“Arr yoo hahpee tu reemayn aht thuh vil lij wiyth thim?”
One by one, the hoomuns nodded, some of them adding words to their physical affirmation.
Rah-bee was listening intently, his body rigid at the question asked of his friends, then relaxing.
“Then it is decided,” the one in the middle said after the last answer was given to his query. “The hoomuns will remain within your village, as members of your clan.”
The one sitting on the far right leaned forward. “We should arrange for tranzlaytorz for the hoomuns.”
“Excellent suggestion,” one nodded.
“It is also proposed that we install a portal. Theirs is the only settlement without one,” the one who brought us said, stepping forward.
“With the increased Pronok activity, it would be prudent,” the one to the left of the one in the middle agreed.
“Take a shut tul and bring the compohnitz with you. They can all ride back to their settlement with you, and the teknish shunz,” the one in the middle replied.
I felt excited at this news. I did not know what a shut tul was, but this sounded as if they were coming back with us to build a portal for my village. This was so much more than any of us had dared to hope for. I knew Chief Grishk was going to be well pleased with us all.
“The healer should remain here,” he continued. “We need to give him some training regarding hoomuns.”
Grokah bowed his head. “That would serve us all well. I am honored.”
“Be well,” came the reply, and the image went dark.
“Iz thaht eet?” Frehd asked.
Rah-bee turned to hug me around my waist, burying his face against my chest.
“Ah luhv yoo,” he said, and to my consternation, his eyes began to leak, wetting the front of me. “Ah wuz soh skaerd thay wur goheng tu tayk uhss ayway.”
I tightened my arms around him, seeking to reassure him, knowing it must be over something the gods had said. I dropped a kiss onto the top of his head. Whatever it was, it would be fine. Rah-bee was mine, and soon he would understand that I also was his. Nothing else mattered. Nothing at all.
29
ROBBIE
All this back and forth talk, where I could only understand half of what was being said, was exhausting and stressful. I had been tired by the time we reached the forest, and now I just really wanted to be home with Gree-Gree and get into our bed to sleep for a year.
“Are you alright?” the alien dude who’d led us here for the video conference asked me. I turned my head to peer at him, not letting go of Gree-Gree.
“Yeah. Just really, really tired and I’m not embarrassed to admit, also overwhelmed. I have so many questions.”
“I am certain that you do. As many answers as we can safely give you will be given, but first, I am to see that you get translators.”
Fred blanched. “I already have one. Can’t that just get an update or something?”
The alien turned to face him. “It is doubtful that it is compatible technology. The Pronok use the cheapest tech they can get hold of, and it is often stolen and defective. Our medical officer will look it over and see what needs to be done.”
“Defective?” he squeaked, a look of horror crossing his face. “Um, yeah, okay.”
“Do not worry. Those of you without translators will find the process painless, but please be aware, it can take hours or even days for the integration to become complete, and you may not understand anything said to you that’s not in your language until it is.”
“Will we be able to read as well as understand what’s being said?”
“Understand and speak, but not read. You’ll have to learn to read the hard way, I’m afraid.”
Ah well. I had the primer, and no doubt once I understood the spoken word, the reading part would come along more quickly. Over half the battle and all that. Besides, it wasn’t as if I needed to be able to read cooking instructions off the back of a box or anything. Just being able to talk to Gree-Gree was exciting enough, to be honest.
