Aside from those obvious features, they didn’t look that much more alien than a somewhat furry mutant elf, she supposed, though they were built more burly than those she had seen in movies.
They carried oddly shaped rods, curved but with what looked like a grip of sorts. They didn’t resemble any firearms Maureen had ever seen, but this was a whole new world, and their technology undoubtedly put Earth’s primitive gunpowder devices to shame.
The guards appeared to be on a simple patrol, walking in formation but not venturing from the path. Bodok placed his hand on her shoulder, signaling her to remain still. They both didn’t move a muscle for several minutes after the Mondarians passed, until Bodok finally relaxed his grip.
“It is safe now,” he said, stepping out into the open.
“What was that?”
“A perimeter patrol. As I said, this world has many visitors, and this particular city is overseen by the Mondarians. Once inside the city limits, things are relatively civilized, for the most part, but out here in the wilds between encampments there are many threats. The guards keep themoutsideof the city.”
“What do you mean,relativelycivilized?” she asked, backtracking a beat.
He cocked his head a moment. “Let us just say that on the distant worlds, some of their practices are a bit brutal for a civilized race. But we should be able to avoid any such unpleasantness. If we can blend in and acquire lodging, I can then work on finding means to send aid to our injured shipmates. Then I will be free to attempt to secure us passage.”
“Passage? You mean a ship? But where to?”
“Anywhere,” he said, taking her hand in his.
Maureen’s pulse quickened at his touch. Anywhere sounded pretty damn good right about now, so long as he was with her.
“Anywhere it is,” she said. “I trust you. Now, lead the way.”
CHAPTERTEN
As the pair walked out of the wilderness and into the alien city, Maureen had to fight her instinct to gawk at the amazing sights. It was all so overwhelming, it was all she could do not to gawk like a tourist.
Bodok’s warning had made an impression, however, and as the lone human present—and likely the only one any of these people had ever seen, no less—she needed to do everything in her power to blend in and not draw any more attention to herself than her being a unique species already did.
Fortunately, with her makeshift shawl and their grubby attire, she and Bodok looked more like vagrants than escaped prisoners from a Raxxian livestock ship. People tended to avoid looking at the dregs of society, and that held true here as much as anywhere else.
Of course, most civilized races despised the Raxxians, and had that fact of their circumstances become known they would be sure to meet with sympathy and perhaps even support. But given Maureen’s illegal status, as well as Bodok’s reluctance to make their presence known to any legal officials in the Mondarian city, stealth was their best, and seemingly only, option.
“I will find us some lodging,” Bodok said as they walked the streets. “I have no currency, but I can trade labor for shelter.”
“And food,” she added as they passed a small establishment with delicious smells wafting from its open door, making her belly rumble.
It seemed no matter the culture—or planet, for that matter—some sales tricks were universal, and the age-old favorite of blowing wonderful aromas out into the street was tried and true.
“You know, I can help,” Maureen offered. “I may not know much about alien ways, but I’m sure there’s something I can do. Clean, maybe? They still have cleaners on alien worlds, right? Or maybe I could work in a kitchen. You know, when I was younger I worked back-of-house at a pretty good restaurant. How different can these be?”
“Your intent is appreciated, but you are clearly overwhelmed by this new place and such actions would be putting yourself at risk. I must keep you safe and away from prying eyes, and that means as little contact with others as possible until I can earn enough to get us transport.”
It wasn’t what Maureen had wanted to hear, and she didnotlike being told what not to do, but she understood the reasoning. More than that, this was an alien world, with customs she knew nothing about. And though they had spent relatively little time together, her gut told her he was a good man. And crazy as it seemed, she trusted him.
“All right. Whatever you say. But I still want to contribute if I can.”
“It is noted, and if there is anything you cansafelydo I will not hesitate to inform you.”
She gave him a satisfied little nod. “Deal.”
He smiled at her and took her hand in his. “Come. This is for the wealthy. We need to venture into a somewhat rougher neighborhood to find what we need.”
Bodok led her through the roadways, their surroundings shifting from wealthy to well-off to kind of poor in short order. He had said this was a small outpost set up by the Mondarians, not a proper city. That meant that while the shiny towers of the elite were indeed impressive, many of the other races inhabiting the area were simple traders and those looking for a different life.
It was why they settled on a transit hub world. With the comings and goings of so many, they were easily able to make their way to the new world, ready to take advantage of the needs of travelers. And that meant lodging was to be had for all levels of wealth.
The transportation on the ground was even more impressive to Maureen than the buildings once they had entered the city proper. Floating conveyances with no visible means of propulsion traveled silently along the roadways, hovering above the ground.
