She found it impossible not to stare at them. Arin walked over and embraced her. She looked dumbfounded and asked a question, which had to be along the lines of “What in the world are these things?”

Arin replied with a single word. Then he delivered a giant smile, pointed a hand in her direction, and said, “Kwylla.”

Kwylla, Hutch thought, remained remarkably calm, considering the situation. She wondered how she would have reacted coming home and finding a group of aliens in the living room. In fact, they probably had no concept about aliens. For all they knew, Hutch and her companions might have been demons.

Kwylla responded to each in turn, extending a hand and projecting a greeting. Then she and Arin exchanged a few comments. When they’d finished, she spoke again to her guests in a tone that suggested they were welcome and, if they needed anything, they shouldn’t hesitate to ask. Then she laughed, a response that turned into a loud snort. It seemed a natural reaction, delivered through that oversized mouth and beak.

Ken wandered over to one of the bookshelves and opened a volume. Hutch took one down also. It had a cover that felt like leather, and a title across the front. Where else, of course, would you put a title? The lettering could have been Chinese or Hindi. She was impressed by the packaging and let Arin and Kwylla see her reaction. Arin indicated they could read one of the books if they wished. Or possibly keep it?

Kwylla declined a drink and, after a few minutes, excused herself and left.

She had just gone out the door when a bell rang. It was the phone. Arin picked it up. Hutch had not been able to get her mind off Wally. By now he would have flown over the beach area probably twice. Assuming he was still here. She wondered what she would do in similar circumstances. Wait here indefinitely until finally she had to give up and go home. Or leave immediately, hoping she could arrange for a rescue mission and get them back here as quickly as possible.

Arin remained on the phone. Ken had returned the book to the shelf, and Ken and Beth were wandering through the house, engaged in conversation. It was the perfect time to go outside to look for Wally.

•  •  •

The sky was clear. The sun had gone down. Hutch, standing on the porch, saw nothing moving overhead except a couple of birds. She had no idea how long it had been since the Eiferman had gone out of sight. Without a timepiece, and with no idea how long a day was on that planet, she felt lost. She’d forgotten to check on the details of this ocean world before they’d set out in the lander. That had been a serious blunder. She was getting careless.