BooksBarbecue
Back The Long Sunset
Chapters (51)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Acknowledgments
  4. Prologue
  5. 1.
  6. 2.
  7. 3.
  8. 4.
  9. 5.
  10. 6.
  11. 7.
  12. 8.
  13. 9.
  14. 10.
  15. 11.
  16. 12.
  17. 13.
  18. 14.
  19. 15.
  20. 16.
  21. 17.
  22. 18.
  23. 19.
  24. 20.
  25. 21.
  26. 22.
  27. 23.
  28. 24.
  29. 25.
  30. 26.
  31. 27.
  32. 28.
  33. 29.
  34. 30.
  35. 31.
  36. 32.
  37. 33.
  38. 34.
  39. 35.
  40. 36.
  41. 37.
  42. 38.
  43. 39.
  44. 40.
  45. 41.
  46. 42.
  47. 43.
  48. 44.
  49. Epilogue
  50. About the Author
  51. Copyright

Finally, it was time to leave. Hutch had been carrying food supplies for Kwylla and Arin to the Eiferman for two days. Then, with Ken accompanying, she took the lander down a final time to pick them up.

Since the town hall meeting, opinions on what should be done were all over the map. Some described the arrival of the humans as “divine intervention.” Others were less encouraging, arguing that the alien visitors had withheld news of the approaching catastrophe when they first arrived and consequently couldn’t be trusted. An island ledger, which came out sporadically, released an edition which included opinions from “experts.” Many expressed caution about relying on the visitors. Two maintained that the whole story was probably a fabrication. “Possibly an experiment of some kind, to determine whether we are stupid, or maybe they simply like to play jokes. Maybe they’ll be laughing all the way home.”

The journalist asked how they could do that since they’d be taking “two of us” with them?

“In the end, they’ll probably leave them here.”

“And if they do take them?”

“That possibility scares me.”

“Great,” said Hutch. “I hope Kwylla and Arin haven’t seen this.”

•  •  •

The lander descended in bright sunlight just outside the temple, where a substantial crowd had gathered. They came over and thanked Hutch and Ken as they got out. A few raised their hands to greet them; others just stood quietly. The cottage door opened and Kwylla emerged, carrying a jacket and a bag. The Volarians shouted support. And a few delivered warnings. Moments later, Korsek and Arin came out, hauling more bags. People said their good-byes and backed out of the way. Korsek shook Arin’s hand and embraced Kwylla. Then all three walked toward the lander.

One of the Volarians, a large male, appeared beside Hutch. “Please,” he said, “take care of them. Bring them home.”

Hutch reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. “We will,” she said, speaking English but knowing he could read her.

Korsek looked into Hutch’s eyes and wished her luck as Kwylla and Arin entered the airlock. The Volarians raised their hands a final time. Ken stood aside while Hutch assumed her seat. Then he got in and closed the hatch.

“Sure you have everything, guys?” Ken asked.

They nodded. “We’re ready to go.”

•  •  •