“I must admit, this is a very enjoyable way to travel.” Kasumi’s hand was outside the window feeling the air. “I think my ancestors might have traveled like this once,” she said. “It’s a shame we stopped.”
“Did you stop traveling?” Mel asked in curiosity.
Kasumi laughed. “Spirits, no,” she chirped. “We just stopped opening windows.” Her crest fluttered. “I’m not really sure why,” she continued. “Our air was and still is clean. We even have parklands set aside, and Rynn do enjoy nature …” Her crest flicked in the way Mel had learned to interpret as a shrug. “But …” Again her crest flicked in a shrug. “It’s such a simple thing,” she nodded toward the window.
“As Gramps would say, simple things are always best,” Mel replied.
Kasumi covered her eyes. “So wise,” she said quietly. “Sometimes I feel I am speaking with the First Teacher herself.”
“For heaven’s sake, don’t tell Gramps that,” Mel admonished with a laugh. “He’ll spend the rest of the day trying to convince you he’s a fraud.” She laughed again. “He’ll probably tell you that he’s just repeating what others have said before.”
Kasumi nodded. “The First Teacher said the same,” she chirped. “It’s just that she said it better than anyone before her.”
“Ah,” Mel said in understanding. “Heads up, we’re coming into town.”
Kasumi made to raise the hood of her sweatshirt and then stopped. She settled it around her neck. “I will not hide what I am,” she declared. “If Rynn and humans hope to … walk the path together, we should start now.”
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” quoted Mel. “Some ancient Chinese philosopher,” Mel explained. “Gramps would know who.”
“Of course he would,” agreed Kasumi. “All great teachers study the words of those who came before.”
Mel laughed. “Careful, Kasumi,” she chided. “You keep talking like that, and someone will start calling you ‘Teacher.’”
Kasumi’s crest flattened in embarrassment. Before she could respond, the truck rounded a corner, and the town appeared before her. Kasumi peered through the windshield eagerly, her earlier hesitation forgotten in the excitement of actually walking among humans.
To Rynn eyes, the town was absolute proof that she was on a world populated by something other than Rynn—though some things were not so dissimilar from what would be found on Nest.
There were storefronts with goods displayed behind windows, but the storefronts were rectangular, as were the windows, instead of the more rounded constructions favored by Rynn.
One storefront caught Kasumi’s eye. “Spirits,” she exclaimed. “Is that a food market?” She turned to Mel. “Do you think they have carrots?”
Mel grinned at the hopeful tone in the translated voice and pulled the truck into a convenient parking space. “Let’s find out.” She turned off the engine. “Okay, hat and sunglasses on,” she ordered. She waited until Kasumi had the hat—floppy and broad-brimmed—on and the sunglasses in place. “Ready?” Mel asked. Kasumi nodded. “Okay, let’s go,” Mel said cheerfully.
Kasumi opened the truck door and exited. For the first time, she was truly among humans. She and Mel started walking toward the grocery. Almost immediately, Kasumi realized just how tall humans in general were. She unconsciously moved closer to Mel. For a moment, she considered running back to the truck, but the fear of disappointing Jeremy and Mel held her in check. “I can do this,” she chirped quietly.
“Yes, you can,” Mel agreed. “Besides, they have carrots.” She pointed to a large bin that was completely filled with the orange root vegetable. She giggled as Kasumi suddenly picked up her pace. “Like a kid in a candy store,” she muttered.
Mel grabbed a basket, and she and Kasumi walked slowly around the store. The first item that went into the basket was, of course, carrots, but those weren’t the only items. As was typical of many such markets, there were samples available of many of the fruits and vegetables being offered.
“Ooh, what are those?” Kasumi chirped, pointing to another bin of root vegetables.
A store clerk overheard and walked over. “You mean you’ve never had ginger before?” She cut off a small section and quickly peeled it. “Some people find it a little spicy,” she said and offered it to Kasumi.
Kasumi took a cautious nibble. Her eyes widened. “Torque, analyze,” she chirped quietly. After a moment, the Torque chirped back, “Class 5 bioactive herb. Low toxicity, safe to consume.”
