The Lonely Star -- Chapter 4

[Child of the 7th Age]

That night, no one came to Daisy to relieve the sadness in her heart. Now, it was morning again. Or at least Anee told her so. The hobbit couldn't really tell because everything still lay hidden in darkness. It was only as people got up that torches were lit, and a little light filtered through the side caverns.

Still no Bird. What was that neekerbreeker up to? She wished she knew. Or perhaps she didn't. Maybe Bird's night had been even worse than hers.

She went with Anee. They stood together in a long breakfast line. The big cave had small slits in the roof, so tiny rays of light showed through, playing here and there against the wet green walls.

This time, there was only a small bit of porridge, a few spoons dumped onto the bottom of a worn plate. Daisy's stomach gnawed with hunger. Its emptiness weighed on her like a barren pit.

Ahead in the line, a man and his wife stood together, hand-in-hand. He was past middle age, still hearty and strong, even with the cares of prison on his head. But then Daisy saw something wrong. The man's foot was bound up with bandages. She couldn't see underneath the ragged cloth. But he carefully put no weight on it, and there was an odor beyond that of the usual unwashed bodies.

When the guard came up to him and jerked away his plate, the hobbit showed no surprise. He leaned over to the grey haired woman and kissed her on the head. "You will do as I say," he whispered.

She nodded, and then their hands slipped apart.

Anee pulled Daisy back for a minute as if she was afraid it might be catching. Then they watched as the limping hobbit struggled to match the pace of the guards.

Daisy looked around. No Gamba. She was glad he wasn't here. He wouldn't have liked it.

And then, for just an instant, Daisy envied Gamba's tears. For she herself had none to spare. She couldn't have squeezed out even one. The ache in her side, the hunger, even the selection--this had quickly become normal to her. She suddenly felt very, very old.

[ October 08, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]