Chapter Five
“Look, more L’annabes. They’re lined up around the block.” David pointed out the rear passenger window at the Omaha convention center, where Aelyx had spent the last several hours guest lecturing to university students about the physics of space travel. “You have more groupies than the Rolling Stones ever did, you lucky bastard.”
The armored SUV hit a bump in the road, sending a dozen rifles clanking against their owners. If Aelyx wanted to venture beyond the hotel, this was his only option. He hated living like this, in constant fear of attack. “It’s not as glamorous as you think,” Aelyx said, shielding his eyes from the setting sun. “The attention gets annoying after a while.”
“Yeah, you poor baby.” David rolled his eyes. “Annoying doesn’t describe that model I busted trying to sneak into your room last night.” His lips curved in an appreciative grin. “Flexible, maybe. Can’t have been easy to squeeze inside the maid’s cart like that.”
Aelyx laughed. “You’re more human than I gave you credit for.”
“Oh, come on,” David said with a light elbow nudge. “Tell me you wouldn’t have been a little bit stoked if she’d jumped out of your closet.”
“Not in the least,” he assured David. “Cara’s the only one I want.”
“Mmm.” David nodded at Aelyx as if they were members of a secret club. “Once you go human, you never go back, huh? I’ll bet our girls are firecrackers compared to L’eihr chicks. I mean, no offense, but they seem kind of frigid with that empty stare. Not like Earth girls—especially redheads. Man, I love me some gingersnap action.”
Aelyx thought he’d mastered English slang, but he had no clue what David was saying. However, he got the distinct impression that his new friend was much more experienced than he was when it came to women. Aside from what Aelyx had gleaned from the Internet, he didn’t know much about the mechanics of intimacy. Of course, he couldn’t admit that to a human male. Eron would have understood, but not David.
David must have misinterpreted Aelyx’s silence as anger. “Did I go too far with that ‘frigid’ comment? Sorry, man. I’m an idiot. Sometimes I can’t shut up.”
“No, I’m not offended. You’ve got it wrong, though.” In the years since The Way had weaned his generation off the hormone regulators, the clones had wasted no time in pairing off and doing what came naturally. Caught off guard, the medics had rushed to ensure that each student was outfitted with a contraceptive implant before any unauthorized breeding occurred, an offense punishable by death. “Our females are willing.”
David glanced at his comrades to ensure they weren’t listening, then leaned in close. “So, what’s the difference?” he whispered. “You know, between Earth girls and L’eihr girls? Does everything work the same?”
Aelyx tried to think of an answer that wouldn’t betray his limited knowledge of either race. He’d never gone further with a clone than an occasional sh’ellam, their equivalent of a kiss. He told David a deceptively innocent truth. “L’eihrs and humans are biologically identical.”
“Well, sure,” David said over the whirring of the tires. “But there must be something…”
“No,” Aelyx lied, then immediately changed his mind. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t thought of it before. “Actually, there is a difference. If L’eihrs are using Silent Speech, we can share each other’s sensations.”
“No way,” David breathed out in awe. “Feeling yours and hers at the same time? That must be awesome.”
Yes, Aelyx imagined it would be. With any luck, Cara would feel ready someday, and he’d actually get to find out.
After that, David gazed silently out the window, no doubt wishing his brain were capable of Silent Speech, while Aelyx wondered how he’d survive until the spring. He wished The Way would allow him to tell humans some measure of the truth. That would accomplish their goal of finding support for the alliance and allow him to return to Cara. But the request he’d submitted to his leaders had gone unanswered, leaving him bound to silence.
When the armed convoy arrived at the hotel and David ushered Aelyx into their suite, the ambassador greeted them at the door.
“I’ve held dinner for you,” Stepha said, leading the way to the dining room, where small white cartons of takeout waited. “Was your speaking engagement successful?”
Nodding, Aelyx scanned the living area for Syrine. She should have returned from her visit to the children’s hospital by now. “Is Syrine joining us?”
