SGA-05 Exogenesis by Whitelaw Sonny & Christensen Elizabeth

SGA-05 Exogenesis by Whitelaw Sonny & Christensen Elizabeth

Author:Whitelaw, Sonny & Christensen, Elizabeth [Whitelaw, Sonny & Christensen, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
ISBN: 1905586027
Publisher: Fandemonium Books
Published: 2006-12-08T05:00:00+00:00


Ronon hefted a large sack onto the nearby cart and gave the animal hitched to it a wary look. The creature snuffled and ducked its head. “He will not provoke you,” Shira promised, lifting another sack.

“He keeps looking at my hair like he wants to chew it.”

The Polrusson woman laughed. “It probably reminds him of his mate. She had a long mane.”

That didn’t reassure him in the slightest. Ronon eased out of the animal’s reach and continued to load the cart with goods. The storm still raged outside, and he’d grown increasingly frustrated with doing nothing in the Ancient lab, so when Shira had timidly requested his help in packing her cart with food and water for the new village, he’d agreed without a second thought.

While they worked, her children chased each other around the cart’s wheels and through the adults’ legs. In the market square, a dozen or so other carts were also being loaded with possessions. From what he had seen on the walk there, the entire village was gearing up for the exodus to its long-awaited future home.

A barrel of water stood beside the cart, and he reached in for a scoop. When he raised it to his lips, the salty taste caught him unawares, and he spat it out.

The children shrieked when the water fell on them, then they began to giggle. With an apologetic smile, Shira picked up a gourd lying next to the barrel. “You must drink through this. It filters out the salt.”

Self-consciously, Ronon accepted the gourd and dipped it into the water. Sure enough, the water that seeped out through the slits at the bottom was sweet. “Everything around here has adapted to a hard life.”

“You could say that. All of our plants have this ability. Their tough skins make them resistant to the sand. We have long traded with other worlds who find such plants useful.” Shira’s voice took on a note of wonder. “I can hardly imagine what it will be like to see water fall from the sky. Many people have seen this on other worlds, and they say it is amazing. A cousin of mine even speaks of a planet that is nearly covered by a single, vast ocean.” She turned shining eyes to him. “Have you ever encountered such a thing?”

He was considering how to reply when several people, still wearing their sand-resistant robes, entered the open area from an atrium that led outside. Ronon recognized the men as the search party sent out after McKay. One of them produced a small, flat metallic object from under his cloak.

“Where did you find it?” Ronon demanded, striding forward with his hand outstretched. The scientist often packed data discs inside such cases in order to protect them.

“It was lying right next to the ’gate,” the man answered, passing it to him. “I regret to say that it was the only evidence we found of your friend.”

“No clothing or shoes? Not even bones?” Although Ronon rarely paid much attention to the scientists’ chatter, he knew the lightweight case was made of a soft metal called aluminum.



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