We have to go back for him! Sheila’s feet stopped in the black sand.
He said he’d catch up, Vance replied, still walking.
He turned and hesitated. I’m not here to nurture your new romance. He approached her.
It’s just... We need to go back and find him. He could be in trouble.
No. No we don’t. We don’t need him. But you like Elliot. I saw you two together. The swimming teeth of Vance’s black skin changed into spines that spun and swam furiously, brown and swamp green pulsing along them. What was it like? Putting hands through each other like that. I sensed pleasure. Vance moved within arm’s length. I did catch one word. It wasn’t easy. It was jumbled in there between you two... catacombs. Would you like to explore my catacombs, Sheila?
No.
No, huh.
Vance, no. Sheila stepped back.
No! Sheila, you’ve had Elliot. Let me show you something more interesting. Before we left the ship I was shy—weak—because I knew you wouldn’t take the time to see what I was. Now what I am is here. This is a place for the mind. A great mind! A great mind, Sheila! I’m huge here. You see it. I’m going to taste you.
Sheila edged around him. Let’s keep going.
No. No, not yet.
She walked past.
Fine! You want me to say it. I need you and I’ll know you. I’ll know you. Vance followed.
She sensed him sucking in the edges of her aura. The theft nauseated her. She ran, as the wind pushed her forward.
Vance’s anger reached out, flooding through sandstone walls like the tolling of a cathedral bell.
Elliot turned from the wall and followed the wind to catch them, moving faster and darting between walls.
Sheila wouldn’t look behind as she ran, sensing Vance on the edge of her aura as she rushed over black sand, breaking through wafts of silver ash with the tall sandstone walls trapping her.
You’ve got boring thoughts, Sheila. Why are you thinking of my green vomit on the floor? Think harder. Vance’s fingers scraped the back of her neck as she felt the pain of spikes pushing through pierced skin.
As they ran through the passageways they neared the escape of the wind. Sheila arched her neck. Does it escape up or down? Down into empty space? Or up? Up into something more?