OCCULTA

Written by: Chris Fennell, Anne Grimm, Megan Hasenwinkel, and Rachel Seow

Written for Vibs Petersen, FYS 27
December 11, 1997

CHAPTER 8

The next morning, they began walking towards the village. Due to Sim's injuries, the trip took longer than it should have. However, the long trip had given them time for a fascinating conversation. Analise was amazed to discover the extent of Sim's ignorance. After much walking, Analise could see the familiar outline in the distance. She turned to Sim. "There's the village, just ahead. Are you feeling all right?"

"I'm a little better, but I think I should see the doctor."

"Don't worry, I'm going to take you straight to my mother."

Analise started angling for her dwelling. It didn't take too much longer until they were walking in the front door. "Here we are. Mother! I have a patient!"

They could hear sounds of footsteps hurrying towards them. "Well, it's about time you got back! I've been worried sick about you! Who's hurt?"

"It's a man I found in the north woods! He says he's from another village!"

"Well, introduce me!"

"Sim, this is my mother, Celeste."

"Hello, Celeste. What do you do as a mother?"

Her mother raised her eyebrows. "What don't I do? Now let me see what's wrong with you." She quickly examined his various wounds. "How did you manage to do this to yourself?"

"Well, my hoverlift crashed near the anomaly, and I was hurt while being ejected. Analise found me and helped me here."

Celeste's eyebrows rose further on her face. "What sort of language is that? Well, you're not hurt too badly, but you shouldn't be out wandering around quite yet. You're welcome to stay with us until you heal, if you like."

"That would be much appreciated. So where is the birth?"

Analise was amazed to see that her mother's eyebrows were able to rise another notch. "Where's the birth?!?"

Analise quickly jumped in. "Mother! He doesn't know what a birth is! I told him he could witness Cora's."

"He's never seen a birth? Well, maybe he'll like it more than you do. I suppose that's fine. Cora should go any day now."

"Oh! Mother! I almost forgot to ask-did you feel the earth shaking yesterday? And see the great cloud and the ashes that fell from the sky?"

"What ever are you talking about? We saw that the sky to the north was very black, but we just assumed that area was having bad weather. Ashes falling from the sky? I've never heard such nonsense. Do I need to fix some medicine for you?"

"No, mother. Never mind."

Continue to Chapter 9