Ten Years

She was disheveled and dirty. Devon almost felt a twang of pity for her.  Her almost white hair swayed with the currents.  She cocked her head form side to side as she studied him.  A puzzled look washed over her face as she moved still closer.  She extended a hand and softly touched his cheek.  Then, she ran her fingers over the plastic mouth cover and studied his mechanical gill apparatus.  She clicked and squeaked several different sounds shaking her head as she backed away.  Devon had no idea what she was saying.  He looked at Shagit with a puzzled expression.

        “She wants you to know that she feels badly for you because you have to have that apparatus on your face.  She feels sorry for you.”

        She smiled broadly as Devon sent her a message that thanked her for her concern.   The little girl had no idea what the words meant.  But she could sense the sincerity of the message and a huge smile spread across her face.  She reached for Devon’s hand and led him into the center of the celebration.  People parted to allow them through.  She found a place for him to sit and went to the table and brought him some of the simple foods that the miners ate. When she returned she held out a blue green pod.

        Devon was puzzled.  He looked about and finally found Shagit.  His escort sent him a message that all he had to do was bite off the end of the pod and suck out the contents.  Devon opened his mouth cover and sank his teeth into the seaweed pod.  At first he experienced a very bitter taste.  He shivered from the bitterness as the little girl and Shagit giggled.  The sour taste quickly faded and was replaced by a sweetness that nearly overwhelmed him.  Whatever it was it was wonderful.  He thought about asking what it was but decided against it.  Some things are better left unknown if they are to be enjoyed and appreciated.

        He smiled as the little girl clapped her hands together in delight.  She rushed to the table to get more food for her new friend.  A few minutes later a fearsome sound echoed in Devon’s head.  People rushed about and the child was swept away by the crowd.

        “What’s happening?” thought Devon.

        “Predator” was the response.

        Bolts of energy shot through the water from the towers as a black behemoth bore down on the encampment.  Devon