Lissie fell once on the walk. She kept her arm from hitting the ground and fell on her face instead. She rolled over and said, “Aren’t you going to help me up?”
The man just stared at her. His hands twitched and curled into fists. His bulk was massive and loomed over her. His crystalline eyes stared into her, waiting.
He is only half again as tall as me. Perhaps he is only half a giant.
She rolled back onto her stomach and forced herself to her knees. Then to her feet.
He started walking again.
The crampons on her feet made it easier to move on the snow and much harder to move on the rock. She could not remove them with only one hand. She walked.
When she fell behind, he would stop. He cast furtive glances, and stared at the mountains while he waited. His body was mostly uncovered, with leather breeches, and his burly chest had no hair. He was bald, with a fluffy blonde beard, tinged with blue. Much like his skin. It changed colors as the sun set.
“We have to hurry,” he said.
Lissie took a deep breath and walked. She tried not to stumble up the slope. The crampons skittered on the rocks. “How much further?”
“It’s not far.” He sounded unsure.
“I need water. Food. I have some, in my pack, but I can’t get it out.”
He frowned at her. “I can get you water.” He walked to a snowbank and gathered a handful the size of Ruskin. She watched as he squeezed it tighter and tighter. It shrank to the size of his closed fists and he walked back. “Open your mouth.”
He moved the ice to one hand and closed his fingers around it.
Lissie looked up, and water dripped on her face. She opened her mouth.
He closed his fist.
Cool water poured out in a stream.
She felt refreshed, took a deep breath and walked.
It was not far.