Chapter Three

*

The air was still cool at this time of the day though the sun was creeping slowly up in the sky. Evie fixed her equipment and looked up at the face of the rock she was standing at. She tried to suppress the disappointment still hanging over her since she came back from the dance floor to discover that Ethan was gone yesterday. Perhaps this was for the best though. She’d have ended up with a hangover if she stayed on. Having stated the Sirian was gone however she lost interest in the party and went back to her room. She fell asleep almost immediately and didn’t hear Sybil sneak into the room close to dawn.

Evie breathed in deep and reached out with her hand to get a grip of the first crevice when she heard Ethan’s voice behind her.

‘Hello, what are you up to?’

She turned and saw him standing just a couple of meters from her. His face was impassive but his eyes were watching her like a lion might have watched his prey and Evie suddenly felt uneasy realizing it was the first time they met out and away from the base. It was just the two of them here and she was completely at the Sirian's mercy. If he decided to behave violently towards her nobody would hear her scream, nobody would probably ever find her body. The man was in his natural surroundings here while she was completely out of her depth. She thought she should have told Sybil where she was heading at least.

‘Hi, what are you doing here?’ She answered with a question to cover her unease. ‘You are not stalking me, are you?’ She asked without thinking and bit her tongue but it was too late.

‘I was stalking a deer when I saw you. Are you going to climb that rock?’

The truth was he first smelled her sweet clean scent even before he saw her. After a few meetings in the base he was acutely sensitive to it for some reason. It was calling to him like a siren song. Any thoughts of hunting left his head the very same second he turned in the direction of her smell and saw the girl after a few steps. He eyed her carefully up and down: the harness and spits hanging on it, white top and shorts and climbing shoes with a thin soft sole. His muscles tensed with the want to touch. He didn’t look up at the rock.

‘Yes. I need to keep in good shape and sitting in this capsule of the base doesn’t really help.’ Evie shrugged trying to cover her nervousness.

‘Would you mind if I did this with you? I need to keep in shape, too.’ Ethan smiled surprising even himself with the proposition. Anything to prolong the moment with the Earthian girl.

‘What about your dinner?’ Evie frowned not sure if she was pleased with his offer.

‘I’ll catch up with it later.’ Ethan shrugged dismissing her worries lightly.

‘You are joking, aren’t you?’ Evie’s looked at him skeptically. ‘You don’t have any gear with you so how do you intend to climb that high?’

‘I don’t need any gear to climb this.’ He said lightly casting a quick glance at the rock as he stepped forward.

‘Now, that’s bragging.’ She laughed nervously. Her unease was dissipating slowly. ‘Are you sure you want to do this?’ Evie didn’t move and Ethan smiled choosing carefully the first spot to put his foot in.

‘Are you sure you want to do this?’

He repeated her question like a challenge looking over his shoulder and Evie could do nothing more than  shrug and follow him. She felt her stomach twist with anticipation and fear. This guy must be crazy but that was not her problem if he wanted to kill himself. She just wouldn’t like to witness it. Witness or not, come to think about it she didn't want him to fall at all. Evie frowned again worried but it was too late for protests.

Ethan could climb a lot faster but Evie had to stick the spit in the rock from time to time so that slowed her down. He tried to stay at the same level with her and every now and then he cast a look at the girl. She was good at it, her long slim arms and legs moved confidently and without effort and he could see her muscles working under the golden tanned skin.

They climbed in silence as Evie was afraid to distract Ethan. She didn’t dare to think what would happen if he lost his grip and fell, they had to be no less than twenty meters above the ground now. She moved her spit up and ventured a look at her companion. He seemed completely relaxed, his hands and feet found the correct places in the rock instinctively. She thought the Sirian looked a bit like a giant lizard basking in the sun on a rock, his dark body appearing in perfect harmony with the surroundings. Just as if he did nothing else but climbed rocks for pleasure every morning. Evie forgot for a second where she was admiring his defined muscles until she felt her fingers slip over the smooth surface. She grabbed at the rock helplessly but her feet were not secure in their place either. In a moment of terror she felt she was falling down until the rope tightened and she hit the stone with her side. The impact forced a gasp of pain from her.

‘Are you okay? Evie?’ Ethan gave a panicked shout and began to come down to her immediately.

