Seek, p.17
Seek, page 17
part #2 of Unwelcome Series
Lyla flicked a glance at him. She shouldn’t have. Her anger only spiked higher at the cuts along his arms and ribs. He’d just finished healing from the last assault.
“Maisy, what the heck are you doing here?” Riley asked.
“I … we …”
“They saved me,” Iris said quietly, her face abnormally pale. “The cats would have gotten me.”
For the first time, Lyla noticed the large mountain lion lying behind Michelle. From its strangely angled back, she knew Arthur had killed it. “How many cats were there?” she whispered.
“Four,” Arthur said.
Lyla’s knees buckled for a second. She took a deep breath. “Maisy, come here.”
Maisy peeked around Arthur before walking toward her. Lyla lowered herself down to her knees. Maisy had a scrape along her cheek. And there was blood on the knife she still clutched in her hand. “Are you okay?”
Tears welled up in Maisy’s eyes. She nodded and then flung herself at Lyla. Lyla held her tightly, rocking back and forth and trying to hold her own tears back.
“She protected Iris until I could get there. She was very brave,” Arthur said.
Lyla just nodded, not ready to say anything quite yet. Lyla wanted to hear the whole story, but right now, she just needed to assure herself that Maisy was okay.
Riley was leaning down, speaking quietly with Iris, who gestured to her ankle. Lyla closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. “Are you all right, Iris?”
“She hurt her ankle,” Maisy said.
Iris nodded.
“Okay, let’s get you back to your grandparents.”
“I’ll take her.” Michelle strode past Lyla. She had nearly forgotten the twins were there. Michael let out a laugh as he gathered up his knife.
Lyla gently pushed Maisy toward Arthur. Arthur immediately picked Maisy up and held her close, whispering in her ear. Maisy nodded, resting her head on his shoulder.
Michelle reached for Iris, but the girl shrank away from her, shaking her head. “No.”
“Iris, let’s go,” Michelle said sharply, reaching for her again.
Iris cringed away from her. “I don’t want to go with you.”
Michelle’s mouth was a tight line. “Now, Iris.”
“Enough,” Lyla said. “Michelle, leave her alone.”
Michelle whirled toward Lyla. “You don’t tell me what to do. You don’t know me. Don’t pretend you know me.”
Lyla frowned. What was wrong with these two? She put up her hands. “You’re right. I don’t know you. But Iris is scared right now. How about we let her decide who she wants to carry her, okay?”
Michele tightened her lips together, her eyes narrowing. She stood with her legs braced, her arms crossed over her chest. “Fine.”
“Iris, who would you like to carry you?” Riley asked.
Iris looked from each adult, her gaze constantly darting back to Arthur. Finally her gaze stayed on him.
Surprise flitted through Lyla. “Would you like Arthur to carry you?”
Iris nodded.
“No!” Michelle burst out. “You cannot let that animal near her.”
“He saved her life,” Riley said, his voice taking on a hard edge.
Michael glared at them but then gave off another one of his strange laughs.
“Iris has chosen. And I assure you, Arthur is perfectly safe,” Lyla said.
“If anything happens to her, it’s on you,” Michelle said before stalking away.
Lyla shook her head, watching the woman head back toward the Lab. Her even stranger brother followed her. They didn’t even look back to make sure Iris was all right. They just disappeared from view.
“Apparently they’re not actually that concerned about Iris’s safety,” Riley drawled.
Lyla shook her head. “I cannot figure those two out.”
“I doubt anyone could.” Riley walked over and tweaked Maisy on the nose. “Good job, sis.”
Maisy smiled shyly at him.
Riley turned to Iris. “All right, Miss Iris. Let me help you up.” He picked her up and handed her over to Arthur. He eyed the three of them. “You all right with those two?”
Arthur smiled. “They barely weigh anything.”
“I’m sorry I screamed,” Iris said softly.
“It’s okay, little one. I understand,” Arthur said.
Iris snuggled into Arthur’s other shoulder.
