Chapter Twenty-Three Davix
Corrina is sitting at a table alone when I enter the dining chamber the following morning.
Krish and Zann are still asleep in the nest, but I found myself restless and unable to sleep.
My choices were exercise or food, and I chose the latter.
I glance towards Corrina as I move through the line.
She is staring intently at something on her device and doesn’t look up.
My plan had been to eat in solitude, but I hesitate as I wonder whether Corrina would accept my company.
I have not been as friendly with her as the others, but her company is preferable to that of others.
I have noticed that other humans, with the exception of Curran, are not likely to dine with Corrina.
My decision made, I stride silently to her table and place my tray down.
“Morning,” she says absently. Her eyes drift up from her device and then she starts. “Oh. Davix. Good morning,” Corrina says. “I thought you were Curran. That is, I expected him to be joining me.”
I begin to stand, but Corrina stops me with a word. “No, please sit. I,” she pauses. “It is good to see you.”
I nod to her and begin eating. I watch as she interacts with the device.
As if sensing my curiosity, Corrina glances up at me.
“Just trying to get some work done while I eat. I thought we could go visit the station today if you three want.” I nod to her again.
“I’ll admit that I don’t really know what kinds of things you are interested in seeing,” she continues.
“I know that Krish enjoys the market, especially the different types of foods,” she adds.
“Zann seemed to enjoy the park most of all. But I’m not sure about you,” she says, tilting her head to look at me.
I frown at her slightly, wondering if she somehow expects me to suddenly speak.
“Sorry, I’m mostly just thinking out loud.
But if you do have something you would like to see or do, I hope you will let Krish or Zann know to tell me.
At least until I can learn to sign like you do,” she adds, and then her attention is on the screen again.
I stare at her in astonishment. No one other than my brood brothers has ever expressed interest in learning how to communicate with me like this.
It is a language the three of us developed from basic hunting signals after the injury that stole my voice, and it has always only been the three of us.
Corrina doesn’t seem to notice my staring.
I finally lean forward and tap the table with a single claw to get her attention.
“You want to learn how to talk like me?” I sign.
I doubt she can understand me, but it feels like I have to ask anyway.
“I don’t really know what you’re saying, but from the context,” she points between us, “I’m going to guess it’s about being able to communicate.
And yes, I’d like to learn, unless you’d prefer to not have others know.
” I shake my head slowly. “Good,” she responds with a smile.
“If we are going to be friends, we should at least be able to talk to each other.” And then she returns her attention to her device.
We finish our meals in silence, but for the first time in a long time it does not feel strange to sit with another and not be able to speak.
We are still sitting at the table when Zann and Krish appear. They seem surprised to see us sitting together, but they quickly get food and join us. Before either of them can say anything, I sign “Corrina will learn our hand language.”
Zann stares at me in surprise. “You asked to teach her?” he asks me.
“She asked to learn,” I correct him.
Zann looks at me and then at Corrina. “This is a wise idea,” he announces.
“It will be good for Corrina to be able to communicate with you the way we do. And we can help to teach her so it will be faster than when we all learned together.” I nod at him, feeling oddly excited by the prospect of talking to Corrina on my own.
“Today we will visit the station, yes?” Krish asks between mouthfuls of food.
“Yes,” Corrina replies. “I took the day off and everything. I thought we could start with the market and the park, then see if there is something Davix wants to do. There are museums, if that is something any of you might enjoy. Places where you can learn about history or science.”
I think for a moment and then shake my head. “Is there a place with water?” I finally sign, and Zann repeats my question.
“Like a water park or a pool?” Corrina asks me. Even though Zann uttered the words, she looks to me for an answer.
I spread my arms as wide as I can. “Oh, a large body of water. Yeah, I have an idea for that,” she says with a smile. I nod at her, pleased at her understanding. Zann looks at me curiously but does not say anything.
After the meal, Corrina tucks her device into a pocket and follows us back to our chambers. “You’re released,” she says to the soldiers outside the door. “Report to your regular supervisor for reassignment.”
“No more guards?” Zann asks excitedly.
“No more guards,” Corrina replies. She offers no additional explanation. I consider asking why, but Krish and Zann seem content, so I let it go.
This time when we visit the market, it is a different experience.
Without the extra guards, it is easier to navigate among the various stalls.
Mostly, it is different because this time Corrina buys us things.
Krish gets a wind chime which produces gentle sounds when moved, though there is no wind in our chamber to trigger it.
Zann gets a small wooden figurine he has admired multiple times.
He is delighted by it, turning it over and over in his hands to admire the craftsmanship.
I do not want anything, though Corrina offers several suggestions.
I finally accept her offer of food, and we all share a bag of fried dough coated in sugar.
I lick my fingers contentedly as I chew the last morsel on our way to the park.
The park is largely empty today, and it is much quieter than it has been on previous visits.
Zann’s fingers trail over the petals of colorful flowers, scattering pollen in his wake.
In the absence of humans, I can hear the calls of birds and the various sounds of small creatures as they run through the trees above us.
The canopy provides both pockets of sunlight and cooling shade as we meander along paths, stopping occasionally to watch the wildlife or examine some plant that has caught Zann’s eye.
It is past midday when we emerge onto a busy street at the opposite side of the park.
“Come on,” Corrina says. “Let’s get some lunch.
” We get something called meat pies from a small shop near the park and then return to sit in the grass and eat.
“There is something I should probably tell you,” Corrina says as she brushes her hands clean.
“Vertage, one of the councilors who we have evidence was helping Lianov, has supposedly been threatening me.” All three of us whip our heads toward Corrina, but she seems unconcerned.
“I’m only telling you this because Curran is worried.
And because you should know that there is a very small chance that someone may try to hurt me and that you might end up hurt if you are with me. ”
“They can try,” I sign to Krish and Zann, and they both nod.
“That’s part of the reason I reassigned the guards.
I feel like I can see what’s happening around me better when there aren’t as many bodies in the way.
But I’ve also received official word from the council that you have been cleared of any wrongdoing in Lianov’s death.
You’re now free to come and go from the base on your own. ”
“Thank you,” Zann says softly. Corrina nods.
“There’s one more place I want to show you before we head back,” she says, getting to her feet. She glances at me with a smile. “I think you’re going to like this.”
I hear the sound of water before we see it, and Corrina is right.
I do like this last place. In front of us, a massive body of water extends to the limit of my vision.
Small waves lap against a beach of smooth pebbles.
“Can we swim in it?” I sign eagerly. Corrina has barely finished answering before I am pulling off my clothes and running towards the water.
It is surprisingly cold against my skin, but I wade in until it reaches my waist and then dive to fully submerge myself.
I hear Zann laughing as I come up for air a moment later, but he is removing his clothing as well.
Krish is still standing next to Corrina watching me with a grin on his face.
“We used to say that Davix was part mikka because of how much he loves the water,” Krish says, referring to the small, furred animals who live in lakes on our home planet. He starts to take off his clothes and then turns to face Corrina. “Are you not going to swim?”
“I didn’t think to bring anything to wear for swimming,” she says, shaking her head.
“Can you not swim naked?” Zann asks curiously.
Corrina laughs. “Uh, I guess I could in theory. But this is a public place, and humans are not generally naked in front of other humans.”
“There are no humans here now,” Zann says, echoing my own thoughts.
“That’s okay. I’ll just watch from the shore,” Corrina says, settling down beside the pile of clothes that we have discarded.
“Perhaps the next time you can swim with us,” Krish says, dropping the last of his clothes and wading into the water.
“Maybe,” Corrina replies.