‘I’m all right!’ She shouted back holding on to a crevice and breathing deep to calm herself. She cursed under her breath. Then she started to climb up again. With all the adrenaline pumping in her system she didn't even feel the pain from where she hit the face of the rock. Ethan waited for her, relief slowly replacing fear on his face and in his guts.

‘Really, I’m fine.’ Evie repeated as she got even with him.

They continued up in silence once more but this time Ethan tried to keep closer and observed her carefully for any sign that she might be too tired to go on. The sun was evidently higher when they came over the ridge and stood on the top of the cliff. Evie felt her muscles shiver slightly- she really should do this more often to keep in good form, she thought. She cast a quick glance at her scratched hands but then as she looked forward at the landscape she forgot about her injuries in a second. Usually she could only see the jungle from the distance as a tangled wall of greenery surrounding their base. Now it stretched in front of her in all directions as far as the horizon with a mountain range looming in the distance. The surface of the treetops was like rough waves of the sea, some of them dipping lower and some rising higher, the colors all possible shades of green.

‘My, the view is awesome.’ She said and cast a glance at Ethan. He seemed completely composed, even his breathing was not faster than usual.

‘Do you mind if we sit here for a moment?’ Evie asked and then she reconsidered. ‘That is if you don’t need to go to your camp yet, I don’t want to mess your plans.’

‘I’m not in a hurry.’ Ethan said dismissively looking ahead.

He thought that she’d already messed his plans every other day, she’d messed his thoughts all the time from the very beginning, made it impossible to concentrate on his job here. But strangely he couldn’t feel angry at her for that. The mess this girl caused in his so far well-ordered life was strangely exciting.

‘Right, then I just want to look for a while.’

Evie sat on the ground pulling her knees up to her chest and trying to ignore the throbbing in her palms. Ethan sat at her side and for a moment they were looking at the panorama in silence. He was enjoying her scent enveloping him in the breeze.

‘How do you do this?’ The girl asked lightly after a while.

‘What?’ Ethan was free to look at her openly now as he turned to answer her question.

‘Climb like that.’ Evie shrugged. ‘No gear, no fear…’

Ethan’s lips twitched but he suppressed the smile.

‘We were so high that I didn’t dare to say a word so that not to distract you when I thought what would…’

‘Nothing would.’ The Sirian broke decisively. ‘I could talk about anything if that didn’t distract you. You freaked me out when you fell.’ He accused and Evie felt a hot wave of embarrassment wash over her face. 'You hurt your hands.'

It didn't slip his attention when she'd examined her palms briefly before. Now when she least expected it he took her hand carefully and looked at her mangled skin. The way he held her hand in his with strange possessiveness and yet carefully as if she was about to break in his hold, his thumb on her pulse made it go at a faster rate and Evie pulled her hand away. She hoped Ethan didn't notice her reaction to his touch. She felt embarrassed enough as it was.

‘I only slipped because I looked back to check if you were all right.’ She snapped angrily.

Now Ethan couldn’t stop smiling.

‘What’s so funny?’ She asked still sulky.

‘Nothing.’ He became serious in a second.

‘You didn’t answer my question.’ Evie reminded him. ‘How do you do this?’

Ethan shrugged.

‘I don’t know. I suppose it’s the natural ability to find balance.’

‘But we’ve been climbing for over an hour. Weren’t you tired?’ Evie pressed on.

‘Not really.’

His mouth twisted involuntarily in an amused smile once more. Didn’t she realize how much stronger Sirians were than them humans, he thought.

‘Right.’ Evie looked ahead again. ‘This view is worth the effort. I must come here more often.’ She said getting up at last.

‘You are right.’ Ethan agreed and she looked at him curiously trying to guess what he meant. ‘I’m glad I came with you. It was a nice distraction from everyday routine.’

They started to descend at last. Going down was easier and faster as all Evie had to do was slide down the rope and soon they were standing at the foot of the rock again. Evie packed her equipment and they started to walk towards the base. She was thinking of a way to prolong this moment, she felt good in Ethan’s company. She liked looking at his tanned muscular body and his distinctive face. Evie shook her head as if she was trying to get rid of this unwanted thought. She wondered why he still followed her when he was supposed to go hunting but obviously this was not a question she could ask him openly. Ethan was following her his thoughts going along the same route. He was thinking of an excuse to walk her to the base but nothing came to his mind. He cast her a glance wondered what the girl was thinking. She seemed to ponder on something, her eyebrows pulled together in a straight line again.

