Future Imperfect (K/S) Pt 3 of 13

[gilda_elise]

Title: Future Imperfect
Fandom: Star Trek (TOS)
Pairing: Kirk/Spock
Summary: In the ruins of one world, two men of different planets meet. One looks to the future, one to the past. But as their lives intertwine, they find that their happiness is dependent on the past one seeks and the future the other fights for.
Notes: Originally published by Kathy Resch as a stand-alone novel. Artwork by Lorraine Brevig and Virginia Sky.

Many thanks to artconserv and cluesby4 for allowing me to post their beautiful artwork here.






Chapter 3

Spock opened his eyes. The barest hint of light was beginning to filter past the curtains of his window. His time sense still not quite attuned to this planet, he glanced over at the clock on the night stand. It was five fifteen in the morning. He came up on his elbows. What had woken him? He listened, unable to ascertain the cause. Just as he was about to lie back down, he heard the sharp crack of something bouncing off the window pane.

He threw aside the covers and grabbed the robe draped across the foot of the bed. At the last second he snatched his cap from where it lay on the dresser and put it on. Pushing aside the curtain, he opened the window and leaned out.

“Mr. Spock! Hey, down here.”

The loud whisper emanated from the trees, where a lone figure stood within their shadow.

“Who is there?”

The figure stepped forward. Somehow, even though it had been two days since he’d last seen the man, Spock was not surprised to see that it was Kirk.

“What is it you wish?”

“It’s your day off, isn’t it?”

“Yes, why do you ask?”

Kirk looked from side to side, then stepped closer to the building. “Why don’t you get dressed and come down? I don’t want to wake everyone up.”

Logical, though Kirk hadn’t seemed to have any qualms waking him up. “I will be down momentarily.”

Spock quickly dressed, then walked over to the bathroom to wash up. He quietly took the steps downstairs, passing no one on his way through the foyer and outside. He closed the door behind him and turned to find Kirk standing on the porch steps.

“Hi.”

“Hello.”

Neither said anything after that. Kirk appeared slightly nervous, which Spock found oddly pleasing.

Finally, Kirk cleared his throat and spoke. “I was wondering if you’d like to spend the day getting a feel for the place.”

“I beg your pardon? Which place are you referring to, and what is it I am supposed to feel?”

Kirk grinned. “You’re odder than I remembered. I thought you might like to get out of town, see the rest of the area. There isn’t a lot to do around here, but there are some beautiful places to see.”

Spock thought about it. He supposed he could have Kirk take him to the miner’s camp. It would certainly be easier to find with someone who knew the area. “Very well.”

“Great.” Kirk turned and started to the back of the building.

“Where are we going?”

“To get the horses.”

Kirk didn’t break his step but continued around back to the area right outside Spock’s window. Tied to the trees were two horses, the black one Spock had first seen Kirk riding and another of a mottled gray.

Spock looked up at his window. “How did you know which was my room? I do not recall mentioning it the other night.”

“I didn’t know. I figured I’d just keep throwing rocks until I got a response.”

“Why did you not go in?”

Kirk grimaced. “It’s complicated.” He untied the horses and handed Spock the gray’s reins. “You can ride, can’t you?”

Spock took the reins and studied the animal a moment before wrapping strands of its black mane around his fingers and running his free hand down the soft almost white hair of its side. He’d watched how Kirk had controlled his own horse and felt that it was something he could duplicate. “I believe so.”

“Let’s go then.”

Kirk swung up on his own horse and waited rather impatiently for Spock to follow his lead. Spock placed a foot in the stirrup and gently swung his body up and over onto the horse’s back.

“His name is Orpheus,” Kirk remarked before turning his horse away from the building and onto the road. Spock copied the movement and the horse started forward at an easy trot.

Kirk kept looking back, as if afraid they were being followed. It wasn’t until they reached the outskirts of town that he finally slowed their pace to a walk. His entire demeanor changed, his body loosening as he slightly swayed in time to the rhythm of his horse.

“I’m sorry for waking you but I wanted to catch you before you left for wherever you might leave to. You didn’t have any plans, did you?” Kirk added with a worried expression.

“I had hoped to visit a mining camp situated to the west of town.”

“Ernie and Doug’s place?”

“You know of them?”

Kirk snorted. “Everyone knows about them. They’ve been working the same claim for over twenty years, still looking for the mother lode.”

“How do they survive?”

“The mine brings in some, and they also do odd jobs around town, though they end up drinking most of what they make.” He gave Spock a puzzled look. “Why in the world would you want to visit them?”

Spock took a breath. He had known that ultimately he would have to give an explanation for his prying; he only hoped Kirk accepted it.

“The past has long held a fascination for me. Wherever I go, I delve into any rumor that might shed light on the times we know so little about.”

“Are you talking about the Dark Time?”

“It is my main focus, but there are many areas of the past which are unknown to us. I find them all of interest.”

“So, what’s that got to do with Ernie and Doug?”

“They informed me that they often see lights to the north at night. I wished to verify that.”

Kirk threw his head back and started laughing.

“I do not understand what it is you find so amusing,” Spock responded, not quite able to hide his irritation.

It took a couple of minutes for Kirk’s laughter to die down, since at first every time he seemed to be about to stop he would look in Spock’s direction and start up again. Finally, wiping his eyes, he pressed his lips together and shook his head. “Spock, those two men are usually so drunk it’s a wonder they only see the lights at night. As far as I know, there aren’t any mysterious anythings around here and I’ve lived here all my life.”

“Nothing at all?”

“Nope, sorry.”

Spock quieted, pondering his choices. If there was nothing of any value here, logically his next step should be to move on to the next town. He could follow the English River to Kalona, a mere seven miles away or go more far afield, perhaps as far as Montezuma. The seventy mile journey to that city might take him several days but he stood a better chance of finding something there than in a place so very close to this one.

