Hex 12

The next morning, Helmine woke up from her erratic sleep and wandered back outside to smoke some more, carrying her rifle and part of her belongings with her. She had politely said no to breakfast (old habits) and opted to eat part of her dry rations instead. Secretly, of course, because sitting on the same rock as yesterday left her just too close to the house... and, of course, the cleared area before the edge of the forest.

After a bit of fumbling, Helmine managed to light up and puff a few small clouds of smoke.

She was irritated. It was a bright, chilly day, her hand was in no condition for anything, the doctors were really annoying her and this stupid itch was driving her crazy. At least the cream seemed to make the itch... better.

Even so, after looking around and making sure that there was nobody about, she hefted the rifle with her left hand and stabilised it with her right forearm. Helmine was just about to pull the trigger when two things happened. One: the children came out. Two: she realised her forearm was numb, too.

She felt cold.

A little distance away, Siri emerged from the healers' house. She had a headband keeping her hair, which was anyway reasonably short, out of her face.

She emptied some tea leaves out and waved. She had no business looking that cheerful.

Helmine was quite happy nobody on this stupid world spoke Weissian. The words coming out of her mouth were comparable to murder when it came to rudeness. She got up and began to march toward Siri like a spirit of death sweeping through a warzone -- unmindful of anything in her way or wake.

Was she supposed to be intimidated? Siri didn't even think of that. She did, however, guess at the general meaning of the foreign. The tone of voice drew a very clear road map.

"Happy mornings," she said. "Didn't you sleep well?"

"Did. No deal." She immediately raised her hand in front of Siri, knowing very well that her mind was losing its tentative grasp on this foreign language's vocabulary and grammar. "It continues." And still, somehow, Helmine looked more angry than despairing.

Siri nodded, which might not have been the wisest thing to do. "Shall I look aga--? No, I'll find Guep and Delmira." She made to turn away and search them out.

Lefrui, she knew, had been up with his plants since the early hours - he didn't sleep well these days, he said - and was last seen snoring in his easy chair.

"Yeah," Helmine said, looking at the kids. "I... yeah." That was all she managed to say before she ambled back toward the rock, muttering to herself in poor spirits. One would have thought there was a thundering cloud above her.

Siri called Delmira and gently woke the snoozing old man.

"The patient complains that the paralysis is spreading," Siri said. There was an edge of significance (after all, she'd made the decision not to tell the patient already).

"She was bound to notice," Lefrui nodded. He stood and moved his stiff neck (must replace that cushion), and added "I wish I could do more for her right away. I can't hothouse my plants as I used to. Never get old, Siri."

"I'll be satisfied if Helmine lives to," the student retorted. "She's outside. Are you ready to go?"