‘Maybe…’ Evie began but the Sirian suddenly caught her arm.

‘Stop.’ He hissed.

‘What?’ She started to ask but when she followed his gaze she froze.

‘Just don’t move.’ Ethan whispered and reached slowly for the gun tucked in a holster at the back of his trousers.

The girl’s thin shoes and soft skin of her bare calves were not enough to protect her from the snake’s teeth, he realized at once. The black and orange reptile hissed loudly moving its head back and forward and Ethan heard Evie catch her breath. He aimed and fired and then stomped his heavy boot on the snake's writhing body but he was a second too late. Evie screamed and jumped away, then she bent over her bleeding calf. Ethan stood frozen for just a fraction of a second his blood turning to ice cutting through his veins.

‘Shit, shit, shit!’

Evie examined her leg, her face twisted with pain and fear.

‘God, it hurts like hell! Was it poisonous?’

She looked up at Ethan and blood drained from her face as she read the answer in his eyes.

‘Oh, God.’ She said her voice catching in her throat.

‘Evie, do you trust me?’ The Sirian’s voice was full of tension as he looked in the Earthian girl’s eyes taking out a knife from a sheath at his belt. He was well prepared for his hunting trip.

‘What do you intend to do?’ She stared at him with terror.

‘You’ll die in terrible pain if I don’t do it. There’s no time to hesitate.’ For a crazy moment she thought what he meant was to end her suffering mercifully or at least amputate her leg. She swallowed her panic tearing her eyes from the knife and rising them back to Ethan's face. His eyes had an imperative look which, she didn't quite know why, made her trust in him.

'Just do what you have to.' She said, her voice weak with fear.

He cut a piece of rope, knelt at Evie’s feet and tied it firmly above her knee. Then he held her calf firmly in his hand and cut the bite wound deep. Evie cried out and swayed.

‘Don’t fall, just try to stand up.’ Ethan said before he started to suck at the cut and spit back.

Evie felt her head swim and her stomach revolt but she made effort to stay conscious and not throw up. She dug her fingers in the Sirian's shoulder trying to keep balance. She felt sick. Ethan straightened up just in time to hold her up.

‘Can you walk?’ He asked.

‘Yes, I just feel a bit dizzy. Can we sit for a while till it passes?’ Evie answered faintly.

‘No, we can’t.’ Ethan’s voice was decisive. ‘Just hold on to my back.’

The Sirian threw away her harness and the rest of the stuff and stooped so that she could scramble over his back. Evie laced her arms around his neck and hoisting her up he sprinted towards his camp gripping her legs dangling at his sides. He felt her grip loosen before he entered the camp. Ignoring the amazed looks of his boys he lowered the girl in front of his tent and frantically tore his backpack open. Seconds seemed to stretch into hours before he found a small ampule and a syringe and he had a feeling of dear time running out on him with Evie's life slipping away. He couldn't let her die, couldn't lose her just yet. He drew the contents of the small bottle into the syringe and shot the antidote in the Earthian girl’s arm. His hands were shaking slightly but he didn’t have time to dwell on that.

‘Evie, don’t close your eyes.’

He ordered imperatively and patted her face gently as her eyelids dropped. She made effort to look at him. Her eyes were glassy and her face ashen. He pulled her up and as she was unable to hold to his back anymore Ethan just scooped her in his arms and ran towards the base. The girl was unbelievably light to him. They reached the base in a couple of minutes and Ethan kicked the door impatiently as it slowly whizzed open in front of him. People in the corridor were getting out of his way, their faces shocked and dismayed but he didn’t pay attention to that.

‘Doctor!’ He called out. ‘Medic, help!’

Someone grabbed his arm and signaled for Ethan to follow. They hurried to a medical ward where another man pointed to an operating table. Ethan gently put Evie on it. There were little tremors going through her body now and her lips were white. The sight terrified Ethan stiff. This was it, she was dying. He felt like screaming at the damn doctor to hurry.

‘What’s happened?’ The man asked urgently.

