Page 25 of Sky Song
“I’m sorry. What about your father?”
“I remember him.” His voice went flat. “Go, read your mother’s words, Cricket. I’ll be here when you’re done.” Nonchalant, he pulled out a chair and dropped in, and Cricket’s stupid heart made an excited leap.
She should fight the excitement like the practical adult she was. After all, theNow what?question hadn’t disappeared.
“What… are you going to do now?” she asked, frowning.
“I need a quiet place to rest.”
Oh, wonderful. And her house, apparently, wastheplace.
“Lyle, I’m afraid you can’t stay here. But I’ll be more than happy to help you find temporary lodging until your transport arrives.” Cricket had no idea where such services could be had, but surely Dr. Ragberg would know.
Lyle blew a long-suffering breath. “Please, not tonight, my hearts. If I step outside, the animal next door will bring the walls down with its howling. Your neighbors will see me, and someone will send for the officials. They will put me in a cell with bars. I don’t like cells with bars.”
“Why would they put you in a cell?” If anything, the doctors would be aghast when they learn that Lyle, a Rix guest of their symposium, was stranded and homeless in Shadush.
The comm link chimed again, reminding her that an unopened message was waiting, and as distracted by Lyle as Cricket was, she couldn't resist another quick glance that way.
Lyle stood up and gave her a lazy blink of his oversized eyes. “I think I’m going to wash up while you’re reading.”
“What?”
“Are there extra towels?” He headed to the bathroom.
She sputtered. “No, wait, you can’t stay here! You can’t take a shower! I don’t have extra towels!”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll use yours.” The door closed and locked.
Cricket threw her arms up. “Make yourself at home, why don’t you.”
The water turned on. He really was going through with that shower.
She was torn. Mama’s letter awaited her at a push of a button. On the other hand, Lyle. But short of banging on the bathroom door, demanding he come out this minute, she didn’t see a constructive way of dealing with him right then. And if she did that, and he opened the door… naked?
Better wait him out.
My god, the nerve!Wait till she told mama about it. Mama would surely have a few choice words for this here Lyle.
On the heels of this thought came another one, that perhaps she should be more on guard around Lyle. She remembered what mama told her Simon, the unforgettable Rix defender, had done when he escaped from the prison on Earth. He had killed a dozen guards on his way out. Ripped them to shreds, and the entire cellblock was covered with blood, brains, and bits of the men’s intestines. Mama knew because mama had to clean it up.
Lyle isn’t Simon,Cricket pointed out to herself as she silently moved to the cabinet in her tiny hallway and retrieved an electric gun. It was a small zapper, old and beat-up, illegal to possess by private citizens, but it could pack a punch. She’d gotten it during her first year on Meeus. She had to go semi-hungry for months to afford it through a shady connection she’d cultivated for just this purpose, but she had refused to go defenseless. Of course, as years went by on the peaceful Meeus the urge to stay armed diminished, but the gun remained.
Checking that the thing was charged, Cricket put it on the shelf under the desk, out of sight, and opened the comm link.
Greetings, my dearest baby girl!
The words jumped out at her, and just like that, her eyes filled with tears.
Mama. She touched the projection with the tips of her fingers, feeling the smooth wall behind the image. Blinking fast, she brought the rest of the words in focus.
I hope you’re doing fine, my little Cricket. Every morning, I wake up and think of you, so far away. I say a little gratitude prayer every day to keep you in His good graces. Trying to be on my best behavior. On some days, the almighty's help is all you have to rely on, and if such a day comes, wedon’t want to be on his naughty list. Don’t forget to be sending a grateful word upstairs now and then!
Tell me, are things really as good as you say they are? No change in the last three months? I am sorry to be digging, but sweetheart, I hardly dare to believe. Tell me again, is your health really that much better? You aren’t saying this to pacify your poor mother? Oh, Cricket, it’s all I’ve dreamed about, to see you healthy and full of life, and looking forward to the future. I shouldn't dream of anything else, but now, how can I not? You’re safe on Meeus. You will have a family one day. Maybe I will live to see grandchildren. Wouldn't that be grand? God has truly been good to us.
Over here - nothing much. I’m doing well, I suppose. My work at the customs station is very boring, checking goods in and out all day long. Even the prison was cheery compared to this. I may soon start talking to the import vegetables, I swear. The customs commissioner was heard talking about raising salaries, but was probably just drunk. He changed his mind very quickly, and a lot of people were very disappointed. Me - not so. His whole office has liquid norms, and the only people somehow getting raises are themselves.
Do you remember I told you about Mrs. Schuster who I did household chores for on the weekends? She has died, all of a sudden. That’s life for you - one day chicken, next day feathers. I wish she lasted a bit longer so I could earn that lump sum she had promised to pay me at the end of the quarter, but she was petty to the very end. I hate that you have to do all of the saving, Cricket. But I plan to speak to Mr. Schuster to see if he will consider retaining me. Later, of course, after he’s had time to grieve. Although, to be honest, he doesn’t look all that bereaved. He used to call her his darling pug-face, and I went around thinking it was with love, but now I’m not so sure.
