Separation

“Perhaps it will be better on the other side,” Markos said to Ryan as they rode on the first day. “If it stretches like this for any great distance, then how can it be farmed? Where is the shelter?”

“It’ll be different, all right,” the one-eyed man replied. “You don’t know how different…but I’ll be glad when we’re beyond this.”

Ryan shivered as yet another cold gust swept along the hills. Certainly, this was hardly the most inspiring introduction to the mainland that the Pilatans could have wished. The hills were covered with a thin layer of topsoil that was enough to allow the sparse growth of grass and moss that softened underfoot but allowed for nothing else to take root. The rock beneath the soil was flat, so there were no outcrops to stop the winds from howling across the flat plain that rose in an incline to the crest.

With the slow progress that they made on foot, it seemed as if they would never reach the crest to see what lay beyond. The Pilatans moved slowly, and even to reach the crest of the long, undulating hills meant trekking a greater distance than the length and breadth of the island they had left behind. The scale of the mainland was something they couldn’t even imagine, let alone adjust to with ease. And with each passing hour that they walked, they grew more and more apprehensive about their undertaking. Was this land too big for them to assimilate? Would they be able to find somewhere that had the resource and reassurance of their home?

It was something that the companions could do nothing to assuage. The vast plains of grass, rising upward, bespoke of a massive land movement at the time of skydark, which had stripped this long stretch of land and formed a new coastline that hid from view the land that lay beyond. Under their own steam, they would have made the distance in a day, and be able to view the area beyond for possible shelter before nightfall. But with the heavy caravan slowing them, it meant a night camping on the plains.

As darkness fell, the temperature dropped to below zero, with the wind chill taking it down a few degrees more. Even with the temporary shelter they were able to rig from the crates and belongings they carried with them, it was still hard for the Pilatans to make anything in the way of warming conditions. It was hard for them to keep fires going in the teeth of the winds, as they had never had such conditions to contend with on the well sheltered island. The companions passing among them had to teach them how to shelter and nurture their fires.

There were also complaints about water running low. Many of the older Pilatans were fearful that they wouldn’t be able to find another supply before their own ran out. Jak rigged plastic sheeting they had brought with them to catch the dew, and also hunted out a small spring that he was able to detect by a slightly more verdant growth of grass and moss. It wasn’t much, but it did help to alleviate fears, which may have been just as important as the actual production of water. For the caravan to proceed on the morrow, the Pilatans had all to be in the frame of mind to continue.

“I know we are slow,” Markos said to the companions as they gathered around their own small fire, “but we should—if we can continue even at this pace—attain the crest of the hill by nightfall tomorrow.”

“I hope so,” Mildred replied. “Another night like this won’t be good for the older and weaker people. We need to get off this plain.”

“I’m sure we will, and that we’ll find better conditions,” Sineta said with a confidence that Mildred couldn’t share.

“Don’t place your hopes too highly,” Mildred said carefully. “We don’t know what’s going to be on the far side of the hill. It may be good land or it may be little more than a dust bowl.” She saw Sineta’s face drop as she spoke, and continued rapidly, so that the woman wouldn’t be too dispirited. “I’m not saying that it’ll be a disaster, but you have to take in the fact that conditions change so quickly here. You always have to expect the unexpected, otherwise you won’t be able to adapt and survive.”

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