by Nancie Neal
"He's my guard today," Amnika explained, and she sat down in front of him. "What happened?"
Kinku looked up at Mihka and shifted again in his chair. He looked uneasy.
"It's okay." Amnika motioned towards the Natisien. "He won't do anything unless you try to hurt me."
She glanced back at Mihka, and he gave her a reassuring wink. She was glad Mihka was with her. Mihka was more reasonable than some of the other Natisiens. Most of the others would intimidate the Hemerians out of spite.
"Your leader was angry." The translator stated over the series of clicks and trills caused by a bladder in his throat."When my father is angry, he tortures the offender." Kinku adjusted the translator attached to his uniform.
Amnika wasn't too surprised. Hemerians was a bit barbaric in their ways. They claimed to be civilized, but they mistreated each other as part of their culture.
"We don't torture here," Amnika responded. "You know that."
Kinku looked back at Mihka who now folded his arms. He had an amused look on his face.
"He'll throw me," Kinku said.
"Have you seen a Natisien throw, anyone?"
"No."
"Do you know if anyone personally who a Natisien threw?"
"No, but…"
"But your kind likes to spread rumors. It's why leadership and the wall guards reacted the way they did, isn't it?"
Kinku didn't look up at her. His long fingers dragged his black, pointed nails on the tabletop. It made a quiet scratching sound. "Someone thought it would be funny to say that one of us were the attackers." Kinku sighed and paused for a moment, picking up his hand off the table. "I didn't think it as funny."
Studying him, Amnika determined that he was telling the truth. "Continue."
"The ones who were trying to get into the transport thought they would fly it around. They weren't going to do anything. We know the transports aren't armed."
Now Amnika understood her father's hopeless frustration with the Hemerians.
"You can't just fly a transport ship or any of our ships for that matter. It takes two to sign in with their DNA scan or bracelet before even checking the controls." She realized she sounded exasperated. "Even though they have no weapons, they could have crashed it into the community."
"I'm sorry, but it was good that they couldn't get it started," Kinku said.
"There's something you aren't telling me," Amnika said.
Kinku hesitated.
"Well?" Mihka asked. Amnika put her hand up to stop him. She was afraid that Kinku wouldn't speak when he's fearful..
"The raiders attacked us, too," Kinku said. "You know my father; he has to copy everyone and pretend that he came up with the idea first."
Amnika nodded. They all thought it was funny when their leaders and officials started to wear capes. Then they acted like the Zherosha Citizens stole the idea from them. The trade routes were the same story. They tried to trade with Nahbor, but Nahbor refused to have anything to do with them. Still, they insist that Nahbor are strong allies with them.
"Father, of course, wanted to trade with Mahla because you were trying to trade with them. When our traders tried to reach Mahla, the raiders immediately attacked them."
"Are you sure it wasn't Mahla who shot you down?" Amnika asked. She didn't want to say why they may have shot them down. After all, they tend to annoy every race they encounter.
"No," Kinku responded. "They stopped the raiders, so at least one of our ships were able to get away. That's how we know about it."
Kinku sighed.
"Father would be angry if he knew I told you the truth. I think he would be pleased if I said that we defeated the Raiders and helped you, instead."
"We can't lie, but your father will believe what he wants to believe. We won't correct him," Amnika said.
At that moment Father walked in.
"When I'm Leader," Kinku said. "Things will change."
"The best way to lead is to get people to follow, long before you hold the title," Mihka cautioned. "If you can't get your friends to follow you now, they won't follow you later unless you use force. Then you become like your father."
Amnika looked at Mihka in surprised. There was a long pause, and Amnika turned back and looked at the Hemerian who also seemed surprised. Kinku looked back at Amnika and sighed. "You're right, and I don't want to be like my father."
Amnika walked over to her father and shared everything he told her.
"Go and share that with Zakkon," Father cast a thought to Amnika. Then he turned to Kinku. "You are free to go." Then he turned to Mihka. "The threat seems to be over, go ahead and return to the wall."
