“Is there hope they can help us return to our own galaxy?”
Tirzah sighed. “Cain says there is no hope of that. Their technology isn’t advanced enough. But we can all move to the cities.” She watched a dreamy expression form on her mother’s features.
“Oh, Tirzah. To live in a normal home again, to live a normal life. Well, as normal as it can be on a strange planet…it’s a dream.”
“It’s a dream that can now be real. Cain says he can help us achieve this but it will take much planning.”
“When you appear before the council, you must tell them every little detail. If the people are so many different colors, what kind of shifters are they?”
“Cain told me he doesn’t know of other shifters. He was abandoned when he was a child. He has no parents, no brothers or sisters. Someone found him in a park.”
“Isn’t that interesting? That brings me to what I need to tell you. It is never spoken of among us, and I had actually forgotten about it until one of the elders reminded me. Once upon a time, many centuries ago, there were black cat shifters on Alishur. The black and white cats were at war with each other, both wanting dominion over the planet. The white cats won the war. It was such a savage war, cat fought cat, tearing each other to pieces. Many were killed. That’s when we stopped eating the flesh of four legged animals. The reports say the fighting in the last war was terrible, a bloodbath. What remained of the black cats—and apparently, there were only a few—retreated, and my theory is that they left the planet. They were never heard of or seen again. Some of our people thought they fought among themselves and became extinct. We call them the lost tribe. I am wondering if they landed or crashed here. Did you find out the name of the galaxy this planet is in? The name of the planet?”
“This planet is called Earth. The galaxy is called The Milky Way.”
“Mm, not a galaxy that is familiar to us. Your Cain told you there are no others like him?”
“Not that he knows of.”
“Does he have our abilities? The black cats on our planet had the same abilities as us and we developed space travel eons ago, as did they.”
“No. Unless the ability never developed in him. That’s possible, isn’t it?”
“It is. Especially since he didn’t grow up among his own kind. Daughter, you’ve given me much to think about. I’m so glad you’re home but I’d like to go to bed now.” Calira embraced her daughter briefly.
Tirzah kissed her mother and went to the room she shared with several of her siblings. After settling down on her cot made from branches and leaves, she placed her hands behind her head and gazed up at the ceiling. Was it possible? Could Cain’s ancestors actually have been from Alishur? The two tribes had been at war. Their species was a pure white, so she doubted any cross breeding had ever occurred. Thinking about her lover and imagining his arms around her rekindled the fire inside her. She inwardly cursed having to share her room. All she wanted to do right now was play with herself to relieve the ache between her legs. Clamping her hand tightly between her thighs, shoved hard against her moist female parts, she drifted off.
Chapter Seven
“Tirzah, daughter of Calira and Henke, you broke our laws. More serious still, you desire to mate with one of the forbidden tribe. You stand before us accused. It is our responsibility to sentence you, the first to stand trial in all the years we have lived on this planet.”
Tirzah almost felt guilty. Yet she couldn’t. Not daring to move or look at the bleachers, she knew Cain was there watching the proceedings. Not that he could understand any of it.
“How do you plead?”
“Guilty to the first charge. Not guilty to the second charge.”
They had not even given her a chance to tell her story. The council had decided to put her on trial immediately before she could tell them all she’d discovered. How stupid of them. Straightening her back, she looked at the tribunal, five of them, two women and three men. Gazing into each council member’s eyes, she finally stood firm. “If you would let me tell you what I have discovered, you would not be putting me on trial.”
“Silence. You will only answer the questions asked. Tirzah, you blatantly ignored the law that states no member of our tribe is to go beyond the walls into the forbidden zone without permission. Is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“You have indulged in sexual relations with one of the forbidden tribe members. Is that correct?”
“No. I don’t know him to be a member of the black cat tribe.”
“You may explain. The man Cain, he is a shifter, correct?”
“Yes. But he doesn’t know where he’s from. He was abandoned and matured with no parents or siblings.”
“If there’s one of him on this planet, there must be others.”
“Cain hasn’t found anyone like him.”
“Many centuries ago, we were at war with his species. Their tribe left our planet after we won the war for dominion. They obviously settled on this planet you call Earth.”
“Maybe their ship crashed, like ours?”
“Silence. Black cannot mate with white. It is forbidden.”
“Those are ancient laws. Haven’t we grown beyond that?” Tirzah dared say. Vaguely she wondered what her punishment would be. As they’d said, she was the first to stand trial since they’d landed on the planet. What would be the penalty? She watched them as they kept their gazes trained on her, but she knew they were communicating telepathically and blocking her and anyone else from hearing them.
Finally, Opek stood. “We will take a recess while we deliberate. We will return after lunch.”
Tirzah rushed from the chamber, which was basically a round clearing surrounded by a tall wall made of tree trunks and branches. The bleachers were made of trees and tree stumps. Only the table the elders sat behind was made from the materials of the ship. She scanned for Cain and spotted him right away. His black hair and body stood out amongst her people. Rushing to him, she grabbed his hand. “Cain, we need talk.”