‘A snake…here, I…’

Words eluded Ethan, his nerves stretched to the limit tying his tongue in a knot so he just showed that he’d sucked the venom out.

‘Antidote, I give.’ He gestured again. ‘In my camp, we got good antidote.’

He looked the man desperately in the eyes.

‘Good.’

‘Poison make paralyze. No breathe, help breathe.’ Ethan put his hand to his throat acting to show he was choking.

‘You may not want to be here.’ The doctor said but as Ethan didn’t move from his spot he started to act. There was no time to wonder whether the Sirian understood him or not. In a matter of seconds he placed a tube in Evie’s throat switching her on to the respirator.

Ethan looked as the man was examining Evie’s injuries, then he started switching her to some more medical equipment. The girl’s pulse started to beep on the monitor.

‘I’ll have to put stitches in her leg.’ The doctor said cleaning Evie’s calf. ‘You’ve cut it?’

Ethan nodded a gulp in his throat.

‘Good, you did everything that you could. You say you gave her an antidote?’

The man looked at Ethan from over Evie’s unconscious body. The Sirian nodded again.

‘Yes, special for snake.’

‘Well, I suppose we wouldn’t be able to do more than you did for her.’ The doctor sighed. ‘Thank you very much.’

‘I come later, okay?’ Ethan racked his brain for words.

‘Sure. I’d go and wash if I were you.’ The doctor said and turned back to Evie.

Ethan left the room reluctantly. He'd like to stay and watch Evie, the thought of leaving her and not knowing what was happening with her going right against his instinct, but there was no logical reason he could put up for it. His blood was settling slowly in his veins, his pulse slowing down. He was still worried sick but as the doctor said he’d done all he could. Now the responsibility was on the Earthians’ side. Were they able to cure the girl, though? What if they had no proper cures? But he could do no more. Why was he reacting like that anyway? It wasn't like she was anyone important to him, was she? And yet the thought about the world without her seemed strangely depressing and unacceptable for him. He walked slowly towards the exit catching a shocked gaze every now and then. He realized that he must be smeared with Evie’s blood all over his face and hands but he didn’t care a bit. Let them think what they would.

‘Ethan?’

He heard an appalled voice behind him and looked back.

‘Hi.’ He said.

‘What’s happened to you?’ Sybil put her hand over her mouth.

‘Nothing to me. Evie….snake….I bring her.’ He gestured towards the medical ward.

Sybil didn’t ask anything more. She turned and ran in the direction he’d pointed.

Cool water in the stream brought him back to his senses. Ethan washed his face and hands and winced as water colored itself with blood. He took off his T-shirt and washed it then wrung it, put it over his shoulder and headed back to the camp. It was noon already and he was supposed to bring some meat for his boys to roast. He himself didn’t feel like eating. He sat on the ground leaning his back over a tree trunk and looked unwillingly at Olve who approached him and sat at his side.

‘Is everything all right?’ The man asked his friend. ‘What’s happened to that girl of yours?’

‘She’s not a girl of mine.’ Ethan snorted.

‘No?’ Olve raised his eyebrows. ‘Then what is the reason of your recently frequent visits to the base? You used to go in maybe once a week or once a fortnight and now you are drawn towards it like an addict to a drug. It’s pretty obvious it has something to do with their new interpreter.’ Olve said calmly.

Ethan cast him a hostile look and set his teeth stubbornly.

‘At the first moment when I saw you carry her to your tent I even thought that you’d abused her and took her hostage.’ Olve joked and Ethan’s head jerked up.

‘What!?’ He spat indignantly.

‘Calm down! This was just a silly presumption. So, will you tell me what’s happened or will you let the guys draw their own conclusions?’ Olve looked expectantly at his chief.

‘A snake. She’s been bitten by a snake.’ Ethan answered at last.

‘Shit! I see.’ Olve drew the air through his teeth with a hiss. His voice lost its humorous tone. ‘But she will be all right, yes?’

‘I don’t know Olve. I did what I could. I sucked the venom, gave her antidote, but now it’s their job in the base to cure her.’ Ethan jabbed the ground with a stick absentmindedly.

‘You gave her the antidote in a short time after the bite, she looks strong and healthy so she should be fine.’ Olve tried to comfort Ethan but his friend got up impatiently.

