And What of Earth

Chapter 4



The walk to work the next morning was uneventful, the only difference being there were about a dozen soldiers standing guard outside the barrier, versus the two from the first morning. Jennifer was quietly pleased that Rafe, her former schoolmate, was in that group. As she had done the day before, she thanked the Wakiran guard, and stuck her hands through slowly before pushing her head through. "Human coming through!" she called out, giddily, then stepped through. "Man, that thing is unpleasant!" A wave and a smile, and she was on her way.

The morning at the clinic brought two more gawkers and no patients. Jennifer spent more than a few minutes with each of the gawkers, just to give herself something to do. Right on time, the general arrived with the day's lunch.

"More bribery, General?" she teased.

He put the bags down on the counter and made his way around. "I don't expect to get much information out of you this time, given the food I've brought." He pulled out what looked like two chicken breast sandwiches and some carrots. "I had tried to get a salad, but all she had were these carrots."

"What was wrong with having cheese fries again?" she asked jokingly. "Everything Mrs. Summers sells at her burger joint is locally grown. I guess she was out of cucumber and lettuce. Most of the houses in town have fairly extensive gardens. For many, their garden is the only source of food they can get. They'll sell some of the surplus to the Burger Shack and to the All-in-One store, and trade the rest with the neighbors. Dad's been growing tomatoes for the last 4 years, but he's been pretty half-hearted about it." She divvied up the meal this time.

"Anything new and exciting?" he asked.

"Well. Let's see--. I got arrested when I went back through the barrier. Charged with treason or something." He stared at her wide-eyed. "Remember the 'nah nah hey hey' thing, as you called it? They identified it as being Klingon--."

"They know Klingon? How the hell would they know Klingon?"

"They didn't know Klingon. They just recognized it as being Klingon. And they wanted to know what secret message I was passing on to the Klingons. And where they were located." She sat and started picking at the carrot sticks.

"Where they were located?"

"Uh-huh. They have no concept of fiction. Everything is either historical fact or it's a lie. So, I ended up tricking the mission commander into being my accomplice as I broke into the high school library. We left with 3 non-fiction Star Trek books. He now believes that fiction can exist, but has absolutely no idea why we have it."

"You broke into the school--?"

Her chin dropped as she remembered the guilt had she felt the evening before. "I think that I'm single-handedly screwing up this poor man's career. He's violated the survey mission regulations several times because of me, and now he's guilty of committing an illegal act." She turned and looked at the general. "I'm a dangerous woman, General. You'd better be careful around me." She giggled and turned her concentration back onto the carrot sticks. "I got an official apology for the kerfuffle in the name of the Emperor. I don't know if that gets me any brownie points, or whatever."

"Sounds like the risk of reverse contamination is ever-increasing."

Jennifer put the carrots down and reached for the sandwich. "Yep. I suggested that he see my neighbor, David Stone, to find out more about fiction. David got his undergrad degree in medieval literature before he got his Masters of Education and started teaching. He'll get Myka thinking some non-Wakiran thoughts."

"You make this sound like you're hoping to pollute them."

"In a way, I am. If they accept our way of thinking, they may accept us. Warts and all, hopefully. I told Myka, discreetly obviously, that I felt they were planning on judging us. He neither acknowledged nor refuted the notion."

Comiston sighed audibly. "Silence speaks volumes. My anxiety level just went up, Miss Hodges."

She chewed on her lower lip as she shook her head. "He seems too polite, too considerate, to be planning on harming us." She put the sandwich back down. "If they are, then there's no way to defend ourselves. Proverbial lab mice. When it's time to get dissected, there's no way to resist. Dammit! Why is it every time we have lunch, my fear level scoots up another few notches?"

The rest of the meal was eaten in complete silence.



Jennifer was surprised by something she saw as she walked down Thorn Road towards home -- Myka sitting on the swing chair talking with David Stone. "Hey!" she said in mock indignation. "He's sitting in my spot!" She giggled and Stone laughed. Myka started to get out of the seat.

"Sit down, Commander," Stone said patting him on the arm. "She was joking. Growing up, she would climb through the window from her room, and come visit. Except for that first visit," he said looking at Jennifer, "you always sat at the leftmost spot on the swing chair."

Myka looked at Jennifer, eyes squinting ever so slightly. "Climbed through the window? It is interesting to note that you haven't changed in that area."

Jennifer blushed. This time, Stone laughed at his former pupil. "Proof that the Wakira have a sense of humor. Well done, Commander."

"I was not sure I could manage it in a language I have known for only 20 days. I still have trouble deciphering whether a -- dig? slam? -- is genuine or is meant to be humorous. In the language, we speak in a 'voice' that let's all the parties know that the remark is intended to be funny. Voice is not a good word. We add a syllabic to the end of certain of the words to convey the intent. I've learned that I need to watch for certain facial expressions or changes in vocal timbre. That, and a lot more, from David this afternoon. Not just about literature and fiction."

"I'm glad that you two have gotten along so well. It means you won't have to rely only on me to help you with learning more about us. Speaking of which, where should I meet you after supper?"

"I had not even noticed how late it was. I have taken to sitting in one of those wooden seats that face the ship. Now that I have ordered the intensity of the energy screen to be reduced, we should get to experience some of the evening breezes that David spoke so lovingly about." He stood slowly. "I look forward to further discussions, David Stone. I have truly enjoyed my afternoon." With that, he started walking up Thorn towards Emerald.

"He came soon after lunch, bearing gifts," Stone told her, as the alien walked out of sight. "Books, as it happens."

Jennifer's smile disappeared. She started hanging her head down in shame.

"You were right when you told him that I knew of your weekend escapes to the library, Jenny. Having seen what the wrath of your mother did to Amelia one day, I had no problem with you trying to lose yourself somewhere. And I would have rathered you spent time in the library than to waste time climbing the Rock or whatever."

"I'm sorry David. I should never have done it to begin with. Ever."

"Tch!" He placed his hands on her shoulders. "I'm not admonishing you, Jenny. But you're a grown woman now. And you no longer have to hide from your mom, so there's no excuse anymore." He gently patted one shoulder. "He gave a detailed description of how you were able to get in. I'll be getting Kirk to fix the window lock in September. Assuming I have any money to do it."

"I'm really sorry, David."

"I know you are Jenny. And I'm not the slightest bit angry or disappointed in you at all. I'll always be proud of you. Remember that." He tousled her bangs, then went in the house. Jennifer just stood there, feeling strangely wonderful.