Wisdom in the Dark

Chapter 10 - Myra

Myra woke engulfed in warmth. She emitted a long, happy sigh and pressed herself deeper into it. Strong arms wrapped around her waist. Hot breath wafted on her neck. He grunted in his sleep and Myra smiled.

“Vlad?” she whispered.

She turned – and it was Jak’s face that greeted her.

Jak, not Vlad, Myra reminded herself. Vlad is gone.

“What?” Jak asked, groggy.

“Nothing,” Myra said quickly. “It’s wake period.”

“So soon?”

“We slept for ten hours.”

Jak cracked open one eye to look at her. “It didn’t feel like ten hours.” Then he closed his eye again.

“I am the leader of the Pyc, and you are my husband,” Myra said. “Our people expect us to be up.”

“You’re right,” Jak said with a heavy sigh. “I’m still tired.”

With a flourish, Myra threw the blankets off and made her way to the bathroom. She quickly prepared herself for the day, then strode out to see Jak pulling his shoes on.

“I’m heading to the Ting,” Myra said.

Jak nodded. “I’m going to make sure my parents are prepared to depart.”

“Thank you for keeping me warm last night.” The words felt as awkward coming out of Myra’s mouth as they sounded.

“You’re welcome,” Jak replied, and she could tell it was just as awkward for him.

Myra didn’t know what else to say to Jak and gave him a simple nod before she strode out of her hut. Though she put on a strong, stoic face for her people, she felt a smile growing. The memory of Jak’s warmth and his strong arms around her resurfaced, and the smile grew wider.

“I haven’t seen you this happy for quite some time,” Mytla said from her wheelchair as Myra entered the Ting.

“Oh, I, um. . .” Myra stumbled over her words and felt her face grow hot.

“I assume Jak has something to do with that.” Mytla rolled her chair to where Myra stood and placed her hand on her daughter’s arm. “It warms my heart to see you happy again, my dear.”

“Well, the village-“

“The village may need this,” Mytla cut her off. “But so do you. I know you miss Vlad dearly. I do, too. He was a wonderful man with a big heart. In a perfect world he would still be here. But he’s not. You need to move on, for both your own well-being and as leader of this village. Besides, do you think Vlad would want you miserable and lonely the rest of your life?”

Myra knew her mother was right, but a pang of guilt suddenly hit her like a kick in the stomach for enjoying Jak’s warmth in her bed.

Myra quickly changed the subject. “What does today bring?”

Mytla frowned at her daughter but didn’t press the subject.

“The Wodniki are returning to their village on Ganymede and we will need to see them off,” Mytla said. “Your husband is our captive for the time being.” Mytla leaned in closer to Myra to whisper. “It’s more fun if your captive is tied up.”

“Mother!”

Mytla shrugged and leaned back in her wheelchair. “Your father never complained.”

The thought of Myra’s parents coupling made her sick and Myra fought desperately to think of something else.

“When are the Wodniki departing?”

“Within the hour. Jan and Ata wish to see their son one last time before they leave. It was good seeing them.”

Myra remembered her interaction with Ata the night before her wedding to Jak.

“I’ll be ready for a break from Ata.”

Mytla rolled her eyes. “Three waking periods with Ata Wodniki is too many, even for one cycle. And I’ve known her for over two cycles.”

It wasn’t long before Myra’s communicator buzzed, and Simon from traffic control informed her the Wodniki were ready to leave.

When Myra arrived at the tarmac, Mytla and her attendant Anna in tow, Jak was already there hugging his parents good-bye.

“I’ll miss you both very much,” Jak said as he squeezed his mother tight.

“And we’ll miss you,” Ata Wodniki said, and Myra thought she heard a choke in her voice. “Send us a transmission when you get a chance.”

“We’ll actually have a reason to use that old equipment more often,” Jan said. “Other than speaking with the Pyc and a handful of loose allies it’s been silent for some time.”

Myra knew what Jan meant. Before the wedding the only traffic over the sub-space communications array in the village traffic control center were semi-regular communications between the Pyc and Wodniki Villages. It would be a welcome change to use the equipment regularly. How long had each village’s communications equipment been silent? Myra thought as she thought back to the fate of the Holowycz Village. Almost no one communicates anymore.

Ivan stood off to the side from Jak and his parents, and nodded to Myra as she approached.

“It was good seeing you again, Myra,” Ivan said.

“And you, Ivan,” Myra said with a smile.

“Take care of Jak, will you?”

“I’ll do my best.”

“I’m really happy for the two of you.” Suddenly, without another word, Ivan walked toward the Wodniki shuttle.

“That was odd,” Myra said.

“Yes,” Mytla agreed, a grey eyebrow arched as she studied Ivan.

Ata finally released her son, then turned and approached Myra.

“Take care, dear daughter,” Ata said and wrapped her arms around Myra in a tight hug. “I pray for the best for you and my son.”

“Thank you, dear mother.” Myra was happy there were no subtle barbs in Ata’s words – or she didn’t think there were. “Safe travels in the void.”

Their farewells complete, the Wodniki returned to their shuttle while Myra, Jak, and the Pyc retreated into the traffic control center. Myra watched as the trio of traffic control personnel communicated with the Wodniki shuttle pilot and watched their sensor screens. The egg-shaped craft ignited its thrusters, throwing flame and smoke beneath it. Then it was lifting up and away from Pyc Village, and Callisto.

“This will be the longest I’ve been away from my village,” Jak said.

Myra looked over at him. He stood tall, chest out, shoulders back, looking as strong and confident as ever. But Myra could tell that watching his Family members depart weighed heavily on him.

She reached over and gripped his hand. “When the time is right and the resources are available we’ll travel to see your village.”

Jak nodded. “Hopefully sooner than later.”