Chapter One

WAITING IT OUT

SHARON FEINSTEIN
THE COMFORT

 

With Temi in critical condition on the Ship Comfort, I knew Daktoy would run back to ZerShaz with our children just in case compassion got the better of him.

 

The original plan was that he and the kids would spend something resembling a month with me on Zechia. But Temi might die. And Daktoy might care too much.  I wasn't going to go through an emotional unraveling to get him to stay or admit why he wanted to leave. Then I got an idea....

 

"Daktoy, introduce our children to wiShelfa and asLoutha in Cyti. It's only right. After all, we are not dissing them. Right?"

 

So he looks at me, like I know something about protocol. I can see his brain working, Ki-ZerShaz came from ZerShaz to Zechia, saying nothing to the Dubais was a slap in the face.

 

"Zha, you are correct Shari...I will expend time with them ...will you attend?"

 

Now I wanted to get over to the hospital, see Jill, Koli, Temi, find out what was happening. Daktoy was looking at me, knew it.

 

"We will depart for wiShelfa's realm now, and you join in two humis?"

 

That was about four hours.

 

"Certainly," I reply.

 

In a bit I walked my family to the L.Z, did the kiss and hug moved away to let them take off.  In a couple of minutes, after a cigarette, I got into my veDak, went up.  The Odin, the TSF Applewhye and Hospital Ship Comfort were in orbit. Slowing I flew into the Comfort. I saw a Zee, was directed. Someone must have alerted Jill for she was in my face before I got half down the corridor. 

 

She led me to the room, I took a peep at Temi, he was sleeping. His colour okay, she said he'd be alright, and I went with her to the galley. We'd eat, talk, and I'd get some questions answered.

 

Temi's healing was more than one plus; it meant Daktoy and my kids could stay with me on Zechia.

Chapter Two

 THE ENCOUNTERS

 

JILL UREGLIMI
COMFORT

 

Sharon and I went to the restaurant and spoke about Temi, her children, and of course, Daktoy.  I have no idea how long she'd been on Zechia, if she'd left and returned, for she only contacted me when she felt like it. And to be honest, I wasn't all that willing to visit her.

 

I told her about Temi's people and everything else, and she asked about the Kema. I told her what Palla had said.  She replied; "I don't trust Bari. I personally want to see the Kema," then pointing to my watch, "What time is it on Zechia...?"

 

"Oh dear, it's one p.m." I exclaim, time really slipping away.

 

"Get Palla and we three go over there."

 

"I think Palla's on the Odin." I say.

 

"Good. Let's go." She said jumping up.

 

I wouldn't think of arguing with her. Further, she might be right. I was getting a sick sense in my stomach. I didn't know Bari, how could I trust her?

 

Sharon took us across to the Odin, to the galley, leaving me to get Palla.  It was simple to summon Palla to the Captain's Cabin, escort her to the galley, where Sharon was drinking a Guinness.  As we entered, Sharon, looked up, said; "We're going to see the Kema.."

 

It wasn't an invitation. Palla knew it. We went to the hangar, into a shuttle, and Sharon flew us down, I gave directions. We were gliding over the sea as if a sailboat, and came up on the island softly.

 

And then.

 

Chapter Three

 THE GREAT REVELATION

PALLA STAVOS
ODIN PATH

 

I'd been composing, heard the summons, saved my work, stalked to the Captain's Cabin to see Jill.

 

"Sharon is here and wants to see you."

 

I am not a person who lounges in rags or robes. When I wake I move directly into the sani, bath and groom and dress before I eat breakfast. Hence, a glance in the reflector, my hair in perfect order, my makeup slight, just a touch of lip colour, and I was ready.

 

Sharon The Sakari sat on one chair, her feet on the other. I stood calmly.

 

No precursor:  "How'd you know that the Kema could mess with emotions?"

 

I took a calming breath and as if engaged in a trivial discourse; "I saw the pills, I spoke with Tony, who mentioned  difficulty ZerShaz have with emotion, with expressing emotion. I had been by the river, had a sudden impact of insecurity, aloneness, even fear."  I paused, then;  "I had a brief retrospective, as I call it. I remembered an incident in my past in which I had been walking by a river and felt the same sensations. My It struck me, if I were unable to reflect, if I didn't notice and name my emotions, I would not know why I felt this insecurity and might be devastated by it."

 

Sharon nodded.  Good, as I moved to conclusion;  "I believe the Kema are able to produce that sense of weakness in those around them, which is why I informed Jill the Kema should not be near anyone..."  Now putting the cherry on the whipped cream. "Jill told me you have deduced the same thing."

 

"Yeah, and funny enough, basically the same way that you did. I felt this weakness as you say and asked myself, why I was feeling that way."   And focused; "As you guessed, the Zees don't do it.. maybe don't have the capacity...to question their feelings."

 

Our eyes met, then she turned, led to the hangar, into a shuttle. It was a short flight. Sharon switched off the engines before we landed so the flyer would glide and land soundlessly. She was an exceptional pilot, I was about to speak, but recalled she had been the Great Pirate.

 

It was a very pleasant island, a five star hotel wouldn't be misplaced. Sharon settled us on a little hill, just above a rather interesting delta with a clever sandbar a few meters from it's mouth which had gotten a bit of green.  Were I writing this as a novel, I would avoid such 'contrived' denouement, but this was not fiction.  Upon that spit of a land, upon a strip of perfect beach, two people in passionate embrace, about to engage in sexual connection.

 

The male was 'my' Tony.

 

"Oh shit." Sharon says, glancing at me, away, back, for was I not the ostensible 'mate' of Tony?

 

"What is it?" Jill says moving past; no doubt assuming a medical emergency.

 

"Don't look." Sharon says, which had the obvious obverse effect.

 

"Oh No!" Jill said, blushing, turning away, confused.

 

"Where's Denys?" Sharon asks, her eyes still attached to the scene.

 

"I--I--I don't know!" Jill blurts.

 

Our lovers were naked, their actions unmistakable.

 

"What the fuck is wrong with him? Or have I answered my own question?" Sharon flung as her eyes lasered me, searching for a response. I met her eyes calmly, nodded.

 

"How the fuck can he have a matching psi-pro?" She asked the universe.

 

"I never put much faith in such screening." I reply moving to take a seat within the flyer, leaving Sharon and Jill to gawk. I didn't need to see Tony, I needed to capture the moment in prose, for this was a necessary fillip in my story.

 

After a minute, Sharon approached, perhaps thinking to console. I was pleased at my lack of emotionalism. It not only gave me dignity, it gave me her approval.

 

"He's a slut, isn't he?" Sharon flung.

 

"He is promiscuous, careless, has difficulty in postponing gratification. Yes, he's a slut." I agreed.

 

"I thought you and he were..." and she linked her fingers.

 

"No." I reply.

 

She nodded, searching for tears or pain or anger. She saw naught but a perfectly poised woman, seated in a car. Lowering her voice; "Palla, do you understand that here, in this society, what they are doing, 'buys death?'"

 

I must have seemed quizzical.

 

"That

Impressum

Verlag: BookRix GmbH & Co. KG

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 15.05.2022
ISBN: 978-3-7554-1381-3

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