“What went on in there? Be nice if I could understand your lingo,” he muttered.
“I in trouble for leaving compound. But I in trouble because you are forbidden tribe.”
“Huh?”
“Come. We lunch.” She pulled him along to the tables where lunch was ready. “Cain, you are forbidden tribe.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Many, many years ago, before me, before my parents and their parents, my people on our planet war with black cats. My people won. Black cats left planet. You are black cat from forbidden tribe.”
“Impossible. This is Earth. I was a toddler when someone found me. I’m not old enough.”
“Maybe you belong to forbidden tribe. Maybe forbidden tribe had to run far. You lost.”
“I was lost alright. You’re trying to tell me I might have family here? Somewhere? How can anyone lose a child?”
“Cain, I do not know. The elders say you are forbidden tribe. They will punish. Mating with forbidden tribe is not allowed. Black and white not mate.”
“This is the uttermost nonsense I’ve ever heard. Baby, I love you and I know you love me. I’m not from some tribe. I’ve always lived on Earth. I know nothing of what you’re telling me.”
“I love Cain. I love black cat. I am first to stand on trial. I do not know what punishment will be.”
“Sweetheart, you’re not locked up. We can always leave and return to civilization.”
Her heart somersaulted in her chest. Never see her parents again? Her siblings? Would the elders force her to choose?
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I can see you’re hurting. I don’t have the right to ask you to leave your people.”
“You are my mate. I will follow you. But yes, my heart will be sad to leave my family.”
“Maybe your sentence will be light. If they haven’t had a trial in all these years, I doubt they’ll go heavy on you.”
Tirzah toyed with her food. She wasn’t
really hungry so she only drank her juice. The tribunal would reconvene soon, and she’d be sentenced. Banishment? She’d rather leave with Cain now. The temptation was great, but neither did she want to abandon her people just like that.
“It is time. They call me to return.”
“I didn’t hear anything.”
“They speak here.” Tirzah pointed to her head.
“Oh. Be strong, babe. I’ll be there, just remember that.”
Tirzah took her place in the center of the small arena and faced the tribunal of elders. Her heart was heavy, its beat a drumroll within her chest.
“Tirzah, daughter of Calira and Henke. You will share your experiences with us now.”
It took her by surprise. Instead of receiving punishment, they wanted her to talk? She hadn’t expected to share her story during her trial. It didn’t matter. The adrenaline set her body afire. Her mind churned to recall every little detail as she started talking. She didn’t omit a thing from the moment she left the compound to when she arrived in the city and met Cain. When she finally finished, there was a long silence. During the telling of her journey, she’d heard restlessness among the people on the bleachers. She was sure they were shocked at her findings, astounded there was a civilized species on this planet.
“This tribunal is adjourned. We will resume in two hours.”
Her heart filled with hope. They had listened to her, and now they were aware of what was out there. Maybe her punishment wouldn’t be that harsh. Then again, she didn’t know of anyone who had ever been judged by a tribunal or punished. They were probably going by the old laws on the home planet, laws she knew nothing about.
Instead of joining Cain, she ran to her mother. “Mother, what is the worst punishment they can give me? You know the old laws of Alishur.”
“Sweetie, everything was different then. The worst punishment was to be banished to the badlands. And that was only if the crime was really bad. It happened a few times that I recall. Since there were no black cats left on Alishur, no one was ever called before the elders for consorting with the enemy—if you can even call that a crime now. We can’t even be sure your Cain is a descendant from the forbidden tribe. If he is, by what you’ve told me, he is not aware of it. Anyway, that war happened so long ago, before even my grandparents were born and their parents. It was a stupid feud. They wanted to be the rulers of Alishur and so did our people. The wars were terrible. Many died before our people were victorious. The black cats decided there wasn’t enough room for both species, so they left the planet to settle elsewhere and peace returned to Alishur.”
“It all sounds barbaric, violent.”
“Perhaps we were then. We evolved.”
“Apparently not enough or I wouldn’t have been called before the elders and accused of mating with one of the forbidden tribe. My only crime should have been the one of disobedience.”
“You’re right. Those laws are hundreds of years old. I think it was the shock of seeing the black cat enter our village, then change into the black man he is. I must admit, it shocked me, too. I had learned about black men and black cats in history at school, but that’s it.”
“Cain says there are many black people on this world, but they are not cats. I told you, I saw people of many skin colors in the city.”
“There is your Cain. He is looking for you.”
Tirzah whirled and ran to her man.
Embracing her, he said, “Since I didn’t understand a word, can you tell me what just happened? You talked for a long time.”
Tirzah looked up at him and grinned. “They ask me tell story of my journey to city.”
“Really? That’s a good thing. Isn’t it?”
“Yes. Mother say maybe see black cat and black man was shock.”
