I led them into the shuttle bay. It was a small, dim space with harsh overhead lights so I could see what I was working on. It doubled as a garage at this point, cluttered with the tools and equipment I used to work on the house, so it wasn’t the tidiest space. The shuttle sat in the center of it, hatch open.
The vessel itself, however, was spotless. I did not tolerate clutter when I was flying and weightlessness in space made disorder a true hazard, so I kept a clean, minimalist ship. The shuttle was compact. It had an operator’s seat up front, a copilot’s seat beside it that usually sat empty, and a handful of seats in the small main cabin behind.
I got them all into the shuttle as quickly as I could. Silli hopped down to the seat beside me as I settled into the operator’s chair and powered on the systems.
“Can I sit up here with Silli?” Aila asked, appearing in the space between the two seats. Her eyes were wide and hopefuland nearly impossible to refuse. Before I could open my mouth and say yes, her mother spoke up from just behind us in the main cabin.
“Gilrox has important things to do up there,” Salie warned. “Do not bother him.”
I swiveled in my seat to look back at her. “If the child would like to sit up here, I have no objection, as long as she doesn’t touch any of the instruments.” I ignored the squeal from the youngling and focused on her mother. “That is, if you give her permission.” I glanced back at Aila. “Your mother is in charge, not me.”
That quieted the girl quick enough.
Salie shrugged. “Very well.” She gave Aila a stern look. “You heard what Gilrox said. Do not touch anything.”
Aila clasped her hands before her, closed her eyes, and said solemnly, “I promise I will not touch anything. Except for Silli.”
Everyone seemed to be in accord, so I instructed my passengers to buckle up as I powered up the engines and engaged the thrusters.
I was very proud of this little shuttle. It was smooth and quiet, and it brought us back to the village within minutes. We touched down just outside the village, in a clearing.
“So fast,” Maive mused in awe.
My chest swelled at her praise. I powered down the shuttle and opened the hatch, taking the time to engage the ramp, which was something I rarely used. Even in mypast-my-primeyears, I still generally just jumped in and out of it. Habit, I supposed. But these people were smaller and needed a ramp. My passengers gathered with me at the opening, watching as the metal extended from the floor to the ground below.
Aila peered around me to look outside, still cradling a self-indulgent-looking Silli in her arms. “Can I bring him to the festival? I’ll keep him safe.” Her tone was defensive, as if sheexpected a firm “no” to come from me, but I didn’t want him stuck in the shuttle the whole time. Besides, Silli was more than capable of wriggling out of a pair of arms and finding me if he got tired of the attention. Based on the adoring look he was giving Aila, he wouldn’t be weary of it any time soon.
“Fine, but mind the other children around him,” I said, giving her a heavy look. “He is not a toyora pet.”
Aila nodded firmly. “I will.”
I looked out to see a gathering crowd. Villagers kept a bit of a distance from the shuttle, but as soon as they saw who was in the shuttle, they erupted in happy chatter.
“After you.” I waved a hand toward the opening, but Maive turned her gaze to mine.
“I find I would like an escort.”
“What?” I asked. “You can’t walk down a ramp?”
“Don’t be dense, Gilrox.” Her eyes twinkled with amusement. “I do not need helpwalking. I would like an escort.”
“Oh.” What was I supposed to do? I glanced back at Pasek, for whatever reason. Maybe I saw him as an etiquette expert, since he’d given me advice on a gift for Maive. Advice I hadn’t entirely taken, but the man knew what I was asking and stuck out his elbow. I stared at him for a moment, and he gave me a look and pointed to his elbow.
“Um.” I did what Pasek did, bending the arm closest to Maive and stuck out my elbow.
She smiled and slid her hand into the crook. My forearm muscle jumped at the contact. I glanced back at Pasek and he nodded approvingly, so I filed this little ritual away for future reference.
I looked down at Maive again. She looked pleased to be holding my arm, to havemeby her side. It made no sense, but I stood straight and “escorted” Maive from the shuttle. I couldn’t recall ever feeling so proud and humble at the same time.
Pasek, Salie, and Aila all exited behind us. As soon as our feet hit the ground, the villagers started in with questions. Of course they wanted an explanation, but before I could give one, Pasek’s voice rose above them.
“Nothing to worry about, folks,” he said, raising his hands to quiet the crowd. “Aila became lost in the woods and Gilrox rescued her. He gave her food and water and was on his way back to the village to return the child when we found him. All is well.” Pasek grinned widely at me. “We are all grateful to Gilrox for saving our little one from a bad fate.”
There were cheers, happy sounds, laughter. Joyous energy flowed through the crowd. I turned my gaze to Maive in exasperation. Neither she, nor her daughter, Salie, nor Aila for that matter, had argued with the statement that I’d rescued or saved the youngling. I had done neither. All I had done was give the child a snack and prepare to bring her home. Like anyone would have done. Nothing heroic about it. I shook my head and gave Maive a look, as if to say,Aren’t you going to correct them?
She gave me a small smile and lifted her chin, as if to say,Nope.Instead, she raised one brow. “Shall we join the festivities?”
I had to swallow before I could get any words out. My throat had closed up tight and I shifted the box that was tucked under one arm. I had half a mind to get right back in my shuttle and go home. “If you wish.”
