The Sands Chapter 1

Chapter 1 

-Where Things Burn-

She stood on the hill that overlooked her family’s farm. Watching the ravenous flames consume the place she had spent her entire life. The fire she had set herself. She watched as the frame of their small home turned black. She watched as her family was engulfed, or what had been her family. She turned her back on the farm, on her life. One step at a time, without a glance back, she walked towards the ocean of sand that crashed on the shores of the oasis. 

Shadows darkened the rolling fields of vibrant violet, turning the world pitch. Cee stared at the sky, transfixed by the magnificent mechanical monstrosity that blackened the sun. Cee was always mesmerised by the floating cities when they passed. The air was thick with the hum of the engines. Noxious clouds obscuring what little could be seen of the city's underside. Faint red lights peered through the smoke, marking the ports of the metropolis. Ships streamed to and from the ports like angry bees from their hive. She liked to imagine she was in the city above the clouds of smoke. She had heard the stories. The old women in the village talked of the wonders they had on the island, though she doubted they had ever seen it themselves. Fresh air, clean water. Everyone filling their days with idle chatter with friends over coffee and sweats. Mel had bought coffee from a travelling merchant once, and had let her try some. It was a little too bitter for her tastes. Mel had told her that the city people would often have their coffee with sugar. She imagined it must be delicious. And chocolate, sweet and rich chocolate. She had never had chocolate. Though she had heard, it had been available sparingly when her dad was little. She wished more than anything she could try chocolate
“Cee c'mon ! We gotta finish before the docker shows up, shipments going out today! Know you’d rather be with your friends, but I need ya!” Cee’s father called from across the field. She probably wouldn't survive a life of leisure anyway she told herself, die of boredom within the first week.
“Don’t be stupid dad, they’re all out working!” She called back. Still a break would be nice, at least the brief moment of shade helped. Cee bent down to return to her labour, further dooming her back to the permanent stoop her father suffered, as well as anyone in the oasis over thirty.
“Tra you not done yet, ship’s here mate!” Ngua, the oasis’ docks manager pulled up in his loader, leaving a swath of mutilated crops in his wake. Ngua tipped over his own feet climbing from the loader as was his custom. Cee often wondered if you could get a contact dunk from breathing too deeply around Ngua.
“They’re not supposed to be here for another 12 hours,.” said Tra. 
“Showed up early whatcha want from me?” Ngua shrugged.
“Tell them to fucking wait!”
“Now Tra you know I can’t do that.”
Tra looked at his daughter watching the conversation unfold. “Cee how bout you go inside and make some lunch.”
“Cee!” Ngua gave her a creepy smile. “You get more beautiful every time I see you. How old are you now? 19?”
“I’m 17,” Cee said.
“Close enough,” Ngua shrugged. “You ever want to try out the perks of corporate life? My doors always open!” Cee shivered at the thought of what that would cost. Her fathers face adopted a hard mask. Cee knew he was trying his best not to punch the island's only corporate contact.
“Please Ngua, don’t make me throw up what little food I ate this morning.” Cee said.
“Cee…” Her dad said, though she was pretty sure she caught him smiling a little. Cee nodded, turning towards their little house.
“I mean it, come by anytime!” Ngua said.
“Ngua I’m not even close to being finished with this quota.” Her dad said, practically dragging the intoxicated man towards him. “You can’t hold them off for a little longer?”
“ You know how these things work Tra, send what you got, can’t keep them waiting.”
“They can’t show up twelve hours early and expect things to be done!”
Their conversation drifted from earshot as she walked towards the house. Some days she wished she could whack Ngua across the face, one good hit. She knew it wouldn’t accomplish anything but still it would feel so good. She stepped into her house having to duck her head as she did so. She was sure the houses around here were made for the permanent stoop, as if the builders resented anyone with a straight spine. The house was essentially a room with a stove and sink to one wall, lit by a single flickering bulb. The floor was peppered with half finished bottles of homemade liquor. Three blankets sat against another wall, stained almost black and smelling predominantly of something that would result in a nasty lung-wrenching cough in the future. Cee reached under her blanket pulling out a small shard of mirror. Bright emerald eyes stared back at her. Dark wavy hair, cut short. Her skin bronzed from a lifetime of working in the sun. Was she really beautiful? No, probably not. It was just the words of a creepy old drunk. She put away her fragment of mirror and set a pot of water to boil. Along with a few morsels of dried meat, hoping that it would make them slightly more palatable. Watching the water come to a boil she let her mind wander, imagining life in the cities. She bet the food was worlds better than her few strips of old meat.
 I wonder what it would feel like? Cee snapped back to reality at the intrusive thought, her hand hanging centimetres above the rolling water.  
Bad Cee she thought. Stop thinking stupid shit, stop thinking stupid shit. She repeated it over and over, as a kind of mantra. The door slammed as Tra stormed into the room.
 “Well we both get the rest of the day off I guess.” He looked like he was about to smash something or cry or both. “Dunno what we’re going to do with the rest of it.” Cee handed him a piece of slightly rehydrated meat, which he snatched up.
“Sell it to scalpers.” Cee said matter of factly. 
“I mean if they want it all, they have to give me more time. Then they fucking fine me!”
“Scalpers will pay more.”
“Fucking bastards in their floating cities.”
“And they won’t fine you for not meeting a quota.” Cee watched her dad pace across the tiny room. Tra’s head snapped to Cee as if  just realising that she was there. 
“What if I got caught, they could confiscate the farm.” Tra sat against the wall. “We don’t have much but at least we have a place to be.” Tra kicked a bottle as he paced. It made a sloshing sound as it rolled across the floor. Catching Tra’s attention he picked the bottle off the floor giving it another shake. Deciding it still contained a moderate amount of alcohol he uncorked the bottle and drank deeply.
“I’m going out” Cee headed towards the door. “I’ll pick up Arie.” Cee hated watching her dad drink. He wasn’t violent or anything, just depressing. Tra made a grunting sound in reply, not bothering to lower the drink from his lips. 