“No,” Stepha told him. “She returned from her outing and went straight to bed. She isn’t feeling well.”
“What’s wrong with her?” David asked. “I thought L’eihrs had super immunity or something.”
Stepha shrugged and dipped a serving spoon into a carton of fried rice, a rather casual response considering David was right. Between Syrine’s natural immune system and the inoculations she’d received prior to leaving L’eihr, she shouldn’t fall ill.
Aelyx turned his gaze to her bedroom door and wrestled with the urge to go to her. A month ago, he wouldn’t have hesitated, but that was before she’d betrayed their friendship. He owed her nothing.
He grabbed a container of chicken and served himself while unwanted memories haunted him—six-year-old Syrine sneaking him supper after he’d been lashed with the iphet and sent to his room; eleven-year-old Syrine using her gift as a spiritual healer to lessen his grief when the old house pet had died.
She had been there when he’d needed her.
Aelyx threw down his fork and stood from the table. Curse it all, Syrine wasn’t forgiven, but he had to know she was all right. “I’m going to check on her.”
“Thank you, brother.” Stepha grinned in a way that told Aelyx this had been a test, and he’d passed. “I’m certain you will help her in a way I cannot.”
When Aelyx knocked on her door, she didn’t respond, so he opened it a crack and peeked into her room. The purple bruise of twilight filtered through the window, making her seem even smaller as she curled into a ball atop her bed. She’d hugged a pillow to her chest, and tears welled in her eyes. Seeing her like this made Aelyx’s heart heavy.
He shut the door behind him and sat on the edge of her bed. “You’re missing dinner.”
It seemed to take extra effort for her to draw a breath. “I’m not hungry.”
Aelyx extended a hand toward her and drew back. He didn’t need to touch her to know she didn’t have a fever. “What happened today? Did someone hurt you?”
She shook her head against her pillow.
“Talk to me,” he pressed.
When she met his gaze, a plump tear spilled free and plunked to the mattress. “Do you know what my ‘good deed’ was today?”
“To visit the children’s hospital.”
“No. To visit dying children in the hospital,” she clarified. “There’s a program that gives them one final wish, and their wish was to spend the day with me.” She scoffed and repeated, “Me. They could’ve had anything they wanted.”
Aelyx offered a sad smile. “I’m glad you were able to give them that gift.”
“I did my best,” she said, her breath hitching. “I told them stories about our Voyagers and the strange worlds they’ve discovered. Their favorite was the swamp planet where the trees are sentient. They loved hearing how the branches tangle with one another to pass along messages and songs.”
“That’s one of my favorites, too.”
“And I told them the old legend—how some say ancient L’eihrs were abducted and transplanted on Earth to form the human race.” She lowered her voice and confided, “I’ve never believed it, but I told the children we were related. They seemed to like that.”
“I’m glad you were able to bring them happiness.” Aelyx chose his next words with care, not wanting to add to her unease by sounding accusatory. “Do you still believe that their kind isn’t worth saving?”
For a long time, she didn’t answer. When she did, her voice was a strangled whisper. “It’s not fair. Eron’s killers will live on while these younglings are doomed to die.”
“No,” Aelyx agreed, “it’s not fair.”
Syrine covered her face with both palms. “Nothing makes sense here. I want to go home.”
“I do, too.” He pulled back one of her hands and waited until she looked at him. “But not until we secure the alliance. Don’t you agree?”
She didn’t say yes, but judging by the way she averted her gaze and hugged her pillow tightly, Syrine had learned a lesson today. That was enough for Aelyx. He stood to return to his supper.
“Wait,” she called as he turned the doorknob. She propped herself up on one elbow and hesitated to speak. Just when Aelyx thought she might apologize for her behavior last month, she sighed and lay back down. “Thanks for the talk.”
Aelyx gave a tight nod. “You would do the same for me.”