Mihka didn't move. He looked like he was thinking hard. Amnika and Father looked at him and waited.
"I will escort Kinku. Other Natisiens are not happy."
Amnika and her father looked at each other.
"I'll explain later if you let me," Mihka said.
"Then come back instead of going to the wall," Father said. "I'm curious to see your reason."
"As am I," Amnika said. She walked over to Mihka. She looked up at him and touched his hand. He smiled down at her. Then she followed her father out of the door.
The other Hemerians were out of the room. Kinku looked at them, and when they saw him, they immediately put their heads down. Their tails flicked on the floor behind them. One of them wrung his hands while the other shifted from one foot to another.
"We go to your ship, and you will stay there until it leaves. If the Inersiens allow it, only Kinku can come back." He boomed.
The youths looked up at Mihka, and he motioned them to follow him.
"Mihka never ceases to surprise me," Zakkon said as they watched the Hemerians follow Mihka down the hallway.
Amnika shared with him what Kinku said.
"Well, that looks like a break in the clouds, now doesn't it?" Zakkon mused, "I hope they don't live as long as they say they do. We will be dealing with Kinku's father for a long time otherwise."
Mihka walked back.
"The Natisiens at the dome will make sure they stay on their transport. They promised not to hurt them." Mihka chuckled. "Or throw them."
"So why did you protect Kinku?" Amnika asked.
"You are willing to give him a chance." He watched as Amnika's father closed the door to the room. "And he's the next leader who seems reasonable. Maybe, if he becomes Leader, things change. If things change, perhaps we will have better trade agreements and less trouble."
Amnika understood. "Perhaps we should let Kinku back? Maybe we can influence him for the better."
Zakkon chuckled. "Perhaps. I'm not sure if any of them could change that easily."
Father dismissed the Natisien, and the Inersiens walked back out of the hangar. Her uncle and aunt with their son were waiting for them.
They greeted each other. Amnika's little cousin, who was in his third cycle, tried reaching for Amnika. She could sense his excitement. She looked at her aunt who nodded and let Amnika hold him. The toddler reached around her neck and hugged her.
The Natisiens sang in the distance. The deeper voices caused the ground to vibrate in the rhythm of their songs.
"So, did you resolve the Hemerian issue?" Oshtron asked.
Zakkon shared what happened. Oshtron looked surprised at Amnika.
"Why is it that every time my daughter does something to solve a problem," Father teased, "You seem surprised?"
Oshtron looked amused. "I'm not surprised about Amnika. I'm sure she can move the sun." Oshtron waved his hand. "It's Mihka who impresses me." Oshtron clicked his tablet. The door to the ship closed, and it hovered into the hangar.
They all nodded in agreement.
"Mihka was unusual for a Natisien. Nahaeda raised him as his own. He's a little unusual, too," Father said.
Again, everyone agreed.
"From what I understand." Oshtron cleared his throat. The change in atmosphere affected any traveler's throat. "Kinku may be the key to our trade
with the Hemerians." He glanced uneasily at Amnika.
Father sighed. "Zakkon lets her in on the talks; I don't see why we should stop now."
"I could leave, but I am going to be Citizen." Amnika glanced at Father, then at her uncle. She was a little surprised that Oshtron didn't look stern at all.
"It's okay," he said. A quiet smile appeared on his face.
Amnika handed the now squirming toddler back to her aunt.
At that moment, Astran walked up to the group. Before anyone could say anything, he pointed at another high-level Inersien.
"So you are here with your uncle." Father glanced over to see another man studying his tablet closer to the hangar entrance.
Astran nodded. "He's finishing the checklist and Mother said I could stay for a while," he said. "He'll take me home in a few moments.”
"If you talk to Amnika, stay nearby," Oshtron said. He walked with her father and her mother into the hangar with her aunt following them.
