Equa picked up the salad on the tip of her spoon and touched it with her tongue. She put it carefully back on the table.
“No, it’s not mine. What do you say, “putty”? Well, yes, the waist will just cover up well. No mater, eat it, or just spread it on the sides with a spoon - the same speed will turn out,
Hendricks grunted and reached into the bottom drawer for a fresh head of garlic. Gracefull, pleased with her teasing, opened the cabinet in search of cinnamon and burnt sugar.
“Well, I’m not an aerial dancer, i can eat this. And show me at least one infantryman with a waist, Glidee! Whooshhhhhh!
Following equa’s laughing gaze, Hendricks got up and crashed headfirst into the sharp edge of the open closet door. It rattled violently, clattered its contents, but held on to its fastenings.
“I’m fine! I’m fine, i was recieve worse hits… Glide? Glidee?
The cinnamon jar fell from Gracefull’s fingers and rolled across the floor as equa backed away from Hendricks, shivering.
I’m sorry… Excuse me… Excuse me… I didn’t mean to hurt you. Honestly, I didn’t want to! Please, please, please, please forgive me! Please, dont… Don’t, I’ll be good, I’ll be obedient… Please…
Hendricks quickly and gently guided Gracefull to a chair and helped her to sit down. He squatted down in front of her and took her hands, concentrating. The force responded and flowed into equa, who had been alive and cheerful a few seconds ago, but now was numb with fear. Directing the flow of energy, the medic do his best to warm and calm Gracefull.
“Glide, listen. Listen to my voice and get out. Don’t fall, go into the light. Come into the light,
The pegasus continued to tremble and mutter unintelligibly, tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Gracefull, listen to me and breathe. Please, Glide, breathe. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale…
As he spoke, Mark slowly raised and lowered his hand, setting the pace. The pegasus watched his movements as if hypnotized.
Inha-ale. Exha-ale. Inha-ale. Exha-ale
Listening to Hendricks’ soft voice and watching his hand rise and fall, Gracefull gradually came out of her stupor. Soon, the pegasus pulled her hands out of the man’s hand, hid her face, and simply burst into tears.
“It’s all over, Glidee. Only friends are here. Friends don’t hurt or punish. It’s all over. He is dead, and he won’t hurt you or any other equa,
Hendricks stood up and very gently touched Glide’s hands, sending a warm mental message. Equa flinched, opened her face. She saw a man in front of her, looking at her with concern and pain. She felt the healing heat of his hands. She sobbed and hugged him.
Mark… Mark! Mark, don’t let them take me again! Don’t give me to him! Please! Beg you!
Hendricks hugged Gracefull to him, fighting to keep from growling in anger. The medic hoped, that the bastard who had tortured her so much, had died in agony burned in colloidal napalm, or catch a beam in the lung during the sweep of the caribou bivouac.
“I won’t let you get hurt, Glidee. To nobody. Never. I’ll die myself, but I won’t let you get hurt,
Gracefull said nothing, but clung desperately to the infantryman’s shoulders.