[Kachi]: 373.Excerpts.NaNo05

National Novel Writing Month - 2005

An Excerpt


  Catching his companion's suddenly quiet mood, Seb also turned his attention to the fields beyond, watching them as if devouring every last little detail that came before his eyes. But after ten minutes or so, his youthful lack of attention got the better of him. "What did you dream about last night?"
  The question took Kaide off guard, and it took him a few moments to work out what the correct response might be. "I don't remember much, it was all a bit of a blur."
  "You don't remember anything?" The boy sounded almost reproachful.
  "Well... I remember these... small hairy things, with long bodies. They were all lined up and dancing." Seeing the way Seb was looking at him, he added hastily, "I think I'd had a little too much to drink."
  "I'd have to agree with you there," shouted a voice from behind the older man. Kaide glowered slightly at the ceiling, but did not respond to Calla's comment.
  Seb covered his mouth with his hand and faked a cough to hide the smile that had formed. "What do you think they were?"
  "I don't know," Kaide mused. "They were like... weasels or something. But they were the wrong colour."
  "Pink and blue? Orange polka dots?" Calla called again, and only laughed when Kaide turned and slapped his hand hard against the wall of the carriage.
  "Ferrets?" Seb supplied helpfully, hoping to distract the man opposite before he climbed out of the coach and punched the driver.
  "Pardon?" Kaide looked as though Seb had just insulted him.
  "Ferrets." The younger man repeated. "They're like weasels, but smaller, and a bit hairier. They're usually light coloured." And on catching the way that Kaide was staring at him, he muttered apologetically, "my da used to keep some. They always bit me."
  Kaide half expected a smart response from Calla at that, but none came. Evidently the boy had done nothing to elicit his sarcasm. Yet. "What did you dream about?" He hoped to change the subject - ferret dreams were a little too strange to be discussing in a travelling carriage with a satirical driver sat where he could hear.
  With a longing expression, Seb murmured, "I dreamed about Linka, my girlfriend." Then, with a slightly different expression, "oh, and I dreamed about a giant flower walking around the city."
  The snort, only audible to Kaide, indicated that Calla hadn't given in listening yet. "A... giant flower?"
  "A hibiscus."
  Kaide wondered if the explanation of the type was supposed to make things more logical. "And how much did you drink last night?"
  "My dreams are always kind of strange," the dark eyed youth smiled. "You get used to it after a while. I dreamed that it was raining fire the other night."
  This might end up being a very long journey.