The road to the village was little more than packed dirt winding through the hills of their little oasis. She could see in the distance families working the violet fields. Their hunched silhouettes scattered throughout the rolling hills. The lucky ones rode machines that harvested 
the crop for them. She watched one of the farmers lazily guild the machine through the field. What she wouldn’t give to have one of those. They’d get twice the work done in half the time. Maybe dad would actually make a quota for once.
“Cee you going to get your sister?” A boy a couple years younger than herself stood at the well waving to her. 
“Moc hey!,” she waved back. “Yeah, thought I’d go over a little early today!”
“Tra didn’t make the quota again eh?” Moc said. Cee felt herself hunch under the weight of the embarrassment.
He’s probably the laughing stock of the whole oasis.
No, that's stupid plenty of people don’t make their quotas, right?
“How’s the water?” She asked, trying to change the subject.
“Muddy and warm as usual, but can’t complain too much, at least we got it. Didn’t you say you were working on a machine to clean it?”
“If you can get that old scalper to let me take a few parts from his piles of junk I’d have it done tomorrow.”
The boy launched, “yeah fat chance of that happening. Guess I’ll have to stick to the old fashioned way. Say hey to Mel for me.” Cee waved goodbye as she passed Moc, continuing down the dirt path to the village. 
Surmounting the final hill before the smooth slope down to the village Cee stood. Before her lay a clutch of scattered buildings. Surrounded on three sides by sands white as bone. Each of the buildings was placed with the coherence of a drunk madman tossing stones. Most buildings were single story, none more than two. There were old shacks made of weathered wood like her farmhouse. Others were cobbled together using welded sheets of metal. Both were hideous. Standing above the ramshackle was the warehouse, where the violet leaf was stored before being shipped out to the factory. Of course there was also Ngua’s house. His corporate owned estate stood like a mansion in the centre of town. Surrounded by more green than you could find in the rest of the village combined. 
Winding her way through the maze of streets towards the school house Cee decided to pass down the coastal road. She didn’t have to go this way to reach the school, but she liked the coast. The wide expanse of churning sands put her at ease somehow. Most people would call her mad, getting too close to the sands could be deadly. One wrong step and you’d be devoured. But looking out over the dry wasteland made her think of places outside the little village, outside their struggling farm. She strolled down the path. Sand pelting her face with every gust of wind. Stealing any ounce of water from her body. The warehouse loomed in front of her. Branching from it, the port. Docks snaked through the sands like cracks in an egg shell. Massive iron beasts rested in the cracks. They groaned, clanked and belched as they moved. Hatches opening and closing. Engines drifting to sleep or rising from their slumber. Most were corporate ships there to pick up the violet leaf her island produced. Some were smaller independent vessels. Bringing much needed supplies to the island, at a hefty markup. What she wouldn’t give to have a look in one. To poke around, figure out how they ticked. The dock hummed with life, unlike the farm. People loading and unloading the ships. As she watched one of the iron beasts roared to life, issuing plumes of smoke. It rose from its rest gently lifting from the dock. Then with unnatural swiftness, probably because it wasn’t natural, the beast swivelled on the spot and rocketed into the sky. Cee shielded her ears against the boom that issued from where the ship had once been. She pictured herself standing on the bridge of the ship surrounded by the kind of technology she couldn’t even dream of. Soaring through the skies to the floating city. She was rudely awoken by a facefull of sand as the winds rushed across the waste. 
Serves you right for dreaming. Cee ducked back into the winding streets. The smell of smoke and sand, replaced with the smell of month old trash. Cee stopped in front of an old wooden building slightly larger than the ones surrounding it. This was their school. It wasn’t much to look at. Old severely weathered wood, battered by years of sand, barely kept the wind out. The roof was held together mostly with rope and willpower. Directly next to the school was a smaller building which was in considerably better condition than its neighbour, mostly from lack of use. This was the town library. 
“Cee you looking for the class?” Mrs. Tan leaned out her door across the street. Mrs. Tan was an elderly woman with a thin shock of white hair and the island's signature stoop. She had been in that same house as long as Cee could remember. Cee had never met any of Mrs. Tan’s family although she assumed the woman must have had some at some point. Being a Mrs. and everything, but they were all long gone. Whether they died or had set on the sands looking for a better life, Mrs. Tan never said.
“Yeah, just thought I’d come help Mel.” Cee said
“Such a good girl,” said Mrs. Tan. “They went to the grove on the far coast there, hurry and you should catch them.”
“Thank you Mrs. Tan.” Cee said, taking off down the street to the opposite coast.

