Page 30
Story: Accounting for Taste
Reem was escorted toa huge hall where there were a dozen humans who froze when she entered the room.
Harwin smiled.“Reem, these people recognized you the moment we described you.When Jasmine added that you were a helicopter pilot, they burst into tears.”
“I am sorry to have caused so much trauma.”She inclined her head toward them, and there were more tears.
One woman had a mixed-species toddler, and the little one patted his mother’s thigh before running over to Reem.He tugged at her hand, and she picked him up, walking over to his mother while another woman with an eight-year-old sobbed.She ran toward Reem and clutched at her waist.“I remember you.”
“I wish I remembered you, little bit.”
Harwin blinked.“You are good with kids.”
Jasmine chuckled.“They always climbed onto her lap, even before the cancer treatment.”
The mother walked up to her.“He’s heavy.I can take him.”
“He doesn’t weigh anything, but he’s asleep.”Reem twisted to show the boneless little body.
“He’s been up teething and hasn’t slept in days.”
“I have a vibe about me.I knock the little darlings out.”Reem carefully removed the little boy and draped him on his mother.
The eight-year-old looked at her and said, “Up?”
Reem lifted the kid and settled her on her forearm while the kid leaned against her and breathed deep.
The mother in front of her gasped.“It’s your scent.”
“Yes.That is one thing I know.It keeps folks calm around me, which lets me stay calm.”
Ra said softly, “They have memories of you.They know your memories are gone and wish to share what they remember with you.”
“Excellent.Which way do I need to look?”
They led her to a pile of cushions and urged her to sit.Harwin and Ra sat nearby, and Jasmine was speaking with the folks who volunteered to show what they remembered of Reem.She was putting them in a certain order.Reem snorted.Jasmine did like to tell stories.
Harwin said, “I hope you don’t mind, but the other fused humans are curious.”
Reem looked at the colourful women and shrugged.“Pull up a cushion.I am here for the big show.”
The women grinned and settled on cushions, and Jasmine spoke to the first person while pressing a remote.Terran music that settled in Reem’s bones played.The room dimmed, and the projection started, looking out through the eyes of the older man who was sharing his memory.
They were huddled against a rock face, an open space ahead of them.He made sure everyone was held back, and then they heard the whup-whup-whup of the helicopter.It was huge for the space it was landing in, but it settled, and the rotors continued to move as the door opened and the pilot came out.A wide grin was on Reem’s face as she yelled, “All aboooard!”
She sorted the survivors and packed the helicopter tight.The viewer was wedged under the co-pilot’s seat, where the seat had been removed to make room for three more.
Reem looked at him, winked, then the rotors moved faster, and they pulled up and moved forward, grazing the dead trees and flying out to an education station shuttle.She set them down and slowed the rotors again, helping them out and to the friendly aliens who were ready to give them their med checks.The man looked at Reem as she looked at a tablet with more coordinates on it.More people who needed a lift.
“Thank you.We didn’t think anyone could come to get us.”
Reem grinned.“Door-to-door service.Now, go and get a shower.You know why.”
He entered the med unit.
Reem stroked the hair of two of the children who were curled up with her.“I am a little lippy.”
Jasmine lined the next person up.“On a good day.Foul-mouthed on a normal day.”
The next memories were similar.The sound of the helicopter, the arrival, the loading, and then up and over to a shuttle site.
Table of Contents
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- Page 30 (Reading here)
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