Essentially Human (23 page)
Authors: Maureen O. Betita
“Oh. I…thank you.” Cameron strode with more confidence from the kitchen. Maybe a female nearby would keep him from getting violent again.
That night, Tendar proved an affable host and eased Cameron’s defenses. He showed appreciation for how long she had avoided the selection process. “Few are so quick to realize how selection works.” He lifted his goblet to her.
“I was scared.” She simply admitted. Pindari didn’t sit at the table with them, but hovered close. It was still helpful.
They finished the entree and Pindari returned with desert. Tendar brought up the subject of Cameron’s ability to read and write.
Cam set her glass down. “I have never hidden what I can do.”
“Yes, just didn’t speak up about it. Silence again, eh?” Tendar set his hand flat on the table. Cam found herself studying that hand. Three fingers, exceptionally long. She’d watched Pindari, knew they could bend and flex well beyond what humans could do. The Kharmon moved gracefully, almost without effort. Sometimes she thought they glided.
With a deep sigh, Cameron nodded. “Yes. Silence. It worked for me.”
“What is a bookstore?” Tendar leaned forward. “I would assume from the name it is where books are sold? Or bought?”
“Usually sold.” Cameron looked at the table. “I worked at a bookstore. A very large one, where we sold books and music. I worked in the books. Why is it important? The only books I’ve seen here are Pindari’s cookbooks.”
“Where are books bought?” Tendar seemed almost to ask the air.
“Some places would buy used books, to resell them.” Cameron thought a moment. “Or do you mean…where do writers sell their books?”
“Yes, where do writers sell their books?” He gazed intently at her.
“They sell them to publishers, who mass produce them and then sell them to bookstores.” His question confused her. “You don’t know this?”
“Why would I? I’ve never been to your Earth,” Tendar replied. “There are no bookstores here. But I do have a library and the need for a librarian. What do you know of libraries?”
“Libraries lend books out. They assist people with information…uh… Been some years since I’ve been in a library.” Cameron picked at the cake set in front of her. “I never studied library science, though I thought about it.”
“What did you study?”
“I have a degree in language and literature.” Cameron nearly shot from her chair when Tendar slammed his hand down on the table.
He laughed. “Perfect. I am a fortunate one!” He clapped his hand twice and a pair of woman trotted into the dining area, giggling. He smiled at them, and then at Cameron. “I need to speak with Pindari. Go with these two and wait until you’re sent for.”
Cameron trembled, but didn’t know what else to do. His hand hitting that table made her belly tighten. She didn’t look at Pindari, and let the two lead her away, glad to be excused. They were giggling, shooting glances at each other. Cam had noticed this tendency with human women when they were near Kharmon males. She refused to speculate what it meant. These two were typical. Though not at all physically alike, they worked in unison. Cam followed them to an opulent tiled room. There was a small pool or what she thought was a pool, until she saw the faucets at both ends.
The taller of the women smiled at Cameron. “Tendar’s bath. Do not touch the water.” She turned the faucets on. No checking the temperature by dangling fingers into the flow. She carefully held her robe back. Cam swore she even held her breath when poised over the growing pool. Both women took up small nets and knelt at opposite sides of the pool, skimming away particles that Cam didn’t even see.
She sat to one side, wondering what Pindari and Tendar were talking about.
Another Novel of an Alien Encounter
Forever A Pirate
A Caribbean Spell, book one
Red Sean’s Revenge, book two
The French Gambit, book three
Magic’s Hostage, book four
The Hard Choices, book five
The Spanish Challenge, book six
The Blood Tears, book seven
A Desperate Course, book eight
Summoned Home, book nine
The Lurking Menace, book ten
Ruby, book eleven
Something More Than This, book twelve
The Hunter’s Trail, book thirteen
The Haunting, book fourteen
Upon the Bridge, book fifteen
The Magician’s Pearl, book sixteen
The Nightmare Nest, book seventeen
The Night God, book eighteen
Soul Struggles, book nineteen
Miranda’s Trial, book twenty
The Taste of Blood, book twenty-one
Lee’s Gift, book twenty-two
The Rebel Plot, book twenty-three
And seven to come
Other Books by Maureen O. Betita
The Kraken’s Caribbean Series
The Kraken’s Mirror, book one
The Chameleon Goggles, book two
The Pirate Circus, book three
The Kraken’s Promise, book four
Short Stories
Rumsgiving ~ A Holiday for Emily
Silvestri’s Unintended Consequences
The Founding of the Port
A Troubling Courtship
Keitran’s Ascension
Alien Encounters
Essentially Human
The Alien Library
The Embrace Protocol
No Place Like Holmes
Born in Flight
Maureen lives along the lovely Monterey Bay and finds great inspiration in being so near the Pacific Ocean. She shares her home with Stephen, her high school sweetheart, married for over 30 years; a cat named Isabeau and a dog named Bonnie. She travels miles and miles to attend pirate festivals, renaissance fairs, scifi/fantasy conventions, steampunk cons and writing conferences.
You can visit Maureen at:
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