Then he turned to Amnika. "They don't trust me much, do they?"
"Well, you did convince me to climb that tree." Amnika crossed her arms. "You told me to go after the Hemerians when they went outside the wall, and it was your suggestion to test my project before it was ready." Amnika watched Father and Oshtron talk with Astran's uncle. "But Father probably trusts you more than Oshtron does. I don't think my uncle trusts me much either."
"Of course he does. He lets you take care of his son," Astran said.
"Only when my aunt is around, but that's not the same. He thinks helping with the baby will keep me from getting into trouble. He doesn't trust me alone with him or with you," Amnika lamented. "I think he was even more upset than Zakkon with the power failure."
"They did have it working in short time. It's not like the generator exploded." Astran said. "I heard that Zakkon only pretended to be upset. He actually found it funny."
"Well, that wasn't 'pretend anger' today. I thought I was in trouble again." Amnika sighed. "Kinku seems to be the only sane one. I bet sanity is an anomaly on that planet."
"You do know that my father insists on trading with them," Rhada said from behind Amnika. She noticed the singing stopped, and some of the Natisiens headed back to their homes. Some came back to the hangar to finish their duties, and some went back to the market. She saw Nahaeda in the distance, making his way towards them.
Amnika's stomach growled.
"Is it midday meal already?" Amnika said.
"A little past," Rhada said. He handed her a bag.
Amnika opened it to see two leaf wraps.
"I guess you won't be needing this, then," Father said. He waved a riochi bar in the air. Amnika looked up to see her father walking towards her. "I came out here to give it to you."
"No, Rhada thought of me, again." She looked up at him and smiled. She glanced behind Rhada to see Nahaeda walk up behind her friend. "He always thinks of me."
"He's supposed to." Nahaeda put his hand on his son's shoulder. "It's his job."
"I want to. I like to." Rhada smiled at Amnika.
"Will you make it to the celebrations tomorrow night, Amnika?" Astran asked.
Amnika looked at Nahaeda. He shook his head.
"I have to spend the night at the caves," Amnika said.
"That's this cycle?" Astran exclaimed. "Well, I'm glad I don't have to do that. That must be hard."
Amnika looked at Rhada. Rhada cleared his throat.
Astran had no idea, and Amnika didn't want to share that with him. He had to deal with enough of life's troubles.
Chapter Six
The sun was past the center of the sky by the time they made it home. Rhada and Amnika hung back as her parents stepped up to the door.
"It's not time for the evening meal, yet," Amnika said, "Is it alright if Rhada and I walk to the trees?"
Father put his arm around her mother and nuzzled her.
"I don't have a problem with that," he said.
Mother chuckled. "Neither do I."
"The Trees" as everyone calls it, is an undeveloped location at the end of the communities. Since everyone used the area to socialize, the city set up seating areas for the adults so that they can visit while the children played around the trees.
Neither one of them said anything until they reached a seating area by the climbing tree. There were two-tiered bench seats. Inersiens usually sat on the top tier while the Natisiens sat on the bottom. This way, the two can communicate at the same level.
Amnika sat on the top tier and put her feet on the bottom. Rhada sat on the bottom one next to her and put his elbows on his knees and put his head in his hands.
They remained silent for a few moments longer.
Finally, Amnika asked, "Did you know the two well?"
Rhada shifted.
"Not that well," he responded, "But it's always sad when anyone dies."
They were silent again and watched the children play. They were running around the seating area and the large climbing tree. The climbing tree had branches that sprawled out low, allowing the smaller Natisien children to climb up. The Inersien children were forbidden to climb the tree, even on the lower limbs for fear of injury. So some of the Inersien children stayed at the bottom of the tree, yelling at the Natisien children above them.
"I'll be going to formal education in six moon-cycles," Amnika said. She hoped that she could lighten things up a little.
Rhada looked at her and gave her a sad smile.
