meant that nothing was as bad as it seemed. At some point they sat and waited for more information.
The good news was that they were cooperating and communicating. The bad news was that because they were cooperating and communicating, Gabe and Jonathan were more responsible for returning the favor. They were bound by hopeful coordinating instead of bound as prisoners. For the first time in a long time, their consciousness was holding them accountable to actually help these people if it were possible. Gabe felt that way, at least. It was debatable whether Jonathan actually had a conscious.
Maybe, just maybe they could keep it this way.
For what resources they had it was well set up, probably, with attention to do the right things. But coming from twenty-second century camping, this was considered less prepared than “roughing it”. Their camp was made by a large rock, which was warming with the sun and radiating heat.
Dane struck his pose leaning against a tree nearest the group, but in the shadows. May sat on a rock near the two boys. Jonathan and Gabe chose to stay back in the shadows with Dane. Gabe didn’t feel intimidated by their stiffness, just pissed off. Samson and Miek didn’t seem to mind the heat.
They both had dark er skin that seemed more naturally prone to this kind of climate. Miek looked almost Middle Eastern, yet the bright color of his eyes and the boyish, beardless face threw off the image. Samson was likely Caucasian, yet the dark skin was too dark for any English/Irish descent. Gabe was tempted to say he was part Brazilian. It was difficult to tell heritage anymore with the blending of cultures. They had to blend after such a failure the first time.
With the reminder of his position of control, Gabe was regaining his cunning, and authoritative attitude. None of them knew how many times in the past they did this, how commonplace it was for them to see frightened and curious faces deliberating their fates, and the game they had to play. The kids were the pawns. If they felt like they were in control, more power to the scientists. There was strength to Gabe in knowing that he had a thousand plus years more knowledge than all of them combined.
A few minutes of this self-convincing made him almost feel ready for the conversation. That was good, too, because the others were already ready.
May sat and pointed to them, “This is Gabe and Jonathan… Say hi.” She prompted dryly.
The skinny boy said, “nope, already did that, they only get one friendly greeting. That’s the rule. ” May shrugged. Then it was quiet.
Jonathan made an indiscernible noise. Gabe knew what it was for: he hated silence. But it stayed quiet for a while. Gabe wondered, were they in a meeting….? Were they going to conduct it, tell them when to speak?
Dane came into view and sat down by the big, warming rock. He said with a little more optimism than before, “Will you please tell us in greater detail what you are doin g here, and where you came from?” Welcoming their words with an open hand and then crossing it over his knees.
It was time… they got lucky before, back in the jungle, but this time… this was it. Gabe thought with a small sense of doom. Death is on its way. He stared at the ground through his thick glasses, then sighed, then looked up at Jonathan. Gabe changed his mind… he wasn’t ready to talk.
Another big problem for Gabe and Jonathan was that it was impossible to know what they already knew.
Jonathan started, giving the same succinct explanation as before, we’re scientists…. Blah blah. What was the point? When he finished the sentence it was quiet again. The skinny boy had caught Gabe’s attention because of the way he was sitting and staring thoughtfully. He had a refreshing intellectual innocence, and his eyes always looked cheerfully considerate. The goofy smile from earlier wasn’t always there, but also seemed like it wasn’t ever quite absent either. Gabe called him skinny, but
The good news was that they were cooperating and communicating. The bad news was that because they were cooperating and communicating, Gabe and Jonathan were more responsible for returning the favor. They were bound by hopeful coordinating instead of bound as prisoners. For the first time in a long time, their consciousness was holding them accountable to actually help these people if it were possible. Gabe felt that way, at least. It was debatable whether Jonathan actually had a conscious.
Maybe, just maybe they could keep it this way.
For what resources they had it was well set up, probably, with attention to do the right things. But coming from twenty-second century camping, this was considered less prepared than “roughing it”. Their camp was made by a large rock, which was warming with the sun and radiating heat.
Dane struck his pose leaning against a tree nearest the group, but in the shadows. May sat on a rock near the two boys. Jonathan and Gabe chose to stay back in the shadows with Dane. Gabe didn’t feel intimidated by their stiffness, just pissed off. Samson and Miek didn’t seem to mind the heat.
They both had dark er skin that seemed more naturally prone to this kind of climate. Miek looked almost Middle Eastern, yet the bright color of his eyes and the boyish, beardless face threw off the image. Samson was likely Caucasian, yet the dark skin was too dark for any English/Irish descent. Gabe was tempted to say he was part Brazilian. It was difficult to tell heritage anymore with the blending of cultures. They had to blend after such a failure the first time.
With the reminder of his position of control, Gabe was regaining his cunning, and authoritative attitude. None of them knew how many times in the past they did this, how commonplace it was for them to see frightened and curious faces deliberating their fates, and the game they had to play. The kids were the pawns. If they felt like they were in control, more power to the scientists. There was strength to Gabe in knowing that he had a thousand plus years more knowledge than all of them combined.
A few minutes of this self-convincing made him almost feel ready for the conversation. That was good, too, because the others were already ready.
May sat and pointed to them, “This is Gabe and Jonathan… Say hi.” She prompted dryly.
The skinny boy said, “nope, already did that, they only get one friendly greeting. That’s the rule. ” May shrugged. Then it was quiet.
Jonathan made an indiscernible noise. Gabe knew what it was for: he hated silence. But it stayed quiet for a while. Gabe wondered, were they in a meeting….? Were they going to conduct it, tell them when to speak?
Dane came into view and sat down by the big, warming rock. He said with a little more optimism than before, “Will you please tell us in greater detail what you are doin g here, and where you came from?” Welcoming their words with an open hand and then crossing it over his knees.
It was time… they got lucky before, back in the jungle, but this time… this was it. Gabe thought with a small sense of doom. Death is on its way. He stared at the ground through his thick glasses, then sighed, then looked up at Jonathan. Gabe changed his mind… he wasn’t ready to talk.
Another big problem for Gabe and Jonathan was that it was impossible to know what they already knew.
Jonathan started, giving the same succinct explanation as before, we’re scientists…. Blah blah. What was the point? When he finished the sentence it was quiet again. The skinny boy had caught Gabe’s attention because of the way he was sitting and staring thoughtfully. He had a refreshing intellectual innocence, and his eyes always looked cheerfully considerate. The goofy smile from earlier wasn’t always there, but also seemed like it wasn’t ever quite absent either. Gabe called him skinny, but
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