Transparent Color's

I wake up more rested and my stomach full. I get off my stiff cot and go peak outside. The sun is to my right; it must be around three o’clock. I look down at my dirty bruised up feet, and wonder where I am supposed to clean myself. I step off the mat that covers the floor of my tent, to the dirt on the ground outside.

I walk down a path between the tents, while men move quickly by me. They all smile and say “Hello!” but keep moving to where ever they need to go. All men, where are all the women? As I pass by tents, I’m ashamed to be doing so, but I peak through the slots out of curiosity.

The first three tents I look in are empty, but the fourth one gives me a shock to see an old man dressing. I move quickly away and decide not to look anymore. My face turns red from holding in laughter, I then notice a man coming out of a tent next to the old man’s, with a confused look. I freeze for a moment trying to think of what to say, and then give a little nervous smile and say, “So where are all the women?”

The man points down the path. I smile a thank you, and then quickly walk away. How embarrassing! I look down the path and I see some smoke from a fire brewing. That must be where the women are at, of course cleaning or cooking. I guess things aren’t so different here.

I walk onto a paved square area. Where there are three large wooden steaming tubs and six rectangular boxes, I’m assuming are showers. Three women, one for each tub, are sitting on top of the tubs washing clothes. Behind them is a line where wet clothes are hanging to get dry. Each woman glances at me but only one says something.

“Hello young miss! Do you need some washing?” an older woman yells from the farthest tub.

I say back, “Yes may I use one of the showers?”

The woman stops scrubbing, “Now you can see I’m old, you’re going to have to speak up my dear. I could hardly hear a word you said.”

I go to say it louder, but she cuts me off, “Just walk over here, I promise not to bite.” She gives a little laugh.

I walk over to the front of her tub, “Hi sorry for that. What I said was, ‘may I use one of the showers’?”

She gives me a smile and says “Of course. Go in to the one closest to me and throw me your clothes so I can wash it. I’ll get you some extra dry clothes on the line. What size are ya?”

I look down at my clothes, wondering the same question. We didn’t go by sizes at the south City; it was more of a one size fits all. And I’m not sure how they sized me in the grand City.

I look up, “Um. I guess…”

“Petite, you look very petite; small around the chest and possible a size five around the waist. We’ll try that.” She points to the shower for me to go, so I do.

Once I am clean and dry, I get dressed in dark gray pants, which are fitted but at the same time stretchy and easy to move in. The shirt is long and a navy blue color. When I step out of the rectangular box, on the ground are socks and a pair of boots.

“Those clothes and boots are extras from my daughter. You both looked about the same size. You might be a bit taller, but Ora’s pants always were long on her, so they seem to fit you just fine.” She smiles at me.

I give a smile back, “Yes perfectly, thank you.” I sit on the ground and put my socks and boots on. Then say, “I met you daughter, she brought me food earlier.”

“Good, she can make the best food in camp.” She says back to me.

I just finish tying the last boot, when I look up at her and say, “Is that what we are supposed to do cook and clean? Are there any other jobs?”

She rings out a shirt, and then hangs it up. She then stretches her legs out from under her, and scoots towards the latter. When she gets down, she walks slowly to me stretching out her back and letting out a deep grunt.

“No, you can do whatever you feel fit in doing: cooking, cleaning, lumber, welding, making the weapons and materials, fighting, you know…what you can handle.” She walks passed with her hands on the back of her waist.

“I see, thank you again for the clothes.” My eyes watch her as she passes by. She nods her head and gives a little nonchalant wave. She goes down the path on the opposite side from where I came.

I stand in the middle of the paved square, wondering what to do now. So before the old woman is out of sight I run after her.

“Ma’am sorry to bother you again, but where do I go now?” Her tired face turns and looks at me, “My dear where ever you want. But there is a meeting about to start in the big tent; I believe Ora will be there.”

I give a big smile and say, “Perfect, thank you!” she says “You’re welcome” and I start to run down the dirt path.

The dirt path is ultimately one large circle, so it doesn’t matter which way I run. I make my way around to the opening, where I can approach the large tent. About six tents down a flap flies open and that man, Vichor comes walking out. I quickly change my pace to a fast walk, and try to pass him without notice.

“Ah. Ms. Collins! Rest well I presume?” I lift my head up and see him smiling at me.

I give a little smile back and say, “Yes thank you. Is everything good with you?” I hint about the exchange between him and Maliki.

His smile straightens and he starts scratching the back of his head. He gives a little grunt and says, “Yes, that was pretty childish, wasn’t it?”

I can see his change in demeanor, so I lighten my tone, “Yes, but you all had a long night and the lack of sleep can cause you to do irrational things. You are one of the men, who rescued me, aren’t you?”

He brings his hand down and his face starts to loosen up. He says back, “I am. I actually helped lead that operation.” He gives a proud smile, then leans in cautiously and says in a quieter voice, “Don’t you think it would be best if we had one of those Flying Hawks?”

