Part 10 (2/2)
”How are our armies doing, General Mouse?” Randalyn asked.
”Um. Fine.” Mouse still had trouble getting his mind around the fact that he was now a general. That had been Grant's t.i.tle. It had been two weeks since the council had named him Earth's new general, and he still felt like an imposter. ”All of our forces are equipped and ready. We don't know for sure where the Minith will land, but the obvious locations are here and near the Leaders.h.i.+p Council facility in Urop. So, that's where the bulk of the N'mercan and Urop'n forces are stationed. I've allowed the other cultures to position their units where they feel they can be most effective. Those units are on orders to be ready to support the forces here and in Urop if needed, though.”
”Is there anything you'd like for me to convey to the council?”
”Just that I'd wish you would reconsider your decision to remain in the council building. I don't see why you, and the rest of the council, insist on staying there.”
”We understand the risks, General. But we have each decided that our place is there. We will not cower from the aliens any longer. I cannot speak for any of my fellow council members, but I will be armed and ready for the Minith, should they visit.”
Her cool blue eyes did not leave Mouse's and he knew she would stand up to the aliens if needed. Now that he possessed a better understanding of her background, he knew she had not always been a slave to Peace as he had previously thought. She, and hundreds of thousands like her, including Tane, operated under a different set of beliefs-beliefs that were hidden away for years out of necessity. That necessity had been lifted when the council agreed to remove the laws that had required their secrecy.
”Okay, then. When do you leave?”
”As soon as we are finished here. My carrier is already prepared.”
”Fine. Tane? How are things with your group?”
The scientist provided his updates with the crisp, precise eloquence Mouse had come to expect. Weapons systems had been updated where necessary, equipment and ammunition were stocked and ready for use. Tane and his scientific teams would be ready to depart for their a.s.signed area inside the mine in two days. Until then, they were at Mouse's and the council's disposal for any last-minute needs. Neither Mouse nor Randalyn could think of anything further, and the meeting adjourned.
Next for Mouse was a meeting with his unit commanders. The defensive plan was being drafted and he was anxious to see what his subordinates had come up with.
Randalyn intercepted Blue at the door as he prepared to leave. She took his left hand in both of hers and thanked the administrator warmly for all his work and his support over the years. It was apparent the large man was moved by the gesture, but seemed unsure how to respond. He muttered a simple ”thank you” and made a hasty retreat.
”I know Blue can be difficult at times, but he really is a good man at heart. He is just insecure,” she told Mouse and Tane.
”Well, I'm not,” Mouse said. ”Give me a goodbye hug. None of that hand-shaking c.r.a.p.”
”Really, General. c.r.a.p? You have obviously spent too much time with General Justice.”
The comment landed like a brick between the three friends. The warmth that had begun to fill the room quickly escaped. Although it had never been vocalized between them, the man they had relied on for so many years was most likely dead. The appearance of the four mothers.h.i.+ps was proof that he and his small force had failed at whatever they had matched themselves against. It pained each of them to know that they would never see Grant, t.i.tan, or any of the others on the s.h.i.+p again.
Mouse hugged Randalyn and tried to regain some of the warmth that had been lost. He thanked the Culture Leader and stepped back to let Tane take his turn. This might be the last time either of them saw her.
Tane embraced his friend and his leader. Mouse understood the depth of feeling the two shared. They had been partners in bringing about the changes that had taken place on Earth over the past seven years. None of the advances that humanity had realized in that short time would have been possible without their direct influence and commitment.
The scientist muttered soft words to Randalyn just before releasing her. Mouse could only hear bits and pieces, but he thought he picked out, ”we don't know for sure...,” and ”...may be fine.” Whatever he said, the words caused the Culture Leader's eyes to water. She promptly turned to leave without another look in Mouse's direction * * *
”But why do I have to go with the orphans?” Eli asked.
”Because I have to take care of some things here,” his mom explained. Eli watched as she bustled about their apartment. He could tell she wasn't really listening to him. She was too busy packing clothes and inventorying items he would take with him. ”And I don't want to wait until the last minute to get you evacuated.”
”So, that means you're going to be here until the last minute?”
”No, that's not what it means. I evacuate a day before the last group of support staff departs,” she explained. She stopped folding the s.h.i.+rt in her hands and sat beside him. Now she was listening. ”But I'm going to be busy in the meantime and can't look after you. We will only be apart for two days, Eli. I need you to do this.”
”But I've got a mom and a dad! I'm not an orphan.” He had heard some of the other kids talking about the people who had left on the alien s.h.i.+p. Jonah had come right out and said that General Justice and the others who left were not coming back, but Eli did not believe it. The Minith could never beat his dad. His dad was too good at everything.
His mom stood up and put the now-folded s.h.i.+rt into the bag she was preparing. She was done listening.
”No, Eli, you are not an orphan. But you will be joining them when they get evacuated in two days.”
Eli knew the ”mother” voice. It would do no good to argue with her about this. She had made up her mind, even if it didn't make any sense.
”Fine,” he agreed. For now. He would try again later. ”Can I visit Treel?”
She stopped packing and looked at him. He knew she wanted to tell him no. They had already discussed why Treel had once again been returned to his room and locked inside.
”I'm leaving in two days, and I want to see him before then,” he whined. Like most six-year-olds, Eli had learned the b.u.t.tons he could push to get his way. She was forcing him to leave with the orphan's group, and he was offering up something that looked like a compromise.
He knew she would not say no.
CHAPTER 17.
”Why do you keep walking around and around the room?”
Treel paused his pacing. Looked over to the small human seated among the furnis.h.i.+ngs he had moved to the center of the room. Eli was setting up the pieces for another battle of chess, even though he had been informed there would be no game. Although they had discussed the incoming s.h.i.+ps and the seemingly unavoidable threat of war, the boy seemed calmly immune to the forces building around them.
”Movement helps me to think, Little One. I need to be ready.”
”Ready for what?”
”I need to be ready to... to leave this planet when the time comes.”
Treel almost said ”be ready to fight” but checked his tongue. He could not confess his thoughts to the young human, regardless how close they had become. Within days, Grant's offspring-this small human who had helped ease his loneliness over the past few years-would be just as much an enemy as any other human of Earth.
”Do you think the s.h.i.+ps are here to take you back?”
”I hope so, Eli. I hope so.”
”So do I, Treel,” the child responded. The matter-of-fact admission surprised Treel. ”I'd miss you, but you've got two sons waiting for you at home. They need you more than I do.”
The revelation that Eli understood his pain was a surprise to the Minith warrior, though in retrospect, it should not have been. The child's father was away at war now. Or dead. Either way, he knew what separation was like and, at such a young age, was better able to relate his feelings and motivations to others much better than most Minith ever would. Treel knew it was his race's manner to consider one's individual needs and desires before anyone else's. Consideration of how others felt or what others needed was not one of their strengths. In fact, most of his kind would view that as a very real weakness. Even after so many years with these humans, they continued to show him new ways to think-gave him new ideas to contemplate. Rala would enjoy these beings, he thought.
Eli's comment gave Treel an idea and he set off around the room again. Perhaps he could use the boy's understanding of his goals to his benefit.
”Do you miss your father?”
Eli stopped playing with the pieces on the board and looked up.
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