“Mr. Spock?”

Of course, that would put him quite a distance from his ship, further than he truly cared to be. Perhaps his best course would be to return to his ship and fly to the next area on his list.

“Mr. Spock?”

He did not relish the change in location so soon. He had managed to settle quite easily here, making contacts almost immediately among the populace. Would he be able to repeat that success somewhere else?

“Hey, Spock!”

Spock blinked, then turned to his companion. “Forgive me. I was....preoccupied.”

“Yeah, I noticed. But what I was going to say was, maybe my mother could help you out.”

“Your mother? Is she a historian?”

“Not by trade but certainly by training. When she was a little girl her grandfather used to tell her all sorts of stories about what when on back then. I think because the family’s been here so long, it became a tradition to pass on the information from generation to generation. And she’s learned a lot more from books.”

“You have books?”

“Sure do. My mother’s sort of the unofficial archivist for the area. Not that we get a lot of call for the books,” Kirk added somewhat ruefully. “A lot of people don’t know how to read, and those that do just want to forget about the past. I suppose I can’t blame them; it’s all most of us can do to just survive from day to day.”

“Much has been lost.”

“Yeah.” Kirk’s response was subdued but after only a few moments he seemed to mentally shake himself out of it. “So, what do you say we have my mother make us breakfast and then you can have a look at those books?”

Spock acquiesced with a nod, thinking once again at how fortunate he had been to meet up with Kirk. He had had little success gathering information in town. As Kirk had commented, most of its people were occupied with the day to day struggles of life. And there had been surprise mixed with their regret at not being able to help him. For most, his quest was a useless one, for what would he do with the knowledge? Yet, here was a man who had not only been intrigued rather than surprised by his search but who had then offered him aid.

Glancing over at his companion, Spock realized his idea of how unique Kirk was had just been reinforced. Granted, he did not know any human well, but of those he had met Kirk most certainly stood out. He had already known the man to be compassionate and, given his career, brave. Now he added an inquisitive mind and a generous nature.

As they traveled the dusty road, fields of green and gold on either side, Spock felt a sense of contentment settle over him. In the quiet of the early spring morning, it was as if it was the most natural of things to ride at this man’s side.

~~~~~

They left the main road to take the narrow lane that led them up to the Kirk farmhouse. Passing the structure by, the continued on to a large barn in the back where they left the horses in the hands of a man Kirk introduced as Lester. He was a big man, tall and well muscled, yet with a ready smile and handshake. He also appeared to possess a gentle nature as he took the animals’ leads and led them into the barn, all the while talking quietly to them. Kirk smiled after them, then with a tilt of his head led Spock back toward the house.

It was a fairly large, whitewashed wooden structure, old but well made. Flowers of every hue blossomed in the beds bordering the stone path that led to the porch, and on either side a large willow cast its shade over the house. On the porch that spanned the entire length of the house, a swing rested in front of a set of windows.

They entered, the screen door squeaking in welcome and Kirk headed directly to two glass-paned doors on his left.

“In here is the library,” Kirk announced as he pushed the doors open.

Spock followed him into the large room off the house’s entryway. Books lined the walls, though the room’s muted light made observation difficult.

“Let me get some light in here.”

Kirk pulled aside the thick drapes that covered the room’s two windows. Sunshine streamed in, giving a gloss to the large, low wooden table in the center of the room. Four heavy wing-backed chairs surrounded it, with two smaller tables between them for lamps. Nestled in front of each window were tables for two and more chairs.

Spock advanced toward the nearest bookcase. As he scanned the shelves his excitement grew. There were hundreds of books, on practically every subject imaginable. Surely, if there was an answer to his question it would be found here.

“This must have been the work of many generations.”

Kirk came up to his side. “Yes, it is. My family was always into collecting books but when the Dark Time came they started collecting as many as they could get their hands on. It’s gotten harder as the years have gone by. I’m lucky to find two or three on any given trip. And a lot of these are reprints; you can tell the difference by the quality of the paper.” Kirk scanned the shelves before pulling out a book and opening it up. “See? The paper in the reprints is pretty coarse compared to those done before.” He replaced the book. “You can borrow some if you’d like.”

Spock turned to him, his quest momentarily forgotten. “You would allow this?”

“Sure. That’s what they’re for. What good is all that knowledge if no one wants to read about it?”

Withdrawing one book in particular, Spock carefully opened it. The binding was in amazingly good condition for its age. “I would wish to read this one.”

“You can take more than one.” Kirk turned at the clattering issuing from within the house. “I think I hear my mother starting breakfast. I’ll go let her know we’re here while you look around some more. Whichever ones you want to take just leave on the coffee table. We can pick them up later before you leave for town.”

Kirk walked out and Spock returned to his perusal. He tried to keep the number of books he pulled aside to a reasonable number; after all, he would have to carry them on his return journey to town. It was difficult. He finally settled on twelve and placed them on the center table. As he did so, the chess set situated in the corner caught his eye.

He walked over and studied the board. Whoever had white would win in three moves. He picked up one of the finely crafted pieces. It was carved from wood and from its sheen Spock could tell it was quite old.

“Nice, aren’t they?”

Spock turned at the sound of Kirk’s voice. “A fine set. Ash and...? I am not familiar with the other wood type.”

Kirk nodded as he walked over to stand by Spock’s side. “American black cherry. The set’s been in the family for generations.” He eyed Spock. “Do you play?”

“Yes, my mother taught me when I was very young.”

“Great, as soon as my mother and I finish this game, maybe we can have a go at it. I’ll have her beat in three moves.”

Spock turned to him in pleasant surprise. He could well see losing to this one. He placed the piece back on the board.

“Come on,” Kirk nodded toward the door. “Breakfast is ready.”

They walked to the rear of the house and into the kitchen. A woman moved about the table, setting places and filling bowls from a large pot on the stove. She was small, even for a woman. Her dark blonde hair was shot with gray but other than that she seemed years younger than the age Spock calculated her to be. A strength of will radiated from the small frame, in very much the same way it did her son. She looked up at their entry and smiled.

“I hope you like oatmeal, Mr. Spock. Jim told me you’re a vegetarian.”

Spock took the chair Kirk had pointed out to him across from Kirk’s. “I’m sure I will find it more than acceptable, Mrs. Kirk.”

“Oh, none of that,” she responded as she placed a bowl in front of him. “You’ll make me feel ancient. My name’s Winona and that’s what I’d like you to call me.”

“Very well. Winona.”

“Mr. Spock’s already got about half the books set aside to read.” Kirk winked as he reached over his bowl for the basket sitting in between them. He grabbed a roll and handed it to Spock before taking one for himself. He pulled it apart and began buttering it. “Poor old Orpheus is going to have a hell of a time carrying him and the books.”

“If you feel it will be prob—”

“He’s only kidding, Mr. Spock.” Winona sent a scowl her son’s way. “Besides, Pete’s going into town right after dinner. I’m sure he’d be happy to take Mr. Spock back.”

“Pete works for us,” he noted to Spock before returning his attention to his mother. “What’s he going into town for?”

“Something about one of the wagons needing a new wheel. He plans on driving in tonight and staying over at the blacksmith’s; you know how well he and Charlie get along. He’ll come back tomorrow once it’s fixed.”

Kirk frowned as if disturbed by the information, but then just shook his head and looked at Spock. “Is that all right with you?”

Spock could see no reason why it wouldn’t be and said so.

That seemed to satisfy Kirk, who then focused on his meal.

It took Spock awhile to navigate the complications of the meal. Apparently, one was supposed to add from the small containers of fruit, sugar, nuts and cream to ones bowl. Eventually, he managed to create something to his liking.

“My son tells me you’re interested in history,” Winona inquired.

“Yes, I have spent many years acquiring as much knowledge as I could about the recent past.”

“How recent are you talking about?”

“He’s talking about the Dark Time,” Kirk interjected.

“Really?” Winona looked at Spock with added interest. “Perhaps we can trade stories later on. I’ve been interested in that time since I was a young girl.”

“I would be honored.”

“We could start this afternoon, say right after lunch?”

“Hey, wait a minute.” Kirk looked from his mother to Spock. “I brought him here to spend time with me.”

“Oh, he can spend time with you any ol’ time. Don’t you want to help Mr. Spock with his project? What kind of friend are you, anyway?” Winona asked, her tone teasing.

Kirk narrowed his eyes before finally snorting and returning the grin. “Okay, you win. But first I’m taking him around to see the farm—and I promise to have him back by lunch time.”

Spock listened to the discourse with interest. The realization that Kirk considered him a friend brought an unexpected warmth. And while he looked forward to discussing the planet’s history with Winona, he regretted the lost time with Kirk. But they would have all morning, he reminded himself. He looked at his friend and allowed himself to find pleasure in that thought.

