Allan reaches out. “Wait! One thing.”
“Yeah?”
“Do we have to worry about Jibbawk anymore?” Allan wonders.
“No. But he’s a shadic.”
“Right. Mizzi started telling me about that race.”
“They’re bad news. We’ll always have to worry about them, but we’ll be more prepared in the future. They’re after those beetles, the ones that can hold their spirits so they’ll live forever.”
“The beetles that Jibbawk was made of when I met him?” Allan clarifies.
“Yeah. Mizzy is trying to uncover their secrets, too.” Asantia opens the door and bows toward Allan. “Don’t worry, Allan Westerfield. We’ve got that covered. Just focus on helping us win the hearts and minds of Lan Darrians so we can outlaw slavery once and for all.”
“And fix a few other injustices while we’re at it,” Allan adds.
Asantia lets the heavy door slide closed.
Allan thinks about Rubic and wonders how they’ll get free. Rubic knows how to deal with the cops. He’ll get us a lawyer or something. It won’t be long now.
Allan looks up at the camera and wonders what they think about Asantia and their little meeting. Is it worth it to keep the Hubbu, all the planets, and intelligent aliens a secret? For now, it is, Allan decides. When our world is ready to know the truth about the galaxy, I’ll be the first to shout it from the tallest mountain.
THE END.
About the Author
Anderson Atlas in the hot Sonoran Desert among scaled survivors, steely eye hawks and majestic saguaros. He finds inspiration in crowded malls, streams that barely trickle, patches of moss, charred forests, and distant mountain. Sharing his art means letting ideas flow through his fingers onto the keyboard or paint brush. To date, he’s written 4 books and illustrated a handful more, and has only begun to speak.
His website is http://andersonatlas.com
Copyright 2015 Anderson Atlas
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Published by Synesthesia Books
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