h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

*she has still not emerged after at least four minutes*

*Lumien takes a deep breath and jumps in after her.*

*under the water Syian is swimming gracefully and fluidly, she seems not to need to breathe and smiles at Lumien*

*Lumien smiles back and surfaces.*

She's all right...

*Goes to shore to dry off in the sunshine.*

Ahhhh...

*Watches in bemusement. Rolls eyes.*

Women!

*Turns to Kala.*

{humbly} Thank you, Kala. Were it not for you, we would all be dead.

*Moves back to a respectful distance and starts to read the flow of ch'i*

*emerges laughing*

I haven't felt this relaxed in years

*Kala nods briefly to Kazinishi to tell him the thanks are accepted and then turns away in obvious dislike*

This is nice!

*Tries to relax more, but can't get a thought out of the back of her mind. No matter how hard she tries, it's still there, and will not leave her alone.*

I feel like I forgot something, though...

*Looks at her bare feet.*

<>

Something troubling you, Lumien?

Sort of... but it's nothing I can put my finger on.

Say, we're near Oane, aren't we? Syian, you can get your bells back!

*her whole demenour shifts as the bells in Oane are mentioned, she looks at Lumien oddly*

I left it there..for a reason...now what is troubling you?

Just a weird feeling like I forgot something.

Oh! I left my boots in the tower! That's what it was!

Why did you leave your bells with Patricia?

That is none of your concern

*Recognizing the stonewalling, Lumien gives up.*

All right! So it's not!

*she dangles her legs in the water as she sits in silence next to Lumien...she feels awkward for blocking her out, so she suddenly hugs Lumien as tight as she can with her one arm*

*Hugs back*

Syian, you're my friend, but sometimes you drive me crazy when you get like that! Not that I blame you for being secretive after seeing some of what happened to you in the past, but as a very wise man once said to me, "You've got to stop running sometime!"

*looks shocked, she never thought of herself as running before*

I..I am no coward; I will run no longer, you can ask me anything you want to know

Well, for starters, why leave your bells here?

*she thinks for a moment, choosing her words carefully*

Patricia needs to get back in contact with me about some private business of mine, all she need do to let me know she needs to speak with me is touch one of my bells while thinking of me

That wasn't so hard, was it?