Page 31 of Captured on Film
Bad luck. Or dumb luck. Either way, at least the other guys hadgotten away.
Andor pushed something into Caleb’s chest and grunted.
It was a flask. Unscrewing the top, he sniffed. Whatever itwas, it was alcoholic. “May I?” he checked.
A grunt.
A sip. Quickly followed by a deeper slug.
“This is good.” Caleb was already shaking his head. “No,this isexcellent.”
Another grunt. And pleased by the sound of it.
Caleb caught on. “You made this?”
Andor nodded toward something farther along the ridge. Treesgrew right up to the edge, and the moon shone between the branches of thetallest. Except … it was in the wrong part of the sky. And then the second moonbegan to descend, climbing down, branch by branch, to drop the last few feet tothe ground.
Tipsy Star
It was her! Or wait, maybehim? As the starperson moved closer, Caleb couldn’t be certain, and he wasn’t sure if preferredpronouns was really where he wanted to start a conversation. Either way, theywerenota figment of his imagination. And a different mystery wassolved, because they were dressed in the same style as he’d been.
“These clothes,” he touched his chest, then pointed to theoncoming star. “You borrowed these from them?”
Andor spoke, but the words weren’t meant for Caleb.
The other sped up, practically skipping the rest of the way,and was scooped up to perch on Andor’s other arm. Face-to-face, there waslittle doubt that they were dressed to match.
“I didn’t dream you up.” And feeling foolish, Caleb asked,“What should I call you?”
As before, the radiant one carefully placed a hand againstCaleb’s now-smooth cheek.“You may call me Eri, for that is my name.”
“Eri,” he echoed, glancing at Andor, whose expression hadgone all soft and indulgent. “Are you an angel?”
“Not I. My descent was an accident.”With the air ofa confession, Eri revealed,“I was tipsy and slipped, and Andor caught me. Now,I am a vintner.”
A winemaker. The distillery scent and rows of barrels all supportedtheir story. Caleb glanced at the flask in his hand and asked, “You made this?”
“I helped.”Eri touched the flask with one finger.“MayI?”
They took a long swallow and sighed,“Aaah, me. Is thereanything nicer?”
“I was trying to tell Andor it’s excellent.”
“This he knows full well.”Eyes alight with mischief,they added,“Do you want to know why?”
“I’m probably interested in anything you care to share.” Itmight be all that was left to him.
“Caleb,”Eri chided.“Do not sound so resigned. Thesongs are culminating, and their resolution may surprise you. Pleasantly.”
“I can’t hear them anymore,” he muttered. “The songs stopped.”
Eri looked startled, and their gaze slid toward Andor, whoseblank expression quickly shifted. It was pretty clear that Mister Big was beingscolded by his starry friend.
Andor adjusted his hold and grumbled something, then Eri wasguiding Caleb’s hand to the ring upon Andor’s first finger.“Touch the stone.Unlock the sky.”
All at once, a chorus of lilting, laughing notes spilledinto Caleb.
Tipping his face skyward, he let himself be relieved. Maybeeven a little happy.
