Aqueous Passage. Krystyna Faroe

you’ve developed Oak. It makes it a real treat to sit with you these days. It’s as if the goody goody Oak suddenly became dark and more sinister, it certainly makes you more interesting to be with.”

      Oak looked away. He couldn’t say anything back as he knew it was true. He had changed and it bothered him how much but what could he do other than accept what fate had handed to him? Experiences change you and he had learned that better than anyone else on the airship. He looked back at the large smiling face before him. For some reason Denver seemed even bigger today in the light of the sun than on the cloudy days that had passed.

      “Have you grown or something?”

      He looked Denver up and down.

      “What mutant food have you eaten to make you so big anyway? And just when will you stop growing?”

      Denver broke into a laugh once more. Aviatilians and Citans who sat across the room stopped what they were doing to look at the leader and prisoner that joked with one another like best friends. They shook their heads in puzzlement.

      “Jealous are you my little wood dweller. Don’t feel man enough around me?”

      This time Oak let out the guffaw and smacked his drink down upon the table so hard it toppled over the brim in waves.

      “Don’t you know the saying Denver? It isn’t size that matters…”

      “Yes but it was probably a little man that said it!”

      “A little man with more to him than anyone knows.” Oak retorted still laughing.

      “Are we talking physically or mentally?”

      Oaks eyes glinted.

      “What do you think?”

      “I think boys are proportioned to the bodies they have and mentally, well I admit I have met big, stupid boys.”

      Oak laughed again.

      “I don’t believe stupid is limited to big, I can attest to knowing one in my own clan.”

      Denver nodded in acknowledgement.

      “I know who you mean but because he goes against you doesn’t mean he is stupid.”

      “No! So Detroit is obviously very smart and that is why he is disloyal to you?”

      Oak raised his eyebrows as he caught Denver’s return stare.

      “If you want to believe him clever go ahead but then I would have to rethink which one of the two of you is stupid.”

      Oak had been taking a sip of his beer when he received this reply and spat it out across the table as he guffawed in response. Denver amused pulled his shirt down and brushed off the foam spots that had landed upon it. Bulging pectoral muscles showed through the tight fabric and Oak felt embarrassed by his admiration of the bulking boy.

      Denver gave a smirk.

      “Hope you ain’t got the hots for me Oak, I’ll tell you now I don’t veer that way.”

      Oak almost coloured but laughed instead.

      “Your pectoral muscles may be large but I prefer something that would be soft under my hands. I wouldn’t want to think I was kneading rubber.”

      Denver chuckled but gave a wink to Oak anyway just to wind him up; Oak knew it as such and chortled back.

      “Had any more images of pretty red?” Denver asked and Oak sensed him mentally kick himself for bringing her up.

      “No, thank you very much. I am blissfully unaware of what she is doing.”

      Oak saw a shift in Denver’s look and knew exactly what was going through his mind.

      “And if it involves Elm, I most definitely do not want to see.”

      Denver’s mouth quirked at one side.

      “What about the lovely blond, is she in your dreams?”

      Oak drifted away at the thought of Willow, her pale face, her long blond hair falling past her delicate shoulders, her blue eyes reflecting the sunlight and he felt his own face soften as a contented smile spread to both sides.

      “Oh please!” Denver said in disgust. “That’s just too pathetic.”

      “What?” Oak replied trying to look confused at what Denver meant, although he knew why he had made the comment and to his surprise it didn’t bother him.

      “Oh be a man will you. Don’t get a dreamy pathetic look over a girl! I thought you were cold, controlled and didn’t feel anything, in fact I think I like that boy much better than the love sick creature before me now.”

      Oak smirked.

      “You want me to be a cold hearted being that seems neither human nor beast?”

      “Yeah!” Denver replied. “That sounds pretty good to me. Do you think you can?”

      Both of them were laughing now as they played mentally with each other. Their eyes wrinkled as the smiles grew upward, until they just as suddenly vanished and both stopped smiling. Their eyes immediately swung away to the open doorway as the laughter that had been in them was abruptly gone. They turned back to each other but said nothing but leapt to their feet and almost ran through the arch.

      Sprinting down the empty hallway they descended the stairs to the familiar hold where the goods were kept. They slowed as they approached the entrance and quieted their steps. Carefully, slowly and silently they opened the door and slipped through. The hold seemed to be even hotter than the lounge and the hot air felt like it would knock them over. With shallow breaths they moved amongst the tied down cargo and traversed the floor hooks and ropes to a spot where voices could be heard.

      “There must be something here Detroit that we can use.”

      It was Rancor who was talking, his voice hushed but that made no difference to Oak and Denver; they didn’t need to hear his words, as they read them in his mind.

      “I don’t know what you want Rancor. I’m not sure what to look for.” Detroit’s voice wavered slightly, he sounded distressed and fearful, Oak and Denver understood why.

      “You find something and you find something now! I’m not toying here, nor is Kisin, he’s given me instructions and they must be followed absolutely, there is no variance with Kisin. There can never be any changes; you follow his orders to the letter.” His breath out sounded like a hiss, Oak could tell he was angry.

      “I have to leave this room Detroit. This heat makes the air cloying but that does not bother me as much as your insubordination. Do as you’re told and don’t disobey me or Kisin, you have too much to lose.”

      They heard the shuffle of feet moving away becoming quieter as they gathered more distance. A door heaved open with great effort as another gasp escaped Rancor; it was silenced by the closing of the door behind him. The disquiet of his rambling mind left their thoughts as Oak looked at Denver and then toward the hidden area that held Detroit. Detroit’s thoughts were everywhere and in order to get more clarity they needed to stand before him and question him.

      Denver had his hand up to wait, as if Oak needed the gesture when the thought had travelled to his mind quicker than his hand could be raised. Oak smiled and Denver smiled back realizing the mutual understanding.

      When Denver finally moved away Oak followed him. They slid quietly through the narrow gaps to where Detroit still stood, unmoving and confused.

      “Well Detroit what are you up to now?”

      Detroit just about jumped out of his shoes he was so surprised by Denver’s sudden appearance.

      “Where on earth did you come from? What are you doing here?” Detroit’s face was red from the heat and annoyance, not only because of Denver’s sudden appearance, but because of the pressure his collaborator Rancor had placed upon him.

      “Oh