Cee sat in the shade of a broadleaf  tree watching the white sand ocean crash against the shore. “I mean why doesn’t he at least buy a harvester instead of trying to do everything by hand!” said Cee.
“Can you pass me that box?” asked Mel. Cee handed it to her. Mel cracked open the box and passed out a selection of fruits to a group of small children who had gathered around them. “He used to have one.”
“He did? What happened to it”
“You were probably too young to remember.” Mel struggled to split her attention between the conversation with Cee and the task of equally dividing snacks among little humans. Mel was the oasis’ only teacher as well as the local librarian. Not that anyone in the Oasis had any time for books, but Cee liked spending time with her. Mel always told her stories from before the sands, from books presumably. She even offered to let Cee take some books home, though Cee had always been too afraid of damaging them to take her up on it.
“Yay snacks! Why didn’t you call me Cee?” Cee’s little sister Arie had come barreling over the hill as soon as word got around that Mel was handing out snacks.
“Not my job,” said Cee. “Besides you got here didn’t you?”
Arie puffed out her cheeks in what was supposed to be a pout but did more to make her resemble a hoarding hamster. “Meanie!”
“Take your snack and go play.” Cee handed her sister a piece of fruit.
Arie looked like she was going to say more but mission accomplished and fruit in hand she decided against it. Returning to her friends she didn’t spare her sister a second glance. Cee joined Mel in handing out snacks. 
“What happened to it?” She asked again. 
“It’s not my place to say, best talk to him about it,” said Mel. “Via don’t go near the sand!” A small girl, perhaps about five, stood along the coast.  Her  toes hovering just above the crashing waves of sand. The girl’s face turned towards her teacher, with a look of innocence and a touch of confusion. Cee swooped in pulling the girl from the churning liquid earth. 
“Thanks” Mel released her breath.
“No worries,” Cee set Via with them under the tree.
“You know you’re welcome to use the library whenever you like, there’s nothing new, but it’s a good place to be alone.”
“Yeah, that’d be nice, don’t really want to go home just yet.”
“Arie can stay in the schoolhouse, if you think it's best?”
Cee thought about her dad drinking on the floor of the house. “If you could keep her for a bit, that would help.”
“That’s no problem,” said Mel.
 You’ll have to take care of him
 It’s ok,
 He probably wet himself.
 He’d do anything for Arie and me
 You’ll have to clean him up.
 He’s trying
 Is it enough?
“Cee!…Cee!” Mel’s voice broke into her thoughts.
“Hmm…” Cee slowly swam back to the present.
“You’re always doing that.”
“Doing what?”
“Let’s go,” Mel said standing. “I need to get the kids back.”
“And I can still use the library?”
“Someone might as well read them.” Mel shepherded the children back towards the port and the small village.
The pair took up the rear as they continued along their way. “Mel, why did you become a teacher?” Cee asked. 
“Well,” Mel pondered the question. “I guess I wanted to give the children a chance to be better than their parents. I think I achieved that, look at you.”
“Ah, here I was thinking that it was cause children were less batshit.”
“Have you spent any time around children?” Mel smiled. She looked towards a child attempting to eat the bark off a tree. “Dae don’t do that.” Dae turned to Mel, looking to be in utter shock at being told no, before running off to rejoin the group.
“Ok, but they’re batshit in an innocent way.” Cee giggled.
“You know this village could use another teacher. I could use the help.”
“I, wow, umm, I’m flattered but...” Cee would be lying if she said she hadn’t thought about it.
“You have to help your dad.”
“I can’t leave him to do it all himself.”
“Well, think about it. There’s a room in the school nobody’s using.”
“I’ll talk to him.” Cee shuttered at the thought of having that conversation. The pair finished their walk back to the school house in silence.