“Is there a bird in here?” The clerk looked around. “I keep hearing chirping.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Mel responded easily. She waved a hand. “All this food and stuff.” She turned to Kasumi and gestured at the ginger. “Should I get some?” Kasumi nodded.
The clerk continued to look around, looking for the source of the chirping. She shook herself. “Let me know if you wish to try anything else,” she said. “Oh, and raw peanuts are on sale today.”
“Peanuds?” Kasumi repeated without the Torque.
“I personally like the roasted and salted ones myself,” Mel said to Kasumi. The clerk pointed to a bin. “Thanks.”
Kasumi and Mel spent the next half hour walking through the vegetable market and grocery, trying and eventually buying a number of fruits and vegetables. They finally left with two bags apiece and headed back to the truck.
Kasumi noticed she had received several curious looks but no one stared or found her presence disturbing. “That … that was easier than I expected.”
“People tend to see what they expect to see,” Mel said in comment. “And trust me, no one is expecting an alien.” Kasumi nodded thoughtfully. “I don’t know about you,” Mel continued, “but I could use a cup of coffee. Let’s stash the groceries.”
Groceries safely in the truck, the two women went off in search of a coffee shop. “Gotta be a Starbucks or something,” Mel stated. They turned a corner and passed a storefront. “Oh my,” Mel said softly.
“What is it?” Kasumi chirped. She looked at the storefront. Inside were a number of women sitting at tables with their hands, and sometimes their feet, being worked on by a number of women wearing blue smocks.
“A nail salon,” Mel said. “God, I don’t remember the last time I had a facial or a mani-pedi.”
Mel chirped and chittered for a few seconds. “I think there is something wrong with the Torque’s translator function,” she said in confusion. “It is defining a facial as some kind of sex act.”
Mel started laughing uncontrollably. “Oh lord.” She wiped her eyes. “Oh lord,” she repeated. She raised a hand. “Give me a second.” She took a breath. “Well, it’s not exactly wrong,” she said between chuckles. “Just not appropriate for this situation.”
Kasumi chirped a few times. “Face washing?” she asked after a few more chirps. She looked through the window. “I think that makes more sense.” Mel continued to chuckle. Kasumi chittered. “Though the first one sounded more fun.”
Mel shrugged, though she continued to smile. “It can be, if you’re into that,” she said. “Before I decided I liked women better, I had a couple boyfriends who were.”
Kasumi looked through the window again. “Face washing,” she mused. “Sounds nice.”
“Nothing better than being pampered,” Mel agreed. She raised a hand. “And my hands are a mess.”
Kasumi looked at her own hands. “Spirits weep.”
Mel tapped her lips with a finger. “Now that would be a real test,” she said in a thoughtful voice.
Kasumi looked at Mel in alarm. “You are not seriously thinking about going in there, are you?” she protested. “It’s one thing to walk around like this—” she waved a hand to indicate her sunglasses and hat. “Going in there would be foolish.”
Mel sighed. “You’re probably right,” she admitted.
“Still …”
“If you want a face washing, let me do it,” Kasumi interrupted.
Mel brightened up. “Now that sounds like a plan.” She looked at the shop again. “We’re still going in there,” she said.
“Mel!” Kasumi chirped in protest.
Mel raised a quelling hand. “Just to buy some stuff,” she laughed. “Trust me.” Kasumi chirped disconsolately. Mel put a companionable arm across the little alien’s shoulders. “Come along, Sister.”
Kasumi looked at Mel. “The things I do for you,” she grumbled.
There was a bell over the door that tinkled when they entered. Kasumi kept the brim of her wide floppy hat pulled down and kept her hands in her jacket pockets. There wasn’t much she could do about her feet, but hopefully the legs of her loose jeans would be enough.
A woman approached. Except for some looks that seemed to be more about their size than anything else, the visit was unremarkable, and it wasn’t long before Mel and Kasumi were again—with one additional stop to get coffee—heading back to the car.
