(It's) Always There - Ch. 19

Ducks accrued as witnesses to her predicament, beady dots awaiting by the front or just waddling in at the back, Navy's somewhat vaguely feeding or snack-giving pose alerting further distant quacks and pitter-patters. Much greater in volume were the two she kept apart; persistent, angry squawking, posturing, and flapping was a good way to tell they were still miffed - and a test of her balance. Updrafted feather-water and dirt sprinkled her eyes, a bill nibbled her standing leg, and three pairs of little webbed feet ambled on her hunched back.

... Now how to get... out.

Mallory hadn't come back, nor was it certain when she would. Alright... Uh... The seed pouch is too high for them, so that's not an issue (yet). The troublemakers can't be allowed to fight, her sling can't come off, she can't stand on no legs, if she goes down then they'll swarm, if she goes up the ducks on her might fall and get hurt, if she does nothing then her willpower gives out and they... also swarm.

Hm.

... Tick-tock. Her ankle started to ache from the fall-preventing wobbles. How did...

One... precise... hop backward, and there was the pool. Tilt, slowly, up so they get the message and... Scoot - get off. Tip tip tip, then... jolt a little pull her arm out safely push the last one so it splashes (not upside down; fingers crossed) in the water then no nope no... pecking. Now... still in a pickle, so she'll... get the crowd away by doing that thing. The thing. The noise she's supposed to make.

"... Ehp!" she shouted at the birds.

Even the bickering ones perked at attention.

Bag untied, hand in, seeds, fwoosh, food over there. Every bird except the problem ones tracked her motion to the pouch then the spray of what she threw, quacks and chitters stampeding away... Well it took a second because they had to waddle.

The drakes remained, wings spread and waiting for the other to strike first. Like she was taught, Navy scooped away the smaller male and set him in the pool, the bigger one calming, tucking his wings in... then running away to eat. Hurray. Just a little turf dispute... and no the duck from earlier wasn't upside down. Excellent.

If they'd be over there getting second breakfast for a minute, then that seemed an opportunity to give the woods a pass through. The duckling biting her pants followed as usual, tiger ensuring none of the flock were getting hissy or mean as she went to her other assigned task, everyone well-behaved until she got there. Before any searching could be done, the very duck she was after went tripping and scrambling to the others, apparently having just realized the commotion. Where she put her nest wasn't clear, but Navy would have a start.

Not by this trunk... not by that one... not in between the rocks... Place wasn't too crowded, so it couldn't be far-

"Oh, is that...?"

*CRch*

...

Her sole uncovered yellow slime and shattered pieces of eggshell in the center of twigs - which she'd snapped and ground to bits. Dumb cunt motherfuck-ing idiot... It wasn't hard to see for her, was it? With her eyes? 'Cause it was right... there. The tiger vibrated, staring, and her palm would cut on tree bark before she stopped leaning on it.

... Quickly she knelt and got the duckling a safe distance. "Don't eat that, dummy."

Stip would need to rebuild her nest from scratch and lay there because, sadly, hers had been crushed and couldn't be washed out, so no relocation. Navy took it and the yolky ground, crossed the field, then fucking binned it. Retard. Whatever. Her shoe needed cleaning so... after a sigh, the ducks' good behavior was checked and she had a seat with them in view, boot off and ready to be scrubbed.

Hm; some water and a brush made it really easy to get egg off, but for an unknown reason it seemed its handle was going to snap. What a mystery! Why could that be? Hmmmm, darn. Better think about that, yeah? Scrub, scrub, scrub, scrub... scrub and scrub, scrub...

...

From around the coop's side, Mallory shouted, "NAAAAVY?" to locate her.

Haha. Hehe. "Over here."

"Ah," the bulldog's face lit like a bulb. "Hi! Watcha doin'?"

"I found Stip's egg - under my boot."