Cee was unsurprised to see her father collapsed in an unconscious pile against the wall.
 You knew it
 It’s fine, he’s allowed to blow off steam.
 Did you check to see if he pissed himself? Cee walked over to where her father lay, the wet coating the bottoms of her feet. Now it’s your job to clean him up.
 He works hard, she thought to herself as she began the task of ensuring her father didn’t spend the night soaking in his own urine.
 And you don't? 
 It’s not that it’s just, he’s trying his best.
 So he just gets a pass?
“Thank you” Tra mumbled, slipping back into a state of half consciousness.
“It’s not a problem,” She said unconvincingly.
“You're too good to me, don’t deserve.” Tra was falling back into his stupor. 
 Damn right you don’t deserve
 Shut up!’ Cee shot back internally. 
“Hey dad?” Cee prodded the heap of a man. 
“Hmm?” Tra's eyes flickered as he struggled to open them. Cee was about to mention the teaching job but decided against it. Instead she said 
“Mel said you used to have a harvester.”
“Hmmm, ye, Mum was sick,” Tra was trying and failing to maintain his brief consciousness. 
“What does the harvester have to do with Mum being sick?” Cee asked. Tra let out a series of gentle snores. Singling the end of their conversation.

The schoolhouse was quiet by the time she had finished making her dad presentable. 
I don’t want Arie to see her dad like that. He’s still everything to her.
So you just have to take care of both of them, seems fair. 
“Cee!” Arie ran into her arm when she opened the door. It probably would have sent her stumbling if Arie had been any larger than a starved mouse. 
“Hey there little mouse, how was school?”
“It was great!” Arie beamed. “Ms. Mel let me have extra fruit!” Cee looked at Mel who sat in the corner of the classroom behind a flimsy metal table. Her finger kept the page of the book she had been reading to Arie when Cee had come in. The woman gave her a soft grin, emphasising the laugh lines that graced her face.
“It’s no worry really.” Mel waved a hand dismissively. “I probably won't be up by the time you get back Cee, but I’ll leave the key right inside the door here.”
“As long as you’re sure it’s ok.”
“It is, and stop asking,” said Mel standing from her chair. “You two have a nice walk now.”
“We will!” Aerie waved enthusiastically.

Cee walked back to the farm for the second time that afternoon. This time she had her sister on her back. Arie’s little arms wrapped around Cee’s neck, she was uncomfortably light. 
“I’m hungry!” Arie said.
“You just had a snack at school,” said Cee.
“That was like a whole hour ago! Maybe even longer!”
“I’ll make you some food when we get home, how about that?”
“But I don’t want to eat Cee’s cooking!”
“Really? I always get my food super fresh though. I just went up and got some fresh palm bugs for your dinner.”
“Palm bugs, gross!” Arie made fake gagging sounds.
“Yep, only the juiciest palm bugs for my little mouse.”
“Nooo!” Arie wailed suppressing her laughter.
“I made them into steaks and everything. Tastes just like the real thing.”
“I’m not going to eat it!” Arie said firmly 
“Really, do you want to eat dad’s cooking then?” 
Arie’s voice turned serious. “Please no.” She pleaded. 
“Don’t worry, I wouldn’t put you through that,” said Cee. She felt Arie breathe a sigh of relief.
 “Don’t worry I’ll eat your food.” Arie said.
“Good cause it’s your only option.”
“Are you leaving again tonight?” Arie asked.
“How did you know I was going to go somewhere?” Cee said.
“Ms. Mel said she left a key for you in the school. I’m not stupid you know.”
“Of course I know,” Cee said. Though she hadn’t expected Arie to be that observant. 
“Is that where you go at night all the time?”
“You knew about that too?”
“I wake up at night and you aren’t home. Especially when Daddy’s really sleepy.” Cee was going to have to stop treating Arie like such a little kid, she knew way more than she let on. Though not everything, thankfully. At least she thought their father was just really sleepy sometimes.
Let’s try to keep it like that for just a little longer. She thought. “Yeah I was planning on going out once you fell asleep. Ms. Mel lets me use the library when everyone else goes to bed. Is that alright that I leave.” 
She felt Arie nod her head. “As long as you come back.”
“Of course I’ll come back, you can’t get rid of me that easily.”
Arie laughed, “I don’t want to get rid of you silly.” Arie paused for a few breaths. “Why do you want to go to the library?”
“I like to read it makes me happy.”
“You're weird,” said Arie.
“I’m not weird, you're weird.”
“Am not!”
“Are to.”
“AM NOT!” 

