Free Devotion by Harmony Raines Page B

soaks up anything to do with your Earth culture.” Okil let go of Tikki and went round making sure everything was secure, while Darl went to the control deck and started the engines.
    “I think we will have plenty of fun,” Reja said blushing.
    “Now who needs a room,” said Tikki quietly.
    “Oh my goodness. Yes, please,” Reja said, as they buckled themselves into their seats.
    “Come and sit down, Charlie. Let’s get your seat belt on.” Okil watched the young boy, now no longer afraid of him, as he climbed into his seat and helped put the seat belt around him. “There, how does that feel?”
    “OK.” Charlie looked up into his face, and Okil couldn’t help the colours that flew across his face. This boy was a reminder of how high the stakes were for Earth and Karal. He was the symbol of how their planets and their people needed to work together. For Karal, he was a reminder of the children they would never have if they did not mate with humans. For Earth, he made it obvious why the Karal had to help humans find a new home, or there would be few children like Charlie born again.
     

Chapter Fourteen – Tikki
    Tikki was sure she was going to be sick. A mixture of nerves and excitement overloaded her already frazzled senses. In the far distance, she could see a beautiful planet, not unlike Earth. It had a violet tinge, making it look stunning against the darkness of space. Behind it, much further away, she could see two vast suns orbiting each other.
    “Wow,” Charlie said, his face lit up with excitement, pointing to the planet. “Is that where the aliens live?”
    “Yes, it is.” Tikki caught on to his excitement, which grew the closer they got.
    “Is that where we are going to live?” Charlie asked.
    “Yes. Well, for a while at least, they might not let us stay. So let’s think of this as a holiday.” Tikki prayed Karal would be their new home. It was obvious that Okil would never let them go back to Earth, unless he knew it was totally safe. She doubted that would ever be the case, since she had no idea exactly who it was who was chasing them or how deep the conspiracy went.
    “Sienna Mommy said that bad men wanted to come here and kill the aliens,” Charlie said as though he was telling what he wanted for dinner, his voice belying the threat of his words.
    Shocked, but trying to regain her composure, Tikki asked calmly, “She said that?”
    “To Funny Daddy.” Charlie was gazing, enraptured, as they entered the atmosphere and began their descent to the ground.
    “Did she say anything else, Charlie?”
    “Look! Elephants,” he cried, and Tikki didn’t like to push him for more details. She couldn’t risk upsetting him, not when he might have to hide when they reached the ground and he had to stay quiet. If he began crying at bad memories, they would all be in trouble.
    So she looked down at where he was pointing, with Reja craning her neck to look too. He was right, they were some kind of elephant, but they had the longest necks she had ever seen. “What other animals do you think we will see, Charlie?”
    “Hippopotamus,” he cried. “And crocodiles.”
    “They might not have the same animals here on Karal. But I but they have something like that.” She stared in wonder at the vast plains below them, green grass, and tall trees. So many trees. Tears welled in her eyes: this was like coming home after a long journey. Okil had told her so much about his planet; she recognised the great mountain he had described. And the ancient forests.
    A sadness enveloped her; it should have been like coming home. This was supposed to be her home, after all, the man she loved belonged here and so did her sister. If things had been different, she would be about to land on Karal, excited for her new life and the adventures ahead. Instead she saw her first glimpse of the tower that housed the Hier Council and wondered if it was like the old Tower of London. Would they all end up in prison there, with