***
For the Love of Gulbfish and a Lie - Part Two
A Sanctuary side story by Dianna Zaragoza
Jacubinia and Mageid raised their outstretched arms and
closed their eyes. A message sounded in their ears, exactly the same message:
“Many greetings to each of you. This is Tevogtulu of the
Twelve, with a message of great importance.
Many of you are aware of recent developments on Earth. The
discovery of a child who is perhaps half-human and half-Gilesian, an occurrence
previously thought impossible, has been officially confirmed. I myself will
descend within the moon-cycle to investigate the situation and report back with
my findings.
There is still much information to uncover, and I am assured
that the expatriots currently located on Earth will cooperate fully with my
efforts.
Thank you for your attention. You may return to your ongoing
activities.”
Not a sound was heard in the room. The voice itself echoed
in the chambers of their minds as they lowered their hands. Official
announcements always left Mageid with a slight headache, but he appreciated
their importance in keeping the colony quickly de-briefed on important events.
“An Earth female who’s half-Gilesian? How do you suppose
that happened?” Jacubinia wondered out loud.
Mageid knew better than to directly answer the question.
“Fascinating, of course. So…the gulbites? Any hope of a small taste?”
She smiled. “You must wait with the rest of the company, I’m
afraid.”
He bowed a little, and made a hasty exit. The announcement
stole his appetite, if he were to tell the truth, and he wouldn’t openly say it
even if she did ask.
Though others might dare, he was a government worker, and he
liked his position in society. Some topics were too dangerous for him to speak
of, though he listened with curiosity when he could.
He overheard other conversations as he strode back through
the reception hall. “Her name is like some kind of rock, I’ve heard…killed two
humans?...more than a Gilesian, from what I’ve heard…”
This was getting to be too much. What he wouldn’t give for a
ticket straight to the Dark Line right now…
“Araba Mageid!”
He turned at the sound of his formal name, and saw Bougkin,
the profane leader of the tallos mine he’d seen earlier on his way to the
kitchens.
He side-whispered now. “Was that melting I heard from the
kitchens just now?”
He closed his eyes. “I don’t know what you mean – I was
merely talking to the help.”
“Stealing a tasty morsel before it’s time, eh? Who could
blame you? She may be a hologram, but it never stops my mouth from watering.”
“You’ve been too long in the tallos mines, sir. We don’t
speak of such things in polite company.”
A broad grin crossed his sun-leathered face. “Tell that to
the Quorum and friends.” He swished past, his cloak a deep shade of red and
purple.
Mageid felt a flush of embarrassment run through his body –
his own cloak darkened to a reddish-brown. Eyes turned in his direction, and he
shook out his cloak and meditated on blue until his color changed.
He spotted Bougkin deep in conversation with a Hard One at
the other end of the room, who scowled and looked above the crowd for someone.
“He’s looking for me. Bougkin is telling his salacious
stories. No doubt he caught me attempting to melt with a hologram. My
reputation with the Quorum and my associates could suffer. I must stop him,
stop his story from spreading...."
***
Last part tomorrow. :-)
No comments:
Post a Comment