Finally Cee had the chance to retreat into the library, into her books. Where she could block out the world, if only for a bit. Where she could get lost in a story, things always worked out in stories. Even if they didn’t work out how you thought they would, they always went how they were supposed to. If she wasn’t getting lost in a story she was looking for books about machines. Cee didn’t have much formal education, but Mel had taught her to read and Cee loved her for it. She was fascinated by the inventions and innovations of people before the sands. Sometimes it seemed like they were a different species, there was no way people today were related to those geniuses of the past. Most of all Cee loved stories that talked of the giant concrete pathways that used to cover the world. Cee would imagine that she was in those magnificent distant pasts. She often wondered if they still existed in the cities, the roads, the cars. All they had were the ships that sailed over the sands. When she felt stuck in reality she would dissect any sort of machine she could find. Cee remembered with a shiver the time she had been reprimanded for sneaking into the scalpingyard to “work on'' any number of the appliances that found their way to the yard from the sands. Vo, the local scalper, had chased her from the yard calling her a “little thief” and a few other more colourful words.
Cee sat in the dimly lit library, her small light flickering sporadically. Threatening to leave her in the dark at any moment. An ancient book sat open on the small table. It was a story about roads, about monsters and about people. Though Cee thought there was rarely a difference between the two. Why would you need a story about zombies or vampires or other monsters when people were so much scarier? She sat there until the light that leaked through the window turned the crisp honey colour of sunrise. She stood, carefully handling the ancient brittle slices of paper. The only paper that wasn’t ancient was the common grey recycled paper or the ornate alabaster paper used by the Oasis officials and the dock manager. They got it from the cities, though Cee didn’t know where they got the trees to make the paper. It’s not that trees didn’t exist but nobody in their right mind would cut down one of the few precious trees to make something just to throw it away later. Leaving the library she began to walk back to the farm, thinking about what she was going to make Arie for breakfast. 

The sun silhouetted their little shack as she crested the hill that overlooked the farm. Cee walked across the field towards the house. The early morning light turned the ground from deep black to a royal purple. When she opened the door to the house her dad was already up and getting ready to start work.
“Nice of you to join us,” said Tra.
“I could say the same to you. I’m surprised you’re actually up.” Cee said as she put oats on to boil. 
“Can I expect you in the field today?” Her dad asked. 
“Yes, I’ll be there obviously. Let me just make Arie breakfast.”
“Good, good, I’ll see you soon then.” He paused at the door, looking back towards her. “Were you asking about your mom last night?” 
“Of course you wouldn’t remember.” Cee said sharply.
“I know I…I…” he trailed off. 
“You know what? That you drink too much? That Arie barely sees you as a parent? How about you learn to take care of yourself so I can live my own life?” She regretted the words as soon as she said them but she wasn’t about to take them back. Tra paused, standing at the door. Failing to find any words.
“If that’s how you feel,” her dad said quietly, leaving the room.
Well shit, Cee thought. I’m going to have to apologise about that.
He deserved it. Cee woke her little sister, gave her breakfast and walked her to school. Her feet dragged as she eventually made it back to the farm. She hadn’t slept since the night before, and her day was just about to start..
Cee avoided her father for the whole of the day. When they worked they worked on opposite ends of the farm.When the afternoon came she picked up Arie and cooked her dinner, all without a word to her father. Cee and Arie ate without their dad who continued to work throughout the evening. When Arie was in bed Cee returned to the library. Her father still hadn’t returned from the field but Cee wasn’t about to go bring him in. If he wanted to work, so be it. At least she didn’t have to talk to him.
 I need to apologise.
 He deserved it.
 No he didn’t.
 He can’t do anything without you. Doesn't he think you might want something other than working the farm and looking after him?
 He can’t do it all alone.
 So you have to give up your life for him?
Cee sunk deeper and deeper into the depths of her own mind. Trying, and failing, to lose herself in her story. He’s going to ruin your life, he has ruined your life. She spiralled further down, no longer paying any attention to the book. Her exhaustion swallowed her whole. Cee spun through the void of turbulent sleep. By the time she woke the world slept. The moon shone dimly in the sky. Whatever stars there were struggled to pierce the pollution fog. Cee walked through the quiet night back to her home. Stepping inside, the room was empty besides Arie, curled into a tiny ball along one wall.
 Oh Joy he probably got myself killed.
 I have to go look for him.
 You're finally free.
 Maybe he had business somewhere.
 Yeah and when has he ever had business this late?
 I’ve got to look for him.
 Just forget it, he’ll be fine.
“Cee you’re home awfully late.” Her fathers voice came from over her shoulder.
“Not really, you’re just usually passed out by now.” Cee couldn’t look him in the eye, though she felt pangs of relief hearing his voice.
“Ah, yeah,” Tra lowered his gaze. They both stood like that for a time refusing to look at each other. “You should get some sleep,” Tra said.
“Same to you.” Cee said.
“Yeah,” Tra walked past her, taking a blanket for himself and handing one to her.
“Thanks,” said Cee, turning off the light.Cee laid there in the dark listening to Arie and her father’s breathing. Finally, succumbing to her exhaustion Cee drifted into a fitful night's sleep.

