The Space Merchants

by Wendie Nordgren

  "Are you saying she was beaten as a child?"

  "Probably until she left," Sherman said.

  "Mother!" Simon yelled. Gina looked toward the door and walked out of the room. "Mother!" I held on to Simon's arm, while he yelled for Gina.

  "Yes, Simon?"

  "Would you please show Teagan where she can wash her face? I'm going to borrow a shirt from father." I looked at Simon's soaked shoulder and felt my face turn red. Gina took my arm. "I'll be back in a moment," Simon assured me.

  "Come with me," Gina said. We walked into a lift, and when the door opened, Gina led me into a beautiful room done in sage green with an immense window with a view of a small waterfall surrounded by a copse of trees. Thunderdrop moved to the top of my head. The bed had an elaborate carved headboard and at least twenty pillows.

  "This is a beautiful room," I said.

  "Thank you. This room belongs to Sherman and me. Give me that." I heard someone in an adjoining room. Gina took the silk square from my hand. "That's just Simon in our closet."

  "I thought that was a room." Gina smiled.

  "It is. He spoils me. We will look through it, and you will take some things later. Come here and wash your face." The bathtub looked like one of the small pools at the baths on Scipio. A continuous fall of water sparkled over a stone backdrop and into the sculpted stone tub. It looked as though the water was almost three feet deep. The water level remained constant by disappearing over a hidden edge under the fall of water. "You like it?" Gina smiled fondly at the tub.

  "Yes! Who wouldn't?"

  "Here," Gina said as she handed me a wet wash cloth for my face. Then, she picked up a brush and straightened my hair. "Now, let's go have some lunch," she said. She took the cloth from me and ushered me out of the room.

  "Gina?"

  "Yes?"

  "Are they still here?" I thought they must have gone after the way that I had acted. They probably didn't want anything to do with me now.

  "Who?" she asked.

  "Gram, Sydney, Ethan, and Eliot," I said.

  "Yes, why?"

  "I was rude to them on the way here. I thought they might have gone."

  "What happened?" I touched one of the sapphire spiders.

  "Chirp chirp." I shrugged.

  "You're just hungry. Sherman gets cranky when he's hungry, too."

  We entered a small sitting area. Gram and Sydney shared a small couch. Sherman, Ethan, and Eliot stood by a table covered in food. Thunderdrop jumped from me and went to ZeeZee. I forced myself to stand a bit back, but in front of Gram and Sydney. "I want to apologize for my behavior. I was rude, and I'm ashamed of myself for it." I looked at my shoes. I felt too much like a coward to look up at them. I worried at the expressions they might have and that I had ruined things between us.

  "Teagan, come here," Gram insisted. I stepped closer and dread began to close my throat. "Closer." She took my hand.

  "You didn't do anything. I'm glad you let me know how you were feeling. I've been sitting here worried I had made you angry with me for being too pushy." Eyes wide I looked at her.

  "Angry with you? I could never be angry with you! You're the sweetest, kindest person I've ever met! I'm the one who is rude and ungrateful. I hope you can forgive me."

  Gram said, "You are neither of those things. You are just trying to deal with a lot all at once, and you are doing a good job."

  "Is lunch ready?" Simon asked as he walked into the room. I sucked in a breath and felt my eyebrows lift. I closed my mouth. Simon had changed his shirt, and rather than the elegant black silk I had soaked, he now wore a bright red, long sleeved shirt at least three sizes too large and with a hem that reached the middle of his thighs. It wasn't just red, it was a shiny red. "Let's eat!" Simon pulled out a chair for me. "Come along, Teagan," he said. I stepped over to him and stood on my toes to whisper in his ear.

  "Simon, I can clean your other shirt for you. I know how. Just tell me where it is."

  Where everyone could hear, he said, "What's wrong with this one? It's great!"

  "Oh, Simon."

  He said, "Please have a seat." I sat, and he pushed in my chair. Everyone else took seats. Simon sat to my right. Servers began filling our plates with spring rolls. I looked at my plate in surprise. Simon flashed me a smile. Once Sherman had taken a bite, I attacked a spring roll. The inside was perfectly fresh and crisp, and I dipped it into the little bowl of sauce on my plate.

  "These are lovely. What are they called?" Sydney asked.