‘Why should you need to console me? Who is she to me? I just like her so I did what was necessary to help.’ Ethan exploded. He grabbed his gun and turned away. ‘I’m going to fetch something to eat.’

‘Yeah, yeah. Right.’ Olve muttered under his breath. ‘Just don’t shoot yourself by mistake.’

He had formed his opinion on what Evie was for Ethan already and wasn’t convinced to change it now.

Evie heard the quiet whiz of the door and she opened her eyes. She has been awake for quite a while, but she’s kept pretending to be asleep. She didn’t want to deal with anybody yet. She was in too much pain to be ready to take guests. But something told her to check on who the visitor was now. Some familiar smell that made her feel safe and...Oh. She opened her eyes and looked straight at the Sirian chief. Ethan took a few steps towards her bed.

‘Hi.’ He said awkwardly.

She looked so fragile in the big white bed, some tubes still connected to her arm. Her face was pale and she had dark shadows under her eyes.

‘Hi.’ She whispered trying to guess the reason for his visit and the reason why her pulse suddenly skyrocketed.

‘How are you feeling?’ Ethan asked. ‘I tried to talk to the doctor but it was no good. We couldn’t communicate.’

‘Everything hurts terribly.’ The girl admitted with a wince. ‘But I suppose I should be grateful I’m alive at all. Thanks to you, Ethan.’ She added quietly.

He realized it was the first time she spoke his name. He liked the sound of it.

‘It’s nothing. Don’t mention it. I’m glad you are all right…more or less. You must still have some poison in your system so it will still hurt for some time. Painkillers won’t help. I’m sorry.’ He said.

Ethan thought that he’d gladly take her pain on himself if that was possible. He had been bitten by a snake once so he knew how she felt. All the muscles being paralyzed and stiff which made it hard to move.

‘I am grateful. Thank you.’ Evie insisted.

‘All right, if you must.’ He shrugged. ‘I kind of got used to the role of your savior.’ Ethan joked. That was the first one as well.

‘What?’ She looked at the Sirian with surprise.

‘You get in trouble all the time. Maybe I should give up my present post and get employed as your bodyguard full time.’ His face was deadpan serious.

‘You…I didn’t realize you had a sense of humor.’ Evie tried to smile but failed.

‘Hey, I’m only trying to entertain you, you know.’

‘Right. I was just starting to suspect that you’d ask a favor in return.’ Evie sighed with relief.

‘Well, as you've mentioned it…’ Ethan pretended to consider her words. ‘Maybe there would be something you could do for me.’

Evie held her breath biting her lip waiting for the man to explain himself. What sort of payoff would he expect? Theirs was a different culture after all, maybe she shouldn't say things like that without seriously thinking them over first?

‘I always have problems with ordering a drink I like in your base. Every time I end up with something I didn’t ask for. Would you find some time to go and order for me when you feel better?’

She wasn’t sure if that was meant to be a date. Had he just asked her out for a drink or had he just asked her to be his interpreter? Evie was left confused and frustrated.

‘Yes, of course.’ She agreed biting her lip in frustration trying to calm down her heart beating wildly against her ribs and against her will.

They didn’t manage to go for that drink, though. Ethan got orders to leave for another patrol when Evie was still too weak to leave her bed. Her body stopped hurting and she could sit up but her muscles still felt stiff and refused to serve her right. Ethan came to say goodbye in the morning and noticed with satisfaction that some color has returned to the girl’s face.

‘We’re leaving on patrol today so we’ll have to put off that drink, I’m afraid.’ Ethan said. Was there regret in her eyes? Or was he imagining things once more?

Evie swallowed and didn’t say anything. She was afraid her voice would betray her. She got used to Ethan’s unobtrusive presence. His frequent visits made her hope despite everything that he liked her company as well, that there was something more in it than merely enjoying a partner for a conversation on his part. But the Sirian never went beyond the semi-formal friendly relation. He entertained her with stories from his missions, descriptions of different parts of Sirius when she asked him questions. She was curious about the differences between regions and the people occupying them. But when she thought about it Evie could find no word or sign which would prove that Ethan was interested in her as more than his exotic friend.

God, what made her even think that? Why should he be interested in her at all? She surely wasn’t interested in him. Not in that way. Or was she? No, she just considered him a challenge, an opportunity to practice the Sirian language, that’s all. That’s all there ever could or should be in it.