~~~~~

As soon as they had finished breakfast, Spock was ushered out of the house by an impatient Kirk. They returned to the barn and collected the horses and soon were riding out among the fields and pastures of the Kirk farm.

“Is there anything in particular you’d like to see?” Kirk asked.

“I leave that to your discretion. It is your home; what is there about it that you feel would most exemplify the area?”

Kirk got a thoughtful look on his face. “There may be a place or two but first I think I’ll show you the orchards. This time of year, you can get a pretty accurate picture of what this area can produce.”

With that, he turned off from their path and led them west. Within minutes, fields of trees, all of them loaded down with fruit, came into view. They slowed their pace, until they were slowly riding through the low-hanging branches. Kirk reached up and pulled two pieces of fruit from off one of the trees. He handed one to Spock.

He recognized the fruit. “Persica, introduced to Persia by the Chinese along the Silk Road before Christian times.”

Kirk stared at him. “How did you know that? Why do you know that?”

“I read it. I find all history quite fascinating. Do you not?”

“Well, some, yes.” He shrugged. “I guess the history of peaches wasn’t something I gave much thought to.” He looked up into the trees’ canopies. “Another week or so, and I think these will all be about ready to pick.”

“This must be a huge undertaking. I do not see how it could possibly be done by so few men.”

“It’s not. The other farmers will help, just as we’ll help them when their crops are in. That’s why each farm only grows certain items; there’s no duplication, so most everyone else is free when a certain farm needs them.” Kirk led him out of the orchard and on to another. “These are apricot trees. Most of the fruit’s already been picked.”

“Is all the fruit sold locally?”

“Most of it, yes. What the other farmers don’t take as their share, we sell in town or it gets canned. A couple of times a month all the farmers get together and send what they can to Muscatine. What isn’t sold there is shipped to other towns along the river.”

“It sounds quite labor intensive.”

Kirk nodded. “That it is. It’s not all that profitable, though. If it weren’t for my salary, a lot of repairs wouldn’t get done around here.”

They rode through several more orchards, eating their peaches along the way. Strawberries, cantaloupe, blueberries, all had their own field and they stopped there while Kirk explained how each was gathered. Spock marveled at the abundance. He wondered what the area must have once produced, before the collapse had come.

Leaving the fields behind, Kirk turned south. In no hurry, they let the horses set the pace while Kirk spoke of their plans for the land, most of which remained fallow. Spock was pleasantly surprised when informed that much would remain that way.

