Free Jo's Journey by S. E. Smith Page A

plans.
    Okay, she thought, it wasn’t exactly ‘tiny’.
    She bit her fingernail as she watched him turn to glare at Walter who was talking animatedly to her parents. His short arms were waving back and forth as he talked. In between his explanations to her parents, he was giving out orders for Ricki as he thought up new things. Knowing Ricki, she would have already taken care of it before her dad said a word.
    Jo studied Manota’s face as first disbelief, then horror, then fury crossed over it. She grimaced as he raised his hands to his head and ran them through his short hair, a loud groan of frustration heated the atmosphere. He turned and strode back toward them with a grim determination that didn’t bode well – for him. He didn’t know Walter like Jo did. If he thought he was going to change Walter or any of the other circus members’ minds then he was about to learn that Walter was a might that not even the strongest Kassisan warrior wanted to go up against.
    “ Walter!” Manota called out through clenched teeth. “I need to have a word with you!”
    Jo glanced worriedly down at Walter. She covered her mouth to stifle the nervous giggle that escaped. Walter was beaming.
    Nope, she thought as she watched Walter walked toward Manota. Manota didn’t stand a chance.
    *.*.*
    Manota glared down at Walter’s smug face as the shorter man walked up to him. There was something in the human male’s eyes that was a little – too self-satisfied – too confident. Manota didn’t know what it was but whatever in the hell it was, he was going to wipe it out of the man’s eyes. Kev came back to let him know their scanners were picking up a lot of unusual activity along the edge of the lake they were submerged in.
    “ The scanners are picking up a wide variety of life forms, some quite large. In addition, there are numerous vehicles in various sizes with more approaching,” Kev had informed him grimly. “It is going to be very difficult to remain unseen. The only reason we are submerged is because the drain the cloaking device has on the crystals. There is no way we will be able to take off from the lake unseen. For that matter, there will be no way for our three newest visitors to be returned without being seen.”
    Manota ’s mind worked out how it was possible to be discovered. It had been the look in his mate’s eyes, combined with the words he didn’t understand from Walter, that finally came together to create a very unpleasant picture.
    “ You’ll have to bring this thing to the surface, of course,” Walter was saying, snapping his fingers in the air. A moment later, Ricki was by his side. “How long do you think it will take to arrange everything, Ricki?”
    Ricki smiled at Manota. “The crews are very efficient. They can have everything loaded and locked down within six hours. The large pieces of equipment and all the animals will be brought on first. There is adequate room for the equipment and animals in this bay. The bay next to this one should be fine for the crew’s living accommodations. It will work out well as they would be in close proximity to the animals that will need to be cared for,” Ricki explained quietly.
    “ Animals?” Manota choked out in dismay. “This is a warship! Not a… a…” He paused trying to think of the word Jo had said. “This is not a zoo!”
    “ Then it is a good thing this is a circus and not a zoo, right Manota?” Walter chuckled good-naturedly. “The crew are experts at handling the animals on long voyages.”
    “ That is true, Mr. Ja Kel Coradon. We have made many trips on both ocean going freighters and trains. Both have a certain amount of movement that can cause the animals distress but those in charge of the animals are quite prepared to deal with any situation that may arise. Now, if I can get your signature here, here and here, please,” Ricki asked handing her clipboard to Manota along with a pen.
    Manota glanced down at the lines on the