by Dale Furse
‘Shahs.’
‘Yes. I have monitored her treatment. Although I believe the physicians are close to the truth. However, you cannot see Shahs.’
‘Ever?’
‘We will find a cure in the near future. As soon as we know Shahs is safe, you will be given permission.’
Nell screwed up her nose. She doubted the man before her cared about her wellbeing, let alone Shahs’.
‘Your ken will change,’ Varlor said with a strange smile.
‘Ken?’ Nell asked.
‘Your sight ... or perhaps your understanding is a more apt description in your language. Goodbye,’ he said, and vanished as every Corl did, into their own private wormhole where they could travel anywhere in the universe in an instant.
CHAPTER TWO
AS SHE MADE HER WAY BACK TO THE veranda, Nell wondered about Varlor’s real reason for sharing his information with her. Did he intend to take the book from her if she did find it? If so, why? She shrugged. She’d worry about that when, or if, the time came. It made so much sense though. The Wexkian Elders wouldn’t have left either race without knowledge of their real heritage. Varlor was right; both races were supposed to know the truth. Plus, those last pages could close that chapter in her life once and for all.
Her mind whirled. Could she wait a moment longer on Earth? What if someone else found the book and either accidentally, or purposefully, destroyed it? Her thoughts switched back to Varlor. She could be wrong about him having ulterior motives for his visit. She had been wrong about others. Varlor was a Corl Elder and all Corls held their Elders above all others. Kandar would definitely trust him.
***
Before Sam or Mekie caught their breath from the swim, Nell told them of Varlor’s visit and the prospect of another Wexkian book hidden somewhere.
‘I can’t believe the leading Corl Elder would call on you,’ Mekie said.
‘He didn’t actually call on me, he came to see Dad,’ Nell said.
‘Even so. He spoke to you.’ Mekie sat at the veranda table.
‘So what?’ asked Sam.
‘So what?’ Mekie’s cheeks coloured pink. ‘So what? He’s the leading Corl Elder. He’s like royalty. All Corls bow down to him.’
‘I don’t bow down to anybody,’ Nell said. ‘Dad always taught me that nobody’s better than I am, or, for that matter, no one is less than me either. We are all equal.’
‘Some more equal than others,’ Sam laughed.
‘I mean it,’ Nell said. ‘Just because someone is richer or stronger or smarter doesn’t make them better and just because someone dresses in rags or never had the chance to be educated doesn’t make them less Human ...’ she glanced at her cousin, ‘... or Phib or whatever they are.’ Nell knew she had raised her voice but she couldn’t stop herself. ‘That’s what I can’t understand about Phibs and s. For Pete’s sake, you’re the same people. I’ve proved that so why can’t you get on?’
Mekie straightened her back and put her hands on her hips. ‘What about all the people on your precious Earth? They fight all the time.’
Uh oh, she had Nell there. After a few seconds thought, Nell sat back, folded her arms and kept her voice calm. ‘I’m sure the people of Earth will resolve their problems in time and as you have mentioned more than once, Humans are not nearly as advanced as people on other worlds. So I think that gives them an excuse for now, but they will come around, don’t you worry about it.’
‘Give it a rest,’ Sam said, yawning.
‘Good idea,’ said Nell. ‘Now that I have to find the book and see Shahs, we need to leave for Corl sooner than I thought. Sam, you need to tell your parents Dar-Seldra has called us home right away. They’ll understand.’
‘I’m not going to lie to them.’
‘And I’m not going home, Nell,’ Mekie said. ‘You said we were going to decorate the tree and house today and I’ve been looking forward to an Australian Christmas for a whole Earth year.’
Nell ignored her cousin and continued to speak to Sam. ‘It’s not a complete lie. I asked Dar-Seldra this morning and she said she saw no reason for us not to go.’ She turned to her cousin. ‘If I go, your mother said you have to come with me.’
‘That’s not fair. You promised.’
‘Calm down,’ Nell said. ‘Don’t invoke the old Cay-Meka.’
‘You’re a bully, Dar-Nellen.’ Mekie slammed her lips hard together and glared at the sea.
‘You better not think you’re going without me,’ Sam said.
‘Your parents would never let you,’ Mekie croaked without taking her eyes off the horizon.