Cee woke in the morning from her fitful rest to find her father had already gone. She always rose before him, even when she was a child she had been up before him. She knew he had come home the night before, did he not sleep? 
 He must have abandoned you and Arie, can’t say I blame him, his life would be a lot easier.
 That’s stupid he wouldn’t do that.
 Fuck the bastard, he can rot.
Cee pushed the thoughts from her head; they're not what she actually believed, right? But she had thought it, she can’t deny that she had thought it. She didn’t really mean it though. She could think things she didn’t mean, people did it all the time, right? 
Enough, you have work to do, moving would help her think straight. Cee rose and woke her little sister.
“Come on little one,” Cee said “Time to go to school.”
Arie stirred, “I’m not little,” she mumbled, stifling a yawn.
“Sure you aren’t, up, up let’s go!”
Arie rose with much vocalised displeasure. Cee practically pushed her out the door. There was something off with the fields when the two made it out the door. It took Cee a moment to realise what it was. They were empty. Not entirely, but a hell of a lot more bare than it had been the day before. Scanning the fields she spotted her father talking with Ngua who had been backed up to his loader, he was pressed against it. 
“I know what you’re doing Tra! I’m telling you you won’t get away with it, not if I have anything to say about it!” Said Ngua
Her father laughed rather coldly “What are you a comic book villain? What could you possibly do, going to go cry to the corps?”
“Yeah maybe I will!” Said Ngua
“Dad what happened? Did we get an order?” Cee said taking Arie with her to say good morning to their dad. 
“You should leave, now!” Her dad said to Ngua before turning towards his daughters without waiting for a reply. 
Ngua looked like he was about to argue but decided against it. Boarding his loader looking a bit like a pudgy child who had been told he couldn’t have a new toy.
“Cee, Arie, how did you sleep?” Their father called to them, seeming to entirely forget the dock master. 
“Were you up all night picking?” Cee asked. “Why didn’t you wake me?”
“Woah calm down there kiddo.” Her father laughed in a way she hadn’t heard in a long time. “I went out and made a good deal yesterday. They'll take whatever I can get them.”
“Morning dad,” Arie said, yawning.
“Morning honey,” he said with a smile.
“Why didn’t you get me up!” Cee said accusingly. “I could have helped you.”
“No,” Tra said bluntly. “You do enough, this is my deal and I’m your father, it’s my burden not yours.”
“Still” Cee began.
“Mel tells me she asked you to work with her.” He interrupted her protest.
“How did you know that?” Cee asked.
“You should take it, being a teacher suits you.”
“How did you find out she wants me to be a teacher?” Cee asked again.
“I can talk to people too, you know. I’ve known Mel a bit longer than you believe it or not.”
“I guess.”
“Take it, we’ll be alright, trust me.”
“I can’t just leave you and Arie here!”
“Cee you wouldn’t be more than a 45 minute walk away, it’s not the end of the world.” Tra picked Arie up, engulfing her in a hug.
“I guess,” Cee said again. She never expected him to approve of her leaving let alone encourage it. What would he do if she wasn’t here? Who would cook?
“Cee,” Tra’s voice took on a soft gentle tone. “It’ll be ok, promise.”
“I guess,” she said for a third time.
“Look, I’m almost done here.” Tra said. “Go take your sister to school, give Mel a hand. Tell her you’ll take a job.”
“But dad,” she said.
“No but’s, go.” With that Tra bent down, returning to his natural position, ending the conversation.

