Page 27 of Sky Song
“How rough?”
“At times, it’s a no-running-water-or-electricity, no-heat-in-winter rough. Holding-your-own-with-street-robbers rough. Hardly-any-food-and-even-less-money rough.”
His forehead wrinkled in puzzlement. “Is someone trying to kill your mother?”
“Kill her? Goodness, not like that. I mean, unless it’s a random alien attack on the street. That happens, you know. Angry aliens.”
“Yeah, I get it.”
Cricket winced. “It isn’t as bad as it sounds… but some aliens are causing problems for people on Earth. I won’t lie.”
“I told you, I get it.” Lyle smiled and the sun lit the room despite his teeth being too long and golden-brown. Amber. He had amber teeth. “I’ve lived among aliens. It’s a hard life.”
Chuckling, Cricket wiped her tears dry. “Rix live on Enzomora, don’t they? I read somewhere that it’s a beautiful but cold planet. What’s it like?”
“I'm not from Enzomora.”
Cricket paused. “Did I remember it wrong? Enzomora is not a Rix home planet?”
“It is a Rix home planet. I’m just not a Rix from Enzomora.”
“You’ve never been there?”
“I never said I haven’t been there,” Lyle replied carefully. “Just that I haven’t spent enough time there to decide if I like it.”
Cricket sighed. “You know, Lyle, it would help if you simply admitted that you don’t want to answer my questions.”
His perfectly traced tawny eyebrows furrowed ever so slightly. “I do want to answer them, Cricket…”
But I won’t, she heard in the ensuing silence.
She was silent for a spell, waiting for her common sense to prevail.
In the end, it lost against Lyle’s open shirt where four hieroglyphic tattoos adorned the base of his neck with bright indigo. He had a long thick neck, and a tight layer of chubs under the chin that was gently rounded in shape, barely this side of being too feminine. With a start, Cricket realized that with his tawny hair, perfectly bowed lips, and enormous liquid eyes, Lylewas stunning. In an alien way, sure, but the perfect symmetry of his features could not be denied.
Tomorrow, she vowed to herself.I’ll do the right thing and send him away tomorrow.
“You can stay here for the night,” she heard herself saying. “You can have the couch. I won’t go over the bathroom deal with you since you’ve already taken it into your hands.” She gave him a pointed look, letting her disapproval show.
“I enjoyed the shower. It was great.” He was practically glowing, so pleased with himself.
“Are you hungry?”
“No.”
“Alright, no dinner. Anything to drink besides the water? Coffee, maybe?” She was willing to share her meager leftovers with her… guest.
“No, thank you.” He was smiling. Why was he smiling? “I won’t take up your couch. I only need a quiet corner to sit and rest.” To demonstrate, he headed to a corner by the door and slid down to sit on the floor, resting his back against the wall. “I won’t bother you, I promise.”
“If that’s what you want…” Cricket hovered there for an awkward moment before turning toward her bedroom. “Good night, Lyle.”
“Good night.”
As she was closing the door between them, she debated if she should lock it. A strong man would eventually break through but it would buy her time to escape through the window.
“Cricket?”
Her head went up. “What?”
