Homeward
Aeneas and Bend shared a tranquil ride, the hum of the rover providing a soothing backdrop to the silence between them. She looked over in his direction and gave him a warm grin. However, Bend just returned her look and showed no emotion at all. Maur-tans are renowned for their stoicism.
“Maur-tans don’t smile much, do they?” she asked.
“Showing emotion takes up energy,” replied Bend.
“Come on, a smile won’t hurt every so often?” she teased.
Bend tried but came up short, and she laughed at his attempt.
“Good, but keep trying,” she said, returning her attention to the road while she drove.
The uneasy silence only increased and settled between them. Bend wanted to break the awkward stillness, but he never engaged in small talk. A terrain unfamiliar to him. Being an only child, his upbringing in a family of bug farmers had crafted a solitary existence. He spent his days in isolation, accompanied only by the chirrups of insects and his parents. Sometimes, he joined his father on trips to the market. However, most of his life revolved around a self-imposed solitude. He couldn’t bring himself to try, so he just sat there.
They continued on their journey and after a short while Bend’s home came into view. The traditional Sand-Mol, an earthen structure, sank into the earth and anchored to the bedrock. Laid out in a circular pattern, the walls formed a dome over the living area. The concept originated when the surface gusts seemed uncontrollable. The early prefab structures brought from Earth could not hold up against the abrupt sandstorms. Today the breezes do not pose a problem anymore, but the architecture is sturdy. Most dwellings use a variation of this design. Some have several domes interconnected, like a honeycomb. They proved efficient in keeping it warm at night and cool during the day. Environmental climate control units are unnecessary. Horizontal slits in the rock sides served as windows covered in thick, transparent aluminum to keep the fine particles out. She maneuvered the vehicle toward the house; the tires crunching softly on the sand as they drove up. Bend continued to sit silently beside her. Words eluded him. A heavy silence filled the rover. As they rolled to a stop, Aeneas turned off the engine. The sudden quiet amplified the tension between them. She turned her eyes to the desert.
“So this is where you live?” asked Aeneas.
“Why would I direct you to someone else’s home?” replied Bend. He found her inquiry awkward and unnecessary.
Aeneas grinned at him, trying not to sound offended. “Silly, just making conversation,” she said lightly.
“You don’t have to make conversation. It occurs when you have a need or desire.” Bend said.
“You’re going to take a lot of work,” she observed.
Now, with someone he had just met, a peculiar comfort enveloped him. Bend contemplated this newfound ease for a moment. Despite her being a stranger, he wanted to be sociable.
He knew he was overthinking the matter. The simple act of conversation became something he had to get used to.
Summoning the courage, he turned to Aeneas. Her pleasant expression had changed to one of sadness. Bend, attuned to his Maur-tan instincts, sensed something haunting her thoughts. Concern swept over him and he wanted to help.
“What’s the matter?” asked Bend.
Aeneas sat there, maintaining a focused demeanor. After a moment, she relented and sighed.
“I lied earlier. I went out there to escape, not to see the mountain,” she explained. Aeneas harbored a deep burden that troubled her.
The statement prompted Bend to delve into the reasons behind her need to flee from her home. “Why?” Bend asked.
Aeneas’ grip tightened on the steering wheel as she sat there, staring out at the landscape. Bend’s question had caught her off guard. She struggled to respond without frustration. She took a deep breath and exhaled.
“It’s about my future or my father’s vision of it.” she paused, struggling to continue. After a moment, she resumed.
“You see, he wants me to attend college on Earth, which I’m not opposed to but—” But again she stopped fearing if she said it out loud it might become reality.
Bend’s prodding gaze left her no choice but to unveil the true extent of her misgivings. “My Dad knows a family there, and they have a son my age. He feels we could be good friends if you know what I mean?” Aeneas glanced over at him, gauging his reaction, only to find Bend’s blank expression. He did not understand what she meant. Unwilling to state the obvious outright, she hesitated before explaining any further.
“Alright, don’t stare at me,” she said
But she needed someone to talk to about it. She couldn’t complain to her father; it would only cause another argument between them. Maybe Bend, being a stranger, would make it easier for her. Now more comfortable, she opened up to him.
“He doesn’t want me to stay here and thinks it would be good for me to think about marriage. What do you think I should do?” she said, laying it all out. Her words lingered in the air and it felt good, like she had popped a blister. She turned her gaze to Bend, to gauge his reaction and hoped for some support and advice. Aeneas needed all she could get.
