*****
After a week of daily hikes for experience, and evening study of the equipment and Ermolian life forms, Father declared Keelic fit for his first solo hike. At dinner the night before, Mother seemed tense as Father outlined the course he was to follow.
"If you have enough energy, there is a cave four kilometers north of the house. It is at the base of that bluff you can see from your room. It’s about forty meters deep, and inside is incredible. At the back end is a small stream that comes out of the base of an old cave-in. A unique life form I’ve named aquamite lives in the deeper pools."
"Did you get any recordings of it?" asked Keelic.
"I saved that for you. After your mom sees what’s there, I’m sure she will want to visit it, too. I put a recorder on your bed for you to—"
He never finished, as Keelic sprinted away to his room.
Later that night Keelic got up to get some water and saw light shining from around the window curtains at the top of the southeast tower. His parents were up. He checked the console by his bed and saw that it was after midnight, and decided to ask if he could have a snack.
He turned on the intercom. An angry voice, his father’s, said something about adjustment, then asked, "What is it, Keelic?"
"I...I wanted to know if I could have a snack. I’m hungry."
"No. Go back to sleep." The com clicked off.
Sitting on the bed, he watched the light shine around the edges of the curtains of his parents’ bedroom in the black Ermolian night. Like his, their bedroom occupied the entire upper floor of the tower, with glass on all three sides. They usually closed the curtains at night while Keelic preferred the open view. Their arguing reminded him of Pesfor 3. They fought a lot there, and the hard ache it put in his chest returned now. He stared at their windows for a while longer, then scooted down to the end of his bed, brushing the carpet with his toes.
"Anny?"
"Yes?"
"I’m hungry."
"I know. I heard you ask for a snack."
"Will you tell if I go get one?"
"Have I ever?"
Keelic dashed downstairs to the kitchen.