Talia’s wide pink eyes reminded Callie of something from a horror movie and she cowered, afraid Talia would kill her.
Talia burst into laughter instead, tears streaming down her cheeks.Callie’s expression dropped from horror to relief.She scrambled toward her and they collapsed into an exhausted fit of giggles.
“Sesi had better appreciate this.”Talia grumbled, still half laughing.
“Be sure to tell her that during labour.”
The absurdity and exhaustion caused them to start laughing all over again.
They unrolled the thin mattress.Callie peeled off the survival suit Sparx had acquired for them.Talia flared her nostrils and frowned.
“Yeah, we do smell pretty bad,” Callie admitted, even though her heart fluttered at Talia’s adorable button nose wrinkling.
Callie did some quick addition.“If we use the water we have to wash, what do we do for the other three days?”
“I think there’s a water purifier kit in here somewhere.”Talia rummaged through the survival gear.Callie blushed.
“Stop staring,” Talia scolded.Her wiggle as she emptied the contents of the rucksack said something different.She found the purifier kit.It smelled strongly of plastic.She nonetheless held her prize aloft and handed Callie the instructions.
“This says it’s going to take an hour.”
“So, I should get some water now?”Talia unrolled the water bags.
“Not like that!You’ll be eaten alive!”
Talia flushed.Callie giggled.
“Stop it!”She shoved Callie.“Or we’ll never get this damn fish!”
“Right,” Callie tried to restrain her face from bursting into laughter again.“And Sesi will yell at us.”
“I don’t think she’ll yell at us, but I don’t want to have spent the night in the swamp for nothing either.”Talia found her survival suit bunched up in the corner.“She’ll yell at Siku instead.”She tried to pull it over her legs, but it clung to her, still wet.“Oh my god, I can’t begin to describe how disgusting this is,” she whined.
Callie rushed over to her survival suit and found that hers too still dripped with sweat.“What do we do?”
“Find the infrared heater and we’ll turn them inside out.That might help for tomorrow.”
By the time Talia lugged the two water bags into the tent, Callie had the infrared heater set up.Talia’s face scrunched up in revulsion as she removed the suit for the second time.“I have never been as repulsed by the smell of a human body as I am right now.And I’ve nicked a colon.”
Callie found the bathing supplies and handed her a rag.
“Oh my god, I love you,” Talia had never been so grateful for anything so simple.When she finished wiping her face, she caught Callie’s wide grey eyes staring at her in silence.
It dawned on Talia what she had just said.It shouldn’t be a big deal.Callie knew already.They were having ababy.
But she still felt like the slip-up had torn a giant hole in her carapace.And now Callie could say anything in response.Or nothing.Talia had lost control.
Callie crossed one foot over the other, lowering her gaze.She knew Talia.Even the parts Talia didn’t want known.Callie wasn’t a threat, but she was also overjoyed hearing the words.“No take-backsies?”
Talia’s face relaxed.She only allowed herself to blush in response and she finished wiping off.Callie knew it had been the perfect thing to say.
And when the wound had healed over and the sun had risen at an ungodly hour, Callie whispered “I love you too” against the shell of her ear and Talia pulled her tighter.
July 25 2269
Callie crawled out of the tent, ready to catch fish.Talia followed.
“What are those for?”Callie pointed to Talia’s knife belt.