She dimmed, looking at Navy with an expression all sorry. "Oh... Well that's fine. Stuff gets cracked sometimes and you're new. We've all done it so it's not a big deal, or anything. Stip won't mind either; she'll lay again and that'll be that."

"... I guess so."

Mallory stood by... Nothing of much interest going on.

"They give you any trouble? Thought I heard 'em quacking."

"I fixed it."

...

Navy's shoe slid on and she retied its laces. Once on her feet again, Mallory invited, "If you're ready, I put breakfast inside. If you want. We'll listen for the ducks and... have a chat? I don't have a lot else for you to do than keep 'n eye on them." A correction came instant, "Not because there's actually a lot to do and I think you can't, it's that..." Her words went unfound, a repeatedly waving arm not plucking sound from nowhere. Eventually, she grabbed them. "It, uh... There is stuff to do, but there wasn't too much for three of us and now there's you, so... you're helping but things are kind of... thin, between us. Get what I mean?"

There wasn't any offense taken, if that was Mallory's worry. She shrugged, then accepted, "Sure. I'm kinda hungry."

"Great!" Perceiving the duckling for the first time, Mallory greeted and goodbyed, "Hi Duffle! Bye Duffle!" while on a swivel towards the pen gate. Their follower quacked as they made her stay behind, though waddled off elsewhere for until someone returned. Inside the tool shed, Mallory set the chairs around a table such that sunlight wouldn't blind either of them, hearty bowls largely of cooked vegetables - warm, still - waiting in the narrow place's center. Seeming to think it would be rude otherwise, Mallory let Navy take the first bite before tucking in.

The morning meal was... delicious: mushy, hot, potato-y, and it had been served to her. After only a chunk was eaten, Navy considered the face she'd been wearing, and eased it for her work-partner; it was friendly of her to bring all their food each day, and Navy had given back to that by being sour... Why wasn't Mallory eating? A piece of veg hung off her cutlery, the dog repetitiously tapping it on the rest of her food.

Eyes down, Mallory noted, "I've been bringing stuff like this, but I never asked what you wanted. We dry a lot of crops as reserve so if you want that then I can bring it. There's lots of kinds from different seasons and harvests, and we do it different ways, too. I can explain what there is and don't worry about what it costs - people really want some more 'n others - because I can get it no issue. Or we can stay here if you don't want dried food." She coughed into her elbow "So just let me know."

Navy did not respond. The Conley got nervous - had been nervous.

... Back straightened, a moment was taken to bolster herself, then speak in mustered confidence, "Mom and dad told me to leave you alone with the ducks then watch you after I got breakfast. I didn't tell you that, but I did it, so I want to very seriously apologize to you for... for that." What she rehearsed went on, "I shouldn't have lied, and them telling me to isn't an excuse. I'm very sorry; I don't like lying, and I hope you can forgive me so we can keep working together."

She added, "I saw what happened and you did a good job with them, by the way."

Then another, "And..." beaten down, almost formal demeanor plunging from her.

Atonement, or Mallory's attempt at it, was over. Holding constance and composure aloft, Mallory had put their conversation's weight on Navy and her reaction. The tiger was on her third day knowing this person, much of that time spent alone with her or with one or two farmhands. She talked, and smiled, and explained things in detail to whatever extent requested. And she lied. They'd worked together amicably, conversed idly just fine... but the girl she didn't know lied. And apologized.

... Navy couldn't stop herself replying, "... Even if it was y-your idea, I still wouldn't be mad about it. Keeping an eye on new people just... makes sense." the tiger gave a faux half-smile, acting prideful when she added, "Thanks for the compliment, it was, uh, real good work from me."

With a successful lightening of her, and the, mood, Mallory let out a cramped but real sigh of calmed tension, recognizing what Navy said with a close-to-gleeful look before moving on, "Yeah, they can be a handful. That can... Okay, what happened t' you was ridiculous, honestly. I'm not sure how you got through it without tumbling and a bunch of peck-marks." Unlike her confessing voice, that temperament let Mallory's Southern escape a bit more.

