Tin Star by Cecil Castellucci

Author:Cecil Castellucci [Castellucci, Cecil]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Tags: Juvenile Fiction, Social Issues, Adolescence, Science Fiction
ISBN: 9781596437753
Google: CWv0AQAAQBAJ
Amazon: 1596437758
Goodreads: 17255996
Publisher: Macmillan
Published: 2014-02-25T05:00:00+00:00

16

That night I dreamed of Earth.

The sun was in the sky. My dress was snagged on the spines of a cactus. I was caught and could not undo myself. And someone, in the distance, was calling my name.

Tula!

In the morning when I awoke groggy, I felt strange. Dreams brought up long-forgotten memories and situations that felt real; as though I were living parts of my past again.

After such a particularly vivid dream, I did not feel hungry but knew from the times that I had gone hungry to always eat when I could, regardless of the desire. Near to Kitsch Rutsok’s, I headed in and ordered a protein pak.

“Can I join you?” a voice said. It was Reza, the other Human male. The one I’d yet to meet formally.

He sat down without waiting for a response. For some reason, instead of annoying me, I admired his boldness.

“I’m Reza,” he said. “Rumor has it you’re the person to go to with impossible requests. And I don’t mean luxurious lotions.”

I said nothing. I didn’t have to. In time he would ask for what he wanted himself and name the price or favor that he wanted to trade. But he didn’t say a word. I changed my tactic and broke my own rule of engagement and spoke first.

“Do you need something?”

“Not yet. But how about I’ll come to you when I know what it is?” he said.

I nodded. He was dark. Everything about him was dark. His hair. His eyes. His skin. When I looked at him, my pulse quickened.

“We’re stuck here just like you now. We might as well try to get along,” Reza said.

“Is that what you think?” I asked. It came out playful sounding, instead of wry.

“Yes,” Reza said. His smile widened. He had a nice smile.

I lifted up my hand to order another protein pak for him. When it arrived Reza slurped it down quickly and loudly. He was starving. That told me that they must be low on currency. When he was done, he crumpled up the foil pak and he leaned back on his chair as if to take me all in.

“We have a difference of opinion about whether we have to get along,” I said.

Reza smiled again, and we sat in silence for a while. It was a different kind of silence than with Caleb. This one had sparks to it. I felt like smiling, but I kept the curious feeling of happiness in check.

“You’re not very likable, are you?” he finally said. It sounded like an insult, but his eyes were twinkling. He was teasing me! And I was enjoying it.

“Everyone here likes me,” I said, indicating with a sweep of my arms the aliens surrounding us.

“Everyone here, but I doubt you’d find any Human to say that they liked you.”

“Why would I care about that?” I asked.

He laughed. I liked his laugh. His mouth opened very wide. He clapped his hands loudly together. His eyes squeezed shut. He touched his stomach and let his breath out.

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