Ito shrugged. “The part about the plans for new planetary defense. I think the generals hope that will serve as a warning.”
“It doesn’t.”
“I suggested as much to the generals,” Ito said with a dry amusement in his voice.
Liam squirmed into a slightly more comfortable position and considered the information. The idea of human planetary defenses wouldn’t interest the Grandmothers. It wouldn’t rate more than a derisive trill of amusement. However, the idea of humans trying to play on Zach’s loyalties would be of great interest. Personally, Liam was more concerned about Zach as a friend.
“I didn’t demand more of our trade because Ondry covets the title of a nutu trader. That requires that we seek to maximize profits for both sides. It’s the Rownt equivalent of a trader telling you that he is so secure in his ability to make profit that he does not need to take advantage of fools who leave the meat on the table for others to steal. It is an insult and a promise of fair treatment all at the same time.”
Ito shook his head, the amusement front and center now. “Every time I think I understand what might motivate a Rownt, you pull the rug out from under me.”
“I think aliens in general do that,” Liam said. “I just hope we can avoid any massacres as we navigate the chasm between the two species.”
“Wisely stated,” Ito said.
“A Rownt would say that the truth is so obvious I should not have stated it,” Liam corrected him. The car pulled up in front of the warehouse that had been converted into diplomatic use for the Rownt. Liam took a deep breath.
Liam stretched his neck. Even though the ground was dry, the scent of petrichor hinted at recent rains. As different as Earth and Prarownt were, they both smelled the same when it rained. The scent was especially strong around Janatjanay because it rained so rarely there. The town was in an inhospitable, dry region of the planet, and the scent gave Liam a jolt of homesickness for the little house he and Ondry had shared. He wondered if the cinnamon trees had been delivered and whether humans still sent a trader to the plaza.
He was avoiding thinking about the man waiting in the warehouse, but Liam couldn’t avoid Luke forever. They hadn’t seen each other in so long that Liam didn’t know the man Luke had become, so it was time to meet him.
Liam strode toward the door with all the confidence he could muster. A niggle of guilt gnawed at him when his stride forced Colonel Ito to run after him.
When Liam opened the door, the man inside stood. He was tall and had the lean look of someone who missed meals. That gave Liam a jolt of discomfort. He should talk to Ito about funneling more of his salary to the family. When the younger kids aged out of the foster system, there wasn’t going to be enough for everyone. Liam didn’t want any of them going hungry.
His second impression was that Luke resembled their mother. His eyes were a darker blue; their mother had gray-blue eyes. However, Luke’s eyes were the same shape, and he had the sandy blond hair that went in every direction at once. He remembered their mother standing in front of the bathroom mirror and cursing as she tried to tame it with hair spray. The whole house would stink from it, and her hair would still escape her bun. The memory hit Liam like an electrical jolt.
The military had informed him that Luke was attending university, but Liam didn’t know what he was studying or if he was married. He hadn’t asked. He’d told himself that his loyalty to Ondry kept him from seeking any details. But now that he was faced with Luke in the flesh, Liam realized he’d lied to himself. Luke was part of a life that Liam had left behind. A humiliating life.
However, Liam’s mistakes were not his brother’s fault. Liam just wished he knew why Luke had requested a meeting. As much as Liam felt an obligation to honor his brother’s request, he didn’t want to endure family drama in front of government officials.
“Luke.” Liam stopped, not sure what else to say.
Luke shifted from one foot to another. “Liam.” He sounded terrified. They both did.
The room was huge since it was designed for Rownt. Liam walked toward Luke, but he didn’t know when to stop. Did he leave a Rownt-polite six feet between them or did he get closer? Did he hug Luke or offer a handshake. In the four seconds it took him to cross the distance, Liam had worked himself up into a near panic.
He stopped three feet away and said, “I received your message.” That sounded pathetic, even to his own ears.
“Um, yeah.” Luke scratched above his ear, causing his hair to move into a new configuration. “I’m glad you could come. It’s sort of late and short notice, though. I was hoping for something less military...” His gaze darted over toward Ito. “Like a dinner maybe.”
That would have been the most awkward dinner in history. “My ship is leaving tonight or tomorrow at the latest. The Rownt have been here long enough.”
“Oh. Yeah, if you’re traders, it makes sense that you would want to be out there trading.” Luke nodded too enthusiastically.
Liam didn’t know this man who had their mother’s eyes. He didn’t even look like the weedy little boy who had tagged along every time Liam had tried escaping to the beach to hang with the floaters.
“When are you coming back?” Luke asked.
“I don’t know if we are.”
For the first time, Luke met his gaze. “What?” The word carried a wealth of surprise and unhappiness. Liam hadn’t expected Luke to genuinely care.
“The ship, theCalti, it might not come back to Earth before the end of the century.”
“But...” Luke took a step backward. The silence between them was painfully uncomfortable.
Liam struggled to find something to say. Anything would be better than the silence. “Did you get the money from my military salary?”
