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SUMMER
“There’s no magic here,” I said. “Where did it come from?” I felt like I’d found a gleaming pearl in the hot sand, and I needed to grab onto it before it was stolen.
“The dome is controlled by computers. It can create whatever setting is needed by the Universal Council.”
“Our friends didn’t compete in the same setting?”
“I doubt this. I assume their settings were different.”
Imagine trying to make this body of water disappear!
All I wanted was to jump into the water and drink until my belly sloshed with at least a gallon of water. Then Adone and I had a date night planned.
I snickered. Funny how I could be starving, exhausted, dehydrated, and a limp wreck one moment, then perk up at the thought of being with him.
The sun slid down below the horizon, and we were left alone in darkness. A few lights winked from the trees, enough to guide us.
“Do we need to worry about the scorpions?” I asked, cringing with each step I took across the open area leading to the oasis.
“Rest periods are uninterrupted. But tomorrow morning at sunrise, we will receive our next assignment. The Game will continue from there.”
I wondered what they’d ask us to do next. “We’ll remain in the desert?”
“That is my belief. They rarely change settings mid-Game.”
We reached the outskirts of the oasis, and I stopped, sighing as I took in the wonder.
The crystal-clear pool dominated the grotto, and even from here, I could see the sandy bottom. I was delighted to note nothing predatory swam in the water. Tall blue trees with broad leaves dotted the sand around the pool and twinkling lights peppered the branches. They blinked on and off randomly, and I wondered if I was seeing insects rather than real lights. It made sense, as I doubted there was electricity here.
A table had been set beneath the thickest cluster of trees, and the scent in the air told me it held food.
“Do you think we can drink the water?” I asked, breaking into a jog. Stripping my clothing off and sinking into a pool was a priority, but not until I’d eaten and drank something.
“There are pitchers on the table,” he said, sounding as eager as me. “I cannot wait.”
We hit the oasis at a dead run and raced around the edge of the pool, laughing. Reaching the table, we each grabbed a jug. I didn’t bother with the cup sitting next to it. I tipped it toward my lips and sighed as cool water splashed into my mouth. Swallowing over and over, I didn’t stop drinking until I’d drained the entire pitcher. I dropped it on the table and burped.
To my amazement, the pitcher filled again, but by then, I’d moved on for now. I grabbed a long loaf of crusty bread as blue as our surroundings and speckled with whole grains and took a big bite. I moaned as I chewed, muttering about how wonderful it tasted. After a few bites, I attacked the platter of sliced cheese and fruit, stuffing handfuls into my mouth.
Adone did the same, finishing off his pitcher and devouring the food.
We kept at it until we’d eaten our fill and just like the water pitcher, as soon as we’d finished something, it was replaced.
“It’s not magic,” I said again.
“No such thing,” Adone said around a big bite of blue cake. “This is generated by the computer.”
“It feels real.”
“Because it is.”
I shook my head, unable to understand how this worked, but willing to suspend my disbelief long enough to enjoy it.
Huffing, I nibbled on a stalk of what looked like blue celery, dipping it into the oddest blue dip I’d ever tasted. The unique flavors of everything exploded on my tongue, but my voracious appetite was sated for now. My chewing slowed.
“It’s not going to disappear if I step away, is it?” I asked, grabbing the pitcher and hugging it. Could I take it with me when we left this place in the morning?
“Not for tonight. We must eat and drink until we cannot hold more, because we do not know when we will have food or water again.”
