“Do you know how suspicious you’re acting?” I wasn’t one for melodrama, but who hasn’t seen a dozen shows where an archaeologist on some isolated planet fixates on an alien species? And nine times out of ten in those shows, someone gets her brains eaten before the closing credits.
“It’s not what you’re thinking,” Jerith blurted out.
“How do you know what I’m thinking?”
His face blanched. Turning away from me, he hurriedly slid the parrot back into his pocket. The animal didn’t put up any fight at all. When he turned back to face me, Jerith kept his hand in that pocket.
“Look,” he said, “I know I’ve developed some quirks out here. Being alone... knowing there isn’t another human being within seven light years... I’m a little obsessed about the parrots, I know that. But they’ve been my only company... Caproche doesn’t have any other land animals, not really, you can’t make friends with insects... and the parrots are these sweet-natured, gentle little animals....”
“I was only going to pet it,” I said.
“I know, I just... I’m possessive, it’s wrong, I know, I’ll work on it. I have to get used to dealing with people again. To tell the truth, Lyra, I’ve never been good at dealing with people, certainly not beautiful women... damn, you’re defensive again, I’m sorry.” He closed his eyes in pain. “Look,” he said at last, “you can find your way back to camp, right?”
“Yes...”
“I really have to be alone for a while. To think. I’m sorry.” He took a few steps into the darkness, then turned back. “I know I’m odd,” he said, “but I’m harmless, you said so yourself. I won’t hurt you or embarrass you... oh, good-bye.”
He hurried away, around the Silk-covered wall and off into the night. I watched him till he disappeared behind a charred stockade fence.
Once again, I felt like shit. Maybe it was something in the Caproche air — I hadn’t done anything, I hadn’t said anything, and still I felt guilty. Angrily, I punched at a thick patch of Silk on the wall beside me. It exploded with a double-bass <SPLINK> that coated my hand with gunk. I bent to wipe off the goo on the ground and saw a small nose emerge from a hole under a stone.