Bend perceived a shift inside himself. He didn’t understand the complexities of Er-tral relationships. It remained unclear in his mind what she wanted of him. Her question made him feel uneasy about her. The only answer he could give seemed obvious and personal.
“It’s your life. What do you want to do?” he asked.
Aeneas’s slow reply revealed a lot about the burden she carried inside her. Bend sensed her unease at answering the question. She twisted her neck back and forth, trying to release some of the stress. Leaving it up to her to decide. She struggled to balance following her heart and doing what her father wanted.
“I don’t know what I should do! My dad would be all alone here. But I need to respect his wishes, right?” She had conflicting loyalties, one for herself and the other an obligation to her family. Bend realized Aeneas had a hard time separating the two. So Bend offered some advice he hoped might help.
“Maur-tans feel loyalty to one’s family and clan before self-interests come first. But your life and soul belong to you. No one may impose their will on anyone. College is helpful, but marriage isn’t necessary. At least not now. I’d hope you’ll return to us.” he conveyed, masking his genuine emotions behind a feigned composure. Glancing at Aeneas, she smiled and turned towards him. She understood what he meant, but didn’t say anything.
“For someone who doesn’t talk very much, you did alright,” said Aeneas.
Sitting there feeling a little better, she heard a weird clicking noise.
“What is that noise?” she inquired.
Having a bit of pride about his work, Bend entreated her to follow him as he retrieved his backpack from the rear of the rover.
“It’s our livestock. Come, let me show you.”
Intrigued, Aeneas joined him, and they walked over to several large, holding pits. Like his home, they had been dug into the ground, thirty feet in diameter by twelve feet deep. Surrounding the open holes stood a solar electric fence, protruding up from the sand at the edge. She had some trepidation as they moved closer to them. Bend motioned for her to look into the wells. There, she saw thousands of cockroaches packed on top of one another, their wings and legs twitching and fluttering in contentment. He guided her over to the next hole containing locusts and crickets that were larger than the ones found on Earth.
“The perimeter fence gives off a sympathetic hum which keeps the insects corralled inside,” explained Bend.
“What if it breaks down?”
“Well, they’d fly off, but I can lure them back.” He produced a whistle hanging around his neck.
“It emits a sound only the creatures can pick up. I can make them do a sky dance if you want to see it?”’
“Sky dance?”
Rather than explaining it, he opted to show her. He pressed the power button on the ground, deactivating the fence and keeping the insects inside. When he did, thousands of bugs took flight, their collective wings creating a mesmerizing display as they flew into the air.
He let the swarm rise to a certain height and blew into the instrument, halting the creatures. The ensuing sight resembled a dance, guided by his internal melody.
Swaying and blowing into the whistle, it appeared he conducted a symphony. The insects, responsive to the melodies of his music, began to twirl and twist. The dark mass soared and formed intricate patterns in perfect unison. At one point, the locusts transformed into a colossal black sphere, hovering in mid-air. Soon after, they shifted their shape to resemble a Vrill cat. In another move, they morphed into a long, flat rectangle undulating like a flying carpet. Aeneas watched in delight as the ethereal dance unfolded before her eyes.
He bowed his head and continued to blow into the whistle, directing the bugs back to the pit. The performance concluded as he pressed the power button, activating the electric fence. The locusts settled down, returning to a state of rest. Aeneas, captivated by the display, couldn’t contain her delight and broke into applause. Bend attempted a smile but found it elusive.
“Wonderful! Did it take long to train them?” she inquired, eager to understand the intricacies of the captivating spectacle.
“No, they are pretty responsive. Bugs can be a lot smarter than people give them credit for,” he told her.
Thankful for the fun excursion and talk, Aeneas needed to be on her way.
“I need to get on the road. Thanks for the wonderful day,” she said.
“Can you come in? My parents would like to see you,” said Bend, hoping she would take him up on his offer.
“I’m sorry, but my father will be home soon and I need to get back. But maybe we could do this again sometime,” she said, sounding sad. Her answer disappointed Bend until he thought of something.
“Would you like to go to the Naul festival?”
“The harvest festival? I thought only true Maur-tans could attend.”
“Nonsense. Like you said, you grew up on this planet, so you’re just as Martian as me or anyone else.”
Aeneas found herself fascinated by Bend’s invitation. She recognized the genuine sincerity behind his desire for her company. In his presence, she detected a subtle struggle in him to contain his emotions, a vulnerability drawing her closer. She liked this side of Bend. His infectious, awkward charm compelled her to accept his invitation.
“Okay, what time?”
“Come by around eleven in the morning,” said Bend.