‘We’ll see about that,’ Sam said, pushing his body off the veranda railing. ‘Come on. We’re having lunch at my place first.’ He jumped down the stairs two at a time. Nell and Mekie caught up with him on the path, as he said, ‘Both of you keep your cat’s claws sheathed in front of Mum and Dad or they’ll start wondering what sort of friends I have. And Mekie, keep your theories about Humans being less evolved than you are to yourself.’
‘I will.’ She moved closer to him. ‘Actually, I think you have evolved immensely over the last year.’
Sam suddenly developed a swagger.
With not enough room for three across the path, Nell lagged behind. Mekie should know better than to feed his ego. Ignoring them both, she wondered if her father would be angry with her if she went to Corl and from there, to Linque and Gramlax to find the other book. Ooh, but what fun. The perfect excuse she needed to visit both her parents’ home worlds. It might also help her make up her mind about where she would continue her education.
As they entered the Frederick’s kitchen, Annet turned from the kitchen sink. A faded, flowery scarf covered her head.
‘Hello there, Nell,’ she said. ‘It’s good to see you again, Mekie.’
Mekie gave a shy smile, and said, ‘It’s good to see you too.’
Nell stared at her cousin. The girl didn’t have a shy nerve in her body.
Annet put more tomatoes on the cutting board and waved her knife around. ‘I suppose you’re all hungry?’
‘Darn right,’ Sam said, tickling Annet.
‘Stop it.’ She tried to sound angry but laughing, she said, ‘Be careful.’ She waved her knife at him.’
Sam stopped. ‘Where’s Dad?’
‘I’m sure he’ll be here as soon as I put food on the table.’ Annet pointed the knife at Nell. ‘I think he’s related to you somehow. He must have some sixth sense because he always knows when it’s time to eat. Same goes for my son here. Peas in a pod,’ she said. ‘Well, go on, sit down.’
Nell laughed and sat down at the oval table. ‘Sam thinks it’s always time to eat.’
‘I’m a growing boy,’ he said, and again pulled out a chair for Mekie.
She sat down as if it was the most natural thing on Earth and eyed the two shallow bowls Annet placed in the middle of the table. Nell followed her eyes. One bowl held a cold pasta salad and layered on the other were slices of tomato, basil and bocconcini.
Annet placed a tray of bruschetta in front of Nell.
‘Yum.’ The aroma of garlic had her mouth watering. ‘You have to try some,’ she said to her cousin, handing her the tray.
Mekie took a slice and a tiny bite. ‘You’re right, it is yum.’
Sam had already started piling food on his plate, and Mekie asked, ‘What are they?’ She pointed into the pile of pasta.
‘Olives.’ He picked a black one and handed it to her. ‘Want to try?’
She popped it into her mouth and spat it back out. ‘Eew, it tastes like rotting garbage.’
He laughed. ‘Here, try a green one.’ He waved it in her face.
Shaking her head, Mekie said, ‘Yuk. No thanks.’
Carl arrived in time to see her face. ‘What’s the matter, girl? You look sick.’
‘I don’t like olives,’ she said, pushing Sam’s hand away.
Annet asked Nell, ‘Are you looking forward to continuing your edu
cation on Linque?’
‘I’m slowly getting used to the idea,’ Nell said.
‘Well, I’m not,’ said Sam.
‘I only see you on Uni breaks anyway,’ Nell said. ‘And I’ll come back and visit every time you’re home.’
‘Me too,’ said Mekie.
Sam swallowed. ‘I guess I can go see you too. Speaking of, Dad, Nell is going to Corl to meet up with her father and Mekie and I are going with her.’
‘Before Christmas?’ Annet said, her eyes moving from Nell to Mekie and back again.
‘Sorry, Annet, but I have to go.’ A pang of guilt hit Nell’s heart as Annet regarded the pile of boxes in the sitting room. The picture of a beautifully decorated Christmas tree on the biggest box seemed to chide Nell.
Mekie pouted. ‘I don’t want to go, Annet. Can you please talk Nell into waiting until after Christmas?’
Carl plopped onto his chair and frowned at Annet.
‘Does Dar-Seldra know?’ Carl said.
‘Yes,’ Nell said a little too hastily. ‘She spoke to me about it this morning.’