Oh; kind of on that note, Navy was curious about the demographics in...

Leave it alone. Let "this" simmer down and end. Let Mallory eat in peace, and Navy should do the same.

---

After the last of her meal was done, Mallory divulged out of nowhere, "I've helped lots of different ways and had... apprenticeship sort of things for mostly everyone who could stand a ten-year-old or a tweeny poking them with questions over and over all day. Uh, this - with the animals - was actually one of the last ones they let me do 'cause there's lots of lifting and moving and metal, then the animals are a handful... and not very clean. These guys are joys to be around, but they were right about that last part."

There was no follow-up. Navy was supposed to take the chit-chat and reply - on topic, ideally. "... Sure I, uh, like them fine enough."

...

Silence. Yay.

Or better yet, "So what'd you... do? I mean, there couldn't have always been someone that wanted a little kid around."

"Nope! Well, kind of 'nope'. My parents did whatever needed doing so I went along and learned stuff, and whoever it was couldn't complain 'cause we were more help than harm. If I couldn't go with them then I'd stick with someone else, or I was in school, or I was working alone if it came to that. But everyone's nice around me so I had plenty to do." The bulldog's mannerisms stuttered, losing focus as the naturalness of her disposition petered, revved a second later. "Eh... School classes were only me, Ledger, Ms. Tiller, and any babies we had to look after. Past that she gave me reading and tests and I was just kind of... there, off to the side while she taught the pre-school and kindergarten kids. Now I'm out! No more school. Ms. Tiller did a good job though, considerin'. You met her."

Since it sounded like they used pre-k through twelfth grade, that'd mean Ledger was... "How old is Ledger, then?"

"Twenty-nine. We took classes that were kind of similar because he's dumb." She mimicked with her fingers an annoying idiot flapping their gums, saying in an equally dense voice, "'Oh, but actually I graduated before you-' Yeah whatever. I'm still smarter."

Amusement found its way into Navy's tone. "Isn't he like... a psychologist? Psychiatrist?"

"Heard that one! He is in training. It's different, and every time we play board games I remind him of who got better grades. And don't play cards with him; he's a cheater. So's Mr. Lyle. They work together - that's how they do it."

"Ever caught them?" she doubted.

..."No. Ledger's head don't work good enough to win that often, and what else is Mr. Lyle staying up all night out here... doing..."

... With a cough, Mallory put them in another direction. "I, uh... Never mind. He lives with the animals to keep them safe... I shouldn't have joked about that." Under a couple seconds later, Mallory reached for Navy's bowl, wondering, "Done?"

Odd as it was, she nodded, allowing their dishes to be taken out front to the pump well, rinsed and scrubbed by bare hands fast enough that figuring what any of that meant could barely start, Navy left awkwardly in-between decided responses. And she returned. So fuck it. Pick a lane. Say anything.

"An-"

"Why don't-" Navy had cut her off. "M-my bad. You go."

Mallory shrugged neutrally. "Okay. I was gonna elaborate on what I said because it came off weird, I think. It's not a secret that Mr. Lyle stays here overnight, and it's not a that I have any special information on him, or that he's emotionally sensitive... or however you... might maybe have thought. Maybe. I don't know; I'm just saying I made more of a deal out of it than I should have." Navy had none of those thoughts, but was also unsure what she had thought. Regardless, the bulldog moved on, "What were you about to say?"

Why not. This was strange and she didn't know what else to do... suggesting, possibly, it was a bad idea or at least should be thought about more. "Nothing. Wasn't relevant."

"So? I made a mess of this already; can only go up." Leaned forward, fist on her chin, there was an appearance of genuine interest.

..."Why don't the ducks fly away? I mean... that's what wings are for."