“Even if there were more of us, because of the damage done around the old cities, we’ve had to leave areas untouched for the animals.”

“You spoke of killing them.” Spock hesitantly remarked.

“Only when we have to. The farm animals provide the meat we need. Why go through the trouble of tracking down the rest? Besides, ammunition is expensive.”

“Logical. And as chickens have a communal approach to the incubation of eggs and the raising of their young, also quite practical.”

Kirk gave him a look but said nothing. The day was warming so the stand of trees they approached would provide a welcome shade. The forest grew heavier until it opened up onto a small river.

“This is the English. It joins up with the Iowa just west of here. I can’t tell you how much time I spent here as a boy.”

“This is the same river where we met, is it not?”

Kirk smiled. “Yes, it is.”

“It is quite fascinating how each joins with the other, growing larger each time until they meet the ocean.” Spock gazed at the quickly flowing water. “It appears quite frigid.”

“It can be but it’s not too bad right now. What to take a swim?”

Spock gave the river another look and then shook his head. “I do not believe so.”

With a laugh, Kirk led them away, following the land to higher ground. “Come on, there’s one more thing I want to show you and then we’d better be heading back.”

As the ground continued its gentle rise, Spock noted the pebbly clay and abundant silt that comprised the dirt kicked up by the horses’ hooves. When asked about it, Kirk shrugged.

“The soil is good for growing, that’s all I know.”

“Much of this area appears to be dominated by loose material which consists of sediment originating from glacial events between two point five million and ten thousand years ago.”

Kirk turned and stared at him. “How do you know all this?”

“I told you, I have made a study of the past.”

“I know but that’s a little too past, isn’t it?” He shook his head. “Never mind, I think you’re really going to like this.”

They approached a ridge and slowed until they came to its edge. Beneath them, perhaps two miles away, the Kirk farm house sat within the expanse that spread out before them. It was both gratifying to look upon and impressive to behold.

“I’ve always loved this view. Whenever I’ve been away for too long, I try to make it up here as soon as I can.”

Spock turned and studied the man. Kirk’s hair blew in the gentle breeze and, though not smiling, he had a look of quiet contentment on his face. Kirk may have had a need to explore, but this place was most certainly his home.

They sat there for several minutes, and then Kirk turned his horse around and started down the slope toward the path home. Spock followed and fell in beside him.

~~~~~

“You were right.” Winona came up behind her son and put her arm around his waist.

Kirk brought his arm around her shoulders in return, finally pulling his attention away from the wagon that was slowly receding into the distance. When they had turned off the lane and onto the road that led back to town, Kirk had waved one last time. Against the light of the setting sun he’d seen Spock wave back. Now, they were little more than a speck against the horizon.

“What was I right about?” He looked out again but the wagon was gone, the trees and terrain finally taking Spock from his sight.

“Mr. Spock. He’s really something else, isn’t he?”

“Yes, he is.”

“I noticed you let him take some books. You know that’s normally not allowed.”

“I know, but I just found myself offering them. I know he’ll take care of them, though.”

“Okay,” she teased, “but don’t let it happen again. He doesn’t smile much, does he? Come to think of it, I don’t think I saw him smile once.”

“Really? I hadn’t noticed.” And he hadn’t. Actually, he could have sworn that Spock smiled quite a lot. He’d have to check the next time.

“Will he be coming back?”

“I don’t know. I hope so but it all depends on whether Spock decides he wants to or not.”

Winona regarded her son quizzically. “Why wouldn’t he?”

“I don’t know that he wouldn’t. It’s just that I don’t know if he’s an acquaintance or a friend or what. I finally asked him if I could call him by his first name and he said ‘Spock’ was just fine but that I could ‘forego the mister.’”

“That is a bit strange but what’s that got to do with whether or not he’d be willing to visit again?”

“I guess I wonder how he sees me. Does he consider me a friend or just some guy he keeps running into? Did he come out here out of gratitude or because he really wanted to?”

“And that bothers you.”

Kirk shrugged, unsure of what it was he was feeling.

“You like him, don’t you? A lot.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Only to me. I don’t think he knows.”

“No thanks to me. There were a couple of times today....”

“What did the two of you do?”

“Not much. Ride. Talk.” Kirk smiled. “I don’t think there’s a subject around that that man doesn’t know something about. And even though I’ve seen the places I took him to more times than I can count, seeing them with him was like seeing them for the first time. Everything was ‘fascinating.’ And you know what? Suddenly, it was.”

She pulled away so that she could search his face. Whatever she saw there, she apparently didn’t like. “Oh, Jim, I hope you don’t end up getting hurt.”

“We’re just friends, Mom.”

She settled back against his side. “No, you’re not. I thought I saw something at dinner, the way you seemed to light up every time he said something or looked your way. I’d hoped I was wrong.”

“Why? I thought you liked him.”

“I do. He seems to be a fine, upstanding gentleman. But he’s only passing through, Jim. It’s not like he’s planning on settling down here.”

“You could say the same thing about me. In two months I’ll be gone again. No,” he gave her a squeeze, “there’s no reason for you to worry. Sure, I like the guy. Okay, I like him a lot,” he added when he felt her poke him in the side. “But I’ve liked people before. It doesn’t mean anything.”

“I wish I could believe you,” she said with a sigh. “Things would have been a lot easier if you’d just stayed in love with Merilyn.”

That made him laugh. His mother hadn’t cared for the woman when they’d been seeing each other. ‘Pushy’ is the word he seemed to remember her using. He’d never had the nerve to tell her that he saw a lot of similarities between the two women. “I never thought I’d hear you say that. Anyway, I’m not in love with Spock. It’s just an...an attraction. A very intense one but, still, only an attraction.”

“I hope so,” she responded as she gave him a hug and then pulled out of his arms. “I think I’ll make a cup of cocoa and then go to bed. You want some?”

He shook his head then leaned over for her kiss goodnight.

“Don’t forget to close up.”

“I won’t.”

She went in and he heard her close the door behind her. Taking a seat on the porch swing, he let his mind wander as he watched the sky darken and the stars come out. He’d always loved this part of the day. It was better on the ship, especially when they were in a wide stretch of the river where land was far away and the sky above you was all you could see.

But tonight the stars didn’t seem to be able to work their magic on him. Instead, he found himself thinking of Spock. He let his head fall back and he closed his eyes. Damn, he had it bad.

But it was just an attraction, wasn’t it? He hardly knew the man. They’d met, what, three times now? Still, there was something about Spock that seemed to call to something inside of him. There was a connection between them that had sparked at their first meeting and grew stronger with each subsequent encounter.

Maybe his mother was right. Maybe he was in over his head and it would be better to pull back, stop this before things got any more complicated. As it was, Spock made him feel out of control and if there was one thing Kirk didn’t like, it was being out of control.

He blew out his breath and then got up and went inside. He decided to take a bath, knowing there was still plenty of firewood in the bathhouse. As the water heated, he stared into the fire, playing different scenarios in his head, hoping to figure out which one he should follow. A little while later, lying in bed and staring up at the ceiling, he still didn’t know. And when sleep did come there was Spock, waiting for him.

