around my waist. Her hand soon found a way under my shirt where the fingers began playfully rubbing against my stomach. It was a pleasant sensation, but I still felt acutely uncomfortable.
Turning over to face her, I whispered, “I thought you said that I needed to get some sleep.”
She kissed me gently on the lips, making me pull back a few inches. “I’ve been very lonely out here,” she whispered back huskily.
It was hard to turn down such an obvious invitation. “I can understand that,” I replied softly, kissing her back. Her lips were cool and remote.
“Tell me, have you been with many other women?”
I replied, “What kind of question is that in a time like this?”
Due to her proximity, I could feel her shrink back. “I’ve never been with anyone before. I’ve never had the chance before now.” A tremble started at her shoulders and went the length of her body.
I put my arms around Suvan. She did not resist. I said gently, “A few years ago, there was a woman who meant a lot to me.” I was thinking of poor Molli. “But she’s dead now.”
“There have been no others?”
“I’m not that old,” I replied. “When I was just a teenager, both of my parents died from an unknown disease that ravaged the town. After their death, I was forced to take over the family business. There just isn’t much time for dallying with the local maidens if you’re busy running a hotel.”
“Well, show me what you do know.” Her voice was quavering with nervousness.
Even though I was exhausted from the events of the day, we proceeded to make love. Her inexperienced fumbling quickly became more confident. When I entered her, she wrapped her arms around my neck, gently moaning in my ear. The tight confines of the pit we had dug made for some interesting positions, but we did not stop until both of us were satiated. After we were done, she fell asleep wrapped in my arms. I smiled to myself, surprised by the recent turn of events.
We stayed in our hiding place for the rest of the night and through the next day. By then, the rain had disappeared, allowing the scorching sun to return with a fury. We spent our time eating, sleeping, and exploring each other’s bodies. It wasn’t until the sun had set that Suvan broke camp and started to guide me once again to the entrance of the valley.
Chapter 10