Cee stood with Mel outside the school house as the children played in the street. 
“I don’t know, I just thought he needed me around.” Cee confided in Mel. Cee had helped Mel all day, they were now ushering the children into the care of their guardians.
“I’m sure he would love to have you around forever, but every parent wants their kids to have it easier than they did. He’s probably happy you won’t have to spend your life destroying your body with work like he did.”
“I can’t just leave him to do it all himself though, and who will take care of Arie?” 
“I understand, I do, clearly your dad would be happy to let you apprentice with me though. It’s not like you’ll never see Arie again either, she’ll be here pretty much every day. Nobody’s saying you can never go back there either.”
They were both silent for a time, Cee wished she could have some time alone. “Think about it.” Mel broke the silence. “How about you go to the library for a while.” Mel fished the key from her pocket. Mel always seemed to know when Cee needed time in the library, which was quite often these days.
“I’ve got to take Arie home.” Said Cee.
“I can do that, don’t worry, I’d like to have a chat with your dad anyway.”
“Are you sure?” Asked Cee.
“Positive, just make sure you lock up when you're done.” Mel handed her the library key.
“Of course,” Cee took the key. “Arie teacher Mel is going to take you home.” Cee said to her sister who was busy playing with her friends.
“Okay!” Said Arie, completely unbothered by the change in companion.
On arriving in the library Cee didn’t go looking for a book to bury herself in. She didn’t sit in one of the few seats scattered about the small library. Cee went into the library, shut the door and sat along the wall between two large shelves of books. Opposite a small window that let a small  amount of natural light seep into the space. Cee sat there on the floor in her hidden space hugging her knees and sinking deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole.
 He doesn’t need you.
 He wants what’s best for me.
 That’s bullshit he doesn’t want you at all, said so himself.
 And Arie.
 Fuck  em you don’t need them.
 It’s not like I would be far away.
 You know it wouldn’t be the same.
 No, Mel said.
 What does she know, she doesn’t know everything, she can’t know your life. Nobody can know you really.
 What do you know?
Think about it, you’ve probably been holding him back all this time. You think he slaved away all this time because he wanted to?
“I…” Cee was at a loss for words, in a fight with herself.
 Not having you around would be such a weight off his shoulders.
 That’s not true, Cee thought, though she didn’t believe herself.
 Isn’t it? Cee stood from her spot between the bookshelves, searching the rows for something that she could occupy her mind with. She grabbed a short novel and went to find herself a proper chair. It wasn’t anything complicated or anything she hadn’t read before, but it was comforting. Something she knew off by heart and could safely tuck herself into, like a warm blanket, to forget the world for a little while.
The light creeping in through the small window began to fade and was eventually swallowed by the ink black of the oasis at night. Cee continued to read under the artificial light. She knew she should go home, it was long past the time when she should have cooked dinner for Arie and tucked her into bed. Still she sat there, face in her book.
 Not yet, just a little more. She repeated over and over and over again. Eventually it was more exhaustion than courage that made her rise from her spot between the stacks.
 He’s probably passed out, sure he was sober yesterday but you’re a fool for thinking that would last.
 What if he passed out drunk before Arie got dinner?
 Then that would be your fault wouldn’t it. Cee left the library. Placing the small book in her pocket. She had never taken a book from the library before. She knew she could, Mel told her she could take books home. She had just always been afraid she would damage it. This time though she needed to take it home, to have something to retreat into. It felt like a comforting weight in her pocket. Maybe she could read it to Arie.
Cresting the hill that overlooked they’re little shack Cee could see a familiar faint unsteady light coming from their single window.
 Well someone’s up.
As she got closer she noticed something else. There was something parked beside they’re home. Not a large something but large enough for one person to sit on, with large blades on one side and a bucket on the other. It was a harvester! A brand new harvester! Well not brand new, it was rusted through in spots. Whatever colour it had been was impossible to tell, but it was brand new to her! 
 How could he have possibly afforded it? Cee’s brief thoughts of worry were replaced with elation. This must be why her dad had been acting off this morning! Spring restored to her step Cee nearly ran to the door of the house, throwing it open.
The first thing she noticed was the colour, bright red, everywhere, covering everything. The next thing she noticed was the smell, like metal. She didn’t even know metal had a smell until that moment, but metallic was the only way she could think of describing it. Finally there was the taste of vomit, her vomit. The door slammed behind her as she returned to the night air. It couldn’t be real, it couldn’t. At a loss Cee laid in the dust, tucked her knees beneath her chin. Mud coated her face, her tears eagerly drunk by the parched earth. 
She laid like that until the sun broke over the hill. Her throat was so cracked and dry she doubted she would ever swallow again. Ear to the dirt, long since dried. Cee heard a distant rumble drawing closer, something mechanical. The sound grew louder and louder as the machine drew closer.
 I should get up She thought, without finding the strength to move. Somethings coming, she thought, still she didn’t move.
“C-Cee why are you here, I mean, why aren’t you inside?” Ngua’s voice sounded from above her. “I almost hit you!”
Cee lay there saying nothing.
“Your dad’s supposed to be givin’ me an order today, Know where he is?” Ngua continued seemingly oblivious to the fact that Cee lay on the dirt in a foetal position. “Looks like it’s got a lot picked should be a good haul, know where he put it?” Ngua continued to talk and Cee continued to stay silent. “Cee you hear me?” She felt a rough hand on her shoulder, forcibly rolling her over. “Cee I don’t know what’s going on with you but I can’t keep the corps ships waiting!”
Cee looked up at Ngua and let out a small croak, unable to form words. Her eyes darted to the house then back to Ngua.
“He in there? At this time of day? Lazy bastard.” Ngua left her lying there heading towards the house. “What is with this family?” he muttered as he left her. “What’s that fucking smell?” Cee heard him say as he neared the door. “What the fuck!” Ngua yelled, “The hell happened here?” He stormed over to where Cee still lay. Cee could feel the tears returning, she thought she was all out of tears. Ngua’s voice softened somewhat. “Hey how bout you come with me? We’ll get you cleaned up.” He knelt down and placed a hand on her shoulder.
The tears had returned in full force now. Cee nodded her head weakly gazing up at Ngua, who swam through her tears.
“Can You take me to the school house please?” Cee managed to say.