~~~~~

Spock watched the stars slowly appear, one after the other until there was a full blaze of them crossing the sky. The wagon rolled beneath him, the sway of it oddly relaxing. Next to him, Pete loosely held the reins as he guided the horses down the road into town.

“Jim says you’re new to the area,” Pete remarked.

“That is correct.”

“Don’t get many new people. We’re sort of out of the way. Why did you decide on coming here?”

“I was looking for employment. Riverside was merely the next town along the way.”

“Not much of a town, is it?”

“It is adequate for my needs.”

“Believe it or not, it used to be smaller. We’ve grown a little in the last ten years or so. There’s even talk of getting some sort of coach line going between here and the Mississippi. ‘Course, they’d have to do something about the roads first.”

“There does seem to be a general lack of maintenance through the entire area.”

“We do what we can, but, you know, it seems every time we make any headway, bang, something comes along and knocks us right off our feet. Either there’s not enough rain, or there’s too much and we almost get washed away, there’s a plague of insects or a plague of another kind.” Pete shrugged. “Life’s hard. There’s just no two ways about that.”

Spock recalled Kirk’s words about his people and the effort they extended merely to survive. “It has not always been thus.”

“You mean before the Dark Time? Maybe. You hear all sorts of things, about how wonderful it was. Me, I’d rather not know.”

“Why not?”

“Because all it would do is make it worse, thinking about how it was and how it is now. No, some things are better left alone.” He eyed Spock. “You don’t agree, do you?”

“I—”

“Oh, don’t worry. Jim’s the same way. Just like his ma, always wanting to know why. Won’t bring nothing but trouble.” The old man peered ahead. “It looks like we’re nearing town. Where do I drop you?”

“At the Morning Star Cafe.”

“You renting a room from Miss Merilyn?” He let out a cackle. “World sure is small, ain’t it?”

“I do not understand.”

He waved his hand as if brushing aside his words. “Ain’t nothing.”

A few minutes later, Spock was descending from the wagon, the cafe dark except for a small light shining in the front window.

“I better wait and make sure she lets in you,” Pete commented as he climbed down, then let out a cry of pain.

“Are you all right?” Spock asked, returning to stand next to the old man.

“It’s just my back. It goes out every now and then.”

Pete stood slightly bent over, one hand kneading at the base of his spine, a look of distress on his face.

“Perhaps I can be of assistance.”

Spock placed his hands on the man’s back and used his thumbs to gently manipulate the spinal discs. He applied pressure to deaden nerves and alleviate the pain. After a few moments, Pete hesitantly straightened up.

“Hey, the pain’s gone. What’d you do?”

“You appear to have a nerve impingement. By applying pressure I was able to temporarily relieve the pain.”

“You sure did. Thanks, thanks a lot, Mr. Spock.”

Spock merely nodded, then made his way up the path to the door. After trying the knob and finding it unlocked, he turned and waved.

Pete scrambled back up onto the wagon and after returning Spock’s wave, started the wagon on its way.

Spock let himself in, contemplating the old man. It was most unfortunate that age was beginning to take its full toll on him. Here, there would not be the surgeries that would have extended his life, allowing him many more years of activity, one more thing that these people had lost.

