Emergency Stop (2)

Writers: Jane, Kaysea, Vix
Date Posted: 13th August 2007

Characters: Lineal, Neke, Tahna, Vaheri, Gheya, Torson, Bretlina
Description: A young couple beg Lineal's help in finding their lost child.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 5, day 20 of Turn 4

Tahna found the small entrance between the bales that her sister and cousins had been using lately as their very own hidey hole. It was almost too narrow for her to fit through, but turning sideways, she managed to. It was hot and fetid air between the bales, with little to no circulation - how did the younger ones bear it, she wondered.

It took her eyes a few moments to adjust to the lack of light as well, but a thin stream made it through between the bales and the upper deck, enough to show her a curled up form on one of the smaller bales. She edged forward, and caught the light breathing of the small child.

"Hey, wake up - wake up, little one." she shook the sleeping form gently. The child would have to be awake for Tahna to get her out of this small space.

Lineal spoke with the gathered crew in the bow, asking them to work aft on the main deck and suggested that Torson walk with him behind the slow moving group. A glance up onto the balcony of the crew and passenger decks reassured him that the people watching the river were in place. "I imagine you want to help," Lineal said to the man beside him, "But the crew grew up on the Sungazer. They know every nook and cranny."

"I'll do whatever I can to find my daughter." Torson assured the Captain, "But I'll do what I'm told - if it means I'll be helping more than hindering." he nodded, his eyes still glancing this way and that, for any sign of his daughter.

"Hey, c'mon, you. Wake up!" Tahna called again, and was relieved to see the child stir on the bale. "C'mon sweety, people are looking for you. Your mam and dar are worried, too."

The child stretched widely, arms back behind her head and back arched highly as her face screwed up. "Mama?" she said quietly, her eyes finally focusing on where she was.

"Shh... Don't worry. You come with me and we'll find your mama." Tahna reassured her, reaching out both arms to encourage the child. "What's your name?" she asked.

"Bwetlina." the little girl replied, reaching her own arms out and slipping them in around Tahna shoulders. "Will you take me to my mummy? I'm so hot."

"Yes sweetling, I'll take you to your mama. And its very hot in here, I think you would like a drink of cool water, wouldn't you?" The child nodded in reply, content to be removed from the cubby hole by Tahna.

Emerging back into the cooler air of the deck, Tahna glanced around, spotting Lineal and the child's father further along the deck. "Lineal! Lineal I've found her!" she called out.

"Come on," Lineal said, rather unnecessarily as he ran along the deck toward the girl.

Torson ran alongside the Captain and watched as heads appeared all along the deck from various doorways and windows. "Bretlina!" he called out.

Further along the deck Gheya could hear the commotion. She turned to the older woman, her face white. "Do you think... I can't bear to..." her eyes filled with tears again, and her whole body began to tremble.

Vaheri placed an arm around the woman in comfort, though she also glanced toward the voices. "Whatever is happening, they'll come here and tell us."

"Daddy!" Bretlina's voice rang out as she saw her fathers fast approach. From bright smile at the sight of her father to crestfallen look when she realised her mother was nowhere in sight. "I want my mummy!" she wailed out.

Tahna gratefully passed the child to her father, "I'll go let Vaheri know." she looked across at Lineal.

"Please, Tahna, and bring her mother back."

"Here - drink this." Vaheri handed Gheya a cup of klah, well-sweetened. Though the voices from the deck did not sound overly worried, she wanted the woman sitting and calm for whatever news reached them.

Tahna hurried along the deck, calling out to others as she went, letting them know the child had been found safe and sound. She yanked open the door to the common room, to come face to face with two sets of eyes, one panicked and flooded with tears, the other enquiring, and somewhat calmer.

"She's okay." she said, giving the child's mother a gentle smile. "She was asleep in the kids cubbyhole." she said, by way of explanation. "Her dar's got'er, and he's on his way."

With a hiccup of relief Gheya nodded her understanding, not willing or able to give a verbal reply. Deep wracking breathes shuddered through her body, and she smiled tremulously to both the older woman and the girl.

"See? All is well," Vaheri told her. "There are very few things that could happen to her on this boat, aside from hiding some place and not being able to be found for a while. We have a few little hidey-holes that only the children can fit into, but none of them are truly dangerous."

Tahna stepped aside to let the father and daughter enter the common room. The child immediately held out her arms for her mother. With a half sob, half yelp of relief the woman stood and hastened across to the door, enfolding her child in her embrace, both coddled by the father.

Over his wife's head, Torson mouthed his thanks to the Captain and the older woman and child.

"Good work, Tahna," Lineal said. "Shall we leave them to Vaheri now?" he suggested, holding out his hand for the riverboat girl. "We have to get this boat back underway."

With one last look over her shoulder at the couple and their child, Tahna turned and took Lineal's hand. "Another exciting day aboard the Sungazer." she said quietly to him as they walked back out on deck.

Last updated on the October 1st 2008

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Emergency Stop (2)