«So, what planet do you come from? And where are your parents?» he asked again.
«I don’t have parents. I was born alone, like a butterfly» she replied, pointing to one who was flying not far from them.
«What are you saying?! You want to tell me that you've never had anyone in the world?»
«Oh, no! This is not true. I have you!» she replied, as if this were the most normal thing to come out with.
«You have me?! But we've only known each other for a few hours! Are you kidding me?»
«You talk strangely, Patrik Jones» she said, frowning a little.
«Ah, this is great! A girl of four hundred and eleven comes out of nowhere and says that in the world she has only me, and that I speak strange?! I'll tell you something, baby, it's bothering me to be made fun of. I don’t know who you are or who that woman was this morning, but you have to stop treating me like a fool. Nobody can give me explanations here and I have to accept everything that happens to me».
Patrik was losing his patience.
His tone of voice was high and very annoyed, to the point where the Kentauros stopped to look at the two of them.
Kaira stood for a moment looking at him with a sad and frightened expression.
«You're bad, Patrik Jones. If you don’t want me then you might as well let me stay here!» and with tears in her eyes the baby began to run away into the forest.
«Yes, of course, run away» he shouted. «Go back to the lady and try to stay away from me».
The Kentauros looked in the direction of Patrik without saying or doing anything.
He had his hands resting on his hips and looking down, trying to regain his calm.
How had it occurred to him to take with him a child left to him by a stranger? It was too much responsibility. He would soon be on Arkass and then, with a little luck, on Vortix to take back his father.All places certainly not suitable for a girl.
He would have brought her back.
Now he had to find her again.
«Aaaaaah!».
Suddenly Kaira's scream came from the same trees behind which she disappeared.
Patrik began to run, taking his siel in the hand.
«Kaira, where are you?» he began to scream.
«Aaaaaah». Still a screech.
Patrik tried to follow the sound of her voice to figure out where she was.
With the help of his weapon he made his way through the intertwined branches of a pair of tall bushes, and finally saw her.
The little girl had climbed on a rock trying to escape the animal that had found her. It looked like a tiger but at least twice as big as the ones he saw at the zoo when he was young. It was completely white and it growled in the direction of Kaira, ready to attack.
Patrik turned his siel into a sword and stood between the big beast and the girl.
«Run to the Kentauros, quickly!» shouted Patrik without losing sight of the beast, who was moving sideways waiting to find the right moment to attack.
The girl didn’t move. She was terrified.
Patrik was sweating coldly and understood that the animal could feel his fear.
With a sudden leap the tiger landed on the rock right next to the girl and with its paw knocked her down.
Patrik hurled a blow at the beast's foot and wounded it, causing to gasp in pain.
The tiger jumped on him and the two began to struggle rolling on the ground.
A scratch opened on Patrik’s side and he squeezed the creature’s neck with all the rage that he had, burning its skin.
For a moment they parted.
Patrik managed to stand up.
He divided his siel in two parts, almost without thinking, and then pierced the beast on both sides, coming to the heart with two perfect blades of light.
The big beast fell to the ground, dying, breathing heavily.
«Where are you Kaira?» he asked, looking around, barely realizing his opponent would not get up.
The child was standing.
Fortunately, she did not look hurt.
Two streams of tears ran down her cheeks and as she met Patrik's gaze, she started running toward him.
He leaned down and hugged her tightly, glad that she was safe.
«I was so scared» she said, holding him as tight as she could.
«It's all over, shhh. Don’t run away from me any more. You gave me a good fright, do you know that?» he said, stroking her hair.
«You don’t want me, but I have nowhere to go. I'm alone» the girl continued, crying and holding him even tighter.
«It's not true that I don’t want you. I have to go to dangerous places and I'm afraid something bad will happen to you. But you don’t have to fear, I will not leave you again. Now don’t cry any more, all right?»
«All right» she said, smiling and kissed him.
Patrik was confused.
If something happened to Kaira he would never forgive himself. He didn’t even know her, but something had connected him to the little creature inexplicably. He had understood that while the big animal was trying to kill her.
He decided he would take her safely out of that place, and at any cost. Then he would decide what to do. Perhaps, in his heart, he hoped to have his father to advise him shortly.
«Let's go back now» he said, still holding her.
«Wait a moment. Put me down» she said.
He bent and the girl got down, starting to walk towards the dying animal.
«Be careful» said Patrik, who didn’t understand what she wanted to do.
The little girl took a pile of earth with her hand and knelt to the side of the tiger. She placed the earth on its body, placing her forehead at the height of its heart and uttering strange words in a low voice, as if they were part of a prayer.
The animal died a few seconds later and she put her hand on its face to close its eyes.
Then without saying anything, she took Patrik's hand and the two walked away.
The Kentauros were still there.
None of them moved.
«Thanks for the help anyway» Patrik said sarcastically to them. «Yesterday you wouldn’t let me fight, and today no one moved a finger to help us. Beautiful consistency!»
