Page 21 of Orange Sky
Still, I got excited when I saw rings on the sixth planet, rings. It has rings!
“Zirc!” I called him excitedly. “I think I found it! This is it!”
He grabbed hold of another ladder from the other end and glided to where I was pointing at.
I saw the way his eyes widened.
“Are you sure?”
I bobbed my head excitedly.
He narrowed his eyes as if weighing if I’m telling the truth.
“This is my planet. Earth.” I pointed to the planet. “Earth.”
“This blue planet is called Earth?” he asked and placed his pointed finger on the map.
“Earth,” I repated. “Home.”
“You want to go back to your planet?”
I nodded again. “Yes.”
He looked at my face again. Most especially my eyes. I couldn’t help but tear up a little. He put his palm against the side of my face and wiped my tears. Then he licked his thumb.
“Water,” he said. “You leak water from your eyes. Water that is like ambrosia to our people.”
“It’s salty,” I said grumpily. If only I can communicate that tears are not safe to drink.
He looked back at the map again. I did so too and realized that I’m too far away! Can he send me back?
He probably heard footsteps. I had no time to shout when he grabbed me and jumped. My feet were inches away from the floor but he did not suffer any serious injury.
He placed me gingerly on the floor and quickly sent the two ladders to opposite direction. It was padded though so it did not create any noise. He grabbed both my arms and put his face inches from mine.
“Never, ever tell anyone that you came from the Blue Planet, do you hear me?” He pointed it out by shaking me. “Do you understand?”
“Okay,” I nodded.
“You must not tell anyone if you want to live,” he has a harsh look on his face.
I just nodded. I probably looked a little pale because he hugged me to him.
Just then, I heard the door open. I pushed away from Zirc and saw the two men I saw earlier. I tried to calm my beating heart. What is it about my planet that Zirc is afraid of? Is it because we are in the Blue Tribe that these men will probably try to put me in prison? But I had the feeling before that he wanted me to stay here. Maybe he changed his mind when he realized where I came from.
Zirc put himself in front of me again. But not fully blocking me so I saw the way Nokin is in front of Runax. Runax seems calmer now.
“Forgive our manners, Zirc of the Silver Tribe,” Nokin said as a way of greeting. “Please, let’s sit down.” He pointed to the leather armchairs.
Zirc pointed me to a three seater sofa set while the two took the arm chairs Zirc and I were sitting on earlier. He grabbed hold of my waist and made sure that no gap is between us.
This is strange behavior even for him and my survival instincts are on high alert.
“Are you not going to introduce me to your companion Zirc? Is this Coone?”, Nokin asked.
“No. And he doesn’t speak at all.”
I straightened at that.
