by R. D. Brady
“And the E?”
“It means start at the east side of the tree.”
Maisy had climbed to the tree branch above Lyla. “How do you know that?”
Lyla smiled. “It was this code that we created. There was this one winter when the weather was so bad, we couldn’t leave the house for weeks. My sister and I were driving my parents crazy, so my father devised this scavenger game. And we would have clues like this that we would have to decipher. He’d hide things in the stove, up in the loft, behind a planter. But he would always use a code like this. The dots indicate steps, the line indicates direction, and then the letter always indicates where you start from.”
“So what you want to do?” Arthur asked.
Lyla smiled. “Get the shovels. It’s time to start digging.”
38
Once Arthur had retrieved the shovels, they started digging immediately. Blisters had formed on Lyla’s hands, but she didn’t stop. In fact, she increased her pace. Finding the grave had taken so long, and she needed to see for herself that this was the right spot. She needed to succeed at something.
With each plunge of the shovel, she went from hope to despair. Maybe she had misinterpreted the code. Maybe she was remembering it wrong and the dots indicated direction while the lines indicated steps.
But she knew that wasn’t true. The interpretation was correct. But maybe she was seeing things in the bark. Mother Nature could do some strange things.
Arthur’s shovel crashed into something solid. Lyla’s head jerked up at the sound. He met her gaze. “There’s something here.”
She and Arthur picked up their pace. Maisy hustled over from the porch to see what they’d found. A four-foot rectangular wooden box was slowly revealed. The wood was still smooth and looked incredibly sturdy. It wasn’t the size of an adult’s coffin, though. It was smaller, closer to that of a child’s.
Lyla jumped down and wiped the dirt off of it.
Maisy peered from over the edge of the hole. “Is it him?”
“I’m not sure yet,” Lyla said, trying to tamp down her excitement. It could be someone else’s grave. She could be completely wrong about where it was supposed to be located. But she could not stop the hope from blooming in her chest. She wiped away the last of the dirt from the end of the coffin, revealing the inscription etched into the wood.
Ta’Chiko, my friend.
She ran her hands over the letters. Her father had carved that.
“Lyla?” Arthur asked.
“It’s him. We’ve found him.”
39
The small coffin was nestled into the ground pretty snugly. It took Lyla and Arthur quite a bit of work to get it to the point where they were able to hoist it up to the surface.
Maisy stood next to Lyla as soon as the coffin was brought up. “That’s it? It’s so small.”
Lyla was worried about the same thing. It looked more like the coffin for a child than that a full-grown man.
Arthur handed Lyla a crowbar. Fitting it into the edge of the boards along the top, she started to pry it and then stopped. She looked at Maisy. “You need to look away.”
“But—”
“But nothing. Look away. Once I’ve uncovered it, if it’s all right, you can look.”
“Fine,” Maisy said, drawing out the word before sitting down, her back to the hole.
“Farther away, young lady. In fact, go stay on the porch with Little Thor.”
Maisy grunted before stomping toward the porch.
Lyla darted a glance at Arthur, who smiled back at her. Taking a breath, Lyla returned her attention to the box. Making sure the crowbar was tucked underneath the lid, she pushed down. A satisfying crack sounded in the air. She made her way along the edges, jacking up the lid. She dropped the crowbar and gripped the end of the lid.
Arthur gripped the other end. “Ready?”
She nodded. Together they pulled the lid off, dropping it to the side.
Lyla wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but it was not the figure that was lying in the box in front of her. Her father had been gone for nearly ten years, but Ta’Chiko had died nearly two decades ago. He’d been buried in a plain wooden box. He should have been reduced to bones by now.
Yet he looked as if he was simply sleeping.
His skin was almost pure white, and he was only three feet tall. He was dressed in a rich red fabric. Even the fabric remained untouched by the passage of time. A necklace on a thick chain was around his neck. He had pointed ears and large eyes, although they were hidden by his eyelids, which remain closed. His head was wide, almost the entire width of his shoulders, and his body was short and round with short legs. His arms reached down nearly to his toes.
But the strangest characteristic of Ta’Chiko was his bright-blue hair, which was pulled back into a long ponytail that reached down to his waist. Lyla stared at the strange small figure and then looked up at Arthur. “Do you know what species he is?”
Arthur shook his head “No. I’ve never seen someone who looks like him before.” He reached down into the coffin slowly. Resting between Ta’Chiko’s small hands was a bound book. Arthur’s hand hesitated just above the book. He looked at Lyla. “Do you mind?”
Lyla hesitated as well. It seemed wrong to disturb the being’s resting place. There was a sense of peace that wafted off of him, even in death. Yet they had come here for answers, and they would not get them by leaving him alone. “Go ahead. But carefully, please.”
Arthur gently slid the book from between Ta’Chiko’s hands. There was no resistance. Arthur straightened, running a hand over the front of the book. Lyla crossed over to him and peered down at it. “Can you read it?”
Arthur nodded. “It’s one of the old languages. I’m familiar with it, although I have not read it very often.” He stepped farther from the body to where there was more space and a little more light. Lyla followed him. As Arthur opened the book, the scent of jasmine drifted up from the pages. It was soothing.
