We continued searching through what was left of the village and finding more corpses. Both GrrGrrr and the adult recite what I now believe to be a prayer. I try to do the same, but quickly stop, as I think it is not right to intrude on this ritual if I don't even understand what they are saying or if I am disrespecting their dead by saying it myself. However, GrrGrrr approaches me and accompanies me to recite the prayer, correcting me. Of course, the adult watches us, but anyway, I think it would be foolish to try to hide my already evident lack of mastery of their language. The best I can do is show that I am willing to learn, and as for the dead, I will do it with the utmost respect possible and hope they understand my situation.
GrrGrrr accompanies me whenever he can, but when he can't, I try to do it alone. To my great surprise, every time it ended like that, the adult would come up to me. I am still afraid that he wants to harm me, but it was only to correct me in the prayer; if I pronounced something wrong, he made me repeat it again. This confirms it for me, and it must be obvious that this ritual is important in their culture.
In the end, all we found was death, although the adult picked up some things and placed them in a kind of cloth he used as a bag. He started talking to GrrGrrr and pointed out our route when we entered the village; so, we retraced our steps. I suppose he wants to make sure we didn't overlook something, I don't blame him, to him we are just kids.
When we turn back, all I can think about is all this death; it's still hard for me to process it, not just the fact of this massacre itself, but that it's just the three of us left. What will we do? What do we have left? At least for my part, it will be to be with them and try to learn as much as I can; besides, I am worried about the adult. I know he is very injured; I occasionally see him staggering and taking breaks to catch his breath; I hope he doesn't die. I know we haven't had the best relationship or impression in this short time of knowing each other, but he has helped us, and besides, I see that GrrGrrr looks more lively. I don't blame him; he must feel more secure with an adult of his own kind.
This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.
In the end, we arrived at the nest or the place where the eggs were. I see the adult kneel in front of the body of mom or dad reptile and also look again at the destroyed and burned eggs. At first, he does nothing, not a sound; but suddenly he begins with a low, sad sound in his throat that gradually builds up until it ends in a roar, if I can call it that, since I have never in my life heard anything even remotely similar. It's like a combination of sadness and anger; it's the best description I can give. In the end, he just stays there kneeling and dejected. How can I blame him? His entire village was destroyed; GrrGrrr approaches him and begins, I suppose, to speak to him. He just nods and calls me; I also approach, and upon reaching us, he places a hand on each of our heads and says something that I wish I could understand, but I suppose we are all he has left, or at least that's the impression I get.
The adult, once satisfied with talking to us, sits down next to mom or dad reptile; they look very exhausted. He speaks to GrrGrrr again, it's not clear to me, but I think he wants him to look for something; because just like the first time, he goes out to search through the rubble. What will it be now? More jars than the ones we found at the beginning? I still don't understand his language at all, but I think the tone was different when he growled and whistled; then he looks at me again, I see him take a deep breath and pause there, I suppose he doesn't know how to explain to me what to look for.
