Lauren--Part Thirty-One

Splog # 99

Thirty-One

 

   A swishing sound interrupted Lauren in the middle of her thought. She looked to her right where she saw the camel coming back from where she had left it a short while before. Sliding beside its legs was a very large snake. She froze in her seat at sight of it, but before she could think what precautions to take, the eight children sitting around her all got up and moved to stand behind the benches they'd been sitting on, leaving Lauren in solitary possession of the luncheon. She started to rise but Jane placed a hand on her shoulder and whispered, "No need. You can finish whatever you want."

   While Jane was speaking, the snake had raised its curved body about half of its length straight up in front of the camel and facing toward the children. Its coloring struck Lauren as unlike any she'd seen before. A combination of assorted colors in pastel hues which, although the snake was rather large and stout in circumference, gave it an appearance of being airy and light, especially when it rose up off the ground as it was now doing. Here and there the snake had a broad brown streak running lengthwise down its trunk, though each measured differently and none seemed to extend the whole length. As Lauren watched, the snake's head dipped forward a bit and the children around the table all responded - the boys with a bow and the girls with a curtsey. The snake then lowered itself to the ground and sinuously made its way into the structure behind her.

   The boys and girls around the table started following the snake in single file. As each passed Lauren, they greeted her with a smile or an acknowledgement of her company during the meal and one or two shook her by the hand. She was amused to see that they each had a donut as they headed back to their lessons. During this procession, Jane leaned to her and said softly, "Stay as long as you like. That's Captain Sharp. He leads us in our lessons. You have your key, don't you?"

   Lauren was unsure what Jane was referring to and looked questioningly in her eyes.

   "You have your key in your pocket, don't you?"

   Lauren touched her pocket, where she felt something. She put her hand inside and brought out the small eight sided coin with the C on it.

   "Good," said Jane, "I was wondering...Maybe we'll see you on your way back."

   She shyly touched Lauren's cheek with one hand and then turned and followed the last of the boys inside. A brown curtain fell across the opening after Jane had entered and Lauren was alone. She turned back to her plate where there were a few pieces of carrot and some green pepper. As she munched a piece of pepper, she realized that the camel had gone a few yards ahead of her towards the mountains. It seemed to be engrossed in the glow that was still visible in the distance. She figured it must be time to head out again and wondered where Austin was. She decided to take one more stroll around the structure (was it a school? with a snake for a teacher?) to seek for a glimpse of him. She grabbed a piece of juicy watermelon to munch and headed back the way she had come. There was nothing visible on the ridge. She looked all around her. No Austin in sight anywhere. She took a deep breath to call and then it occurred to her that she might disturb the lessons so she let it out on a sigh and headed back.

   When she reached the table, she was only half surprised to find it empty except for one plate holding the remnants of her meal, a cup with a little orange juice left and a platter with one donut on it. She drained the cup and then took the remaining carrot sticks from her plate.

   She was approaching the camel when she heard her name spoken softly. She turned back and saw Jane holding up the curtain.

   "Captain Sharp wanted you to know that you needn't worry about Austin. He'll be back."

   "King will stay with you till he comes."