Nobody said anything and then everyone started walking again.
Patrik smiled, feeling like someone who had tried to make sheep think, but that was fine.
After all, the little girl was safe and he was coming back to his friends.
They camped on a hill from which the village of Kentaura could be seen in the distance.
Next day the trip would be over.
*
Hiylos stood by King Karmora, waiting for everyone to arrive. The fact that he no longer had to nurse the pestiferous girl made him feel serene and more motivated to carry out his real tasks: adviser of the crown.
The ruler of Solyar had called everyone on the bridge to communicate the latest decisions, and he was determined to support them unconditionally.
Andal entered, escorted by guards and took his seat in the control room in front of the flight equipment. They still needed him for the return.
Myah came in with her younger sister.
He smiled at her, but she looked away, pretending not to have noticed it.
The king laughed under his breath.
Alannah was very nervous. She knew that what she was about to listen to would not be pleasant, and she was determined to stay. She had to stay and accompany Patrik to get his father back.
Marco, Kalberham and Tadiero entered shortly after, accompanied by Camilla.
Karmora stood up and all the guards were at attention.
«Well gentlemen, as you know Prince Selidar left us to try to get back into his body. We wish him good luck and hope that he will soon be safe and sound again. I got to talk to Poligon Dhaal and the Guardian council, and they too agree that it's only Olympia and its crew that should stay on Kentaura and wait for young Jones».
«When is the departure scheduled?»
Kalberham asked.
«We'll leave in about one hour, as soon as the midshipman has finished tracing all the return routes» the king replied.
«Yes, sir» Andal said immediately and turned to fumble with the equipment in front of him.
«Obviously we have already arranged that your ship be supplied and equipped as much as possible to face the journey ahead» said Hiylos in a pedantic tone.
Kalberham merely made a gesture of approval, bowing his head slightly.
«I ask permission to join the crew of Olympia, sir» Alannah said suddenly, surprising everyone.
«That is out of the question» said her father, annoyed that his daughter had made such a request and, as if that were not enough, in public.
«I have reached the age of majority and I believe I have the right to make a formal request to my sovereign, as well as my father» she added, not intending to give in so easily.
The king looked at Myah questioningly for a moment andraised his eyes to heaven, making it clear that she knew nothing.
«So let's hear this formal request» he replied impatiently.
«I think I'm a good fighter and it's my desire to help free a loved one like Commander Jones» she said without pausing.
«Yes sure. And also has a crush on my friend» Marco said softly, nudging Kalberham's arm gently, who looked at him in amazement.
«I appreciate your feelings. They make you honorable. But I cannot expose the Princess of Solyar to such a risk» Karmora replied, trying to close the subject.
«So the princess's life is worth more than the others, sir?!» Alannah asked defiantly.
The expression of the sovereign changed from annoyed to furious in a second.
«Gentlemen, I think ...» said Tadiero suddenly, breaking the moment of tension.
«Wait Tadiero! The king must answer a question» Alannah interrupted, never taking her gaze from her father's.
«Yes, but I believe that ...»
«So Tadiero. Why do you keep interrupting?» Alannah turned to him, furious.
«I beg your pardon, Princess» he answered, a little embarrassed, scratching his head. «But I think that is Patrik Jones».
Everyone turned to look at the monitor.
It was him.
Alannah's heart began to race and a smile came to her face.
Marco’s expression also changed. His friend was finally back and he was all in one piece.
Then he looked better at the video, bowing his head curiously. «And that little girl who the hell is she?!»
22
Nadine was tired and very worried.
The long journey on a military plane, to an unknown destination, had kept her up all night.
Nobody had told her anything about where they were going and whenever she complained that what they were doing was unconstitutional and that she wanted a lawyer, some weary soldier told her to remain calm and that it would be all over soon if they worked together.
They had made analyses and a series of specific examinations asking only what was strictly necessary. A barrier was always next to her to make sure that the medical staff couldn’t speak to her unnecessarily. She could hear people in other rooms speaking English and was not even convinced she was still in German territory.
Two soldiers accompanied her to a waiting room and left without saying anything. The window inside the room made it clear that on the other side someone was watching and listening to her.
She was too tired to try and argue, it was like banging her head against a brick wall and they would not listen to her, so she didn’t care. Patrik had disappeared and, if she understood correctly, had been kidnapped by who knows who. Perhaps the biggest thing about her imprisonment was the fact that she didn’t know exactly what had happened to her son.
The man who then entered the room was tall, thin and well dressed. A jacket, tie and a reassuring smile.
«Mrs. Bauer, or Jones, if you prefer, I apologize for your forced stay here, but you have to realize that these are extraordinary circumstances»
«Extraordinary circumstances?! I want to know where I am, I want to know where my son is and why you're doing all this to me!» she replied in a very annoyed tone.
«So you say you have no idea what happened to Patrik and where is he hiding now?»