  "They are spring rolls. Simon has spied on Teagan enough to find out her favorite foods," Gina answered.

  "These are perfect," I said. A server gave me a pleased nod and placed soup in front of us. Next, he brought egg rolls, followed by rice and a spicy chicken with peppers. Gina seemed smugly satisfied each time I cleaned a plate or bowl. I drank some cold tea. It was too perfect. I looked over at Simon to see if he liked the food. Simon had food all over the cuffs of the terrible red shirt. I whispered, "Do you want me to help you roll the sleeves up?"

  "No, why?" I tried to relax the crease in my forehead.

  "Excellent, Gina," Sherman complimented.

  "Since the rain has stopped for the moment, what say you all to taking Teagan on a tour?" Sherman asked.

  "That sounds like a good idea to me," Ethan said. We followed Sherman outside to a large open hover transport that had seven rows of bench seats. Sherman took the driver's seat, and Ethan sat next to him. Gina and Sydney sat in the back. I was directed to a middle seat, and Eliot and Simon sat to either side of me. Thunderdrop and ZeeZee climbed up on the seat behind us. I leaned against the back of the seat. The rain had been replaced with a cool breeze. It caught at the shiny red fabric of Simon's shirt. I laughed before I could stop myself. Simon turned his pale blue eyes on me.

  "Something funny?"

  "It's just... Simon." I pushed my hand against the front of his shirt, until I finally pressed the fabric against his stomach. Simon and Eliot started laughing, and I heard giggles from behind us. Gram turned around and looked at us from her seat behind Sherman and Ethan.

  "That has to be the worst shirt I have ever seen," she said.

  "I had to search all through their closet to find it," Simon admitted. Simon smiled at me and said, "Hearing you laugh was worth the effort," and placed a kiss on my forehead.

  After the tour we sat in the living space and were served coffee. Thunderdrop began doing silly things to make me laugh, showing Simon how it was done. "Thunderdrop, will you show everyone how Hiroshi and Yukihyo fight?" Thunderdrop blinked at me. I lifted my fists. "Put them up!" I prompted. He lifted his front legs and balanced on his back legs. I giggled at him. "Now, how do they move their feet? Show me how to fight." Thunderdrop began moving backwards, forwards, from side to side, and kicked out his side legs a few times. I clapped, laughed, and smiled at him. Gram and Eliot both chuckled. Sherman and Simon were both laughing and wiping at their eyes by the time Thunderdrop had finished his demonstrations. "Good, boy! I'm so proud of you! May I have a hug?" Thunderdrop scrambled up to me and curled around my neck. I stroked his back. Cass and ZeeZee began trying to lift their legs the way Thunderdrop had. Seeing a three-foot-long spider attempting to lift his claws and do fancy footwork, had me laughing so hard I had to clutch my sides. ZeeZee started clacking at me, and then even Ethan started laughing. Simon made me a graceful bow.

  "My lady, since you have finally given me my wish to hear your laughter, allow me to give you any gift you desire."

  I laughed at him and said, "Okay. I want you to change your shirt!" Simon dropped to his knee in front of me and shook his head.

  "I'm serious."

  "So am I." Simon stared at me with pale blue eyes.

  "Isn't there some gift I can give you, to please you?"

  "Simon, you let Thunderdrop come with me. He's priceless." Simon took my hand in his.

  "Yes, but he chose you of his own will. That was entirely out of my control."

  "No, it
wasn't. I was terrified of him at first. I thought he was going to eat me." ZeeZee and Thunderdrop chirped and followed Cass into the kitchen.

  "Teagan, when Simon and his father get like this, all you can do is give him an answer," Gina said. I turned my head to her and then back to Simon.

  "I did. Must I beg you to change your shirt?"

  Gram said, "You can think of at least one thing you want, can't you?" I thought of Yukihyo naked and in the shower, but I didn't say that out loud. Eliot started to cough. Simon's eyes sparkled with mischief.

  "I know! You promised me blaster lessons, so the next time some idiot tries to mess with me, I can knock him on his ass instead of missing. On his butt, I mean. Sorry."

  "Done, but that isn't a gift." I showed him my bracelet.

