by A. D. Nance
skillfully executed frame jobs, eh Ramon.? I like it.”
“It will be a work of art for you Manuelo, sir.”
Manuelo raised his hand in approval as his smoke wafted up. Then Fateo bowed slightly, turned and started to walk out.
“Oh Fateo, one thing.” Fateo slowly turned around.
“Beware of her witchcraft. She has plenty of, how do you say, ‘tricks in her bag,’” Manuelo warned.
Salena and Eldon tried to keep the day of his return a secret from Seguros department. On the day of his return, they met in Cendera Park at a wooded area near the Rio station. It was a happy reunion, just the two of them. Seemingly they had evaded Seguros surveillance. They blended with the crowd and got on the Vista del Rio cruiser. This was a great way to see Cardẽno from the river. As they passed the spires of the castles, saw the Sarai gulls gliding gracefully overhead, and passed under magnificent bridges, Eldon began to get inspired. He had thought a long time about what to say and how to say it, but now he was not sure. His words did not seem adequate for the occasion and his new romantic feelings. This was new territory for Eldon, but he was learning.
“Salena, I have seen many wonders in the galaxy, but you are the most wonderful one. It seems the galaxy revolves around you and is made so much more beautiful by you.”
“Eldon, you are beautiful to me and a treasure. You give me hope.”
“The Creator, the Source of love has shown his love by you Salena.”
“He is seen in you Eldon. He wants us to be together.”
Then they exchanged their seals on the back of their hands. This was a sign of the formal making of a partnership. Eldon applied his seal to Salena’s hand first. It was a type of permanent color. Then Salena pressed her seal to Eldon’s hand. Just after she finished, a tear fell onto it. From Eldon’s eye came the evidence that this was a deeply moving first experience for him. They decided to go back to the park after the Vista cruise.
On a path in the park they enjoyed some relative privacy as they discussed what to do next. They agreed that it would be hard to stay on Valenyez. Yet, it would be hard to leave for Salena since this had always been home. It was getting late now and the daylight was almost gone. They followed a path to the street so Eldon could see Salena home before he went to the INTREB gate.
Suddenly 3 men dressed in black hooded coats jumped out from behind some bushes. Two of them grabbed Eldon and held him. The other grabbed hold of Salena’s jacket. Salena screamed, pulled away, and the jacket tore. The attacker tried to grab her arms and suffered a severe shock. He fell to the ground unconscious for a few seconds. The two holding Eldon now ran away. Then the shocked one woke up and immediately ran also. Salena and Eldon embraced, relieved they were unharmed. Within a few seconds the park security guards arrived and asked what happened. Just at that moment a thin man stepped out from the shadows and said, “I saw it. I saw what happened.” He was thin, gaunt and wore a brand new expensive coat. Yet his shoes were very worn with holes in them. “He attacked her,” pointing at Eldon, he added, “Yeah, he hit her on the head and grabbed her.”
Astonished, Eldon protested, “No! No sir. That is not what happened. There were 3 men in hoods.” The guards immediately took hold of Eldon.
“That man is lying!” Salena angrily said pointing to the thin man. One of the guards took a closer look at Salena and said, “Her clothes are torn.” He took her arm and said, “Lets go to the security office.”
But Salena protested,
“Eldon is my friend. He did not attack me.” The guard routinely explained without looking at Salena, “You were hit on the head. We have to take you in for examination.” They were not interested in anything that Salena or Eldon said, only the so-called witness who they left in the park. When they got to the security office, they were taken to separate rooms. A female officer came in Salena's room and asked her if she was unharmed. Salena tried to find out about Eldon, but the officer just said, “You will feel better later,” and left the room. Then after a very suspicious short time of 7 minutes, Manuelo came showing an uncharacteristic interest in Salena’s welfare.
After only one day in a detention cell, Eldon was escorted to the INTREB gate with a warning not to return for ten years. Even if Eldon was guilty, the crime of assault by an outworlder had a banishment of five years. But because the alleged victim was the daughter of Manuelo, they doubled it. Of course this scheme was seen through by Eldon and Salena, but there was nothing they could do. As time passed while they were apart, it was heart-breaking. Eldon was able to communicate with Salena later through his friend 511812 Eshod, who was able to visit the planet. He could not use normal channels so he would not jeopardize his Singsord status.
Finally after nearly two Valenyez years, Eldon attended an SS Dome on the theme of love. He was overwhelmed with joy and exultation when Salena was brought to him there. She was now a Singsord too, much sooner than Eldon expected. So with their obstacles overcome, they were now able to seek the Source as partners, in all the universe, throughout time.