“Riley, take lead,” Lyla said.
He nodded and headed forward. Lyla motioned Arthur ahead of her as she took up the rear. As Arthur passed, she couldn’t help but notice the look of absolute contentment on his face. Even with the violence that had been visited on him, she knew he wouldn’t hold a grudge. And right now, the fact that Iris had accepted him had made Arthur’s whole world.
Their plan had been to keep Arthur away from the Lab. But his existence was now out of the bag. Lyla sighed, scanning the woods, and she realized it wasn’t the wildlife she was concerned about sneaking up on them. It was the twins. She glanced over to where Iris lay with her head on Arthur’s shoulder. She had just met Arthur, a being from a different planet, and she felt safer with him than she did with people she had known her whole life.
Lyla shook her head. They needed to figure out what was wrong with the twins. Because right now, Lyla was pretty sure neither Iris nor her grandparents would be safe if they left them behind.
54
The reaction of Elaine and Jerrold to Iris’s arrival in Arthur’s arms was practically comical. Miles caught sight of Riley and grinned at the expression on his face. He called out to Elaine, who turned. Elaine tapped Jerrold, who was looking off in a different direction. They both hurried forward only to stop dead a few feet later as Arthur emerged with Iris and Maisy in his arms. Jerrold’s mouth fell open. Elaine stepped forward, her hand to her open mouth.
Arthur leaned down and spoke quietly with Iris. Iris’s eyes opened. “Grandma! Grandpa!” She scrambled to get out of Arthur’s arms. He carefully placed her on the ground. She hobbled forward, and the Stevenses rushed to meet her. They wrapped her in their arms, holding her tight. Elaine’s chin wobbled as she looked at Lyla and Riley. “Thank you.”
“It was actually Arthur and Maisy who found her,” Riley said.
Jerrold looked up at Arthur. Maisy now stood on the ground next to him, holding his hand, looking fiercely protective of the giant. “Um, th-thank you.”
“You are very welcome,” Arthur said.
“You, um, I—”
Lyla stepped forward. “How about if we chat inside? I think Iris’s ankle may need to be wrapped.”
Jerrold darted a look at Iris before nodding. “Yes, um, okay.”
Riley looked around. “Are the twins back?”
“What?” Elaine yanked her gaze from Arthur. “Um, no. Should we send someone to tell them Iris’s back?”
Lyla frowned. “They know. They should have been back ahead of us.”
Jerrold shrugged. “They sometimes wander.”
Lyla frowned again. “Uh, okay. Iris, let’s get you—” She hobbled from her grandparents to Arthur, looking up at him expectantly. He reached down and picked her up.
Elaine stumbled back, her hand at her throat again.
“He, um—” Jerrold couldn’t seem to find words.
“We’ll explain everything. Shall we?” Lyla gestured to the building.
Elaine just nodded, her mouth still open.
Lyla waited until Jerrold and Elaine followed Arthur and the girls in before turning to Riley and Miles. “Go get the rest of the group. I want them camped out here tonight.”
“Why the change?” Miles asked.
“Well, they already know about Arthur, and …”
“And you don’t trust the twins,” Riley finished.
Lyla nodded. “Yes. Now go. And get back here quickly, okay?”
55
By the time Lyla reached the lower level, Arthur had deposited Iris on her bed and was standing against the far wall. Elaine was ripping up some linen strips. Jerrold had her boot off and was examining her ankle while Maisy had plopped down on the bed next to Iris, looking around with big eyes.
Lyla stood just outside the doorway, listening to the girls explain to poor Jerrold and Elaine what had happened.
“And then we heard the lion screech. Arthur, he started to run and tackled it just before it got Iris.”
“And then Maisy showed up and grabbed my hand. She helped me run. Another cat came, and Maisy shoved me out of the way. It jumped right over us as we hit the ground.”
“But I got in a swipe at its paw.”
Iris nodded. “She did.”
Lyla felt light-headed. She hadn’t known one had gotten that close.
