PROMISES

Kay'li yelped and ducked, pivoting left. Sam lost his grip on her long mahogany braid. She caught his ribs with her elbow. The taller, heavier boy went down with a gasp, his mouth open like a fish three meters from the river. Kay'li leaped over him. Two steps took her to the gold ball that started the argument. Before Sam could move, she snatched up the toy and fled the forest clearing.

Sam's bullying was just another difference between him and his older brother, Lucas. The brothers had square cheeks and chins, broad shoulders and long-fingered hands from their father, Seth Aidan. Lucas had their mother Jenni's dark eyes and hair. Sam was white blond and gray-eyed, like their father. Sam picked on her every chance he could because he was older than her, but she was smarter, and Lucas always defended her.

"Find it?" Lucas called when she reached the field beyond the outpost cemetery. He grinned when she held up the ball. "You were gone so long, I thought something nasty got you."

"Just Sam."

"I'm gonna pound him," he said with a groan.

"Already did." Kay'li giggled.

"Serves him right." Lucas held out his hands. She cocked her arm and flung the ball. It hit his hands with a loud smack. He grinned and pretended pain. "We'll bomb him this winter. He won't know what hit him."

"Snowman Sam." She caught the return throw. A cold breeze snapped down out of the treetops, yanking on her hair.

"Winter's almost here." He caught her throw. "Let's head back." He led the way down the packed dirt trail.

Untamed forest lay beyond the eastern edge of Emers Outpost. Kay'li trailed her fingers along the slatted fence that kept hoppers, slithers and other creatures out of the cemetery. The children walked in silence down the fifty meters of trail to the outpost proper. Five long gravel streets of houses ran parallel to the trail. The two streets with administration buildings, warehouses, dining hall and boarding houses lay perpendicular to the residential section. Beyond that, the landing field for shuttles. Beyond that, more forest, pierced by a wide dirt trail for wheeled land vehicles.

Kay'li's house sat on the northeast corner, closest to the forest. She liked it that way. Her father Ian, a Scout on unlimited leave from the Corps, regularly took her into the forest to explore. Since he included others in the excursions, it made him popular with the few children at Emers.

"They're back!" Lucas said, as the children came around the side of the house.

A two-man, open flyer sat in front of the house, with half-unpacked camping gear spread around it. The house door hung open, despite the cold wind.

"Race!" he yelled, and leaped forward.

Kay'li darted around the flyer and leaped over the backpacks. Lucas reached with both hands and vaulted over the middle of the vehicle. He stumbled as he landed, giving her a half second lead. She jumped the steps two at a time. A tall, tanned, white-haired man stepped into the doorway, making her shriek in surprise. He caught her and lifted her high.

"There's my girl!" He laughed.

"Uncle Nobi!" Kay'li flung her arms tight around him.

Nobi Cole put her down and winked at Lucas, who managed to stop before he ran into the man. "Racing?"

Lucas grinned. "What are you doing back so soon, Major?"

"These old bones don't like the cold weather much." He set Kay'li down and swatted her behind as she flew through the door.

Copyright © 2005 by Michelle L. Levigne