Her knowledge came forth with no effort. "They don't because they can't. I don't know exactly how, but farmers a long time ago domesticated 'em to where their wings aren't strong enough to fly. They flap all the time and some could maybe glide if they were up high enough, but that's about it. No risk of runaways, lucky us. Or actually they have scampered out of their pen a couple times, 'cept they're short and stubby so it's not too much of a problem."

Interesting... And from that, the logical next question appeared. "Where'd you get domesticated birds. Did you... always have them?"

The answer appeared as quick as the last. It made her lean back, and go slightly dour. "Um... No, we didn't. I can... I can tell you how, if you want. It's really sad, though."

"... I don't mind."

Their ducks' story was retold without hesitance. "I think it was something like sixteen years ago, so I wasn't here for this - I mean I was, but only three years old, so... Anyway, when they were setting up here, a team went out scouting west into the desert and found a house with duck living on a nice screened porch with water and nests, but the man who took care of them had passed away. They don't think it was..." Malory resettled and continued. "They don't think it was suicide. Even if they didn't find anyone, it was probably murder. By the ducks were instructions and names for them, so they came back, and... now we take care of their family. Tupo was the last to go; she'd lived older than most ducks could, so we butchered her in January." Pointing to the town, she suggested, "But we've got drawings of them, if you want to see, later."

To reassure, Mallory explained with haste, "That's not our job - the animal killing. Mr. Lyle and the cooks do that, it's quick, not often, and we do it when their health is about to get bad. Even if we're having meat as part of dinner or whenever, eating it is optional. None of us explained that to you because... You get the gist."

...

A flurry of splashing wing-beats and quacks turned the two in that direction, Mallory rising as she declared upbeat, "Guess we're back to it!"

Tailing behind the rushing girl as she jogged to the gate, swung it open, then gained another much shorter and chirping follower while closing in on the raucous fools doing whatever mischief they were up to... the tiger found them endearing. The daughter ran because she wanted to.

It struck that not a single person in Ballinger was Mallory's age. The girl's fun strangeness, and the animals she cared for, made Navy smile. But not really.

---

Dash dash dash, 5, dash dot dash, K, dot dash dash dot, 1, dot dot dot, S, dot dash dash, W. 5K1SW. Tower five killed one southwest. Seven is the redundant tower assigned to respond. Dash dash dot dot, 7, dot dash, A. 7A. Seven acknowledged. Whoever mans that tower goes to five and gets further information. If dot dash, A, dot dot pause dot, C, flashes, then the situation is All Clear; Case wouldn't need to act. Alternate scenario: twenty-five seconds pass after 5K1SW with no signal from seven. Case is next. Dot dash dash dot, 1, dot dot dot dot dash, 4, dot dash A. 14A. Tower fourteen acknowledged. Case goes to five and gathers information. Assuming the initial code was accurate, one person outside the walls is dead, so Case retrieves leadership-

"Dull, isn't it?"

Ledger spoke to him, though kept fixed on their task out the window - the dog's comment matched himself, chair tilted to balance on only two legs while his one sole on the ground bobbed slowly and repeatedly, the other crossed ankle to knee.

Re-viewing the desert and its roads, Case dismissed, "Sure."

Chair reverberating the metal as it pounded to a normal stance, his chaperone stretched until a joint popped, grunting as it did... then, not a minute after settling, and one rap on his holster later, he said, "I get it; job's a job. It needs doing, so you'll do it. Don't even try to bullshit me on this not being boring. There's no way you're into this." Case didn't know if this was a serious or a joke. "You sit here, stare through a window, and nothing happens - for hours. Days. Weeks. Months. That is a flat plane of desert that nobody will ever walk towards us on. This post? Redundant. The most you're gonna do is cover an actually important post for ten minutes when someone needs a shit. That's your life, bro."

Time was almost up. Thankfully whatever he was doing hadn't started earlier, or Case wouldn't have restrained himself to, "Uh-huh." Few more days with... this guy.

