Page 18 of Secret Twins for the Alien Dad

It's dusk, and the evening air in Glimner City hangs thick with the varying smoke and smells of city life. A fruit stand on the corner catches my attention. Casually, I throw down the extra koltecs for a simron. It's a chance to catch my breath and check to see if I’m being followed. The camera on my comm gives me a ‘tourist taking pictures’ vibe, and that's when I spot him.

Or think I do. Zerg is an Odex, like Brev. His large blue furry frame isn't any different from the many here, shopping and chatting. I have no time to lose, whether it's him or not. Steeling myself for my escape, the directions to the train station pop up on my comm. My feet hit the pavement, still checking my back at intervals. Soon the station comes into view.

“Destination?” I’m asked as I approach the ticket office. It's the one thing I didn't plan for.

“What’s the furthest stop?” This is pretty stupid. I should’ve thought of where togo before now.

“That’ll be Gilroy, with stops at Brinley, McArthur, Sorcher, Eives, and Mairg in between.”

“I’ll take it.” Sending my comm forward to pay the man, I give him a name. A fake one. My moves are strategic, even if my destination isn’t. Without a doubt, I transfer over every last dime on my account for a ticket. That’s all they’ll see if they look at my purchases. A ticket to anywhere but here.

Steam rolls into the station as the super train makes its approach. Somewhere in the mist, I think I've spotted him again, so I duck out of sight. Finally, the train pulls away from the station. Finding my way to the endmost car, I jimmy free a bathroom window.

My comm stares blankly up at me from the toilet. A press of a button, and electric blue water flushes it clean of my past. I shrug it away with the rest of my history, sailing it through the opening. The train speeds too fast to give me the satisfaction of seeing it land. But it’s no matter. It's my life out the window, either way.

My eyes make it out for one last glimpse as Glimner City disappears into the horizon. The dreams I left behind were just a hamster wheel for me to run on. I see that now as the train rounds the corner into a distance ripe with new hope. A new question burns within me.

Where can I go? The dining car may have some answers, maybe something strong to drink, too. Six stops to choose from between here and Gilroy. Surely something will jump out at me before then.

“Drink?” the barkeep asks. The sun gleams a farewell in the distance, and I'm feeling lighter already.

“You pick.” I smile, wondering if this feeling can be trusted. If I’m really safe yet.

A moment later, a pink fizzing Fray 'n Cream comes sizzling in my direction.

“For those seeking adventure,” says the barkeep. It's got to be a sign, I think. A quiet booth beckons me to collect my thoughts and make a plan. This is thrilling. I wonder why I didn’t do this years ago.

Suddenly, a picture pops into my brain, throwing a bucket of water on my newfound hopes. Zair. The date. I forgot the date.

My pink drink sours on my tongue, thinking of his disappointment. I can’t go back, but I can't deny it, either. Something is calling. Something about him sets my mind spinning like a compass.

“I see we have the same taste in drinks,” comes a shy voice from the opposite car, pulling me back from my bitter loss. A pink drink fizzes in her own hands.

“We have great taste!” Rising my toast to hers, I see an opportunity. I need three things to make this escape the lasting peace it has to be. My life depends on it. Zair’s lovely face will just have to be a beautiful memory I leave behind with the rest.

“I’m Eva.”

“Myra. To your travels.” I raise my glass again. “Hey, uh, where ya headed?”

Eva, it turns out, is a teacher in Mairg. The down-home feel I get from her when she talks puts me at ease in no time. Next thing I know, she’s in my booth ordering us another round. She’s chatty and thankfully hasn't noticed that I've barely said a word.

“But everyone’s like that in Mairg. Just in each other’s business. Everyone.” This fact, punctuated by the dry slurp of her empty glass, tells me she’s almost too drunk. Mairg sounds like the perfect sleepy town to hide out in. I just need to make sure.

“How big is it?”

“Oh, smaller every year, it seems like. It was a boomtown a million years ago, but the mining dried up. Uranium. Still, what is left hangs on. Still have a restaurant. B and B. School. Bakery, sometimes, too.”

“Sometimes?”

“Oh, yeah. Millie Hines is along in years. Too old to run it, you know. Oh, it doesn’t matter. I’m sure I’m boring you. There’s nothing much to say about such a small town, you know.”

I’m not long with my thoughts as the conductor’s voice fills the train car. “Next stop, Mairg. Ten minutes.” The words repeat as an idea takes hold in my brain. Eva has no idea how grateful I am to her and her easy conversational skills.

Mairg is too poor and inconsequential for Brev to bother looking for me there. Mairg has a job opening. Maybe a place to stay. Check, check, and check. Mairg is calling. Count me in.

10

ZAIR

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