True, he had ended its suffering quickly. But why did they
have to kill it at all? And what was the point, if this world was so
utterly wretched and cruel? Again the questions came much too easily.
The answers did not.
By the time Kalus finished skinning the carcass it was nearly dark.
They (or rather he) then decided to cook it there as well, rather than
risk the long climb in darkness. The girl halfheartedly suggested they
take it up through the shaft, but this too was impractical. They built
their fire near the back of the curving frontal chamber, concealing the
flames. Kalus made a crude spit from wood gathered earlier, and began
the long, slow process of cooking the meat in strands, that nothing
would be wasted.
*
After a time the smoke gathered above them at its height, trailing and
wisping across the vaulted ceiling to the entrance, forming pools, or
rising like an upward fall through the shaft. Sylviana lay emotionless
on the bed, and watched it flow out like a river of vapor. After what
seemed a long time she heard Kalus' voice calling her to eat.
'I'm not hungry,' she said. He came and sat beside her on the
bed.
'You must eat.' She looked at him. 'I know today was very hard
for you. I know you don't like to kill..... We will try to gather
berries and water plants tomorrow, but I cannot promise it.
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