He suddenly envisioned Kirk thirty or forty years in the future, his body breaking down, pain his constant companion. It was an unsettling thought.

~~~~~

Kirk was never far from Spock’s mind, not that night or the days that followed. He often found his thoughts returning to his time with his friend at the oddest moments—while waiting for Eladio to hand him a customer’s order, while playing the piano as people danced behind him, but especially when he had the time to sit and read one of the books he had borrowed from Kirk.

He had managed to read almost all of the dozen he had taken. Before him was the latest and last of them. He hoped to finish it before he returned to his work. The light from the candles flickering on a few of the table tops was just enough to read by. Sevilla said it gave ‘atmosphere,’ but Spock wondered if perhaps it came down to economics. The fewer candles used, the fewer that needed to be bought.

Sevilla’s was quiet. The few customers who had come in for lunch had gone; there would be a lull of a couple of hours when few would find their way here again. In the back, he could hear Sevilla and Eladio speaking in quiet tones, one or the other’s soft laughter breaking through from time to time. Spock had finished getting things ready for the evening and was now on what Sevilla insisted on calling Spock’s ‘lunch hour,’ though rarely did it last only an hour. There was often nothing to do, and he frequently wondered why the man insisted on paying him as much as he did.

Spock finished a chapter then closed the book for a moment, thinking about what he had just read. He’d learned much about specific instances that had led to this planet’s ‘Dark Time,’ but nothing on the subject most on his mind. Tomorrow was his day off and he planned to make his way out to the Kirk farm in the morning in order to return these books and acquire others.

He hoped Kirk would be there and that there would be time for them to speak at length. Their conversations during Spock’s visit had been most pleasurable. Intelligent, and not afraid to disagree, Kirk had proved a worthy match. Spock had known that he enjoyed the human’s company; what he had not realized was how much. Or how much he would miss it.

He had tried to push the man out of his thoughts and focus on his mission, taking time as often as he could to speak to the people of the town, hoping to dredge up the least bit of information. So far, without any success. He had even paid a visit to the Potters’.

That had been an experience. Though they had had little information regarding the planet’s past, they certainly had a great deal regarding the history of this particular area. Spock had passed a fascinating afternoon listening to the two brothers try to outdo each other in odd but, Spock was unsure of this, true tales. Almost as interesting had been his tour of their mine and the small area they had set aside in order to sell some of their finds.

But even that had not kept his mind from Kirk for very long. He had found himself looking for Kirk every night, thinking that his friend might show up again. But he never did. Spock had begun to wonder if Kirk felt that he had done his good deed and now saw no reason to contact him again.

With a mental shake, Spock returned to his book. Nothing could be gained by conjecture; either he would see Kirk again or he would not. He focused on the words before him, blocking out any distractions. He turned the page. Engrossed in his reading, he did not notice Sevilla until the man placed a plate on the table and took a seat across from him.

“You do not eat enough, my friend.”

Spock reluctantly closed the book. He pulled the plate towards himself and, picking up the fork that had also been provided, began to eat. He couldn’t very well tell Sevilla that Vulcans did not require as much sustenance as humans. And now that he thought about it, he was hungry.

Sevilla picked up the book. “Huh. What’s a cadillac?” (1)

“I am not sure.”

“What’s it about?” he asked as he skimmed through the pages.

“It is the history of water development in your nation’s former southwestern area.”

Giving him an odd look, Sevilla placed the book back on the table. “Not the most uplifting of reading.”

“No, but it has been quite illuminating.”

“I can well imagine.” The man seemed to hesitate before continuing. “My family was from that area but we left before it got, well, as bad as it got.”

Spock put down his fork, his food forgotten. “If you would not mind, I would appreciate hearing about their experience.”

“There isn’t much to tell. The drought had lasted for over a decade and they were talking about water rationing. The farmers were up in arms because they felt the cities were taking too big a share of the water and not leaving enough for them to grow their crops. My family had a small place and they knew, the way things were going, that they wouldn’t survive. So they sold the place and made their way out here.” He stopped for a moment, seemingly lost in his memories. “I remember my granddad talking about the old place. He’d never been there, but he’d been told that it was really quite beautiful, wild and open, a place where a man could either find himself or lose himself.”

“Have you never thought to go back?”

“Never,” Sevilla responded. “For one thing, the Plains are too dangerous to cross. There’s not much water there and the weather can turn violent at an instant’s notice. Hardly anyone lives there anymore as far as I know. As for my family’s old place, it is a very long way away, too far to see a place that was never home to me to begin with.”

The concept was an alien one to Spock. On Vulcan, clans had held the same land for millennia. The idea of abandoning one’s place is not one which would have occurred to a Vulcan. But then, Vulcans had never destroyed the very place that sheltered them.

He was about to ask where Sevilla had acquired his information concerning ‘the Plains’ when he heard the front door open behind him. So much for a quiet time to read.

“I thought you had deserted us,” Sevilla scolded the newcomer.

“Now, would I do that?”

Spock turned at the words. It was Kirk, standing just inside the doorway. He smiled at Spock and moved toward the table, though somewhat tentatively, as if he thought he might not be welcomed.

“Do you have a minute, Spock? There’s something I’d like to talk to you about.”

Sevilla stood up. “That’s my cue to get back to work. Eladio should be back from picking up more flour and I want him to start on the rice. I’ll see you later, James,” he added as he retired to the kitchen.

Kirk watched him leave, then took the vacant chair. He glanced over at Spock’s lunch. “You going to eat that?”

Spock pushed the half-filled plate over to Kirk, who began eating with relish.

“Thanks, I haven’t had anything since daybreak.”

“You have been busy.”

Kirk snorted. “You might say. I was out helping Lester with some repairs the barn needed and the time sort of got away from me.” He looked up at Spock. “I’m sorry I haven’t been in to see you before, but if it hasn’t been one thing, it’s been another. That’s why I didn’t stop to eat before coming to town. I didn’t want to wait another day to speak to you.”

“To speak to me about what?”

“Do you like working here?”

His confusion must have shown on his face because Kirk hurried to explain.

“No, really, do you like working here? Enough that you wouldn’t take another job if it was offered. Because if you would, take another job I mean, I’ve got one you might be interested in.”

Spock weighed his response. “I appreciate that Gilbert had seen fit to hire me, especially since none other seemed willing. He has been both considerate and generous to me. But I was, and am, looking for something that would allow me more free time. What is this job that you speak of?”

“I, uh, thought maybe you could work on the farm. The pay probably wouldn’t be as much but you wouldn’t have to worry about room and board. Plus, you’d be right there with all those books. And I promise I’d make sure you had enough time for your project.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why me? Why now? You were aware that I was in need of employment when we first met. What has changed between then and now?”

“For one thing, I need an extra man to help escort a load of supplies from Ottumwa. As bad as that road’s gotten, I don’t like sending an old man and a kid out all by themselves. And for another,” Kirk wet his lips, “I think we could work well together, don’t you?”

“Upon what do you base this thought?”

“Beats the hell out of me. It’s like I said the day we met, for some reason I feel I can trust you. That hasn’t changed.” Kirk leaned forward, a look on his face Spock could only qualify as eager. “So, what do you say?”