Kasumi breathed a huge sigh of relief when she sat down in the passenger seat. “I think I prefer rock climbing,” she chirped. “Humans are giants! I kept expecting to be stepped on.” Mel laughed.
Despite Kasumi’s complaints, it was obvious the alien girl had, at least in part, become comfortable with humans. More importantly, she seemed more confident. Trust Gramps to figure out the best way to get through to someone, Mel thought. She started the truck, and soon they were leaving the town behind.
Kasumi rolled down the window and let the cool mountain air caress her face. After a while, Mel became aware of a trilling and chirping and quickly realized the little alien was singing. The song seemed, at least to Mel, to evoke a feeling of something like longing, yet it was, at the same time, hopeful.
They stopped at a small rest stop for lunch and a chance to stretch their legs. There were a half dozen other adults at the rest stop along with a handful of children. Kasumi watched the children run and play. “So like Rynn,” she chirped.
One child ran past where Mel and Kasumi were sitting, barely giving the two women a glance. Then the same child ran by again and slowed. Her interest in Kasumi was obvious. “Uh-oh,” muttered Mel. “Maybe it’s time to go.”
The child, at most five years old, approached the two women and stopped in front of Kasumi. “You’re tiny,” the little girl stated.
Kasumi nodded. “Yes, I know.”
“Your feet are funny,” the little girl continued.
Kasumi shrugged. “Everyone in my family has feet like mine.”
The little girl nodded sagely. “Mommy says I have my daddy’s eyes.”
“Maybe you should give them back,” Kasumi replied. “He might need them.”
The little girl giggled. “You’re silly.” She ran off.
Kasumi and Mel gathered up the remains of their lunch, and soon they were back on the road. Kasumi looked out the window silently. “You okay?” Mel asked after the silence continued.
“I’m fine, Core Sister,” Kasumi replied. “Seeing the children, that little girl …” She stopped. “That was a little girl, yes?” Mel made a noise of agreement. “Gnarled Root would have been a good father,” she said quietly. “If I take back my ship …” Kasumi began.
“When,” Mel corrected firmly.
“Of course, Core Sister,” Kasumi replied. “When I take back my ship, I plan on having a child right away.”
“Got a man in mind?” Mel asked. “Or will any man do?”
“Gnarled Root has a brother,” Kasumi replied. “Sunlit Meadow.”
“I love Rynn names,” Mel said in an aside. “I hope Sunny won’t mind having a human in his core.”
“And I love how humans shorten names they find too long,” Kasumi replied. “I wasn’t planning on inviting Sunny into my core, at least not long-term,” she said. “Just long enough to give me a child.” Kasumi paused. “I hope you won’t mind him sleeping with us until that happens,” she said in concern. “I know you don’t find men all that attractive.”
“Well, it will take a little getting used to, but I’ve slept with men before,” Mel replied. “Besides, it’s you he’s going to be having sex with.” She raised an eyebrow at Kasumi’s chirping laugh. “Let me guess, sex is communal too.” Kasumi nodded. “Definitely going to take some getting used to,” Mel said. “Whatever you need, Core Sister.”
Kasumi smiled. She closed her eyes and let the wind caress her face.
They made it back to the cabin in the early afternoon. “I hope you brought groceries,” Jeremy said from the doorway of the cabin.
“Got enough for the rest of the month.” Mel replied. “The town we stopped at didn’t have a big selection.”
“They had carrots,” Kasumi chirped cheerfully. Both Mel and Jeremy laughed. “It wasn’t too bad,” she added. She chirped a laugh. “Even if Mel kept on trying to convince me humans are monsters.”
“I think that part of your plan failed, Gramps,” Mel said woefully. “I tried.”
“I didn’t say I didn’t think humans weren’t dangerous,” Kasumi replied. “Just that you aren’t monsters.”
“Well, there is that, at least,” Jeremy said. “Well, bring in the groceries,” he said. “And I’ll make dinner.”
8
IMPATIENCE
The following morning, they were awakened at dawn, and Kasumi found herself back in the dao chung. She bowed to the altar and then to Mel and Jeremy.