Arthur scanned the first page. He let out a gasp.
“What is it?” Lyla asked, not sure she wanted to know.
“This is the tome of the Anunnaki.”
Lyla frowned. “Anunnaki? You mean the tome of the Naku?”
Arthur shook his head. “No. I told you there was something bothering me about the account of the Anunnaki. The tales of the Anunnaki include stories of them helping people and spreading civilization. That does not ring true with who the Naku are. I thought perhaps they had changed over the centuries, lost their ability to emote. But I couldn’t help but think that what was being described was an entirely different group of people.”
“So my father’s friend, he was one of the Anunnaki?”
Arthur nodded slowly. “I think so. There are tales of Anunnaki going into battle with another group, a group bent on destruction. I believe that group was the Naku. The Anunnaki destroyed the Naku and forced them to flee.”
“And they took the humans with them as slaves,” Lyla said softly.
Arthur nodded. “I believe that is true. I believe your father’s friend was one of the descendants of that race.”
“But if that’s true, that means that they were the enemies of the Naku. That means that book you’re holding could contain information about the Naku and how to defeat them.”
Arthur looked at her and nodded, excitement in his eyes. “I’m hoping this book will provide us with exactly that.”
40
Maisy sat on the porch with Little Thor. He was sleeping quietly on the picnic blanket. He was so cute. She liked playing with him. She was tempted to wake him up right now so she could play with him. But she knew that wouldn’t work. He was always a happy little kid, except for when he got woken up. Then he was seriously cranky.
But she was so bored. At first it had been fun sneaking on the ship and hiding. Then they’d had a picnic and the search. But the search had gone on for a long time, and then when they finally found something, she’d been sent awa
y.
Arthur and her mom were now poring over a little book they’d taken from the coffin. They hadn’t glanced over at the porch, too engrossed in whatever was in that book.
Maisy picked up a stone from the edge of the porch and sent it tumbling down the stairs. She blew out a breath, stealing a glance at the coffin, wondering what the alien looked like. She’d heard people describe the Naku, but she’d never seen one herself.
And she would be one of only three people who could claim to have seen this alien. Darting a glance at Lyla and Arthur, she carefully stood up from the porch and walked down the stairs.
They didn’t so much as glance her way. She grinned and quickly made her way to the coffin. She paused just a few feet away and then, steeling herself, moved forward to look inside.
The strange man inside did not frighten her. Perhaps it was his size—he was smaller than she was—but there also seemed to be something almost kind about him. He wore a long red robe over his small little body, and around his neck he had a long chain attached to a small amulet.
Even in the dull light, that amulet shone. Maisy glanced over her shoulder at Lyla and Arthur, but they still hadn’t noticed her. As she glanced back at the coffin, a light wind blew, shifting the leaves of the trees above and allowing rays of sunlight to dance through. One ray touched the amulet, making it sparkle.
Maisy gasped before she reached in and touched it.
A warm red-and-orange glow appeared in the center of the amulet and then spread up her arm. Maisy gave out a little gasp, but that was all she had the time to do before she felt the glow encapsulate her whole body. The vision around her shifted. She was no longer sitting next to the coffin. She was no longer able to see her mom or Arthur.
She was in the middle of a war.
41
A ship, different from the veerfinah, flew overhead. Maisy ducked down in response. A streak of light speared toward the ship, and it exploded in a hail of sparks, metal, and flames.
A wave of heat rolled toward her. She covered her head as metal rained down around her and then looked up.
The Naku mothership was in the distance with dozens of smaller ships surrounding it. Explosions burst across the sky and the large ship. The smaller ships ducked and weaved, caught in their own battles.
She was so caught up in the action above her that it took her a few precious moments to recognize the sounds coming from behind her. She scrambled to her feet, whirling around just as a ship shot up the hill and sped across the sky only twenty feet above her. Her mouth dropped as a second ship followed, opening fire. Blasts tore up the ground like mini explosions in a line … a line coming right for her.
Maisy stumbled back with a cry. She slammed her eyes shut, expecting to feel the blast of heat rip through her.
But the heat never came. Instead, she felt a calming presence as all the noise of the battle receded. “It is safe now, child.”
Maisy opened her eyes. Standing in front of her was the small figure from the coffin. But here he was perfectly, alive and his blue eyes shone down at her.
“Hello, descendent of Barid. It is good to meet you.” He extended his hand. Without thinking, she reached up for it. His hand was warm, soft, and strong as he pulled her to her feet.
Maisy’s mouth fell open. “You’re dead.”
He smiled warmly. “In your world, yes. But my species is not restricted to one plane of existence.”
Maisy looked around. The battle had gone still, not as if it had stopped but as if it was frozen. “You live here now? In a war?”
“This is a memory of my species’ time on your planet. It was a way to show you the danger the Naku present.”
“We already know that. They’ve … killed … a lot of people.
Ta’Chiko lowered his head. “They are a destructive race. That is why I gifted your species with a way to fight back.” He frowned. “Although I cannot sense your manifestation, descendent of Barid.”