Even if it was something he didn’t wish to do, Spock didn’t think he could have ever denied Kirk this. “I agree to your proposition. However, I do not wish to leave Gilbert without enough assistance tonight, as it is without fail his busiest night of the week.”

“Why don’t you go tell him what’s going on? If he asks you to stay through tonight, we can always leave in the morning. If he doesn’t, we can get your things now and be on our way.”

It was a sensible suggestion, yet Spock found himself rather reluctant to give the news to his erstwhile employer. He had grown to appreciate the man’s caring spirit and ready wit and knew that he would miss Sevilla.

Still, however painful, it needed to be done. He entered the kitchen, prepared for a certain unpleasantness. What he was not prepared for was Sevilla's concern at losing Spock as a friend, rather than any enmity over losing an employee.

“Are you sure you wish to do this? If it’s the pay—”

“No, Gilbert, you have been more than generous. I simply need somewhere where I can work on other things.”

“Ah, yes, your obsession with the past.” Sevilla shook his head in resignation. “I don’t understand it, and I fear it will only lead to sorrow, but I suppose if that is what you wish, so be it. But you will be missed, my friend.”

“Will you say goodbye to Eladio for me?”

“Of course, though he should have been back from the store by now. I should have known he’d stay to talk with his sweetheart.”

“I can stay for the evening if you wish.”

“No, no,” Sevilla shooed him toward the door. “Why pay for another night at Miss Talbot’s? You go along, Spock. We’ll be fine. You will come to see us from time to time, won’t you?”

“When I can.” Spock almost lifted his hand to say farewell the Vulcan way but caught himself in time. The man would not understand. Instead, he took his leave in the Terran way, returning to Kirk’s side so that the two of them left together.

It took but minutes to drive over to the Morning Star. Kirk slowed and then pulled the wagon to a stop right out front. Spock got down from the wagon. He was surprised when Kirk did not follow him.

“I’ll wait here,” Kirk responded at Spock’s puzzled look.

“Very well. I will bring the books down first, then retrieve my clothes and other items. And as I paid for an entire week two days ago, I will need to collect a refund from Miss Talbot before I leave.”

Kirk grimaced. “Is that really necessary? I mean, you can always get it from her later.”

“I am here now.”

“I know but she’s probably busy getting ready for dinner.”

“Jim, that is hours away.” His eyes narrowed. “What is it you fear?”

“Nothing, it’s just that....hell, it’s complicated.”

“Yes, you have mentioned that before.”

Kirk was practically glaring at him. Suddenly, he firmed his jaw and then jumped down from the wagon. “Fine, we’ll do it now.”

“You do not have to go in.”

“Yes, I do,” Kirk threw back at him as he strode up the walkway. “Come on, let’s get your things and get the hell out of here.”

Spock caught up with his friend at the entry and opened the door. Kirk threw him a rather ill-tempered look as he walked through. Inside, the front room was empty but Spock could hear noises issuing from the kitchen.

Kirk immediately took a left to the stairs, bounding up them two at time. At Spock’s room, he gave him an impatient gesture as Spock worked to open the door. Once inside, Kirk closed it behind them with an actual sigh of relief.

“We just might luck out.” He looked at Spock. “Well, come on, pack.”

Realizing that Kirk was serious about leaving as quickly as they could, Spock swiftly gathered his belongings, throwing them unceremoniously into his bag which he then handed to Kirk. The books were already in a box. Placing the one he had been carrying on top, Spock picked up the box and signaled Kirk to open the door.

They hurried down the stairs, Kirk in front. Once more at the front door, Kirk had opened it for Spock to go through first when they heard Kirk’s name called.

“Jim, I never thought to see you here again.”

Kirk glanced at Spock before putting Spock’s bag down and walking over to Merilyn. She stood near the kitchen door, her hair pulled up and pinned on top of her head, with a closed look, along with flour, on her face.

“Hello, Merilyn.” Kirk hesitantly leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek.

“I wish I had known you were planning on coming into town. I would have made sure to be ready for you.” She brought her hand up to push back the loose strands of hair. “I must look a mess.”

Her words were spoken calmly but there was no missing the underlying tension in her voice.

Kirk looked down, his lips pressed together. When he brought his head back up it was to look toward Spock. “Would you excuse us, Spock? There’s some things I need to speak to Merilyn about. In private.”

“Of course. I will wait in the wagon.”

He managed to get the door closed without dropping the books. Returning to the street, he placed the box in the bed of the wagon and then climbed up onto the seat, prepared to wait for as long as it took. He was taken aback when less than five minutes later he heard the door open and Kirk walk out.

Spock had managed to learn many of the signals humans gave off that said more than any words could. Right now, Kirk was communicating quite loudly that he wished to be left alone, his movements rigid as he threw Spock’s bag in the back and then scrambled up and grabbed the reins.

Spock was more than willing to do so as, with a sharp snap, Kirk got the horses moving. Spock assumed that Kirk and Miss Talbot’s parting had not been a pleasant one and no one knew better than Spock the detrimental affect the breaking of bonds between two people could be. Humans were not telepathic; they did not bond in the Vulcan way. Yet he knew from his mother’s situation that they did indeed ‘bond,’ and that they felt pain, just as Vulcans did, when that bond was broken, whether they wished the breaking or not.

He remembered the searing agony of his own sundering from T’Pring. He had walked through a haze of pain, barely managing to do his duties once back aboard his ship, yet unwilling to allow any to see that pain. The torn and bleeding ends of the bond had threatened to overwhelm his controls, yet somehow he had managed and eventually the pain had receded.

None had been concerned with his welfare; most had gone out of their way to avoid him. Only now did he realize that carrying the burden alone had somehow made it even worse. What he would have given to have had one such as Kirk there, if only in silent support. He looked over at his friend only to find him looking back.

“I told you it was complicated,” Kirk said, a small smile on his face.

“You need not explain it to me.”

“What if I want to?”

“Then I am here to listen.”

Kirk returned his gaze to the road ahead. “I’ve known Merilyn all my life. We went to school together, played together.” He snorted. “You’ve seen Riverside. It would have been almost impossible not to know each other. I liked her, a lot, and she liked me. Then, when I was about twelve, her parents died and she went to live with her aunt in Muscatine and I didn’t see Merilyn for almost eight years.”

“That must have been difficult, for both of you.”

“I suppose. Then her aunt died, oh, about seven years ago and Merilyn moved back, bought a house in town and turned it into a boarding house and cafe. She’s worked hard at it.” He chuckled. “She’s worked hard at me, too, but she seems to have failed miserably there.”

“Are you not friends?”

Kirk thought for a moment. “I suppose, but ‘friends’ isn’t what Merilyn wants from me. Unfortunately, I’ve since found out that that’s all I’ll ever want from her. We tried to make a go of things when she first got back. And for awhile, it seemed to work. But she’d changed. And I was spending more and more time away.”

Spock could not but wonder at how similar their situations had been. “So you believe that your profession is what destroyed your chance of a relationship with her?”

“Maybe.” Kirk shook his head and chuckled. “Who am I kidding? No, it wouldn’t have mattered if I had stayed and been a farmer or gone to live in town and helped her run the Morning Star. It never would have worked between us.”

“There is something I do not understand. Perhaps it is not my place to ask and, if so, please do not fear to tell me so. But I am curious.”

“About what?”

“Why you would not tell her this? Why were you avoiding her? Would it not have been kinder to have explained this to her, rather than leave her to think that there was hope?”

“Spock, she already knew. She just doesn’t want to accept it. But you know what?” He gave Spock a smile of relief. “I think she does now.”

