Free TirzahsAllure by Gabriella Bradley Page A

whirled and ran to her man.
    Embracing her, he said, “Since I didn’t understand a word, can you tell me what just happened? You talked for a long time.”
    Tirzah looked up at him and grinned. “They ask me tell story of my journey to city.”
    “Really? That’s a good thing. Isn’t it?”
    “Yes. Mother say maybe see black cat and black man was shock.”
    “Perhaps, since you told me everyone on your planet is fair, like you. And looking at everyone here, you sure all are.” He laughed. “Maybe they thought I was a ghost from the past.”
    “Ghost?”
    “Spirits, the dead when they come back to haunt you.”
    “Oh. We walk?”
    “Is there time?”
    “Yes. Elders are in meeting.”
    “Just a minute,” Calira had sidled up to them. “I want to talk to Cain.”
    Much to Tirzah’s astonishment, her mother spoke Cain’s language. “Mother, how—”
    Calira pointed at a small round disc, hardly noticeable, on her temple. “This is a universal translator. We’ve never had to use them. Our science officer, Zinpa, retrieved all the universal translators from the ship. They’re powered by magnetic impulses from our brains. I didn’t know she had them until she gave me one after the trial. There are only sixteen.”
    “Your mother speaks perfect English, Tirzah.”
    “By using the translators, we will learn the language fast as our brain picks up each syllable and word. After wearing it for a few days, we won’t need it anymore and others can use them.”
    “Amazing technology. What our government wouldn’t give to get their hands on it,” Cain said.
    “Perhaps we can negotiate with…eh…your government? You mean elders? Your council?”
    “Similar. Each country has its own government. Some countries have a king or queen.”
    Tirzah knew Zinpa well. Why the elder had waited until now to reveal that she had the translators, she had no idea. “Is one for me?”
    “For now, only the elders, your father and I have been given one. There are five elders, so that leaves nine translators. I will ask after the tribunal concludes. I believe the elders want to question Cain next.”
    “Zinpa never told you she had the translators?”
    “No. I suppose she thought there was no need since we had no contact with the wild tribes or anyone else. She now saw the need. It has been so many years. She’d probably forgotten about them herself.”
    “I think I’m going to wake up soon and realize I found myself dreaming about Star Trek.”
    “Cain, you are not sleep,” Tirzah told him and poked him. “What is Star Trek ?”
    “Science fiction series and movies on TV. It is all scifi fantasy about a starship that travels the universe and makes contact with aliens. Stories. I can’t wait until you can wear one of those gadgets so you learn proper English.”
    “Tribunal is come back. They say bring Cain,” Tirzah pulled his arm.
    “That was a short two hours. Well, I guess it’s my turn on the chopping block.”
    “Cain?”
    “Oh, I mean they will question me now.”
    “Tirzah, you will wait until you are called to appear before us again,” Opek told her tersely.
    She hastened to the bleachers where she joined her parents. More than anything, she wished she had the translator so she could follow every word said. Though she’d learned a lot of English, there were many words she still didn’t know, or the proper composition of sentences.
    The bell rang and the murmurs on the bleachers stopped.
    “What is your name?”
    “Cain Jones.”
    “When were you born, Cain Jones?”
    “Thirty-four years ago on April the first. That is the date the nuns found me so they made it my birthday.”
    “What is April?”
    “We have a calendar. The year is divided into twelve months. Each month has a name and is divided into days. A day is twenty-four Earth hours. I was born on the first day of the month of April. Or, I should say I was found on the first day of April. I don’t know the exact date of my birth but I