“And then Maisy, she dared the cat to come get her. It was so brave.”
Lyla looked at her daughter. She had been training her for years, but she hadn’t realized how much she had actually learned. She was split between being so incredibly proud of her and completely terrified of what could have happened to her.
“And then the last one came, but Arthur got that one too,” Maisy said.
“And then I screamed.” Iris looked over at Arthur, biting her lip.
“Then those other two came. I didn’t like them. They hurt Arthur.” Maisy crossed her arms over her chest with a frown.
Iris mimicked the expression. “I don’t like them, either.”
“Iris!” Jerrold admonished.
She uncrossed her arms. “They were mean to Arthur, and all he did was help me.”
“They thought I was a threat to you,” Arthur said. “It is understandable.”
“Still don’t like them,” Maisy muttered.
Lyla couldn’t help but smile. Me either, sweetheart, me either. She stepped forward. “How’s the patient?”
Jerrold looked up as Lyla entered, looking relieved. “It’s just a little sprain. She should be fine in a few days.”
Elaine crouched down next to her, wrapping linens around her ankle. “You hear that? We’ll keep this nice and tight, and it should be good as new in a few days.”
Lyla walked over and stood next to Arthur as Elaine finished up. “You okay?” She kept her voice low.
He nodded. “Just a few scratches. Nothing critical. I’m just glad the girls are all right.”
“You’re a good man, Arthur.”
Even in the dim light, she could see the color heat up his cheeks.
“There you go.” Elaine stood. “Now I’d like you to rest for a little bit.”
“Aw, Grandma. I wanted to show Maisy around.”
“Just rest for a little bit, and then you can show her around, okay?”
Iris pouted. “Fine.”
“Maisy, why don’t you stay with Iris? Arthur and I are going to speak in the other room with Iris’s grandparents.”
“Okay.” Maisy pulled over a pillow, stuffing it behind her head.
Lyla smiled at how comfortable she looked already.
“Uh, this way.” Elaine led them out of the room and toward the lab.
When they stepped in, Lyla nodded to Arthur. “This is Arthur. He’s our friend. He is also an Unwelcome.”
Jerrold sat down heavily. “My goodness.”
Elaine looked up at him. “So you are blue.”
“The Unwelcome are. The Naku are gray.”
She frowned. “The Naku? Are you and the Naku the same species?”
Arthur shook his head. “I don’t believe so. They are much smaller.”
“The Naku are the overlords of the Unwelcome. The Unwelcome, they’re a slave race,” Lyla said.
“Oh.” Elaine jerked back.
“The Naku call us avad,” Arthur said.
“Avad,” Jerrold murmured. “An interesting name.”
“How so?” Lyla asked.
“Hm?” Jerrold pulled his gaze from Arthur.
“Avad. You said it was an interesting name,” Lyla prodded.
“Oh, yes. It’s very similar to the old Hebrew word for slave—ebed. But it’s also pronounced abad.”
“That is unusual,” Lyla said, struck by the similarity.
“Huh.” Elaine’s eyes scanned Arthur, and she jolted. “You’re hurt.”
Lyla noted the rips in his shirt, the slight stain of blood.
Arthur shook his head. “It’s nothing.”
Elaine tutted. “Animal wounds are nothing to brush off. All sorts of bacteria could get in there. Come.” She marched to the other side of the room.
Arthur gave Lyla a helpless look before following her. Elaine had him sit on a stool and remove his shirt as she inspected his scratches. They really weren’t too bad, but Lyla liked that Elaine wanted to take care of him.
Jerrold stepped next to Lyla. “He’s, um, a friend?”
Lyla smiled. “He saved my children. Come on, I’ll tell you and Elaine the story at the same time.”
56
Maisy lay on Iris’s bed, staring up at the vents above her. Iris’s home was so different from hers. “I can’t believe you live here. It’s so cool! It’s like a secret hideout.”
Iris smiled shyly, looking around. “I guess.”
Maisy sat up. “So you don’t go up to the surface much?”