~~~~~

The house was dim against the backdrop of evening by the time they pulled onto the path leading to the farm. A faint light could be seen shining forth from the library window, but the rest of the place was dark. The two horses appeared to know they were close to home, for they hastened their steps as Kirk drove the wagon up the pathway and toward the barn.

Leaving the animals in the hands of the young man Kirk introduced as Elijah, he grabbed Spock’s bag and headed for the house, Spock following behind with the box of books. Once inside, Kirk lit the small lantern that sat on the table pushed against the entry wall and waited while Spock returned the books to the library. Spock was surprised when, at his return, Kirk began climbing the stairs, Spock’s bag in hand.

“Where are you going?”

Kirk stopped and turned, clearly puzzled. “I’m taking you to your room. Where else would I be going?”

“I am to live in the house?”

“Of course,” Kirk responded, as if stating the obvious and started up the stairs again. “Come on, let’s get you settled.”

Spock followed his friend. They took a left at the top of the stairs and Kirk led him to the door against the far wall.

“This will be your room,” Kirk pronounced as he opened the door. He put the lantern down on the dresser and lit the one already there before walking over to the opened windows and pulling the drapes closed. “So, what do you think?” he asked as he turned around to address Spock.

It was a small room, similarly situated to the one at the Morning Star. A bed, a dresser, a wardrobe but with the added benefit of a writing table tucked into the corner, with a small flower-filled vase perched atop it. “The room is more than adequate and far more than I expected. I assumed I would be living with the workers. You mentioned a workers’ quarters during my prior visit.”

“Wouldn’t you prefer living here?”

“I was not under the impression that a worker’s preference was considered.”

“No, not normally.” Kirk rubbed the bridge of his nose, clearly stymied. “Listen, we’re friends, right?”

“That is correct,” Spock answered, rather uneasily, unsure of where this was leading.

“There you go. What kind of friend would I be if I made you live in the workers’ quarters?”

“But, Jim—”

“Well, now that we have that settled, I better leave you to unpack.” Kirk grabbed his lantern and started for the door, stopping only after he had almost pulled it closed behind him. “We’ll be leaving bright and early in the morning. It’s going to take two full days to get to Ottumwa and a bit longer getting back so you’ll need to be good and rested.”

“Yes, but—”

“Water closet’s across the way, there are clean towels and soap but there won’t be any hot water for a bath until the morning. Breakfast is at six. I’ll see you then.”

With that, he closed the door and was gone.

Spock felt as if he’d been in a sand fire. Just as those storms did, Kirk advanced at a high speed and blinded all in his path. There was no lightning but no one could say that his friend did not possess great energy. Yet, as he found himself unpacking, he realized that he didn’t mind it at all. Somehow, Kirk made the experience a pleasant one. Perhaps a better analogy would be to the storms of Earth, which also brought life-giving rain.

He crossed the hallway to wash up, taking his sleep wear with him. He wasn’t sure how the room’s plumbing mechanisms worked; it was apparent that its original workings were long gone and that what was left was at a fairly primitive level, so he undressed and sufficed himself with the pitcher of cold water placed there.

Later, back in his room, beneath the warming comforter, he gave one last thought to Kirk and the friendship he was beginning to cherish, before allowing sleep to claim him.



onto Chapter 4