“I-I’m not his descendent.”
The small figure frowned. “Are you not the daughter of Lyla?”
“I am her daughter. But she did not give birth to me.”
Ta’Chiko nodded. “That would explain why I cannot sense the gift.”
Maisy frowned. “Gift? You mean their abilities? Lyla has them. So do my brothers, Riley and Miles. All the Cursed do, but I don’t think it’s enough. The Naku have gotten some humans to fight with them.”
“Their slaves.”
Maisy shook her head. “No, they’re not slaves, although they have those too. We call them the Unwelcome. But there are people who’ve chosen to fight for the Naku. And it’s making it so much harder to win against them.” She took a shaky breath.
“My brother Miles was taken aboard their ship. We can’t figure out a way to get to him, even with the abilities. And my mom hasn’t said it, but I know if we can’t find out a way to get to him soon …” She broke off, not able to finish the rest of that sentence.
Ta’Chiko tilted his head, staring at her. “I do not understand. You should be able to overpower their guards. And in turn, you should be able to allow their guards to overpower the Naku themselves.”
“I don’t know what you mean by that. We’re all just humans, normal.”
“Did Barid not retrieve the chest after I died?”
“I don’t know. Lyla’s father died.”
“Did he pass before the Naku arrived?”
“Yes.”
Ta’Chiko looked past Maisy, his eyes troubled. “Then it has not been done. Child, I know you are young, but you must look for a chest. It will have what will look like strange inscriptions on it. But that chest is very important. It contains the key to defeating the Naku. It will allow the humans to defend themselves. It will be buried with me.”
“I didn’t see a chest.”
“You must find it, and when you do, you must use the ash inside. When that is gone, reduce the chest itself to ash, and myself as well. There is no time to lose.” He walked over to her and gently placed his hand on her cheek. “You may not be a direct descendent of Barid, but you have his spirit, his need to protect those he loves. Tell me, Lyla and Muriel, are they the same?”
“The Naku killed Muriel when they first landed.”
Ta’Chiko let out a small sigh. “They are a race of death. And Lyla?”
Maisy did not hesitate to answer. “She would do anything to protect the ones she loves. No matter the odds.”
“Find the chest, young Maisy. And take care of that family of yours.” Ta’Chiko placed his hand on her forehead.
Maisy blinked. She was back next to the coffin. She swayed for a moment, feeling light-headed before she glanced over her shoulder. Arthur and Lyla were still examining the journal. Little Thor was still asleep on the porch. They did not look even slightly concerned.
They don’t know I was gone.
She stared at the man in the coffin. He was from a different world, but she had not felt afraid, even for a moment. He had been kind.
The chest. You must find it, his voice echoed in her head.
She studied the coffin but saw nothing that looked like a chest. She peered in closer. It must be here. But Lyla never mentioned any sort of chest. And the coffin didn’t look large enough to hide anything like that. Maybe Lyla’s father had put it somewhere else. Taking a deep breath, Maisy felt along the sides of the coffin, but all she felt was the edge of Ta’Chiko and the wooden box.
As she reached his head, however, she felt an empty space underneath his skull. His head was resting on something. Holding back a shudder, Maisy reached underneath his head. A solid object met her fingers. She dragged them along the side, feeling carvings in the object. Her heart raced. The chest.
Carefully holding his head up with one hand while reaching in with the other, she slid the chest toward her. She let his head fall gently back as she pulled the chest out and cradled it to her.
It was less of a chest and more of a small box. Strange carvings tha
t looked like planets, dots, stripes, and lines covered the entirety of the box. She stood up. Arthur would know what it said.
She turned to ask him as three Unwelcome stormed out from the trees.
42
“Lyla!” Maisy yelled.
Lyla whirled around, the warmth tingling over her just as Maisy cried out. The three Unwelcome burst from the trees, closer to Maisy than either Lyla or Arthur. Lyla tackled Arthur to the ground. A romag blast crashed into the tree next to her.
“Maisy, get down!” Lyla’s heart was in her throat as she watched her dive low behind the coffin.
“A Naku,” Arthur whispered.
Lyla’s gaze darted to where the Unwelcome had appeared. Sure enough, a Naku was hiding behind the trees. They knew that some of the Unwelcome were struggling against the Ka Sama. Perhaps they had decided to send out Naku with them to make sure that their orders were followed. But how had they found them? Was it bad luck? Or something worse?
All these thoughts rushed through Lyla’s head in a moment. She rolled away from Arthur, sprinting for the nearest Unwelcome. She dodged another romag blast and tackled the Unwelcome, slamming her shoulder into his knee and forcing him down. She slid up his leg, slamming her knee into his groin before throwing an elbow at his chin.
A chill ran over her skin. She whirled around in time to see two more Unwelcome appear from the trees on the other side of the coffin.
Right where Maisy was hiding.
One of the Unwelcome turned his romag on Maisy. Lyla had no time to do anything but scream. “No!”
A stream of energy burst from the end of the romag and hit Maisy right in the chest as she scrambled to her feet. A huge burst of light exploded around her. Against her will, Lyla’s eyes winced shut.
