Page 22 of Orange Town
“Enemies? You are simply delightful, little one. No wonder I can smell Zirc all over you. Even now.” The latter was said in a bitter way.
“You had other lovers?”
“Yes,” he nodded.
“So Zirc is one of your lovers?”
He raised an eyebrow at me. “He met many lovers on your journey?”
He doesn’t seem to be upset about it. I get that people around here are very loose in their sexual partners. Makes me wonder if I’ll catch any sexual disease.
“No. But there was one. In the Blue Tribe?” I asked because I wasn’t sure.
He nodded. “Yes, as I told you the other day, I knew he was on his way to the Blue Tribe. The tribal leaders will give you one or two helpers or slaves depending on what a visitor need.”
I blushed. I got a sense of what he means.
“I thought there were no more slaves on this planet?”
“We still kept the term slaves, but they are free to serve us. Others do not want to leave their household, so they chose to stay. It’s a good trade off.” He shrugged. “So only one? Of course, counting you in the mix.” He seemed very sure of it so I did not confirm nor deny. Remembering the blue guy, Ist, is one of the things I also want to forget.
“Any other encounters?”
“No. Only from that Blue Tribe.”
Roqs took a bite of a hirly. “We are lovers, yes. But I told you, we were meant to be mates.”
“What does it take to be a mate?”
“Ah, the way we mate is quite famous in this part of the galaxy. But that is a story best reserved for another time. What I’m more concerned about is what to do with your iron blood.”
“What’s so special about having iron blood?”
“Our blood is watered down. Animals here have green blood. It is said that we used to have iron blood before. There are species outside our galaxies that have iron blood. It’s quitepure.”
I gulped. The way he said pure makes me think someone will grab me off the streets and squeeze all the blood from my body.
“No need to worry though. Even though it’s rare, it’s been proven that those who have iron blood have no influence on how we use the crystals. I also see you don’t know how to use it. Those with special blood can manipulate the crystals. Some of our Elders can do that and other special manasties.”
“Manasties?” I asked, unknowingly I even titled my head. I think I heard that word before but when and where?
Roqs laughed again. “Honestly, where did Zirc find you? I want to have one like you.”
I glared at him. “I’m not a pet!”
Roqs stopped laughing but his eyes were still twinkling. “I think I know why those pirate traders want you. Your kind, your breed, makes me want to snuggle you close and keep you at my side forever.”
I crossed my arms below my chest. “Manasties? You mentioned that before.”
Roqs shook his head. “You’d been here? What? Almost thirty sun rotations now and still you don’t knowus?”
He stretched out his legs towards me. It’s a surprise the small chair can bear his weight. “We are called manasties. This planet is called Manasty.”
“Thank you.” At least now I know which planet I landed. Still, I can’t pinpoint it anywhere in the galaxy if someone will ask me. I can just imagine the scientists or agents who will ask me if I come back to Earth. Whichplanet did you say you come from? From which galaxy?
“Ah, who knew your kind can be polite?” he said with a small smile.
“So the manasties have iron blood before?”
