lay on some type of mesh throw rug. The room looked like a living area, and if my slightly queasy stomach was any indication, the ground was shifting under me. I stumbled to my feet, my right hand pressed firmly against my chest. My throat tightened, unexpressed tears and emotions brimming, threatening to burst free.
I was out of the dream but there was something wrong with me. Had the words affected me somehow or was this manipulation from an outside force? After a few deep breaths, I calmed and distracted myself by walking around the small room, stumbling occasionally from unexpected lurches.
T he floor was timber. It was smooth, with an oily feel under my bare feet. There weren’t many pieces of furniture. The main piece leaned against the back wall and I realized it was a strange-looking couch. It was bright blue in color, but the material was unusual, and appeared brittle enough to collapse if someone were to sit on it. Moving closer, I reached out to gently drag my hand along the arm, pulling back as my finger-tips caught on the rough material.
“It’s made of coralline .” A voice sounded from behind me.
I spun around to face Talina, who was standing in the open doorway.
“I wanted to check on you and see if you had woken yet.” She smiled as she stepped inside. “Th e coralline grows in our waters. It’s part of a living ecosystem. Once we remove it from the sea, parts of it petrify, but the rest continues to grow and change. It’s the basis for most of our furniture.”
That’s what it reminded me of : coral – the way it grew in peaks and ridges, with many little turrets. Of course, I’d only ever seen pictures. The pollution on Earth had destroyed most of the fragile coral structures throughout the world, or so we were told. Never having set foot out of New York, I kind of just had to take their word for it. And from my experience their ‘word’ wasn’t worth much.
“Where are we?” I managed to croak out, my voice husky from the salt water.
“You ’re on Gladriel’s pontoon.” She blinked rapidly.
As with the other Spurns, she had a clear lens which occasionally flicked up and down over her eyes.
“This is part of my area. We were no longer welcome on the isle; everyone had to make their way back to their territory. We’ve been traveling for about ten leagues.”
My heart stuttered.
We were n’t close to land. We were smack bang in the middle of the freaking ocean.
I pushed back my damp curls and without much thought reached for the comfort of my energy. In that moment I understood my previous emotional outburst. My energy felt empty, and I felt empty too. I was grateful Talina didn’t notice my distress as she started talking again.
“ Sorry about the wetness in here. The pontoons are designed to distribute a constant stream of humidity. It’s enough that most Spurns suffer no discomfort, but you will probably feel damp.”
Now that she’d menti oned it, I was slightly itchy and kind of wishing I hadn’t swum in my clothes and let the saltiness dry on me.
“Where are my friends ?” I croaked again, unable to clear my swollen throat.
“It’ s almost meal time; they’re upstairs on the decking, waiting for us. I’ll show you the way.” She waved me forward as she moved toward the doorway.
I placed a hand on her cool arm to halt her for a second. “Did you collect our bags from the guards before we left the Isle?” I was not staying in these clothes a moment longer.
She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Abby. They w on’t release them until you leave Spurn; they seem to think that’s incentive for you to behave and to get off the planet in a timely manner.”
I croaked out bits of laughter. There was nothing in our bags but clothes and a couple of first-aid essentials.
“I will get you some netting . It is quite easy to learn the wrap.”
I paused, looking down at Talina. She was wearing a pale blue netting now, but besides covering the essentials, the rest
I was out of the dream but there was something wrong with me. Had the words affected me somehow or was this manipulation from an outside force? After a few deep breaths, I calmed and distracted myself by walking around the small room, stumbling occasionally from unexpected lurches.
T he floor was timber. It was smooth, with an oily feel under my bare feet. There weren’t many pieces of furniture. The main piece leaned against the back wall and I realized it was a strange-looking couch. It was bright blue in color, but the material was unusual, and appeared brittle enough to collapse if someone were to sit on it. Moving closer, I reached out to gently drag my hand along the arm, pulling back as my finger-tips caught on the rough material.
“It’s made of coralline .” A voice sounded from behind me.
I spun around to face Talina, who was standing in the open doorway.
“I wanted to check on you and see if you had woken yet.” She smiled as she stepped inside. “Th e coralline grows in our waters. It’s part of a living ecosystem. Once we remove it from the sea, parts of it petrify, but the rest continues to grow and change. It’s the basis for most of our furniture.”
That’s what it reminded me of : coral – the way it grew in peaks and ridges, with many little turrets. Of course, I’d only ever seen pictures. The pollution on Earth had destroyed most of the fragile coral structures throughout the world, or so we were told. Never having set foot out of New York, I kind of just had to take their word for it. And from my experience their ‘word’ wasn’t worth much.
“Where are we?” I managed to croak out, my voice husky from the salt water.
“You ’re on Gladriel’s pontoon.” She blinked rapidly.
As with the other Spurns, she had a clear lens which occasionally flicked up and down over her eyes.
“This is part of my area. We were no longer welcome on the isle; everyone had to make their way back to their territory. We’ve been traveling for about ten leagues.”
My heart stuttered.
We were n’t close to land. We were smack bang in the middle of the freaking ocean.
I pushed back my damp curls and without much thought reached for the comfort of my energy. In that moment I understood my previous emotional outburst. My energy felt empty, and I felt empty too. I was grateful Talina didn’t notice my distress as she started talking again.
“ Sorry about the wetness in here. The pontoons are designed to distribute a constant stream of humidity. It’s enough that most Spurns suffer no discomfort, but you will probably feel damp.”
Now that she’d menti oned it, I was slightly itchy and kind of wishing I hadn’t swum in my clothes and let the saltiness dry on me.
“Where are my friends ?” I croaked again, unable to clear my swollen throat.
“It’ s almost meal time; they’re upstairs on the decking, waiting for us. I’ll show you the way.” She waved me forward as she moved toward the doorway.
I placed a hand on her cool arm to halt her for a second. “Did you collect our bags from the guards before we left the Isle?” I was not staying in these clothes a moment longer.
She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Abby. They w on’t release them until you leave Spurn; they seem to think that’s incentive for you to behave and to get off the planet in a timely manner.”
I croaked out bits of laughter. There was nothing in our bags but clothes and a couple of first-aid essentials.
“I will get you some netting . It is quite easy to learn the wrap.”
I paused, looking down at Talina. She was wearing a pale blue netting now, but besides covering the essentials, the rest
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