Page 26 of Sky Song
Other than that, we’re doing as we always have. Aliens are a plague around here, but it isn’t as bad as it used to be. People seem to be regrouping, and an alliance has been formed between the West Plains migrants and the City residents. About time, if you ask me. We, humans, need to get our wits together and rebuild this place. Of course, it’s hard to do when the aliens will soon outnumber us. I’m so glad you no longer have to deal with them. It’s hard, Cricket. They’re just so very different.
Oh, and remember the terrible lab where that Rix alien Simon used to be kept and experimented on? You’d think they would close this place for good, but no such luck. They renamed it after that terrible, terrible Dr. Delano. For shame! I’m debating whether or not to write Gemma about it. Of course, the people who made this decision only knew him for his good work and none of the crazy stuff, but my word.
My roommate Oskie said to say hi. She thinks she knows you, that old biddy. Well, she probably does, as much as I talk about you every day. I miss you. Not long now! Stay strong and don’t get too maudlin. We’re apart but you’re always in my heart, child.
Love,
Mama
Cricket raised her eyes from the letter, and he was standing in the door, his image wavering from the tears. She hadn't realized the water had shut off in the shower; she’d forgotten he was even here.
In three strides, he reached her chair and dropped into a crouch in front of it, bringing along the fragrant dew of a recent shower. “What is wrong? Your eyes are all wet.”
She swiped at them with both hands. “I’m crying.”
“Is that normal?” His eyes, enormous, so close, reflected her woeful face in perfect detail. She could see her own streaming eyes, and could perceive the depth of his. Theblackest slits interrupted the liquid lakes of black - his irises. He appeared to have more than one, and Cricket didn’t want to dwell on it now, yet it was very distracting.
“Crying? It’s normal when something happens.” She gave a loud sniffle. “This nose thing, too. Lots of water when we humans are upset.”
He was frowning. His hair was like wet silk, hanging around his face in perfect shimmering strands. “You got bad news?”
“No, not bad. Just news from mama. I miss my mama, Lyle. I wish she were here.” Why couldn't she stop crying?
“Does this crying action make you feel better or worse?”
“Better.”
“Then cry.”
He reached for her and pulled her down. She slid down into his lap, with his arms around her. She wasn’t just touching an alien - she was enveloped by him. His body was solid, with little give despite the bulk, and he smelled good. And he was gentle. She melted into him, pressing her angular frame into the shelter of his solid one, burrowing her face into the side of his neck. She cried silently and breathed him in. Her hands found the fabric of the shirt on his chest and made weak grasping motions as he soothed her with hands on her back, up and down.
And when the worst of her distress was over, she still stayed balled up in his lap, in his arms, savoring his closeness and using his body as a comfort blanket.
But it wasn’t right. And it wouldn’t last.
Unhappy, she unpeeled herself from his chest and straightened up. “Thank you, Lyle.”
His hands stopped their magic but he didn’t take them off, simply resting them on her back. “Feeling better?”
“I am. I’m always emotional when I get mama’s letters,” she confessed. “We agreed on exchanging them once every fewmonths to save money, and it always seems so long. Do you miss your mother?”
“I did when I was young. A lot has happened since then,” he gave her what she was beginning to recognize as his typical non-answers. “You don’t have enough money?”
“I have enough for me, but it’s hard to build up savings for her to come here. See, it’s always been our plan. Three years ago, we thought we’d finally had enough for her passage, but then we realized she needed paperwork, and that’s expensive.”
“Paperwork?”
Cricket nodded. “Immigration papers.” She wasn’t sure why she was sharing this information with Lyle when she so carefully kept mum around everybody else. Perhaps Lyle’s transient status on Meeus made it easy to share intimate truths, kind of like with strangers on the train. “Passages come with chips that are numbered, and only Meeus authorities can issue a number. Of course, nothing is foolproof, and there are outfits on Earth that can create convincing duplicates, but they cost a lot of money. Hence the savings.”
“You’re saving the money for your mother?”
“She and I, both.”
Reluctantly, she pushed off Lyle’s chest and stood up, with him following in one controlled motion that was smooth and fluid.
“You’re a great daughter to your mother.”
“Not really. It’s taking too long. And while I’m living a comfortable life, mama has to bear rough conditions.”
