Star Date #10
"By the way," I asked "what do you guys call yourselves? Like in, the name of your tribe or race or species?".
I had turned around to ask the chief this final question, me and my sugar gum drops almost ready to depart. Having been given a healthy ration of fruit, berries, some bread type stuff, a couple of handy tools and utensils and of course, for me, a little satchel of snake booze. Called mueg.
(Apparently they extract it without hurting the animal, mix in al kinds of delicious herbs and whatnot to create a very tasty beverage. Making the act of getting bitten wholly unnecessary and dosing all the more manageable. Instead of taking whatever amount the creature has to offer straight to the leg and fainting or vomiting accordingly.)
My girl looked at me with endearing eyes, as if complimenting me for my interest. I, on the other hand, felt really shitty for not asking this earlier and only having the presence of mind to bring it up right as I was about to leave them.
"People." Chief said.
(I know he's named Patalolo, but I call him 'Chief', a nickname I've given him to indicate the strong feelings of love and friendship I have towards him. I've never actually used it to address him personally out of fear that he might not like it and hurt me as a consequence.)
"Ha!" my girl exclaimed, looking at me now with very different eyes.
"Something wrong?" Chief asked, the whole crowd behind him frowning as if to say 'and this is how you thank us for our hospitality?'.
"Oh no," my girl said "that's just what I told him he should name you when he first woke up and didn't have a clue whatsoever."
"Ahh, I understand." Chief said, with his benign smile with just a hint of weakling-eyes.
"You have much to learn, young Marten of Amsterdam!" "He screamed at me as his final guidance. "Please, listen very carefully to your girlfriend. She’s very wise. And don't stray too far away from her. Who knows what could happen to you!"
My humiliation was complete. In his eyes I was the little, fragile child and my babydoll the mother figure. The strong, decisive caretaker. Nurturing and sheltering me, keeping me safe while I took my first, wobbly steps in this strange new habitat.
I didn't care though, he thought we were together. Score!