Longshots by J. R. Andrews

Author:J. R. Andrews
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: J. R. Andrews
Published: 2024-08-13T16:05:36+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

After the conversation with S’Crist, everyone sat down at the table to share a traditional Celian feast, including several types of pungent-smelling mush, a pile of roasted worms, and something that Lock couldn’t stop eating, even after he was told they were a form of fried snail. Bree, still trying to do her best as an ambassador for the New Terran Confederation, ate some of just about everything and even tried to keep a straight, albeit green-tinted, face as she chewed what seemed to be a live insect. Chase mostly stuck to a type of soft flatbread that dissolved easily without chewing, kind of like cotton candy.

The Cel T’Lang had been so happy to see turned out to be T’Sorng, her father. He obviously wasn’t familiar with the customs of eating with different cultures and stuffed food into a suddenly gaping mouth the instant they sat down. T’Lang seemed embarrassed by his behavior at first, but before long, both she and S’Crist barked laughter as he slurped up roasted worms. Chase, Lock, and Bree approved with smiles of their own, all recalling their own unhappy lessons in proper table manners when they were younger.

When everyone had finally eaten their fill, or at least, tried the various strange dishes to their fill, the three kids stood and said goodbye to their new alien friend, T’Lang.

As she tapped a tentacle to Bree’s hand, her father grunted something, which S’Crist translated, “Many honors and thank-yous for keeping baby T’Lang a life.”

Chase bowed to her then, in sequence, her father and S’Crist.

When it came to Lock, however, T’Lang reached up and touched his cheek. The boy mimicked the motion, and they stood next to each other for a moment, great new friends not having to exchange a single word. When T’Lang retreated to the other side of the table and walked toward the passage leading back to the real world of Celia Prime, Lock dug something out of his front pocket.

“T’Lang!” he yelled, and the alien spun around.

T’Sorng yelped in alarm as the boy threw something at the table strewn with the feast’s remains. The small rubber ball bounced high in the air, and the young Celian shot out a tentacle, snagging it easily.

She barked her husky laugh again and brought the small sphere to her face. Giving something that looked like a smile, she said, “Yglarna kla. Kuarnak farro bikara claamah yan glour.”

They all turned to S’Crist. “What did she say?”

She gave them the same sort of almost smile. “Life is holy circle. T’Lang keep toy safe until you meet again.”

Nodding, T’Lang scampered off on her four short legs behind T’Sorng, through the doors at the far side of the room. The area beyond was dark and looked like the inside of a cave.

“Many thank-yous again for T’Lang being a life. But now, S’Crist go. This room made for hooo-mans, not S’Crist. It hurt my nose to smell it. Have good trip home. Be care to find rebulls.”

Bree bowed deeply as S’Crist left through the same doors.

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