To the Market

 

After Drindl and Fallon left, Alpen started toward the fountain. When Alithea reached for his arm, he turned to her. “We will foul their water,” he scoffed.

“You could get sick,” Alithea reminded him. “Please, Alpen, our babes. They belong in the earth which has birthed all of us. We can’t…”

He looked to Bebe, saw an infinite pool of sadness in her face and reached out his arm to hug her. His shoulders drooped and he sat down together with his partner. “This is a slow battle of courage and wits. I prefer the quick battles of courage and strength.”

Drindl and Fallon followed the slope then turned past a stone wall, to a small open-air marketplace. Again, they were stopped. Drindl said a few sparse words to the guard, then turned to Fallon. “What’s the word for burial?”

Fallon was wary of giving away his talent, so he gave Drindl the word for dig. When Drindl pronounced it, Fallon motioned to the dead babes in the playpen then made a digging motion. The two guards nodded but were puzzled when Drindl spoke the word for eat.

After hearing the guard’s dismissive tone, Fallon turned to Drindl. “They don’t understand what digging and food have to do with each other.”

Drindl was frustrated. He made an eating motion, then a digging motion and placing the babes in the ground. The guards motioned to a spot outside the marketplace where Drindl could bury the dead bodies. Drindl shook his head. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded white square and showed it to the two guards, then motioned for them to let him pass. One guard reached out and took the square, then they stepped aside.

////////////

“What was that? Money?” Fallon asked.

Drindl shook his head. “Kind of. Let’s get some fish here.” They moved among the tables, taking a little of each and slipping the food into the playpen. Fallon was unfamiliar with some of the goods but trusted Drindl’s choices. Walking past the guards on their way out, Drindl nodded his appreciation to both guards.

Once clear of the guards, Fallon asked, “How long have you been here? We left you a half moon ago, yet you seem familiar with this place.”

“A few days after we were together, they captured me.” They set the playpen down as the rounded the stone wall. “Alpen was a good teacher. Stay alert, he told me. Watch your enemy. He is not so different than you. Understand his wants. Climb inside his head. Look out through his eyes.”

“A good teacher,” Fallon acknowledged. “Should I bring the others here?”

Drindl chewed his lip as he looked around. “We better stay together.” When they passed the fountain, Drindl was relieved that Alpen, Bebe and Alithea were undisturbed. “We need a digging tool for the grave. The guards will not part with their weapons for any amount.”

“What was that you gave the guards?” Fallon asked.

“Energy." Drindl swept his gaze. "That’s what this whole place is about. Digging energy out of the ground.”