Page 98 of Malliko
As I nodded, I wondered if the aliens would understand that a nod meant yes to me. I stopped nodding when I feared that it might have a completely different meaning to them. Maybe even offensive. The last thing I wanted to do was upset the three interviewers when they held the power to decide if Malliko and I could be together.
“Hello, Clara and Malliko. My name is Chair and I’m delighted to meet you both,” the humanoid male said.
I gave Malliko a sideways glance to see if he too found it weird that the Scilm was named Chair. Had I heard correctly? I was so overstimulated and on pins and needles that I almost didn’t react to the man’s question when he asked us why we wanted to be together.
Luckily, Malliko calmly answered, “It’s something we’ve talked about to a great extent. We enjoy each other’s company so much that the thought of being apart is depressing. I’ve traveled non-stop for most of my life and never have I connected with another the way I do with Clara.”
“Are you saying you have a mind link to the human?” Chair asked.
“No. She doesn’t have that capacity. But the strange thing is that it entices me to get to know her in a way that is thrilling and exciting. She’s a mystery and I love that.”
Lios translated for the Clattonom. “What if it doesn’t work out?”
Exchanging a look with Malliko I answered, “If it doesn’t work out, we have agreed that Malliko will have to cloud my mind so that I don’t remember any of this.”
They were all silent for a moment and then Chair asked, “Where do you plan to stay?”
Malliko took my hand. “Actually, we want to travel and do speciology work together. Clara isn’t a trained speciologist like me, but she’s curious and insightful and can do important field work while she learns. I’ll teach her everything I know about the Universe and the different species that we’ll meet. We’re both excited for the adventure.”
Lios spoke for the Clattonom again, “Can you leave Earth? What about your connections there? Aren’t humans bound to each other by…” There seemed to be confusion as Lios wasn’t sure how to translate a word. Talking to Chair they tried different words. “Servitude, no, enslavement maybe.”
“I’m not a slave,” I assured them, but the three interviewers were still trying to get the question right.
“Try me?” Malliko asked. “Maybe I can help.”
Everything happened in silence, but he must have connected to their little hive mind because he exclaimed. “Oh, you mean loyalty.”
“Yes, aren’t humans bound by loyalty to each other. Can you leave the planet?” Lios said on behalf of the Clattonom.
“I appreciate your question,” I said and smiled at the alien before I got worried that smiling might be seen as aggressive to him and so I stopped. “There’s my family but they aren’t used to me visiting often. My sons are the ones I’ll miss the most butsoon they’ll live in a different country from me anyway. Malliko has assured me there are ways for me to stay in touch with them from afar. Luckily, he’s already fond of Earth and so we plan to split our time between Earth and other places.”
“Zobran already showed us that communicating with Earth isn’t that complicated. Clara will be able to talk on the phone with her family and friends,” Malliko added.
Lios looked at the Clattonom and it was clear they were discussing something.
“What is it?” I asked.
“There’s confusion about what a phone is,” Lios said. “I’m simply explaining that it’s an instrument used for communicating over distances because you humans haven’t developed telepathy yet. There’s some surprise over how you can feel that connected to someone you can’t link up to. We know you’ve touched on that already, but would you please elaborate?”
Malliko squeezed my hand as he explained, “I rely on Clara’s facial expressions, sounds, movements, and words to decipher how she’s feeling. I know it sounds strange that that would be enough, but although there are sometimes misunderstandings between us, there’s also an enormous freedom in not sharing your mind with your partner.”
“You use the term partner, but Eidrons don’t usually partner up with a mate. What makes you think this will work for you, Malliko?” Chair asked.
“That’s a valid question. All I can say is that I can’t get enough of Clara. I’ve never met an Eidron woman who looked at me the way Clara does. She makes me feel special and tells me all the time that she feels lucky to be with me. And honestly, I feel the same way about her.”
The last questions were related to procreation, and it was hard to listen to them warn Malliko that any offspring would likely be biologically impaired by my human genes.
To my regret they didn’t give us an answer right away but promised they would debate their decision and let us know soon.
I wanted to ask them what soon meant, because for someone like the Clattonom, who had a lifespan three times a human, soon might mean years.
Malliko thanked the committee members for their time and when the meeting ended, he sat back and breathed out heavily.
Lios stood up and ran his hand through his hair. That’s when I saw his ears. They were larger than I had expected for a man his size, and it brought back a memory of Malliko telling me that Ugons had large ears and something else… what was it?
I looked at Lios and tried to find something significant about his looks but all I could find were his ears.
“Let’s go back to the entertainment room. Nerix and Zobran are eager to discuss something mysterious with you.”