... Maybe if they weren't on the verge of never speaking again, Case would find this too regrettable a choice. "So what is your job?"

And Case was right. The face given was his proof. It was drooped and drowsy, as usual... and uncomfortably proud. "I'm Cerise's next-in-line when she kicks the bucket. That bitch is old, so she picked me to inherit all that knowledge she's got. And I work storage maintenance kind o' gigs."

"Why you?" Case asked upfront.

Even prouder. Worse. "Got you to talk, didn't I? Plus I can be intimidating. If I want."

... As completely believable as that was, he'd learn, and work instead.

Trace split roads, sawn electric poles, foundations, then regular sweeps of the brush. Motionless of any kind he should take notice of, breeze on the short foliage, dust, and dead twigs was the only mild obscurant if anyone tried to approach - as what kept his view from being a still picture. The whistle of air and its battering on their tower was somewhat... enhancing, though.

...

If any signal were to flash, nearly irrelevant of which, dot dot dash dash (U, U-turn) is used between the initial sign and repetition of it, followed by dot dot dash dash dot dot, the equivalent of a period. If a sequence was done incorrectly, whoever made the error holds the light on for four seconds and repeats. If someone wants to convey two messages back to back, they put dot dash dot dash (a comma) before each. To interject without being designated to, the first fourteen seconds in the mandated gap of twenty from signal to assigned responder is used for each tower, first second for tower one, second for tower two, so on. To request a repeat, use dot pause dot dot dot, which is an ampersand. If two or more towers use the light at the same time, no one presses anything, and the fourteen-second order starts.

Downstairs, the tower was entered. Two pairs of footsteps ascended, Ledger undoing the hatch for their replacements as Case stayed on watch. Hane reached the top floor with a different man than last time, the wolf yielding his binoculars and seat to the commander, whoever he brought along taking the rifle and its ammo but not the ballistic vests, then asking, with a motion to the extra chair, "Bring that, would you."

Shift over, he left in short order with the other men, fifteen-minutes-to-shift-change sequence blinking in the corner. Again, the controller was right on time.

... On the first step descending, Case parted, "Have a good night."

He didn't react.

Case walked out.

By the road, he found the stranger had left, yet Ledger hadn't. Without nonsense or a smile, he spoke genuinely, "I'm trying to gift you some wisdom, alright? There're plenty of things that need to be done, and not enough people to do them; just ask me, or fuck it whoever, and they'll give you somethin' to do. You like it, it's part of your job now. If you're serious about wanting to do this still," his head shook like that was ridiculous, "then you've got every other day off anyway." Based on that, a deal formed. "... So, I show you around, you pick something, and eventually - definitely - realize how right I am. Then you're gone. This is a one-time offer, 'cause I'm not your babysitter."

...

Ledger shrugged and left. "Your loss, my friend."

---

The jug of sun-heated bathing water banged on Navy's leg. Reflected through it was the bed of dirt and sparse, natural floor-clutter surrounding her home, then on it dusk's light was snuffed from shining by a long, indomitable shadow.

Beside their house, Navy raised the heavy thing enough for it to drop and hit. The jug of sun-heated bathing water banged on Navy's leg. Reflected through it was the bed of...

She breathed, "huh huh" and rounded to the front.

So stiff a halt in her tracks was mitigated... fine, and either way Case, stood shaded on the leading stairs to his home, hands in pockets and gazing at nothing. He was extra tall because of his footing... It was better to speak then instead after he noticed Navy's whereabouts.

"Hi." The wolf's neck and pupils briefly tilted to acknowledge her. Little more. "... How was your day? Mine was alright." Supposed to wait until he asks that.

"Shift was quiet; Ledger's gone soon. So no complaints."

..."Are you doing something right now?"

"No. Why?"

On reflection it wasn't that weird. People did that. Kind of locked into explaining it, though. "You're just... standing there - which is fine. I was curious, I guess..."

Should she go past... or... invite him in...