“Perhaps, since you told me everyone on your planet is fair, like you. And looking at everyone here, you sure all are.” He laughed. “Maybe they thought I was a ghost from the past.”
“Ghost?”
“Spirits, the dead when they come back to haunt you.”
“Oh. We walk?”
“Is there time?”
“Yes. Elders are in meeting.”
“Just a minute,” Calira had sidled up to them. “I want to talk to Cain.”
Much to Tirzah’s astonishment, her mother spoke Cain’s language. “Mother, how—”
Calira pointed at a small round disc, hardly noticeable, on her temple. “This is a universal translator. We’ve never had to use them. Our science officer, Zinpa, retrieved all the universal translators from the ship. They’re powered by magnetic impulses from our brains. I didn’t know she had them until she gave me one after the trial. There are only sixteen.”
“Your mother speaks perfect English, Tirzah.”
“By using the translators, we will learn the language fast as our brain picks up each syllable and word. After wearing it for a few days, we won’t need it anymore and others can use them.”
“Amazing technology. What our government wouldn’t give to get their hands on it,” Cain said.
“Perhaps we can negotiate with…eh…your government? You mean elders? Your council?”
“Similar. Each country has its own government. Some countries have a king or queen.”
Tirzah knew Zinpa well. Why the elder had waited until now to reveal that she had the translators, she had no idea. “Is one for me?”
“For now, only the elders, your father and I have been given one. There are five elders, so that leaves nine translators. I will ask after the tribunal concludes. I believe the elders want to question Cain next.”
“Zinpa never told you she had the translators?”
“No. I suppose she thought there was no need since we had no contact with the wild tribes or anyone else. She now saw the need. It has been so many years. She’d probably forgotten about them herself.”
“I think I’m going to wake up soon and realize I found myself dreaming about Star Trek.”
“Cain, you are not sleep,” Tirzah told him and poked him. “What is Star Trek?”
“Science fiction series and movies on TV. It is all scifi fantasy about a starship that travels the universe and makes contact with aliens. Stories. I can’t wait until you can wear one of those gadgets so you learn proper English.”
“Tribunal is come back. They say bring Cain,” Tirzah pulled his arm.
“That was a short two hours. Well, I guess it’s my turn on the chopping block.”
“Cain?”
“Oh, I mean they will question me now.”
“Tirzah, you will wait until you are called to appear before us again,” Opek told her tersely.
She hastened to the bleachers where she joined her parents. More than anything, she wished she had the translator so she could follow every word said. Though she’d learned a lot of English, there were many words she still didn’t know, or the proper composition of sentences.
The bell rang and the murmurs on the bleachers stopped.
“What is your name?”
“Cain Jones.”
“When were you born, Cain Jones?”
“Thirty-four years ago on April the first. That is the date the nuns found me so they made it my birthday.”
“What is April?”
“We have a calendar. The year is divided into twelve months. Each month has a name and is divided into days. A day is twenty-four Earth hours. I was born on the first day of the month of April. Or, I should say I was found on the first day of April. I don’t know the exact date of my birth but I was only about fifteen months old according to the nuns at the orphanage.”
“What is a nun?”
“A woman who devotes her life to God, our Creator.”
“It is a religion?”
“Yes.”
“You say you were found. What does that mean?”
“I was abandoned in a park. An old homeless man took me to an orphanage and left me on the steps. I was raised in the orphanage.”
“You
do not know where you came from. Who your parents are.”
“No.”
“But you must have parents and they must be black and cat shifters like you.”
“I have searched for cat shifters all my life and not picked up any scent. But America is a big country. Earth is a big world. They could be anywhere. Or maybe they are dead and that’s why I was left in the park.”
“People on Earth do not like cat shifters?”
“They don’t know any exist. Except in books and movies.”
“What are movies?”
“Stories we watch on a screen.”
“If Earth people knew about your existence, what would they do?”
“Hunt me. Subject me to experiments, examinations and tests. I would be locked up, caged. But no one has ever discovered that I can shift into a cat.”
“You are not a flesh eater.”
“No. I do not kill. But most people on Earth do eat meat from animals, after it’s cooked.”
“You do not have the urge to kill when you are a cat?”
“No. I very seldom shift into my cat. I live in the city and there’s no place for big cats there.”
“You can help us leave this planet?”
“No. I’m afraid not. We are not technologically advanced enough. We have sent spaceships to the moon, probes into deep space, but we cannot travel the universe yet.”
“You can help us live among your people?”
“Yes, but I don’t quite know how yet. It will require careful planning.”
“Your government will not help?”
“If my government found out about you, you would be kept in a science facility. You would be examined, tested, questioned endlessly. You would have no peace.”
“Then how can you help us live among your people?”
“As I said, I don’t know yet. You all require papers and that costs a lot of money. You need birth certificates, Earth names, social insurance numbers, to start with. I would have to obtain them illegally.”
TirzahsAllure Page 6
