A wish. James had said, rightly, that needs were important where wants were not, and Jamie had told me that Naomi had said that needful wishes were granted. And this sounded needful—giving a sentient planet people to care for. Maybe she’d stop sending spores to Cradus, too. Maybe not. It was hard to guess—this moon and planet had an interesting relationship.
We’ll find people for Spehidon. But she needs to stop the illusion. It doesn’t work right. We will help figure out a better way to protect all of you.
Keep it until we return, Gower said. Just in case.
But you are still here. I am happy for you to stay if you choose.
We have to help some others, far away from here. Then, once we’ve helped them, we will come back and take care of protecting you and finding people for Spehidon.
Can I help you find these others?
Only if you know where the spaceship Eknara recently crashed.
I do not know that. I am sorry.
It’s okay. We have to do things for ourselves. It’s part of what makes us people—that we do and think for ourselves, versus allowing others to do and think for us.
So the rabbits are . . . people?
As I see people, yes. I’m a human, Richard is an A-C, Paul is a hybrid, Fathade is a Cradi, and SuperBun is a rabbit. But we’re all highly sentient, able to think of more than the basic necessities of life, and a part of societies in the greater cosmos so, to me, that makes us all people.
Do you consider me a . . . people?
A person, that’s the singular of people, and yes, I do. Spehidon, too.
You are different.
So I’m told.
I will give you a gift.
Getting to relax on your surface and enjoy what you offer has been a gift already.
Thank you, but I will give you another gift. A gift of myself, a part of me you can carry with you.
White nudged me, but I already knew what to say. That is a wonderful gift. I am honored and I will accept it with much joy.
The ground in front of me rose up and formed into a large ball of gray metal. This is part of me and carries my essence inside of it.
Thank you. I will guard it carefully.
No need, though I appreciate the sentiment. It cannot be harmed or destroyed.
Really?
Really. Even if the metal disappears, my essence will still be there.
Wow. Who knew that a moon could be so philosophical?
Another ball appeared next to the metal one, this one swirling colors of red, yellow, and orange yet mostly insubstantial. It encircled then entered the metal ball. This is a gift from Spehidon. It is her essence as well. She gifts it to you for your willingness to try to find people for her. And, as with my essence, hers cannot be destroyed.
Thank you both. The ball of metal flowed into my hand and reformed as a ball. It divided into several balls, then reformed as one. Wow again.
Cradus chuckled. You have seen this already, more than this really, and this small thing amazes you?
It does. It’s a part of you both, sitting in my hand. You and Spehidon are both amazing.
We are pleased you find us so. Now what will you do?
Figure out where the other people are who need help, go to them, and help them.
You leave us so soon? Cradus sounded sad, which was sweet.
We’ll be here until we can determine where we need to go. But I would love to visit again, if we could.
You and your people who have come to visit me are always welcome here. Should you need to leave your home and find a new one, you will always have a place with me. As will any you choose to bring with you.
We’d gotten that offer from Hixxx, too. Nice to know we were winning friends and influencing people on this trip. That is a generous offer, and we appreciate it very much.
We appreciate your efforts to help, both us and others. Spehidon and I will enjoy you while you are here and miss you when you are gone.
And we will do the same.
Felt a warmth in my mind, very similar to how ACE hugged me, and then it was gone. But I still had the ball of metal that was also part of Cradus and Spehidon. And that was the best souvenir a girl like me could hope to score.
CHAPTER 70
WE ALL LOOKED AT EACH OTHER. “Well, that was reminiscent,” Gower said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had someone that deep in my mind.”
“Do you miss ACE?”
He smiled. “Every day. But I think he’s better in Jamie.”
“Another friend made, Missus Martini. I’m happy to see that you’re keeping your record intact.”
“Doing my best, Mister White. So, how do we tell the others what we just did?”
“Straight out,” Gower said. “This isn’t . . . the other guy.”
“Nightcrawler calls him the DJ.”
Both men stared at me. “Benjamin knows of . . . the DJ?” White asked, sounding shocked.
“Um, sorta? He’s figured out that someone’s helping me, he’s guessed that you two know who it is, but beyond that, he’s not ‘there’ yet. The DJ appears to be enjoying the challenge. And, yeah, Nightcrawler’s the first person in, I think, ever, to get this far on his own. The DJ seems impressed and amused, not ready to smite.”
“Well, that’s good, I guess,” Gower said. He stood up and helped White up, then me. Kept a hold of SuperBun. “So, who’s staying on Cradus?” he asked the rabbit.
The pregnant females and their mates, which made up about five hundred of SuperBun’s people. He was pleased that they’d reached person status with us.
Snuggled him. “You’re awesome. Of course you’re at people status, I told you that on Nazez and I meant it. Hope those who are already attached to the rabbits that are staying on Cradus find other bunnies to attach to.”
SuperBun felt that this would not be a problem.
Kissed the top of his head, then let him down. He hopped off to share the good word about what was coming.
“Nice to hear the rabbits without you having to interpret,” Gower said. “Think that’ll last?”
“No bet, but I think the Nazez black water has to be as guarded as Cradus. Possibly more so.” The men nodded, and the three of us headed back. “We can’t let the Cradi know. They have no gods and Cradus approves of that.”
“I agree,” White said. “My advice would be to ‘suggest’ your island idea and that some of the rabbits will remain, and allow them to believe it’s they who are creating the island, not Cradus himself.”
Considered this. “It’s a good idea. Shouldn’t we just, maybe, tell everyone that?”
Both men stopped walking. “You want to lie to the others about this?” Gower sounded shocked out of his mind.
White, on the other hand, was clearly considering the pros and cons. “I understand Missus Martini’s thought process on this.”
“Making you the Army of One as always, Mister White.”
He chuckled. “Well, others ‘get you’ as well. However, you won’t be able to explain the gift you received, and while the Cradi may not care—or may care very greatly—that you’re taking part of their planet with you, our people will not stop asking about it until you share the why and the how.”