Sitting down, Annet said, ‘I can’t say I’m not disappointed, Nell, but we can’t stop you or Mekie. However, Sam, you’re a different package. Dad and I have discussed it and we don’t think it’s not right for a Human to go gallivanting around space. It’s too dangerous.’
‘What?’ Sam nearly choked. ‘And camping on the bank of a crocodile infested river by myself isn’t dangerous? I’m supposed to be man, aren’t I, Dad? I make my own weapons, I hunt, I fight, and none of that is dangerous? Anyway, I’ll be with Dar-Tern and Kandar and the rest of them.’
‘Yes, you are now a man on Earth but on Corl you are just a Human. ‘Carl piled the salad onto his plate. His nearly black skin deepened along his cheekbones. ‘It looks like there’ll be trouble on Corl.’
‘Trouble?’ Nell asked.
He looked at Nell with even darker eyes. ‘Look, Nell girl, don’t tell your father you heard it from me, but now that the Three World Council has become the United Council, Grarlon wants to join. It looks like the UC will reject their application.’
‘But that’s where Dad and Kandar have gone,’ Nell said. She threw Mekie a worried glance.
‘Yes,’ Annet said, shaking her head. ‘We are very concerned for them.’ She gazed at the bowls. ‘Eat up. You both need more meat on your bones.’
‘That’s that then. Eat up and enjoy it, Mekie, we’re going to Corl ASAP.’
‘What?’ Mekie spluttered and a soggy crumb fell from her mouth. She wiped at it with her napkin, and complained, ‘No. Tanat will be aware of the situation and he will convince the UC not to contact Grarlon until they’re back safely. There’s no need for us to go yet.’
Throwing her cousin a glare, Nell said, ‘You can stay here if you like, but I’m going.’
Mekie slumped back in her chair. ‘You know I can’t.’
‘Then I’m going too,’ Sam said around a mouthful of pasta.
‘Listen, son,’ Carl said. ‘The Grarls might take a set against everyone in sight, and if a Human is on Corl at the time, they might include Earth in their payback list.’
‘They wouldn’t even notice me and you’re forgetting that Orenda is our friend.’
Carl put an olive pip on the side of his plate so hard that the plate tilted. ‘She’s a Grarl, and from what I’ve heard, all Grarls are volatile.’
Sam opened his mouth to speak, but Annet held up her hand. ‘That’s enough. You’re upsetting our guests. Come on girls, eat.’
‘But...’ Sam said.
Mekie pushed her plate away.
‘Mum’s right. We’ll talk about it later.’ Carl poured a cup of coffee from a tall, red pot.
Mekie could sulk all she liked. No body was going to stop Nell from leaving Earth. She had to be certain of her father’s safe return. Nell peered at Sam. He didn’t seem upset at all and ate with his usual gusto. She reached for a slice of bread at the same time he did and pretended to touch his hand accidently. ‘What are you up to?’ she asked him with her mind.
‘I don’t care what they say, I’m going with you.’
‘You can’t disobey them like that, they’re your parents.’
‘I wouldn’t have to if your dad would stop telling them everything about the UC and every flippin’ planet he knows about. And anyway, why not? You’re always disobeying your dad.’
Nell thought about the book. ‘That’s different.’
Sam shook his head. ‘No, it’s not. Anyway, I’m not going to disobey them, you twit. I betcha I’ll have them talked around in no time.’
Carl narrowed his eyes at Nell. She groaned inwardly. Did everyone know when she was talking with her mind? Flustered, she dropped the forkful of pasta meant for her mouth on the table.
Mekie glared from Sam to Nell, but didn’t say anything.
***
Mekie talked away to the chestnut horse while combing his mane. ‘You like that, don’t you, Teddy.’
A sense of loneliness filled Nell as she brushed Shrewdy’s coat. Would there ever be others like her? There was Shahs of course, but she was no use to Nell the way she was. If there was another book, she had to find it, but first, she would make sure the UC agreed not to contact Grarlon with their answer until her father and Kandar returned to Corl.
