Clara

“Mr? Are you asleep there? Whatcha doing in a heap of metal, lookie you even cut yourself, that don’t work too good for you do it.”

The girl clattered around the trash heap on all fours, Eugo saw that she was doing her best not to trap him even further into the metal shards. He didn’t exactly remember how he found himself in this mess, but at the same time Eugo also didn’t care.

Having a closer look at Fiz it was hard to measure her age, her face was caked in more soot than Eugo had ever seen on a Scorcher. Her eyes would have been invisible, did the two brown pearls not shine in Eugo’s eyes.

Sporting a pair of tattered overalls Eugo thought she couldn’t belong anywhere else other than here. He didn’t mean this in a disrespectful way of course… Eugo attempted to convince himself that working without coal is a perfectly reputable life.

“Mr, I’m gonna lift this here chunk o metal off you ok, so do your best to relax. Also try to forget that I’m a bit of a dunderhead sometimes, but it should be all good ain’t that right friendo.”

Eugo found himself to be filled with a very odd sensation of fear, less of the terrified type and more of the “this gal is insane” type.

“You say something there Mr? If I heard you correctly it was sometin about insanity, I too, sure do love a bit a spice in the mind eh... Ok Mr, on three and you gotta become a limp sack o bread.”

“One.”

“Two.”

“Threeeee!”

With a seemingly incalculable quantity of force, the unpredictable girl yanked two metal fragments off Eugo and yeeted them into the unseeable distance. 

It took Eugo a second for his brain to compute the completely illogical situation that had just occurred, so he once again laid back, blankly staring at Fiz.

“Mr… I’ve found that you tend to zone out a lot, so I’m gonna go do some more scrapping and hopefully you’ll be awake when I get back.”

The optimistic girl grinned gleefully and pranced away into the scrap heap. Were the world a pitch-black darkness, Eugo swore he would still be able to see her silhouette illuminated by light. 

Letting his mind go back to rest, he dreamt of the girl, he could not help but admire her pointless dedication to existence. Why be happy when there is nothing to live for, why enjoy life when it is soon gone.

Yet at the same time, her voice soothed him, brimming with such bright bubbles that bounced around his ears. It sung deep into his heart, mind and soul and let him feel at peace, a tranquillity from the harsh hell outside. 

This realisation of beauty gave Eugo a reason to thank her, so he stood up with vigour...

Crash

Eugo found his head planted into more scrap, similar to a bird he once saw in a picture book when he was young. He now found himself in this exact position, and due to some unfortunate angling, couldn’t exactly escape. 

Logically when in such a situation, Eugo felt that he required assistance, but at the same time his face burned at the thought of asking Fiz for help… again. This didn’t outweigh his slowly crumpling back though, so he cried as loud as physically possible when you head is covered in scrap.

“Heeeeelllllllllp!”

Eugo heard a stampede of feet approaching him, a sure sign of his new friend. The noise stopped seemingly just above him and seemed to spend some time searching for his missing presence. Eventually, Eugo heard a voice that announced the discovery of his splayed body.

“Mr, I must say I dunno how you do these things. This time ima take you back to my place and keep you safe there. Otherwise, I’ll probably find your corpse in one of these holes one day, that’d be pretty sad to see friendo. Ok gimmie one sec as I’m gonna lift you on outta here.”

Eugo once again found himself to be dragged out of a hole by his scrap heap saviour and taken back to her humble home. 

After placing Eugo down as though he required fragile care, she began roasting some food in one of her many smelters. She then danced silently around her home, trailed by any array of stars and comets. 

Smiling all the way, she finished her performance by resting in front of Eugo.

“Here ya go Mr, some food for ya.”

“Thank you…” said Eugo, far quieter than he usually did.

“That’s the first word I’ve gotten out o ya in a while, I’d say I done pretty darn good then. Do ya mind me asken your name to celebrate Mr?”

“Oh yeah, sure its Eugo.” Whispered Eugo once again.

“d’you say Hugo? Tis a very nice name if so.”

“uhhhh, no sorry... Eugo.”

“How’s that spelt friend, similar at all to Hugo?” 

Before Eugo could even answer Fiz continued to ramble on.

“My parents always told me that my name lacked a letter because she wanted me to stand out, although I kinda notice now that unless someone asks no one knows how to spell my name.”

Eugo took Fiz's brief pause for a breath as an opportunity to add to the conversation.

“My parents said my name came from something to do with controlled breeding…”

“What’s that mean… Ugo?”

“Uhhhh, nothing…. and its Eugo.” added the boy quickly.

“So how do you make your steam engines?” said Eugo wanting to change the subject.

“Oh, why I have a full range of methods to build my beautiful babies, I fashioned most of my tools personally, that’s why they all so special!”

The girl’s eyes never stopped shining to Eugo, he could watch her speak for hours and never reach satisfaction. It made him question once again, how could someone for the sole purpose of joy or wonder go such a long distance. 

Why couldn’t he, someone with all reason to take action, perhaps change the fate of all Scorchers lie disillusioned and uncertain. Such resolve did the girl have and for what, a hunk of metal? 

Was he to rally the Scorchers then use their combined efforts, he could maybe even save them all, so why? This time Eugo’s thoughts were interrupted by the small soot-caked button nose pressing into his forehead.

“Friend, I dunno what be going through you mind, but know that I’m always free to save you from deep holes of ash and metal. If you ever find yourself trapped in one of em again I’ll be there before you even have to cry for help… Yeah, I know I didn’t make it in time today. I promise I’ll get better though!”

This time, Eugo finally felt the need to simile.

“Thank you, Fiz.”

“What for friendo, I haven’t done nothin yet?”

“For everything.” Continued the boy, adamant to show his thanks.

“Why… I guess I’ll accept your thanks gracefully then Mr, I assume you’ll be on your way now then?”

After wishing Fiz a sweet farewell the replenished boy walked around the dome with a fresh set of eyes. There was now vibrance in the dull tones of grey, the scent of coal once again invigorated his body and he had gained new reason to improve Betty even further once again.