When Cee arrived at the school she was red eyed and covered with dirt. The second wave of tears had stopped. They hadn’t lasted as long as the first. She felt like a string pulled to the very edge of snapping entirely. She wasn’t entirely sure that having it snap would be such a bad thing.
If you snap a string at least there’s no tension left in it. Mel’s face was a mask of confusion when she arrived in her dishevelled state. Though, because I assume Mel is secretly an angelic being in the guise of one of us shitty mortals, she did not ask me what was wrong. Obviously there had to have been something wrong. Mel, Mel just gave me a hug and took me into the school. Without saying a word I bundled myself up in a corner of the room, and promptly fell asleep. The night of crying in the dirt left me drowning in an exhaustion unlike I knew was possible. Now that I was somewhere safe, my body gave out. 
When I woke, the news about what had happened on the farm had already spread. Mel being a faultless being let me stay in the schoolhouse. Helping out with the children during the day helped me distract myself with anything other than thinking about them. Most of the time. There would always be a moment where I would see the kids playing, or eating snacks under a tree in the grove. For just a moment I would expect to see Arie there, playing with her friends. Then it all came flooding back. In the evening after the children had gone and Mel had turned in for the night. Cee would take the little book out of her pocket. The one she had brought home that night. The one that she was going to read to Arie. Cee always had it with her now. She would sit in the dark schoolhouse. Faint moonlight streaming through the windows, and she would stare at it. She would just stare at the faded image of a road stretching into the distance on its cover. She never opened it, let alone read it. She would do that every night. Then the day of the funeral arrived. 

Cee stood among Mel, Ngua and a small collection of other people from town. All there to talk about her dad, how good a person he was, how tragic it was that Arie had died and in such a horrible way. Quietly gossip about who could have done it and why.
To her, her dad wasn’t just a kind person or a fun guy to be around. He was her dad and he was gone, forever. Arie, Arie wasn’t just some tragedy. She was her little sister. And someone had killed them. It was the first time Cee had been back to the farm since the day she found them. The chorus of people offering their condolences became a background drone. Cee’s eyes fixed on two jars sitting atop a cheap flimsy table, one disturbingly smaller than the other.
“I heard he sold his crop to scalpers.”
“Do you think that’s what got him killed?”
“Everyone knows that the corporations don’t take kindly to that sort of thing.”
The whispers were defining, Cee swung around to confront her fathers accusers. Two middle aged women that had been whispering between themselves jumped at the sudden movement.
“My father!” Cee began. Mel inserted herself between Cee and the two women leading Cee across the fields.
“My father never sold to scalpers!” Cee said
“I know dear,” said Mel.
“They don’t know anything about him!”
“Let’s go somewhere a little more private.” Mel took her hand leading Cee farther from the crowds.
“They act like they know everything, they all do!” Mel wrapped Cee in an embrace, Cee relaxed a bit. “It’s not fair.” Cee said weakly. 
 “I know,” Mel tightened her embrace. They stayed like that for a while, the funeral continuing without them. Eventually people began to disperse. “You can stay at mine as long as you like.” Said Mel. 
Cee nodded her head slowly. “Thank you, but I think I need to spend some time alone.”
“Ok, if you need anything let me know.” Cee nodded and Mel left Cee standing there watching people filter out, back to their lives. They continued to offer her useless condolences and feigned empathy as they walked away, leaving her and her family as nothing more than a memory.
 None of them actually care, you’re alone.
 Mel cares.
 No she doesn't, she's just saying what you're supposed to say in times like this. You should really stop lying to yourself, it’s getting old you know. You’re all alone and you know it. 
 What am I going to do? Everyone had left now, it was just her and the two jars. The sun slowly disappeared beneath the hill setting the sky ablaze. 
 Leave, it’s not like there’s anything left for you here. What are you going to do, keep working the farm without him? Burden Mel, become a teacher without Arie?
 What do I do, Cee repeated to herself as she watched the blazing sun set.
 Get rid of it and get out, The answer came.

The light from the flames blended with the reds and oranges of the sunset. A small shack among the rolling hills was consumed by the fire. The fire cracked as it spread to the fields, leaping between rows. Angry tongues of scarlet and amber swallowed everything, even two jars, one big, one small, on a cheap table.
It was dark by the time a figure could be seen, if you happened to be looking for it, sneaking its way through the docks. Crawling into an unsealed crate, loaded onto the waiting ship, a small book hidden in its pocket.