«No, sir, I have no idea! I have not seen my son since the morning of the day you took me and I don’t know where he might be. And how could I know ?! I spent the last forty-eight hours with you and I have no way of communicating with the outside world. But you know this better than me, don’t you?»
«We'll need to give you a lie detector test» he said, still looking at her to try and understand her expression.
«I have nothing against it and I have nothing to hide, but then I want answers too. About my son ...».
The man turned and nodded toward the mirror.
After about ten seconds two men with a machine entered the room and attached the electrodes where necessary. Then one of the two started the machine.
«When you want…» one of the technicians said, turning to the man.
«Are you Madame Nadine Bauer, Commander Jones's widow?» he asked.
«Yes, that’s me» she answered.
«Do you live in Raiffeisenstrasse, Kleinwallstadt, Germany?»
«Yup. I live there».
The man asked other routine questions and the technician nodded his head, evidently to confirm the answers.
«Have you ever had contact with extraterrestrial or presumed entities?» he asked at a certain point, the tone of his voice changing.
«No, never» she replied.
The technician nodded.
«Is Patrik Jones really your son?»
«Absolutely» she said impatiently.
«Have you ever noticed unusual episodes or behavior in your son that could make you think of extraterrestrial contact?».
The machine began to waver and Nadine with a burst of rage lifted the electrodes and threw them on the table.
«That's enough! I've had enough!» she shouted.
«Madame, we have not finished yet» said the man, a little annoyed.
«I can’t stand it any more! Please, leave me alone ...» and her anger turned to tears.
The door swung open.
«It's okay. Leave us alone» said the soldier in uniform, full of spangles, who suddenly appeared in the room.
Everyone left the room and the two remained alone.
«Madam, I am General Hobbs and you are on a NATO base of which I cannot give you the location at the moment. I knew David, a good soldier and, above all, a friend of mine. I am saddened that his wife is going through all of this, but after what happened it seems to me the least ...».
«Why, what happened ?!» she asked, looking up with her face streaked with tears.
«You really don’t know ...?!» the general asked incredulously.
«Please. If you really were a friend of Patrik's father, tell me what happened to him. I beg you».
Hobbs turned to the glass and, after thinking for a moment, began to talk.
«About forty hours ago an unidentified spacecraft landed near your home. The beings that came down, who were not human, asked specifically for Patrik Jones. Then, after killing some soldiers there, they left. When we arrived at your house, Patrik's room, and Patrik himself, had disappeared. You arrived shortly thereafter. That's all we know».
Nadine could not believe it. She was petrified and the general saw her terrified expression.
«Now» he continued, «you have to tell us everything you know about your son or we won’t know how to look for him and, more importantly, how to help him».
Nadine sat down in front of him and began to tell him everything she knew. Of how her son disappeared when he was a child, of his extraordinary abilities that came and went. She tried to reassemble all the pieces of the puzzle and told everything that seemed relevant, hoping to help Patrik.
«Another boy seems to have disappeared. Marco Almisi, a
s well as your dog» he said as he listened to the woman carefully.
«They are friends. Very good friends, almost like brothers. It’s not impossible that they were together on the morning of the event. As for the dog, Patrik takes him every morning to walk on the hill meadows above our house. You can search there».
The general stood up. «Thank you. I'll be right back» and, smiling at her, left the room.
Nadine also got up and started walking around the room. She had not smoked for a long time, but a cigarette she would have one now. Then she leaned on the table and crossed her arms.
«Patrik where are you?» she whispered to herself.
*
Marco ran to Patrik and hugged him tightly.
«Ugly idiot. Want to give me a heart attack? Where have you been all this time?» he asked immediately.
«You must excuse me. I wanted to call, but there's no line in the forest» he answered sarcastically.
«Good! Here we are all worried for him, and the gentleman allows himself to be witty ... well, I don’t give a damn about you. I’m doing it for your mother, who has the misfortune to still love you» added Marco slapping Patrik’s face.
«Welcome back my boy» said Kalberham, who had just joined Patrik in the company of Tadiero and Alannah.
«I suppose you have a few things to say to us».
«Yes, of course» he replied, as his gaze crossed for a moment with Alannah's.
«You could, for example, start by telling us, using simple words, who the hell is the little Terrestrial you are holding by the hand?» Marco asked.
«I'm not Terrestrial» she said, smiling.
«Her name is Kaira» Patrik replied, winking at her. «Kaira, let me introduce you to my friends Kalberham, Tadiero, Alannah and this big blowhard that is Marco, my best friend».
«Hello Miss. And where do you come from?» he replied, leaning toward her and giving her a high five.
Kaira didn’t answer. She pulled away from Patrik's hand and started running toward the trees, where the Kentauros had been watching.
Kalberham and the others realized only at that moment that they had been standing there waiting.
The biggest one came out and leaned toward her.
From a distance they saw that the girl was whispering something to that big beast by placing her little hand on his face.
Patrik Jones and the Code of the Universe Page 17