Creative Commons – The Plainsrunner – Chapter Thirty

Continuing the serial release of The Plainsrunner under a Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike license – (CC-BY-SA).

Tallgrass and Seagrass take a big trip together.

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Chapter Thirty – Leaving Home

It was the first time Tallgrass had seen his mother cry, and it made him want to call it off and stay home. Sage didn’t handle it very well, shrugging off the Professor’s attempts at being supportive, and telling Tallgrass to not be silly. She thought of it as showing weakness, and that was something that she’d had forced out of her when she was banished from her village. Digger and Street discreetly found something to look at on the other side of the airport terminal while she struggled, and Tiny’s face wrinkled up with worry. Seagrass didn’t have time to worry about Sage, occupied as he was with the attentions of his adoptive parents. His mother was weeping without restraint, while his father resisted. It made him look angry, but Seagrass knew better.

Tallgrass and Seagrass were both attending the space academy on full scholarships. Tallgrass had a nagging feeling that it was unfair because he’d had so much help from his mother and the Professor. In addition to their constant availability for his hungry, questing mind, he knew that they were involved with the scholarship committees. Seagrass was uncomfortable because he feared he was there because of his friend Tallgrass. Not only had Tallgrass helped and supported him all through school, and virtually dragged him into his enthusiasm for space, Seagrass had long enjoyed having a friend whose mother was so powerful. As an orphan who understood what it meant to have none of that, he was well aware of how lucky he was. So, they both had their doubts, but they were both there on their own merits. At worst they were guilty of enjoying the benefits of supportive friends and family.

They had a seven thousand kilometer journey ahead of them, with three connections, all of which involved waiting for the next flight. In all it was going to take most of a day to get there. Sage fussed and worried and asked again if he had all his documents. Once again he flipped open his blanket to show her his wallet, secure in an inside pocket. He let the blanket fall and smoothed its crenelated pattern, then he smiled and opened his arms to hug her once again.

She smiled, then laughed at herself. “I’m sorry, Tally,” she said. “I know I’m acting silly. It’s just …”

“I know, Mom,” he said. “You’d like to come with me to protect me.” He winked. “With your spear and your necklace.”

Now she laughed out loud, and her friends with her. Only Seagrass’s parents didn’t join in, but only because Sage still kind of intimidated them. Their son did, though. He’d spent enough time with her to know why she was laughing. She said now, “You’re right, Tally. That’s exactly what I’d like.” She shook an imaginary spear. “Just let them try anything.”

Everyone laughed then, even Seagrass’s parents, and they were all feeling pretty good when the boarding call came.

It was a test of their endurance. At first they were buoyed by the excitement and adventure. That wore off four hours into the first leg. It was definitely exciting to be flying – the first time for either of them – and it did qualify as an adventure, but once you’re in the air, every hour is pretty much like the last one.

Conversation carried them for a while, but it didn’t take long to exhaust what they knew, and speculation gets repetitive very quickly when you don’t have much to go on. Besides, they had been over everything many times since they received the brochures months ago. After that, they were down to the food packed for them by Moonshadow, and the delicious sticky buns made by Seagrass’s mother. Even though they tried to ration it, it was gone before they finished the second leg. They were not even halfway there yet.

They were on their second stopover when they met the stranger. Tallgrass was sleeping while Seagrass stood guard, and the conversation woke him up. He heard Seagrass say, “No, thank you. We don’t need any help.”

Tallgrass was really groggy. He hadn’t been asleep long, nor had it been good, so his head was swimming as he tried to take in what was happening. There was his friend, still small for his age, standing resolutely between him and a strange man. The man, who was well-turned-out and quite presentable, was trying to look friendly, or at least non-threatening. Seagrass wasn’t having any of it. This was exactly the kind of situation they’d been warned about before leaving, and his orphan instincts were taking the lead.

Tallgrass said, “What’s going on, Sea?”

“Nothing, T,” said his friend. “This man was just asking if we needed any help.”

Tallgrass looked at the man, who was looking flustered. He asked him, “What kind of help?”

The man sighed and said, “Nothing in particular. I just thought that since you’re going to the Academy …”

“How do you know we’re going to the Academy?” demanded Seagrass.

“Well, it’s obvious,” the man said. “Your baggage tags tell me your destination. You’re two young men the right age.” He spread his hands. “Tell me I’m wrong and I’ll apologize and leave you alone.”

They looked at each other, then Seagrass said, “Anyone could have figured that out. What is it to you?”

The man smiled and said, “I’m going there, too. Look, I don’t have my cards on me right now, but my name is Trueway and I’m with the academy. I’m one of the instructors.”

“Trueway?” The name rang a bell with Tallgrass. He’d seen it somewhere in the literature.

“Yes. I live here, and I’m just on my way back for the commencement.” He was looking more relaxed now. “I saw you and thought we could travel together. That’s all.”

Tallgrass nodded and looked at Seagrass. “What do you think?” he said.

Seagrass thought about it, then said, “If you think it’s okay.”

Tallgrass thought it probably was. He said, “Well, Mister Trueway, I guess we’ll be traveling together.”

“That’s Professor Trueway,” said the man, looking embarrassed.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Professor,” said Tallgrass, who knew how important the distinction was.

“That’s all right,” said Professor Trueway. “It still sounds funny to say it. It just happened. I’ve just been home to celebrate.”

“Well, congratulations, Professor,” said Tallgrass, and they shook hands as he introduced himself and Seagrass.

“Tallgrass?” asked Trueway. “Of Sage? The astronomer?”

“Yes,” said Tallgrass, genuinely surprised.

“And Professor Tailor. They’re working together on the artifacts, aren’t they?”

“That’s right. How do you know about them?”

Trueway gave him a look. “Come on,” he said. “Everybody knows about Sage and Tailor. The books? The movies?” He looked back and forth in disbelief. “All the papers they’ve published on the artifacts. And your mother’s astronomy papers.” It was clear to him that Tallgrass had no idea how famous his mother was. “Never mind,” he said. “In fact, it’s refreshing that she’s apparently not made a big deal of it. It adds even more to the legend.”

“Legend?” Tallgrass knew how great his mother was, but he didn’t know that everyone else thought so too.

“Yes,” said Trueway, his eyes shining. “Does she still have the spear, and the necklace made of talons?”

That stopped Tallgrass. Suddenly it was into things that felt private to him. Trueway saw and quickly said, “Oh, I’m sorry. This is much too personal. I’m thinking of Sage the legend, when she’s really your mother. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” said Tallgrass, trying to sort out his feelings. “I’m kind of used to it.”

“Still,” said Trueway, “she’s your mother first, at least to you. All that other stuff is for people who don’t know her.”

“Yes,” said Tallgrass. “Yes. That feels right.”

“Good,” said Trueway. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“No offence taken,” said Tallgrass. “It just caught me off guard, that’s all.”

“Good,” said Trueway again. “So, let’s talk about something else.” The obvious thing was the Academy and everything he could tell them about it.