Page 3 of Trapped in the Christmas Cabin

Shehad no idea what a crazy adventure awaited them.

3

KELLI

“Itlooks like theQuestarionshave been watching a lot ofTheHallmarkChannel,”Kelliremarked as they stepped out of the long-range shuttle and headed towards theChristmasVillage.Thelittle town was all lit up in the gathering dusk—it looked just like the set of one of those made-for-TVmovies where the big-city girl comes back to her small-town roots and falls in love with the boy next door who owns the local coffee shop or bakery.

“What’stheHallmarkChannel?”Klausrumbled, frowning.Helooked positively savage in hisSantaoutfit with his golden eyes glowing in the gloom,Kellithought.HerhugeKindredProtectorwould be better cast in aKrampusmovie or a horror film likeSilentNight,DeadlyNight, than a romanticChristmasspecial.

“Oh, it’s just a form of human entertainment,” she said, to answer his question.“Youwouldn’t like it though.It’smostly for women.”Sheshivered and put her arms around herself.“Brrrr—Iwish theQuestarionshad sent us some coats to go with these costumes.”

“Ourapologies,” murmured a soft voice in her ear.“Wefear the temperature is not to your liking.”

“Huh?”Kelliturned around quickly, looking for the source of the voice but no one was there.“Didyou hear that?”she asked, looking up atKlaus.

“Hearwhat?”he asked, frowning.

“Thatvoice—it spoke in my ear just now.”

Kelliwas beginning to think she must be hearing things.Clearlyshe andKlauswere the only people for miles around.

Butthen the voice spoke again.

“Wouldyou like us to provide you with warming outer garments?”it asked.

“Okaythat timeIheard it,”Klaussaid grimly.HepushedKellibehind him for safety and looked around.“Whoeveryou are, come out!”

“Weare here, though you may not be able to see us with your single-dimensional vision,” the soft, musical voice said.Kellicouldn’t tell if it was male or female.“Allowus to enhance our appearance,” it said.

Amoment later, there was a sparkling in the air right beside her—kind of like a slight golden shimmer that was just barely visible in the dying light.

“There—there it is!”Kelliexclaimed, pointing.

“Where?”Klausstepped between her and the golden shimmer protectively.“Whoare you and what do you want?”he demanded.

“Weare theScientificCouncilofQuatraFour,” the soft voice replied.“Pleasebe at ease—we offer you no harm.Wehave invited you here only to study your ways and customs.”

“Hello.”Kellistepped out from behind the bigKindredand smiled at the shimmering patch of air, which was hovering around the height of her head.“It’svery kind of you to invite us to try yourChristmasTown,” she said.“IamKelli, theGoodWillAmbassadorfrom theKindredMotherShipand this is myProtector,Klaus’ex.We’revery pleased to meet you.”

“Werejoice in the knowledge of you as well,” the voice returned politely.“Butwe perceive a difficulty.Havewe made the atmosphere too cold?Itwas our understanding that theEarthholiday ofChristmaswas meant to happen at a time of cold and freezing temperatures.”

“Oh, no—you’re right—you got it just right—for my part of theEarth, anyway,”Kelliassured them.“Christmasdoesn’t feel the same if it isn’t cold.Thisis perfect weather—really it is.Ijust wishIhad something warm to wear over the cute little elf costume you sent me,” she added.

“Weare most happy to grant your desire,” the soft voice replied.Theshimmering intensified for a moment and then, suddenly,Kellifelt something warm and soft around her shoulders.

Lookingdown, she saw that she was wearing a luxurious, floor-length fur coat.

“Oh, this is beautiful!”she exclaimed, stroking the brown fur—it was incredibly soft.“Thankyou so much!”

ButKlauswasn’t quite so accepting of the gift.

“Howdid you make a coat appear out of mid-air like that?”he growled, frowning at the golden shimmering spot in the air.“Howcould you bend the laws of physics to make something materialize out of nowhere?”

“Ah, we forgot for a moment how primitive your people are,” the soft voice sighed.“Forus, your laws of physics are no more than suggestions.Soof course, our science looks like magic to you, but we assure you there is nothing supernatural occurring.Weare simply able to manipulate space and matter on a higher level.”

“Itis like magic,”Kelliagreed, slipping her arms into the sleeves.Thefur coat was the nicest thing she’d ever worn—she hoped she got to keep it after their night at theChristmasVillagewas over.

“Pleasefeel free to explore and enjoy the experience we have crafted for you,” the soft voice murmured in her ear.“Ifyou would be so kind as to speak your thoughts about theChristmasVillagealoud, we will hear you and add your comments to our research.”

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