Page 21 of Fresh Flesh

Joras

I strainmy muscles to their fullest as I grip each end of the chain. My arms bulge as I lean back, pulling my body weight into the effort of removing the boulder from the train’s path.

The Northern Tribe looks on, shouting words of encouragement to me. We could wait for the proper machinery to come and remove the boulder from the train tracks, but that would take hours to get it here.

Besides, this is a lot more fun.

I strain and pull, my tendons popping, my vision going dark around the edges. Then I manage to take one step, and then another. The boulder drags off of the tracks and rolls down the small tumbled hill of granite and limestone rocks supporting the rails.

The Northern Tribe give a ragged cheer as the path is unblocked. A lot of them come and slap me on the back, some offering drinks as well. I down most of the contents of a bottle of human wine, and then finish all of the contents of a waterskin passed my way.

Soon the train is chugging on again. A big relief to the human cargo, I’m sure. It must be stiflingly hot inside of the train cars, with very little ventilation. The movement of the train will at least create some breeze and fresh air for them.

Which is good, because it’s bad to let your food spoil before you even get it home.

The train often brings cargo to our little valley camp. The human enclosure is getting pretty full at this point. That’s okay, I’ve been working all day with the Northern tribe, moving in trainload after trainload of humans though. With so many extra mouths to feed, including the bounty hunters staying with us, the humans will be pared down to a more manageable number soon enough.

I think back to what Lurg told me. Maisie had asked him a very strange question. She had asked him if he could change his diet, give up eating human beings.

What a strange thing to ask. Then again, I try to put myself in her shoes and I sort of understand. I wouldn’t want to be around or responsible for picking out my own kind to eat. Or for others to eat for that matter.

I sympathize with Maisie, but at the same time I don’t know how we would ever stop. Our dietary needs are such that we need lots of meat. I suppose we could eat some of the other game animals around, but there are so many humans and they have a lot of meat on them.

I start to think other thoughts about Maisie as well. It had been so incredibly hot the way all three of us had taken her the other day. Maisie was so willing, so eager, that it made it all the more fun.

In fact, I hope to do some more of that delightful activity tonight. After a rest and a bath, perhaps. It has been a long, hard day working in the sun and the dust. I need to get the dust out from between my scales before I even think about touching her lovely form. I don’t want her sullied…not in that way, at any rate.

The train chugs home to the valley at last. I am so happy to be home. I finish up my business, helping the Northern tribe to unload the newest, and last, cargo of humans for the day.

Once I finish that task, I can barely contain myself trying to return home. I can’t wait to see Maisie’s face again. Even more, I can’t wait to hold her in my arms and make sweet love to her all night long.

When I reach our front porch, I step up onto it and reach for the door handle. Before my fingers close around it, the door bursts open and Lurg is standing there.

His eyes are wide, and his voice is edged with panic when he speaks.

“Joras,” he growls. “Tell me that you took Maisie with you on your journey. Please, tell me that you know where she is at.”

“What?” I blink, my mind reeling with confusion. “Why would I bring her with me? It would be a massive risk for no reward. I have been working tirelessly all day.”

He curses, and shakes his head.

“What’s wrong, Lurg?”

“I have not seen Maisie all day.”

My heart leaps up into my throat as he cups his hands to his face.

“I haven’t seen her since this morning! Joras, what are we going to do?”

Silence is the only answer my stunned mind can offer.

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