Free Sister Katherine by Tracy St. John Page A

“My darlings, I have to.  I have to leave, but my heart will stay with you.”
    Marci suddenly yanked free of Katherine.  She darted away, running straight at the trio of Kalquorians who had accompanied Katherine to the chapel.  Without the slightest show of fear, she punched the biggest one, Miv, in the thigh.
    Her dark eyes flashing at him, she shouted, “You are bad!  Bad, bad men!  For taking Sister Katherine away, you will be punished.  You are bad and God hates you!”
    Katherine raced over to pull Marci away from the staring Kalquorian.  Miv and the rest seemed shocked.  None of them made a move towards the shaking, furious child as Katherine put herself between her youngest and the aliens.
    Katherine wiped the flow of tears flooding from Marci’s eyes.  “Darling, no.  I am going to go and talk to these men to be sure everyone will be safe.  Please, don’t cry.  Don’t be scared.  Everything is going to be all right.”
    Marci burrowed against Katherine, clutching tight.  From the voluminous folds of Katherine’s gown, the little girl’s muffled voice begged, “I don’t want you to go.  I love you.  I want you to stay with me.”
    Katherine’s own tears splashed her cheeks.  “Please, sweetheart.  I swear it will be okay.  Trust in me, won’t you?”
    She motioned to Darci to collect her sister.  The elder girl was now crying, along with most of the aspirants.  Sobs rang through the chapel.
    As she tugged Marci away, Darci whispered, “Be careful, Sister.  We’ll pray hard for you.  We love you.”
    Katherine smiled through her tears.  “Thank you.  Be strong, girls.  I love you all.”
    She turned away before she could completely fall apart in front of them.  She rushed past the Kalquorians, barely noting they followed close behind.
    Katherine kept the sobs at bay until she was outside the chapel and the door closed behind them.  She crumpled on the steps that led down to the sidewalk, unable to walk for the terrible grieving convulsions shaking her body.  She was dimly aware of Simdow and Vadef kneeling on either side of her while Miv stood uncertainly over them.
    Hands awkwardly stroked her hair as if to comfort.  The men seemed at a loss as to what to do with her for a few moments.
    Finally Simdow said, “I am sorry you had an argument with your superior.  Being chastised is not easy, especially when it happens in front of other members of your crew.”
    Katherine continued to cry.  The sharp words Mother Superior had used on her had been painful, but not nearly as much as leaving her girls behind … not when they were crying and begging her not to leave.  It felt as if her heart had been ripped out in bloody shreds.
    Simdow tried again.  “Matara, why are you crying so hard?  Is it the younglings?  The little ones are safe.  Did you not see that?”
    She looked at him.  Could she make them understand?  These aliens who looked so similar to her own kind but were not?
    This one named Simdow, who Katherine had discovered was the Dramok, or leader, of the three certainly seemed sincere.  It was hard to not appreciate the handsome man’s appearance even as she looked at him in fear.  With the slight scattering of evening beard darkening his strong jaw, he seemed so … human.  His arrow-straight nose and almond-shaped eyes leant a certain grace to his masculine features.  He certainly appeared gentler than the Nobek, but stronger than the smallest of their number, Imdiko Vadef.  Simdow looked concerned about her, and Katherine couldn’t detect the slightest indication it was only an act.
    Did these Kalquorians feel?  Did they know compassion like Earthers?  Could they possibly understand her pain? 
    Between sobs, Katherine managed to say, “They are like my own children.  If only I knew for sure they’ll be all right; that nothing and no one will harm them.”
    Simdow patted her head.  His voice was firm.  “I assure you, they will be.  I swear