  "Simon, I have two bracelets, my wedding ring, a beautiful necklace, and bunches of clothes. I even have my own transport. It has blue seats. Uncle Lee made me bunches of orange chicken. I've even got loads of credits. I really can't think of anything I could want. Well, I want to buy Thunderdrop some new toys. You said we could take him to a toy store." Simon smiled at me.

  "Eliot, would you like to help me escort our sweet cousin to a toy store?"

  "That sounds very amusing."

  "Change your shirt, Simon?" He kissed my cheek and rushed off while I finished my coffee. Thunderdrop climbed onto my lap. "Does my sweet baby want to go look at toys?" Thunderdrop blinked at me and lifted up to my chest to rub a feeler against my cheek. That was new. I whispered, "Oh, you're such a sweet baby. I love you." I rubbed the space between his front leg and cephalothorax. Eliot extended his hand down to me.

  We followed Simon and Cass into a transport just large enough to hold three people and three spiders. Simon drove us to an expensive looking street lined with buildings constructed of stone. Fountains and stone benches decorated the landscaped entrances of each building. Simon led us up the path to one and held open the door for us to enter. The store had a high ceiling, and suspended from it far above our heads a Galaxic Militia fighter model floated amongst glittering fabric stars hung from thin silk strands. "Wow!" I looked at Eliot. "Your brother has a real one!" Eliot pinched my cheek.

  "Yes, and I am sure your cousin will give you a tour of it one day," he said.

  "Seriously? Do you really think he might?" I asked. A store clerk came toward us and bowed deeply.

  "Lord Alaric, Lord Montgomery, I am greatly honored by your presence in my humble store. How may I be of assistance?"

  Eliot said, "You are most kind, sir. Our sweet cousin, recently returned to us, wishes to purchase amusements for her companion." Thunderdrop climbed atop my head to preen.

  "Please, allow me to show you anything you would like, my lady."

  "Thank you, sir, but if it's okay with you, the last time we visited a toy store, Thunderdrop just wandered around the store and told me when he wanted something. Is that okay?"

  "Yes, my lady. Please do as you wish."

  "Thank you. Did you hear that? We have permission to look, and no one will be afraid of you here. Go pick out what you want. I'll watch."

  "Chirp chirp chirp," he said as he jumped down and wandered off. Cass darted after him. ZeeZee followed at a sedate pace. My cousins and I exchanged glances when chirping and clacking reached our ears. Upon our approach we discovered them pushing toy transports down the length of the store.

  "That looks like fun," I said kneeling down. Twenty-four eyes blinked at me. "Are those the ones you want?" I asked. Blinking was their response. "Sir, we want these cars. Will you please put them in three separate bags?"

  "Yes, my lady."

  "Okay, I'm buying you each your own transport, and you get your own bags. Let's go look at some other toys, and the nice man will take those to the counter for us." They moved their claws from their transports and continued along. The man picked up the transports.

  "I've never seen anything so amazing. They play with toys?" he said.

  "Yes, sir. They like playing with our ball, too." Thunderdrop and Cass had become entranced by a pyramid. It was made of a shiny black plasti-material and reached my knee at its apex. When they touched it with their claws, colors appeared. I sat by them, touched a side, and a different color trailed my finger's path on its surface. Cass and I looked at each other. Thunderdrop chirped. "This is fun," I said. The store clerk watched us. "How much is this?" I asked.

  "Fifty credits, my lady."

  "Is that all? I thought it would be more."

  Eliot asked, "Have you seen color shapes before?"

  "No, I've never seen one before. You have?"

  "Yes, Simon, Eric, and I used to play with those."

  "Why did you stop?" I asked.

  "Clack clack clack," Cass said.

  "Okay, Cass. Sir, do you have two of these? I think both Cass and Thunderdrop want one."

  "Yes, my lady. I will see to it at once."

  ZeeZee became excited next. He pushed a ball that glowed when it moved. ZeeZee pushed it, bent down, blinked at it, and pushed it again. When the man came back, I told him that ZeeZee wanted that ball in his bag. He bent down in front of ZeeZee. He said, "Very good choice ZeeZee. I will place this in your bag with your transport."

  "Clack clack." ZeeZee followed after Cass. Eliot wrapped my arm through his.

  Eliot said, "ZeeZee has been enjoying the company of Thunderdrop and Cass. It has been years since I have seen him play." I smiled.

