Neutral Space(37)

“I don’t care, whatever.” I looked at her a moment. “I think you should teach me to read Kelsairan so I can help you.”

“I agree. I should learn to read human as well.”

“English,” I corrected her. She looked at me confused. “I speak English. We have many different languages.”

“Then teach me to read English.”

“We’ll start tonight, and you have to behave.”

We started that night teaching each other our alphabets. For once I seemed to do something better than she did and breezed through the Kelsairan characters. She, however, complained every step of the way. By the end of the night though, she knew them all and what sounds they made. It was enough for a start, and we headed off to bed. Only one of us would sleep at a time, but she said she needed a break before her turn at the controls. Who was I to turn her away?

We stopped for less than an hour at an abandoned base on an asteroid. Kheda downloaded the files we needed, and we were on our way. We’d been studying for over a week in the evenings, and I could at least pick out names and some words. It was enough to run searches while it was my turn at the controls. Kheda could read what I found later. Combat training was every morning, and I never made it to the shower without a detour.

After combat training one morning, on the way to Sirus Three, I expected the same game. Kheda moved in close and kissed me a long moment before pulling away. “Go take a shower.”

I looked at her, wondering what I’d done wrong. I felt like we were back on Kras. Perhaps this was for the same reason. I left without question, figuring she’d tell me what was going on eventually. I stepped out of the shower, and she stepped in without a word. Before she closed the door, I noticed the knob was set to cold. I got dressed and went to the controls.

Kheda came out a short while later looking miserable. “That’s the worst experience of my life. How many of those did you take on my behalf?”

“Too many.” I couldn’t help laughing at her. I brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. “What’s this all about anyway?”

She looked out into space for a long moment. “Jackson, do you want children?”

I nearly spit out my coffee. “I… I hadn’t really thought about it, why?” She looked at me a moment. “You’re not, are you?” She shook her head. “Kheda, children, would be fine if that’s what you want. I just don’t think this would be a good time.”

“Then we must resist for the next week.” She said getting up.

I followed her into the kitchen “Kheda, I know you don’t like talking about these things, but I’m not Kelsairan. I don’t know what’s going on.”

She sat down at the table. “Kelsarian females of breeding age are on a seven-week cycle. They are fertile on week five and, if conception does not take place during that time, their courses come on week seven.”

“So I guess it’s week five.” She nodded. I sat down across from her and took her hand. “It’s all right, Kheda, just tell me next time, agreed?”

“No combat training this week, please. I can’t resist you when you’re all worked up.”

“I noticed. Kheda human women have other methods of birth control. Don’t Kelsairans as well?”

“You and I just don’t have access at the moment. We’ll have to be careful that’s all. Aunt Sai has used this method for ten years; it’s reliable.” I nodded trusting her.

Towards the end of the week, I knew she was getting frustrated. I offered to help her, but I don’t think she understood what I meant. Finally, I just carried her to the bedroom and threw her on the bed. She protested at first, but when she relaxed, she was a much happier and saner woman. I should have guessed Kelsairans had a higher sex drive than humans based on the way Salea and Teesa were always holed up together but it never really occurred to me. Oh well; I’m not really complaining. I’m just hoping she learns to pace herself.

We sorted through years worth of documents organizing them into files on each person on the list. Sometimes we were lucky and found information on the humans as well, but mostly it was all on the Kelsairans. None of it though was proving very helpful. I was beginning to wonder if we needed older records. I told Kheda as much, but she said she didn’t have access. I only hoped Jeannie could get us what we needed from Earth’s records.





Chapter 15





F



ive weeks of travel and research only brought us to the Sirus System. I was worried about stopping home, but Kheda insisted. She even cut my hair and put on my favorite dress. She wore make-up and her perfume too. I didn’t want to land the ship. Then I saw my parent's home for the first time in two years, and nothing could keep me away. I only prayed that they took our marriage as well as Aya did.

I found a fallow field and landed the ship. It was close to the house, but the ground was soft, and Kheda wouldn’t get far in those heels. Kheda just took them off when I told her. “At least you’re not taller than me anymore.” I teased her.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to wait?”

“I’m sure. I know where they’ll be. Dad will be on the porch on his rocker and mom will be starting dinner. Just hang back a little when we get close; they’ve never seen a Kelsairan.” She nodded, and we headed out the hatch.