the box could only be closed and locked with a code of her choice. She knew before opening, from listening to her parents talk about the ship and the life pods, the box contained a newly manufactured copy of an ancient .45-caliber pistol with a full eight-shot magazine and a twenty-count box of bullets.
She didn’t want it, but the gun was too dangerous to leave behind in the pod. Jennifer selected a three-letter locking code and shut the lid tightly, having no option but to take the box. She wasn’t thrilled about introducing the concept of a gun to this world and hoped she could rid herself of it soon. Jennifer handed Taric the items that could be useful to them, knowing he would examine every item with interest. Lastly, along with some misgivings, she handed Taric the black box before climbing out of the pod’s confines.
Taric looked at the hard dark made thing while turning it over in his hands curiously, wondering its purpose and asked, “What is this?”
Jennifer looked at his curious eyes and sighed heavily. “It’s a lockbox.”
“What does it do?”
“It holds dangerous things safely. I think for the sake of your world, I should throw it into the river and let the whole thing rust away to dust. Believe me, Taric, your world is better off without it.”
“What does it hold?”
“You’re better off not knowing!” Jennifer exclaimed, vocalizing her statement a little louder than intended, stunning the normally soft-spoken Taric into silence.
The confused hurtful look he gave her saddened her heart, and so she softened her voice and apologized. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to shout, but you must understand, the only purpose of what’s inside this box is to kill. I know what’s best for us and the thing inside isn’t one of them. Taric, please trust me. I can’t let anything from my world contaminate this one. I have to destroy it.”
Taric nodded, giving in to her will because he trusted her. “So be it.”
“Really?” she asked, shocked by his casual response.
Taric leaned over and kissed her and let the kiss linger, savoring the taste of her lips before he slowly pulled away and answered with a sad frown fixed upon his face. “Yes. From what you’ve told me about Earth’s history and science, I don’t think I want to know any more than I already do. Why? Because it frightens me.
“Before we met, the ability to sail through the stars belonged only to the spirits. Now, I know it’s possible. However, to sail through the stars, your people’s way of life slowly killed your world. How heavy it must weigh on your heart, knowing the land of your birth is dead because of your people’s endless curiosity.
“I wonder if my people will someday do the same to this land. I hope not. You tell me whatever is in the box is dangerous and that it doesn’t belong here. You tell me I’d be better off not knowing about it. You know what? I believe you and everything you’ve told me about your people to be the truth. So if the thing inside is that dangerous to me or my world, I’ll not give it another thought. I’ll trust you to find a way to destroy it.”
Humbled by his honest insight into the ugliness of what her world had become, Jennifer could only whisper, “Thank you.”
Chapter 8
Attacked
Fragmented and distorted images of Peter’s burial flashed within Taric’s subconscious mind making his attempt for some restful and much-needed sleep nearly impossible. During the night, he had lain awake within the furs listening to Jennifer’s smooth rhythmic breathing and the heavy silence of the cave ringing loudly in his ears. His conscious mind was struggling to understand the unsettling, confusing and fragmented images within his dream while trying to make sense of Jennifer’s sudden and unexpected demand.
Before the onset of night, they buried Peter’s bones downwind of their cave within the golden speckled light of the forest canopy of amber leaves swaying and rustling softly on the breeze. They placed Peter’s bones near the edge of the grasslands among the twisting roots of an old gnarled tree with a trunk that stretched upward only to vanish in the twisted maze of the canopy’s branches. The view from the base of the tree revealed the entire grassy plain. Jennifer was pleased with the view. She marveled at the wonderful sights of the animals roaming the grasslands. She hoped her brother would find peace in the spot she had selected for his grave.
She was searching the area for a stone to use as a marker. She soon found a large gray stone with its surface speckled with red and green bits of sparkling crystal ore. The sight of the pretty crystals embedded within the stone’s pale-gray rock reminded her of a mosaic sculpture made of tiny rubies and emeralds. It took both of them to move the stone and set it to rest above her brother’s grave. Jennifer knelt beside the stone and smoothed the loose soil around it with her hands. She knew with a little passage of time, the stone would appear as if it had lain there since the valley was carved out by glaciers of ice and stone. She then quietly began to cry, sobbing out her remorse for his death in long mournful wails of a lost and grieving soul.
Taric stood patiently by her side, touching her shoulder with a gentle hand as Jennifer cried. When she finally gained her composure, he heard her quietly whisper a simple prayer to her God. “Dear Lord, please welcome my brother into your loving embrace and grant him an eternity of peace and happiness. Peter was my friend, companion, and confidant of all my childhood secrets. He was a brother who charmed everyone he met with a kind smile and a little laughter. His loving heart and kind actions revealed a soul truly touched by your grace. Bless him, dear Lord, and tell him, I’ll love him all the days of my life. Amen.” Without saying another word, Jennifer rose slowly to her feet and, without looking back, walked away in the direction of their cave.
Sensing her friend’s distress and sadness, Jaxx trotted up beside her and every so often would jump in the air to nudge Jennifer’s hand with her damp nose as if to reassure her. Taric watched them go, respectfully letting Jennifer settle her grief according to her beliefs and customs. He understood the significance of her prayer and what it meant for her.
As the odd pair disappeared into the trees, Taric gazed down at the stone and made a promise to Peter’s spirit. “Rest easy, young brother. I hope your spirit finds peace with your god and may he find your spirit worthy for another life on the land.” He then started walking back to the cave, and after a few paces, he stopped, turned back around, and called to Peter’s spirit one last time by saying, “Goodbye, my brother.”
Jennifer was sitting beside the fire idly, poking the glowing embers with a stick while waiting for Taric’s return. It wasn’t long before Jaxx hearing his approach ran out of the cave to greet him and escort Taric the rest of the way home. Jennifer smiled as she heard Taric’s hearty laughter in response to the little puppy’s energetic playfulness. A moment later, Taric entered the cave and sat down on the furs beside her. Jaxx squeezed, wiggled, and nudged herself in between her packmate’s legs for a comfortable, warm spot to lay and garner their soothing affection.
Mindful of Jennifer’s grieving heart and unsure of what to say, Taric waited beside her in silence. He watched her brows flex up and down on her forehead as she thought, while absentmindedly continuing to drag the stick back and forth through the hot embers. It was interesting watching her think, trying to formulate her thoughts. After a few more quiet moments sitting side by side, patiently waiting for her to break the heavy silence, she abruptly announced with an unexpected underlying tone of desperation and fear in her voice. “It’s only a matter of time before we meet other people. Don’t tell them I fell from the sky!”
“My love, have I not told you my people are kind and loving? I don’t understand why you’re telling me not to say anything? I’ve assured you many times, no one will harm you here. There is nothing to be afraid of!” Taric replied once again in an effort to soothe her fears.
“Do you really want to hear why I don’t want you to say where I’m from? Do you really want to know the truth! There are some aspects of the human species, you won’t like!” Jennifer loudly stated, almost to the point of yelling. Suddenly angry