... Case looked pensive. He disclosed, "Not doing anything right now. I was waiting for you."

Why? "... Oh."

"Had a stroll about town. Checked some places out. And I got you something." Implying she ought to come along, he went inside, Navy accompanying as hinted. Door left ajar, they went to the kitchen, what he picked up on the counter unintentionally body-blocked from her peaking. Giving the folded clothes, he elaborated as Navy set her bathing water aside, "When we met, your clothes weren't like ours. I'll take this back if you don't like the color or... anything else - I tried to pick what you'd want."

Navy pinched it by yarn-thin shoulder-straps and let its folds drop undone. The day-dress was long and white, pattern clad with big sunflowers petaled and saucer-y, its fabric's design plain and well-kempt, enough material for the dress part of it to flow and sway if moved - if worn.

"Can I...?" she motioned to the bathroom, and Case had no reason to impede.

Preventing a skip or bounce in her step, Navy shut in as soon as possible, laid her gift out somewhere clean - by the sink - and removed all but her underwear and... There was no zipper, so she... put it... on... head firsssssst...? That worked! It was on, and her arms through their right places - her bad arm could be unslung for a while it'd be okay. Now to see it, she stepped away from the mirror as far as possible but not to the wall, plenty space to adjust and correct her new clothes.

In what reflected at her, Navy saw a pretty dress with a tight-fitting yet not restrictive top, the straps of her bra visible under spaghetti bands holding it all on, wavy dress extending to the top half of her knees, a lack of pants odd yet comfortable as she tested moving in place, twists and twirls sending the material in whichever direction until it draped at rest again. Navy was giddy and was really reallyreally glad Case got this for her... a pleasant, sickening flutter pushed down so she didn't come out acting a total buffoon. What she didn't try to stifle was the toothy, full smile she had to show him.

Elbow in hand, she finessed the door open and - very important! - walked toward Case. To her subtly relieved gift-giver, Navy couldn't give a happier tone if she tried. "It fits good! What do you think?"

"Yeah, uh... It's good on you. Lighter colors match you better, I think..."

Saying "thank you" on its lonesome wouldn't be acceptable; to accompany it, she leant in, canted up to him... Unplaceable the origin, Navy sourced easily, perfectly, that Case needed specific effort to not back away from her peck on the cheek, to allow her to be close, and to have no movement nor expression as she did, indeed, say, "Thanks. I like it a lot."

He responded normally, "Got it for free, too. Lady at the storage place... can't remember her name, but she just let me take it."

..."Cool."

And Navy... remembered something. Offering it could be bad, or maybe he wouldn't care about those parts so much. So she'd let him choose. "I... have a gift for you, also. Spoiling the reveal, I suppose, it's... Back at the library in Marrietta, there was a book I thought you'd like, so I... stole it. Now works - to give it to you... even if I had to, uh, be reminded." Wrap up. "So do you... want me to get that?"

Her present, or at least the idea of it, was allowed. Flashing a grin, Navy quit to her bedroom to retrieve a backpack and the hardcover binding stuffed low and hidden, rejoining shortly after her absence. The blue book was given for his viewing, Navy feeling the urge to clarify what the hell she was on about... most of which could be explained through merely one piece of information now impossible to avoid. "What I think it is, 'cause I only had a short time to read, is it... It's is..." Fuck. "Is it is," simplify next time, "an autobiography and a recount of specific outings and a bunch of research notes from a marine biologist. There're illustrations done by the author, he's enthusiastic about fish and... water stuff - it looked interesting and... That's what I got you."

Reading its description on the inner cover, he was curious, "Why pick this for me?"

Unavoidable. "Well... I asked Red, and he told me you liked the ocean."

..."Surprised he gave a real answer."

He ruminated... She wanted to give him a chance to not accept it. But he closed the novel, their eyes connected, then Case made it final. "I'm glad you stole this. And thanks for keeping it so long."