Red Is the Android by Craig Martelle & James M. Ward

Author:Craig Martelle & James M. Ward [Martelle, Craig & Ward, James M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-06-19T22:00:00+00:00

12 A Changed Man

Do not trust the horse, Trojans. Whatever it is, I fear the Greeks even when they bring gifts.

—Virgil, Aeneid Book 2

Finnur wiped his face, wincing as he wrestled with getting kicked out of his parents’ home. All for the crime of doing what needed to be done—survive. Sigrid took his metal hand, holding it casually, normally. He felt her fingers in his.

“Let’s go back where we belong,” Sigrid suggested.

“I thought we belonged here,” Finnur moaned. He stood on a small hill in the town, surrounded by other huts and homes as he looked back at the home where he’d been raised. It’s where all Starsigns had lived. The elder within that house set the tone for all the people of Alphalon.

They would live and die by Gerrick’s word.

“Are we shunned from all of Alphalon?” Finnur asked.

“I can’t believe that,” Sigrid replied with less confidence than she tried to project. In the distance, the door opened and they both tensed. Alusia stepped outside, carefully closing the door behind her. She turned, relief on her face when she saw her son. She hurried toward them. “See? Your mother comes to make amends.”

“If that were so, then there is hope for this day.”

They waited for her approach. When she arrived, she spoke in hushed tones, “He’s in a mood. It’s not you, Finnur. It’s him. He’ll come around. I’m happy you came home. Please, keep coming back.”

“Come back to where I’m not welcome?” Finnur pulled his hand from Sigrid’s and held it up. No one was around, but they would see it eventually. He shoved his glove into a pouch.

“Of course we want you near, but when the time is right,” his mother said.

“I don’t know what that means, but I will keep doing my job to supply Alphalon with technology. Sigrid and I will go farther and search more dangerous places until we’ve found it all, even though we’ll do it under cover of darkness so no one sees their benefactor.”

Sigrid poked him in the side. “Your mom is trying to help,” Sigrid added.

Finnur wouldn’t look at her. Alusia waited. He turned on his heel and strode toward the forest, heading out of town and away from Alphalon. Sigrid ran to catch up.

Alusia watched them go. She didn’t like it. She was in the middle of something that shouldn’t be. Her partner had just alienated their only child. Clenching her fists, she stormed back home.

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