She smiled. Her smile grew. She liked a challenge and if there was a little danger in her quests, she could handle it. An excited shiver tore down her backbone. The adrenaline the perils had sparked in her previous adventures made her feel complete. Uh oh. She frowned. Was that the way Wexkians felt when they invaded other worlds? But Nell knew her inner self and while she liked a fight, she never wanted to harm anyone seriously, let alone kill them. She grimaced. At least she hoped not.
Of course, if there was another book and if it still had those last pages, the words might not reveal anything that she didn’t already know about Wexkia or its people. It didn’t matter. She had to find out and Varlor had said the truth must be revealed. On that thought, she continued working on her horse’s coat. Shrewdy loved a thorough brushing down.
Mekie’s voice brought Nell out of her reverie. ‘I love the horses and mountain and the ocean ... oh, I love everything here.’
Giving Shrewdy a pat, Nell gazed up through the rainforest that covered Mount Grief. ‘Yeah, I’m glad I grew up here.’ Screeching sounded above them. ‘Look at the black cockatoos.’
But Mekie wasn’t listening. She was beaming at Sam as he joined them at the horse rail.
Nell didn’t know whether to be amused or annoyed by her cousin. Only a lousy five minutes had passed since Mekie had seen Sam at the lunch table.
‘Sam,’ Mekie said.
‘That’s me.’ Sam reclined back against the rail.
Nell didn’t want to watch their silly games, and uncertain why their actions concerned her so much, she blurted out, ‘Mekie. We’re going to Corl, remember, so get your stuff ready.’
‘Now?’ Sam and Mekie said together.
Ha, that wiped the silly smiles off their faces. ‘Yeah, I’ve got a lot to do. First, I have to make sure the UC does the right thing by Dad and Kandar then I’ve got to start searching for a second book and somehow find the time to find Shahs. Just don’t bother carrying on about it; I’ve made up my mind.’
Mekie scowled and crossed her arms. Her fingers caused indents in her skin as she clutched her elbows tighter than necessary, as she said, ‘I thought we were going riding.’
Another pang of guilt ran through Nell’s chest. ‘I’m sorry, Mek, but you know I have to go and right now is as good a time as any.’
‘That’s not fair, Nell, you promised.’
‘Calm down, Mekie,’ Nell said. ‘Anyway, clouds are coming in and those black cockatoos passing overhead mean it’s going to rain.’
‘I think they mean it’s not going to rain,’ Sam said.
‘No, I’m sure your dad told me they meant rain.’
‘Whate
ver. It’s not worth arguing about.’
‘You are the biggest bully in the universe, Dar-Nellen.’ Mekie tightened her lips together and glared out to sea.
‘I’m still coming with you.’ Sam said, as he pushed himself off the rail.
‘Your heard your parents,’ Mekie croaked without taking her eyes off the horizon.
He called over his shoulder as he ran toward the path. ‘Wait there.’
When Nell looked back at Mekie, she thought her cousin might cry. ‘Dad is your uncle; don’t you want to make sure he’s okay? Plus, the book was important enough for Varlor to see Dad about it.’ She thought the Elder’s name would sway Mekie.
‘But what about riding?’ The whine was well and truly back now.
‘We’ll come back as soon as we can and go riding. I promise.’
‘You never keep your promises.’ Mekie watched the back door of the house in silence. The door flung open and Sam stepped out with a bag over his shoulder. ‘All right, I suppose I would miss Mother just as much if I stayed here with Carl and Annet,’ she said, but the pout remained. ‘But you better keep your word this time or I’ll find a way to make you.’ The skin between Mekie’s eyebrows creased slightly. ‘What about Shahs? I thought we were going to find her when we go back to Corl.’
‘I want to do both.’
Sam was grinning widely when he reached them.
‘You’re coming?’ Mekie asked, clasping her hands together like a small child.
‘What’s it look like?’ he said, sitting next to her. ‘I told Dad and Mum that Dar-Seldra invited me along and it would hurt her feelings if I refused.’
Nell scrunched up her nose.
‘Well, it would,’ Sam said. ‘Wouldn’t it, Mekie?’
‘Of course, it would, silly.’ Her smile was sweet and shy again. ‘And Mother said you were always welcome in our home.’
Nell rolled her eyes away and towards the path.
Sam cleared his throat and winked at Mekie, ‘Someone has to help you watch our friend here.’ He cocked his head and shook it. ‘She has a habit of finding trouble.’