As before, Jeremy led the two women in qigong exercises to warm up, followed by an hour of drills. It was only when she and Mel started sparring that Kasumi realized just how much fun she seemed to be having. She raised a hand and backed away.
“Problem, Kasumi?” Jeremy asked in concern.
Kasumi seemed to consider before she started chirping. “I’m not sure, tai si fu.” The translation sounded as unsure as her words. “I feel fine,” she said, and her crest flattened slightly. “I feel better than fine; I feel better than I have in my entire life.”
Both Jeremy and Mel raised an eyebrow. “And that’s a problem?” Jeremy asked.
“I don’t know,” she chirped in frustration. “Shouldn’t I be worried about my duel with Rocky?” she asked. “He’s a trained duelist. He’s killed everyone he’s ever faced.” Her crest rose to its fullest. “And all I can feel is impatience.” She looked at Jeremy. “Why am I so eager to face him? Why is this fun?”
“Oh, I almost feel sorry for Rocky,” Mel said in a quiet aside to her grandfather. “Almost.” She walked over to the little alien. “Fun, huh?” She walked over to a wall rack and removed two curved blades. They were metal but not sharpened. She held the blades out. “Choose.”
Kasumi crest started to lower and then rose to its fullest once again. She looked at the blades. One was slightly shorter than the other, and that was the one she picked. Mel nodded and walked several paces away. She raised her sword in a salute. “Let’s see if you still think it’s fun after I beat you,” she said.
Kasumi raised the blade and saluted back. “You may beat me, Core Sister, but you may not,” she replied.
“Begin!” barked Jeremy.
Kasumi moved forward quickly but deliberately. “Stay light,” she mentally recited. “What your opponent does not move, do not move.” Her blade flashed forward almost on its own. “When your opponent moves, you have already moved.”
Kasumi felt more than saw the low slashing attack and leaped over the blade. Her blade came down in a whistling strike. It was blocked, but Kasumi had already retreated before the expected counter was initiated. She circled the blade behind her neck, and her left hand came out, just as Jeremy had taught her.
Mel’s blade sliced the air, neck high. The back of Kasumi’s blade blocked it. Kasumi spun on one heel, and her blade slashed low towa
rd Mel’s ankles.
Back and forth across the training hall went the two women. Kasumi’s speed and agility countered Mel’s strength and power. At one point, Kasumi used a wall as a springboard to attack from the left flank. At another, she dived toward the ground and rolled, and then her blade flashed upward … and was blocked. But before Mel could take advantage, Kasumi had already retreated to safety.
Back and forth, high and low, the two women battled. Their blades crossed again and again. Sweat started to pour down Kasumi’s face. She backed away to wipe off the sweat and then charged. She was met in the middle of the dao chung, and now they added their bodies to the battle.
Kasumi kicked. To her delight, the blow landed, and Mel backed off. It was a short-lived victory, as Mel came back with her own kicks, one of which almost knocked Kasumi off her feet. She started moving her blade in the flashing figure-eight pattern Jeremy called a flower. She couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled up. “Ready for some more, Core Sister?” she called.
“Any time, Core Sister,” Mel called back, and she added her own laughter.
“Halt,” barked Jeremy. He started a slow clapping as he walked toward the two combatants. “Well done, Kasumi,” he said in rare approval. “Very well done.” To Kasumi’s surprise, he covered his eyes for a moment. “You have come far.”
Kasumi covered her own eyes and then bowed. “If I have come far, it is because you showed me the path, Teacher.”
Jeremy smiled in approval. “Mel,” he said in a commanding tone. “Teach her the family sword form.”
“Yes, tai si fu,” Mel responded proudly.
“Learn it well, Kasumi,” Jeremy said in serious tones. “For when you have mastered that form, you will challenge.”
Kasumi blinked and then bowed low. “Yes, tai si fu.”
Jeremy was sitting on the porch of his cabin and slowly smoking the one cigarette he allowed himself when the cabin door opened and Kasumi walked out. “Good evening, Kasumi,” Jeremy said in greeting.
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