His eyes are focused in on me. I keep my silence and he goes on, “It just makes sense, why risk going another time, when they will be more aware of us coming? And plus we will be bringing the boy back to danger, what if he gets captured again? Is that something you want to risk?”

I want to say I totally agree with Maliki and nothing will change that, but his words are changing it. What he is saying kind of makes sense to me. Why, if we are successful in rescuing Toby, would I allow them to bring him back for one machine?

So what comes out of my mouth is, “No I will not risk that”.

He gives a little smile and backs away some, “They won’t agree to it, but if a chance appears will you help me?”

I bite my lip and look around to an empty area; they all must be in the tent. Then hesitatingly say “I’ll think of it.”

We both give a slight grin and nod to each other, and then head to the tent. When I enter first the whole long wooden table is full. The wall of the tent from behind Aivon is open and two other tables are full of people as well. They all sit at the table talking with untouched food in front of them. I see Maliki and Jo-Shana, in their same spots as before, in conversation. Then a loud voice appears.

“There you are my girl, I sent someone to your tent and you were gone. Please come and sit.” Aivon says. Then Vichor sneaks in behind me and the room goes quiet. I can see Maliki and Jo-Shana staring at me.

“Oh, Vichor! You too my boy.” Aivon says in a cheerful way, “I’m glad to see everyone here, let’s make this a good meeting?”

Aivon looks at Vichor and Vichor smiles and says, “Yes and that is precisely what will happen.” He gives a little head bow of surrender.

Maliki stands up and does the same. He then looks at me and moves to the back of the empty chair next to him, and pulls it out. I go and sit down, and the feast begins. Chicken, potatoes, corn, and bread; the food is a bit cold, I guess that’s my doing, but never the less delightful. I look at the tables behind me, and see the older women from the washing area just sitting down to eat. The one woman who spoke to me sat down next to Ora. Before I look away I catch the eyes of the lady and she points down to the food then to Ora. Ora looks up and sees me as well, she gives a big Anna smile and waves excitedly. I wave back then turn towards my food.

The roaring of conversations and laugher fill my ears. I notice the man sitting in front of me looking at me and his lips moving, but I cannot make out what he is saying. I motion to my ears that I cannot hear him, so he tries to speak louder. We do this back and forth a few times, until I decide to give up. His face is red from screaming out what he wanted to say to me, but is still unheard, so I shrug my shoulders and rise my hands up a bit to motion a little laugh. His face looks dazed and confused, so we just look different ways.

I turn my head to Maliki and he is laughing at my comical charades. I gently nudge him with my elbow and give a little laugh as well. He then leans into my ear, “I missed you, Sunshine.”

A smile forms on my face and I didn’t mind him calling me Sunshine this time. I lean into his ear and say, “I missed you too.” Our eyes lock, and the thought of his kiss forms into my mind, but the moment is quick, we are interrupted by a ‘Ting’ of a glass.

All eyes go to Aivon as he stands to his feet, “Ladies and gentlemen, this is a celebration of a new face, and the encouragement to our fighters, wishing them good luck tomorrow. Please raise your glasses.” Everyone raises their glasses and I do as well, “To Hope, to love, and to peace…Cheers!”

“CHEERS!” shouts everyone in camp.

I take a sip, and then quickly turn to Maliki, “When are we leaving tomorrow?”

He takes a sip then answers back, “The fighters are leaving at 12 a.m.”

“Oh wow okay, so we need to be ready by 11 p.m. tonight correct? We should also go over the plans; I have not yet been informed.” I say directly to the point.

Maliki hesitates and rubs his head for a moment, then says, “Maggie everyone who is going has been informed, we’ve been planning this before rescuing you. It will be best if you stay here and…”

“No!” I say out loud, I then notice everyone goes quiet and are now looking at me. I lower my voice and continue, “I’m going. I can’t just sit here wondering what is going on, I need to be there!”

Maliki’s eyes look over at Aivon. Aivon leans towards me, “My girl, it will not be safe. And it will not do Toby any good if you are killed. He will be unstable for a while and he’s going to need you. Plus you have no training.”

“I appreciate you both trying to protect me, but I feel like I need to do something, I don’t want to just sit here. I can be a lookout or something. I can learn quickly.” Aivon looks at Maliki, then Vichor speaks in.

“What if she’s the only one he recognizes and will come to? I don’t mean to speak out of turn, but it’s something to consider.” Vichor glances at me, and then looks at Aivon, then at Maliki.

“Well that could be a possibility Maliki; maybe you should do a quick training just in case.” Aivon says. Maliki’s frustrated face looks at me.

He says, “Are you sure you want to go?” his eyes beg me to say no, but I say yes. So he nods and then says, “Well finish eating and after we will start the training. I’ll go set up.” He gets up and leaves the table.

When I finish my meal, my stomach starts to feel a bit queasy. I’m determined to fight and end the Majestic for all, but I can’t help the oncoming nerves. I take a deep breath then excuse myself from the table. As I walk out of the tent I hear footsteps behind me, I turn around and Jo-Shana and Ora are following.