Eric--Part Forty

Splog # 175

Forty

 Eric followed Splog along the winding branch paths.

 "We have to head up a bit to reach the crossing to the downward trunk. It's rather pleasant here, do you find?"

 "It's great," Eric replied. "It's not quiet, what with the birds and the rustling of the leaves. But it's peaceful in spite of that."

 "Yes. Yes, it is. That's probably why people enjoy coming here. You know, it was quite an event when the first meals were served here, before you were born, my boy. Oh, not a lot but - well, the sky was blue to start with..."

 As Splog's voice trailed off, Eric thought he was probably speaking more to himself than to any auditor. They were crossing what seemed a wide bridge of branches when a woman who was going in the other direction with a man by her side touched Splog on the arm as he was passing by her. Coming out of his reverie, he looked at her and smiled.

 "Much time," she said softly.

 "No waste," he replied. "That's a new dye, isn't it?"

 Eric noticed that the woman had on a cloak which was covered with alternating shades of gray blending into each other in a fascinating combination of hues.

 "We're trying to approximate the movements of a bird's wings," the man explained.

 "Why, it's exceptionally done," said Splog. "It almost seems to be moving when it's still."

 The woman put one arm under the cloak and then slowly began raising and lowering it, gradually quickening the motion.

 A wide grin spread across Splog's face. "Lovely," was all he said.

 The woman removed her arm. She said a word that Eric couldn't quite make out and Splog took her hand.

 "Bev and Cor and Nol are over in the Kite Room. You may want to speak with them. It's good you're working. It'll keep your spirits up. And the new pattern is something worthwhile."

 The man and woman both gave modest smiles and hurried on in their former direction. Splog walked forward a few steps and then turned around to Eric. He gave a low chuckle.

 "You're so quiet, I forgot you were there for a moment. Walk beside me." He looked past Eric for a moment and murmured, "Their son..."

 When they turned back and resumed crossing the bridge, Eric asked,

 "Did something happen to their son?"

 "Hm? Their son? Oh, well, yes and no. You see, when Mae disappeared, Sal became rather despondent. He wanted to track her down. Cor was doing that and his parents needed him at the dyeworks. When Cor returned with no news, Sal asked Nol and Hew to take his place at his parents' and went in search of Mae. He's been gone quite some time now with no word of his whereabouts."

 Just before they reached the place where the bridge met the other trunk of the tree, they both heard someone calling Splog's name. After a quick search, they found a little girl leaning through an opening in the leaves slightly above them.

 "Much time, Splog," she called. "You want to come see us for a minute?" 

 "No waste, Kiz, be right up. Come along, Eric. Might as well meet some of the people here."

 They walked up a branch that swung around to the right at the end of the bridge. Another branch led up steeply to the left. Splog unwound the vine on this one and then set it back after Eric had gone by. Passing into another leafy room, Splog was immediately set upon by the child, who began rummaging in his coat pockets.

 "And what might we expect to find?"
 "Oh nothing." And she pulled out a feather, shaded red and orange like a flame.

 The girl looked at it rapturously and found a little tag dangling from the end.

 "Mummy, Mummy, look! It says Kiz. It's for me!"

 "That's lovely, dear."

 The girl curtsied and said, "Thank you, Splog" and then ran and hugged him.