Free HowtoPleaseanAlien by Ann Raina

them? There were enough, believe me. And they all were doomed.”
    “And you saw them all fail, right? How proud you can be.”
    Donego blocked his way to look him straight in the eye.
    “We all made choices. You came here as a servant out of free will and now you accuse your employers. You even betrayed them. Still you want them to leave. Why? They live with us in peaceful harmony.”
    “Peaceful in their opinion.”
    “Peaceful means that they do not harm anyone.”
    “As long as we play along the rules they created.”
    “That is so, yes.”
    Kianto punched Donego’s chin hard enough to make him stumble. Without a sound, he hit him again, forcing him down. When Donego still looked more surprised than hurt, Kianto placed the final hit against the other man’s temple, feeling great and righteous. He had wanted to do this for a long time. Donego went down, unconscious. Kianto panted and, glad to find the corridor still empty, dragged the older man through the curtain into a room. He could not tell for how long his action would go unnoticed, but a few minutes were all he needed.
    He raced down toward the meager light of the floor below, climbed down and entered through the curtain. The strong smell of mixed spices assaulted his nostrils so much he almost stumbled backwards. All workers turned to him and stopped with their tankards or funnels in hand.
    “Hey, you again,” Hanjek welcomed him. “Did the big one release you? I feared he might break your arms and legs just to vent his anger. Are you still whole?”
    “We don’t have much time. I want you to come with me and leave the palace. Show yourself to your friends and wives. They long to see you. And don’t think about riots. There will be another way to get rid of the Mawanies.”
    Hanjek turned to his men, smiling.
    “He’s cute, isn’t he? Still convinced to do the right thing.”
    “Whatever you do here, it’s not worth giving up your lives as Rahenians. Return with me!”
    Hanjek sighed and the other ones pitied Kianto with their glances.
    “Hey, don’t you understand? We want to be here. Look, even your village teacher finds it more interesting to be here than to stay at the village.” He pointed at the young man who smiled shyly.
    Kianto was at a loss.
    “What do you do here, anyway?”
    “In a way, we help the Mawanies rule,” replied Loban.
    “What?”
    “We produce hinjenjo , a sweet drink that tastes different for whoever drinks it. A very fine product.” He got closer, shrugging. “A side effect is that the one drinking it forgets a little bit of his life. Some hours, half a day.”
    “Why?” Kianto had thought there was nothing worse to learn than the Mawanies tormenting these poor men, but he was wrong. “Why do you help them? And why do the Mawanies need this stuff?”
    “Oh, question one is easy,” Hanjek replied. “We agreed on the terms. Question two is more difficult to answer. Let’s say, it is sometimes necessary for Rahenians to forget something they heard and saw.”
    “Like Deran.” Kianto felt his knees buckle. “He heard us talk about you and then Donego gave him a drink.”
    “Donego always has a certain supply at hand. That’s his privilege as a senior servant.” He smiled. “And he uses it frequently, so I heard. So he walks around and pretends he still lives with his people though he left them long ago. He just makes them forget.” Hanjek shrugged again. “Everyone has his own way of dealing with the Mawanies, don’t you think?”
    “I don’t…I don’t know what to think.” Kianto ran a hand through his thick hair. “This has to end. The Rahenians are no animals to be drugged and kept in the dark. They need to know that—”
    “What do they need to know?” Hanjek interrupted. “That they can’t break the Mawany rule? That they are betrayed over and over and again? That the Rahenians are just one people out of many the Mawany want to rule? Do your job and be happy with it. Don’t break