"There'll be a lot more children starting this time," Amnika continued. "Father says it won't be long that they will have to expand the city. He doesn't want to cut any more trees since everyone enjoys them so much. They're making plans to expand beyond the crater."
"Father doesn't think that will happen soon." Rhada glanced up at Amnika.
Amnika stared at him for a moment. "Why not?"
Rhada didn't say anything at first. He shifted again and sighed. "Father says a lot of odd things like that lately. He's not that old, so it's not age causing it. Some of our elders think that father can see beyond, or he has some connection to the messengers."
"Messengers?!" Amnika exclaimed. "What would messengers have to do with us?"
Rhada shrugged and leaned back. "There are a lot of things we don't understand. There are worlds beyond our comprehension. Father can see some of it."
Amnika stared at him for a long time. When he didn't say anything else, she lowered herself to the bottom tier and leaned up against him. Why would the creator's messengers try to communicate with Nahaeda? Amnika always thought the creator didn't bother himself with small matters unless something big was going to happen.
The children moved from the trees and began to play hide and seek. The Natisien children disappeared among the bushes and trees, and the Inersiens would try to find them. The longer shadows put the game in the Natisien's favor helped them camouflage within the red-brown bushes. The Inersien children took a little longer than usual to find them all.
Amnika sighed. "Those are the same games we used to play."
"You would always find me first." Rhada straightened and looked at her. "I could never figure out how you would find me so quickly."
Amnika's stomach growled. As she put her hand on her stomach, she heard Rhada's growl.
They both laughed.
"We should get back," Rhada said.
Amnika leaned up against Rhada. She was surprised on how fatigued she was. She looked up at Rhada who waved someone over. Amnika looked in the direction he was waving in. She saw Natia walk up.
"Well, there, Amnika," She admonished. "You let yourself get hungry too often today. Again. How many times was this?"
"I lost count." Amnika eyes drooped.
"It was a long day, too," Rhada defended her.
"Ah, yes. The Hemerians will drain the energy out of anyone." Natia bent down, and Amnika climbed up onto her arm. Then the three of them walked to Amnika's home.
"Again?" Father walked over to the cooking area a
nd grabbed a riochi bar. "Maybe you should start carrying one around with you."
Natia put her on the long plush seat. Father handed her the bar.
"It's likely you are only hungry. Stay here until you feel well."
"It's likely I'll work on my project. I gave it a task, and I want to check on the progress it made," Amnika said.
Father chuckled. "I had an interesting conversation with that computer of yours."
"Really?" Amnika asked. "What did he say?"
"He had a lot of questions. It was like talking to you," Father mused.
Rhada and Natia laughed.
Amnika felt her face get hot. "How else I would learn?"
"How, indeed." Father reached over and put his hand on her head. "You mother and I will turn in early, tonight. It was a long day. Rhada, you will be guarding tonight, again."
Rhada grunted his affirmation. He then picked up Amnika's feet and sat down. Then he put her feet back onto his lap. Father went into the cooking area with her mother. He mentions something about ordering some new supplies of riochi bars. Then they start talking in the language that Amnika's mother taught.
"I would like to learn that language. I want to know what my parents are saying," Amnika said.
"You need to learn Zherosha Standard first," Rhada said in Zherosha Standard. Rhada was fluent in the Inersien Dialect, and everyone spoke it up to that point.
"I know," Amnika said, also in Standard. Rhada surprised her. He spoke it as if it were his original dialect. Most Natisiens will learn only enough of it to be able to communicate. Then again, she knew that Nahaeda expected a lot from his sons.
Amnika looked over at her mother and saw that she looked tired. Amnika sighed and ate her bar. Halfway through the bar, she started to feel better and put her feet on the floor. She gave Rhada, who was watching her mother, a sad look.
He looked back at her for a moment and looked down at his hands. "Maybe, we should go see your project now."
Amnika put her hand on his shoulder. "Three years." She stood up and waited for him.
"I know." Rhada also stood up. He followed Amnika to the project room.