Devotion (Chosen by the Karal #5)(26)
“You are correct. It makes little difference to us.”
Okil let out a sigh of relief. “I am pleased. And I apologise for not obeying the council.”
“It does not matter to us. But it may matter to the President of Earth. This could look like a kidnapping by our race.”
Okil felt his blood turn to ice and he had to struggle to stop the colours exploding across his face, but he could not stop his hands flashing red and gold, a visible sign of his anguish. He should have thought this through. Earth would never guess Tikki had travelled here. But what if the council told them? And in return Earth warned the council about Charlie?
Okil decided that it was a time for silence. If he said nothing, then he could not betray himself. He needed to know what the council intended to do.
“Earth has no record of the second female, Tikki Sergeant, leaving Earth.” Again the Hier Commander spoke, and Okil tried to interpret the warning in his voice. Or was he simply mistaking Torac’s tone, his feelings of guilt and betrayal playing on his mind? This was one of the hardest things Okil had ever done. All of his life he had been devoted to serving his people and this council; now he was giving his allegiance to a human. To Tikki, the woman he loved.
“We left quickly after the lottery. I admit, in my haste, I should have changed our request to leave.” A request he could not have made: he had removed her tag and Tikki should have been presumed dead. He had to cover his tracks, so he lied. “I will make the report now. And send my apologies to Earth.”
“No need. The Hier Commander will deal with it.”
“It is my mistake. I am only too pleased to send the report,” Okil insisted, feeling Tikki slipping out of his hands and back to Earth.
Now the Hier Ruler spoke firmly, the meeting at an abrupt end. “You may go, Okil. I hope you enjoy your female and that you conceive quickly.”
Okil, now dismissed, could not argue and turned to leave. Were the Hier Ruler’s words a warning? If he could put a child in Tikki’s womb, would that be enough for the council to allow her to stay, even if it was against Earth’s wishes? He had never been part of the politics of Karal and now he found himself out of his depth, trying to read meanings into what had been said, when the words might have held nothing more than their face value.
As he headed for the sim, he realised it was the best chance of Tikki being allowed to stay and for no other suspicion to fall on them. For now, he had to concentrate on Charlie and try to work out why the child was so important to the President. Because if he could solve that mystery, he might be able to understand why Tikki was important too.
Chapter Eighteen – Tikki
Tikki and Charlie sat together eating. It was wonderful to have enough food, good food, to satisfy their hunger. The addition of the tole and jeweto juice made their breakfast heavenly.
“What shall we do today?” Tikki asked Charlie.
“Can we go and see the elephants?” he asked.
“Maybe later, when Okil comes back. But until then I think we have to stay here.” She looked around; there was little for a young child to do, no toys, except for those he had brought with him. “Maybe it would be safe for us to go in the garden. But first I think we should try to get to grips with the bathroom. We both need a shower.”
“Is it the same as on Earth?” he asked.
“I don’t know. Let’s have a look.” Together they headed for the bathroom, where the toilet looked fairly normal, but the shower did not.
“Where does the water come from?” Charlie asked, looking up.
“I don’t know. Shall I press this and see?” She pressed a button but nothing happened. So she tried again. Still nothing.
“Is it broken?” Charlie asked, disappointed.
“I don’t know. Maybe we’ll have to ask Okil when he gets home.”
Before they could leave the bathroom, there was a loud knock on the door. Tikki froze. Charlie’s eyes filled with terror and he went to run. She grabbed him and held him to her. Then she pointed to the shower cubicle and he went in, shutting the door behind him and crouching down in the corner.
Going into the bedroom, she pulled the covers over his teddy bear and made sure there were no other toys visible. All the time someone knocked on the door.
Tikki stood behind the solid wooden door, wondering if she should just ignore it. But what if whoever was out there burst in and then searched the place? If she answered the door, it would look as though she had nothing to hide, right? As her hand reached out, an excited voice called her name.
“Tikki, it’s me, Elissa. Open up.”
“Elissa!” Tikki couldn’t believe it and threw the door open, to be caught in a tight hug from her sister. “I can’t believe it’s you. And oh my goodness, look at your belly.”
Elissa ran her hand over her stomach, and Tikki caught sight of the colours that flashed across her skin. Okil had told Tikki what had happened in the decon’ and how, in trying to repair Elissa’s burnt hands, he had given her a diluted form of Karalian skin. “I know, scary, isn’t it? In a couple of months’ time I am going to give birth to the first Karal–human hybrid.”
“That is wonderful. I am so pleased it worked out for you and Marin.” Tikki looked behind her sister to where the Karalian stood, a little further back, not knowing what to do. “Hello, Marin. Thank you so much for looking after Elissa. Okil told me all about it.”