“I sometimes help my grandpa with the garden on the roof, but he doesn’t like letting me out to wander around anywhere else. The only ones that do that are Michelle and Michael.”
Maisy studied her new friend. “What’s wrong?”
“I—” Iris looked around, leaning toward Maisy. “They’re really bad people.”
“Yeah, I don’t like how they treated Arthur.”
“No, it’s more than that.” She looked down the hall, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I think they’ve hurt people.”
“What?”
“Michael and Michelle keep saying that there haven’t been any people around here. But I know there have been. Sometimes I sneak out on the roof.”
“And you saw people?”
Iris nodded. “And one time I saw Michael and Michelle talking to them. They know there are people. And they lie.”
“Lie?”
“Yeah. We had this really bad winter last year. And they said they found some deer one day. But I saw them come back. They didn’t have a deer with them.”
“Why’d they lie?”
“I don’t know.”
Maisy looked around the room. “Where do they sleep?”
“Below us.”
Maisy drummed her fingers on the bed. She did not like that her new friend was scared. “They’re not back yet, right?”
“No,” Iris said slowly.
Maisy stood up. “I’m going to see where they live.”
“What? Why?”
“If we can show my mom something that shows they’re bad people, she’ll make sure they leave here.”
“Really?”
Maisy nodded. “My mom would never let anyone get hurt if she could help them. Now, how do I get down to their place?”
Iris scrambled off the bed. “I’ll show you.”
“Are you sure? What about your ankle?”
“It’s not too bad. Come on.”
57
Once Lyla had finished her story about meeting Arthur and what they had been through, Elaine and Jerrold sat staring at them. Elaine was the first to recover. “My goodness. You’ve really been through a lot.”
“It’s been a long couple of months,” Lyla said.
“And you really learned about humanity by reading about us?” Jerrold asked.
Arthur nodded. “For me, it was a joy. The life of the avad, or the Unwelcome as you call them, is devoid of joy. We own nothing. Our lives are completely at the mercy of the Naku. Until I started reading about humans, I never even considered that it could be a different way.”
“And when you saw Miles with that girl, you wanted to help them?” Jerrold asked.
Arthur nodded.
“Had you ever wanted to do something like that before?” Elaine asked.
Arthur frowned. “I-I don’t think so. It’s strange, but before that point, I don’t recall truly feeling anything. I did not think for myself. I did not feel. We are not built that way.”
“Huh,” Elaine murmured.
“What?” Jerrold asked.
“People don’t just develop emotions if they’ve never had them before. The only way for that to happen was for them to have been blocked somehow.” Elaine shook her head. “Sorry. That is just some unsubstantiated theorizing on my part. It’s been a while since we’ve had a scientific mystery to dive into.”
Jerrold took her hand. “We’ve missed it. Do you mind if I ask you some questions?”
“I’d be happy to answer them.”
“Are all your people blue?”
“Yes.
“And are you all so … large?”
Arthur shook his head. “No. The charat are not as muscular as the chelvah.”
Lyla frowned. “The charat?”
Arthur looked at her. “The breeders. They are impregnated and produce the next generation of chelvah and charat.”
“And you are a chelvah?” Jerrold asked.
Arthur nodded.
“When do you begin to achieve your size?” Jerrold asked.
“Not until we have made it through the shedar. You would call it a culling.”
Elaine blanched.
Arthur continued. “Once we are initiated into the rovac program, we are given supplements and operations to make us larger.”
“Operations?” Jerrold asked.
“Our bones are broken and lengthened.”
Lyla gasped.
But Elaine only nodded. “They actually have done that with humans as well, but generally only to help someone achieve normal height.”
“Why would they be so cruel?” Arthur asked. “It is a very painful process.”
“With painkillers, it shouldn’t be …” Jerrold’s voice faded away as he watched Arthur. “They didn’t use anything to mediate the pain?”
Arthur shook his head.
“How old were you?” Lyla asked.
“The process began when I was a little younger than Maisy.”
