Sacred Trust Read Online Free PDF Page B

didn’t think I suffered from claustrophobia, but the lander started to make me think otherwise.
    â€œAnimals,” said Tata.
    â€œOkay, perhaps not,” I replied.
    My statement amused the two of them.
    Eventually we emerged from the lander, and picked up our bags.
    â€œThat is what I want to do,” said Ruen. “Travel in outer space and meet aliens, especially since having met you and Tata. You are so interesting to study.”
    â€œI’m not a lab experiment, Ruen.” Her statement about studying us irritated me. “How do the other BSU students feel about us, the foreigners?”
    â€œThey are scared of both of you. That is why no one talks to you at lunch time. I am the brave one!” Ruen twirled around.
    Brave and cute, too. But I couldn’t tell her that either. “Why do you talk to us?” I asked.
    â€œPeople expect me to do strange things because of my age. And when I saw you leaving police headquarters, it seemed the perfect opportunity to get to know you. I want to understand aliens.”
    Being called an alien was new to me. “However, it’s not true that you’re the only one who’ll talk to us at BSU. A student, in one of my classes introduced himself to me today, and also suggested we go to a concert so I can learn about Basilian music.” The incident still pleased me.
    â€œWho?” asked Ruen.
    â€œDaro Est. Do you know him?”
    â€œYes. Daro is well known,” replied Ruen.
    â€œWell known for what?”
    Then a flash of light on the outskirts of my peripheral vision disturbed my attention. I turned to the right and saw a light-skinned Basilian. How should I handle this? “Ruen, turn slowly towards me and pretend to look at the exhibit. Do you see what I see?” I asked.
    She slowed down her antics and casually joined me. “Yes,” she whispered.
    â€œWhat do you see?”
    â€œAn albino. I have never seen one before. Is he like the one you saw? Should we approach him? I could ask questions.”
    Asking questions wouldn’t be a problem with Ruen along. “Let’s be circumspect. You and I can try and get closer and see if we can see anything, or perhaps hear a few words.”
    â€œI always wanted to be a detective,” said Ruen.
    Perhaps having Ruen tag along was not such a good idea. She was inquisitive enough to be a detective, but I’m not sure how circumspect she could be.
    â€œLet me go and tell Tata what we’re going to do.”
    I found Tata studing a display about twenty feet away. “Ruen and I have seen an albino Basilian, so we’re going to get a little closer. We’ll meet you at the front door, in a little while.”
    â€œNo.”
    His terseness often confused me. “What do you mean—we can’t go, or you’ll meet us some other place, or what?” I really wanted to give him a strong shake.
    â€œUnsafe.”
    â€œSo come along with us, then. You can protect the silly females.” I sniffed and then walked over to Ruen.
    Joining us, Tata asked, “Where?”
    Ruen pointed in the direction where we had previously discovered the albino, but the alcove had emptied. I was right; she’s not very subtle.
    â€œOh, he’s gone.” Ruen’s hand movements ceased. “Okay, we need to do a methodical search of the museum from top to bottom. This is the scientific way.”
    Tata shook his head, but we did spend the next hour doing exactly that.
    â€œOkay, we’ve looked everywhere. I guess we were mistaken, Ruen,” I said.
    â€œI do not think so—maybe he slipped out of the building without our notice. We should take another look.”
    â€œNo, let’s go home. I think it’s a lost cause. And besides, I have a mountain of studying to do,” I said.
    â€œMountain?” asked Ruen.
    â€œOh, I just mean I have a lot of studying to do for tomorrow.”
    We wandered towards home and