MIT's Arc

Chapter 1 of 2

MIT walked into the sandstorm with half a map in his fist. The wind tore at his trench coat, but he kept his boots pointed south. Somewhere past these dunes lay the oasis city no wanderer had ever come back from. He meant to reach it and claim it for his clan. His clan needed water. Water meant they lived. The torn map showed only the first stretch of the crossing. The rest had rotted away years ago. MIT knew where the path started, and that was enough for now. He pulled his scarf tighter over his mouth and pushed forward. Sand scoured his cheeks. His katana banged against his back with each step. He counted his strides to keep his mind steady. His canteen had run dry two hours ago. His tongue felt like leather. The wind dropped for a moment. Ahead, two rocks stood close together. Between them, a rusted sword pointed at the sky. Bones lay scattered at the base. A skull grinned up from the sand. Some wanderer had died here, sitting against the stone. MIT knelt beside the bones. He touched the sword hilt but left it in the rocks. Then he saw the canteen. It hung on a strap looped around the skeleton's shoulder. He worked it free and shook it. Something sloshed inside. He unscrewed the cap. Water. Warm and stale, but water. He drank three swallows and made himself stop. A dead man's water could carry him another day. "You should check the bottom before you trust that." The voice came from behind the rocks. MIT drew his knife and spun. A woman stepped into view. Metal plated her left arm and both legs. One eye glowed red in the storm-light. She raised her human hand, palm open. "Easy," she said. "I've been tracking that canteen for a day. You beat me to it." MIT kept the knife up. "Who are you?" "Ratchet." She nodded at the bones. "He drank the last clean water in twenty miles. The rest is poison from the worm nests. That canteen's the only safe drop out here." Her red eye fixed on the flask in his hand. "And you're holding it." MIT looked at the water, then at her metal legs. She could outwalk him. She could take it. But she hadn't. "You want half," he said. Ratchet grinned. "I want to know where you're headed with a torn map and a katana. Nobody crosses these dunes for fun." MIT lowered the knife an inch. He held out the canteen. She drank one swallow and handed it back. "The oasis city," he said. Her grin faded. "Then you'll die like him." She jerked her chin at the skull. "Unless you take someone who's seen the far dunes." She tapped her metal temple. "I've got the other half of that map up here." The storm howled. MIT held the canteen between them and made his choice.