  "Thunderdrop is always fun to be around. He's so cute." Thunderdrop and Cass each selected light weight bouncy balls, and then they were done. I held my bracelet chip out to the clerk, but Eliot chuckled at me and handed the clerk a card to scan.

  "Thank you, Lord Alaric. Please come again." We each grabbed a bag to put in the transport.

  "Thank you. That was fun. Thunderdrop loves toy stores. Cass and ZeeZee seemed to have fun, too."

  Simon suggested a short walk to a store he wanted to visit. When we arrived at the door, Elliot opened it for us and followed us inside.

  "Clack clack click," ZeeZee sounded. Thunderdrop sat still on my shoulder. Cass did the same on Simon. It was a sparkly store like the one Yukihyo had taken me to on Scipio. I felt the chain around my neck and looked at the leaves surrounding the milky white glittering stone. I followed behind Simon and Eliot. Simon spoke to a store clerk who looked at him with a love sick expression. When she left, I whispered to him so Eliot could hear.

  "Simon, take your shirt off and flex your arm muscles. I want to see if she'll faint." They both laughed.

  Simon said, "Stop it, or I'll tell Gram." The store clerk came back with a tray covered in jewelry. She fluttered long dark lashes at Simon. I poked Eliot in the ribs. I turned my back to Simon and the lady. I looked adoringly up at Eliot and fluttered my eyelashes at him. Eliot tried to keep a straight face, but failed miserably as laughter rumbled out of him.

  Eliot said, "Let me buy you a gift."

  "Me? Maybe we should buy Gram a present while we're here. It could be from the three of us, and we could each pitch in."

  "That is a splendid idea."

  "What do you think she would like?"

  He put my hand on his arm and said, "Let's look."

  There were rings, bracelets, earrings, pins, pendants, and gems of every color. A stunning pendant caught my attention. Gems of pale blue and green had been arranged in an elegant design on its surface. "That one is pretty, and it has blue like your and Simon's eyes and green like mine." A store keeper approached us.

  "May I be of service, Lord Alaric?"

  "May we see that piece?" Eliot asked. The man opened the case and laid the necklace over a piece of silk.

  "This is an exquisite piece, Lord Alaric. The locket showcases the finest blue and green diamonds of the best clarity."

  "Locket?" I asked. The shop keeper opened it.

  "It will hold a small picture inside," he explained to me.

  I thought of the picture Gram had given to me with my grandmother in it
. I realized that I was squeezing Eliot's arm. When he looked down at me, my eyes had started to tear. Eliot reached up and wiped my tears away.

  I heard Simon say, "Eliot, what have you done? I had her laughing, and now you have her in tears."

  "Simon, she thinks the three of us should go in together on a gift for Gram. Look at this." Simon bent forward to look.

  "That is lovely. Gram would adore it," Simon agreed.

  "Perhaps we could take a picture together and place it inside for her." I looked up at him.

  The shop keeper said, "My lords and lady, there is a little garden behind the store where I could capture a lovely image of the three of you. I can have it placed within the locket in moments."

  "Lead the way," Eliot said. He took us out to a wooden bench surrounded by bright red flowers. I started laughing.

  "Look! The flowers would have matched your other shirt!" Simon flashed a brilliant smile at me that would have melted the other store keeper. For the picture I sat in the middle of the bench with Thunderdrop on my lap. Cass perched beside me and Eliot and Simon stood behind me each with a hand on one of my shoulders. ZeeZee stood to my side in front of Eliot.

  "I'll print this out right away," the shop keeper promised as he led us back inside.

  "Did you ask him how much it costs?" I asked. Eliot kissed my hand and trapped it beneath his arm.

  "With blue and green diamonds, it will be a gift worthy of the Lady Alaric," he said. I started thinking about how many credits I could spend. The shop keeper returned with the locket suspended from a thick chain of the same rich platinum as the locket. The diamonds flashed in the light. He had placed it in a light blue silk box. He opened the locket and showed us our picture. I blinked fast so I wouldn't cry. I had never been in a family picture. "The Lady Alaric will be pleased," Eliot told him.

  "How much do we owe you?" Simon asked.

  "Seven thousand credits, Lord Montgomery." I bit my lip.

  "Since you are both older and taller, I suggest that I pitch in a thousand, and the two of you split the difference." Simon grinned at me.