‘You look better.’ Ethan commented breaking the silence.

‘Thanks. How long will you be away?’

‘Maybe a week this time. We got the news that the rebel army has moved further south so we have to check it.’

‘I wish you good luck then.’ Evie said lightly. She hoped the light tone covered the disappointment in her voice.

‘Thanks. Well, I’ll be going then. I’m glad you feel better. Just don’t get into any more trouble while I’m away, will you?’

And with that he was gone.

Evie left the medical ward the next day though she still couldn’t move around much for a few more days. She tried to exercise a bit to relax her muscles back to their working condition but really anything beyond a bit of stretching was out of range for her. They were doing their usual analysis on the computer with Sybil for the time being so it wasn’t very demanding anyway.

‘Josh has left, did you know?’ Sybil looked up at Evie.

‘Yes, I’ve heard about that.’ Evie didn’t look away from the screen.

‘Maybe he decided he was not up to the competition with Ethan Nacher after all.’ Sybil smiled slightly.

‘What do you mean?’

Now Evie raised her head and scrutinized her friend’s face.

‘Well…’ Sybil turned in her chair to face Evie. ‘Not that I’m complaining about it, because he is a delicious sight, but we didn’t use to get so much of it ever before you came to the base. Captain Nacher never used to frequent Knox on a regular basis almost every day. And don’t tell me the guy has been coming here only for occupational reasons. I won’t believe you discuss only work with him.’

‘Sure we don’t talk about work all the time. Which doesn’t mean there is anything between us.’ Evie cut her off.

‘Uhm. He climbed that rock with you and then brought you back here in his own arms after that snake bite.’ Sybil muttered unconvinced raising her eyebrows suggestively.

'What, was he supposed to leave me to die there?' Evie gave a forced laugh.

'How about climbing that rock with you?' Sybil clung to that particular fact with the stubbornness of a bulldog that got hold of a bone.

'Oh for God's sake Syb, I can't account for the man's actions, all right?'

‘He’s the best-looking Sirian guy I’ve ever seen. You must be blind or sick not to notice.’

‘Sybil, the fact that I notice how handsome the guy is and that I like him doesn’t have to mean that there is something going on between us. There has to be attraction on both sides, you know.’ Evie’s voice bore a trace of irritation.

‘Oh, so you do admit you are attracted to him?’

There was satisfaction in Sybil’s voice.

‘Sure. I’m not blind or sick as you suggest.’ Evie rolled her eyes.

‘But?’

‘But he hasn’t made any move so far which might suggest that he’d like to get beyond friendship. So that’s it.’

‘How would you explain him visiting you in the hospital ward then? I'm telling you, he hasn't been coming to the base for nothing love. Maybe them Sirians just take longer to declare their feelings?’

‘Yeah, yeah. I’m going to give him time until I’m thirty, then I quit. ’

Sybil shook her head and went back to her work. Evie stared at the computer screen with unseeing eyes for a while longer. Sybil's comments made her mind burn with irrational excitement. It was ridiculous but she was now thinking whether there was something in what Sybil said.

Try as she might speak lightly of her relationship with Ethan Evie felt stronger than she’d acknowledged. She was disappointed and frustrated beyond reason with him keeping a proper distance between them, with the fact that she was unable to say what their relationship was in fact. What Sybil said was right. She could sense that Ethan was coming to the base seeking her company. She could sense that pull between them but he didn't make a move so far and she'd be damned if she made a move first. Subconsciously she felt he was that dominant kind of man who liked to be the hunter, not the prey. Ethan was on his ground and it was best to leave it at that. If he wanted her he knew where to find her. Especially after her last man trouble, she wasn't keen on getting into the new mess now.

But there was no denying she missed Ethan and when she lay in bed at night she envisioned his face, his tall figure, the way he moved…She’d never been attracted to any other man like that before. The fact that the Sirian haunted her in her dreams surprised her. She’d tried to get rid of the suspicion that her feelings for Ethan grew and got out of her control before. Now Evie tried to convince herself that she just worried, waited for his safe return from the mission like she waited for every other friend before. Where was he now? What was he doing? Was he safe? The waiting was making her crazy.