They finished eating, and Chaytok went to a pocket on the back of his pilot seat at the bridge. He took out a weapons utility belt and strapped it on. He was an alien alone on an alien world with only one ally, and he didn't know when he might have to defend himself. Then they left Chaytok's ship. Jetson was nearby and nickered when Alexa approached and took up his reins to lead him down the trail home. Chaytok fell into step beside her, and they walked for a time in silence.
“Tell me about your world,” Alexa said.
“It's not so different from your world---similar flora and fauna. Our technology is more advanced---obviously. Unlike your world, we have a unified world government much like the government of your United States. Mine is not the only humanoid race on Narova. We live in families and work for our livings. There are also homo sapiens, and our races had intermixed from times long before they ever visited Earth.”
“Really! Homo sapiens on other worlds---I knew it! That would throw the scientific community for a loop,” she said. “But, of course, no one would believe me if I told them.”
“You will probably want to learn our language, but you will not be seen as an alien on the new world. Our customs vary with what part of the world one lives. The colonies develop new customs as they grow and blend their old favored customs with the new.”
“I think you could pass here even with blue hair and cat's eyes. If anyone asks, just say you're in a rock band,” she paused and grinned. “You look very exotic.”
“I do have inserts to make my eyes look like your species, but I find them irritating,” he said. “I've used them when I've been undercover on other worlds.”
“Undercover like spying?” she wondered.
“Observing---to evaluate the culture, politics, and level of technology. I was to come here many years back, but I was reassigned before they could send me here. I was hoping to land on Mars to repair my ship, but I came into your system on the wrong side of its orbital path,” he explained.
“I'm surprised I didn't feel your presence when you were here before.”
“Are you a sensitive?” he asked.
“Yeah, sort of. Mostly I see things in dreams. I don't really have control over it. I dreamed about being in your ship---I never saw your face, but I felt your presence in the dream.”
“That's why you were never frightened of me.” he concluded.
“Sometimes, the dream was so real I would wake up and expect to find you there beside me.”
Chaytok stopped and turned to her, putting his arms around her. “I may not be a sensitive, but I suspect it was you drawing me toward your dwelling.” He pulled her close and kissed her forehead. “It certainly seems that the Universe conspired to bring us together.”
He held her for a few moments just savoring the feel of her against him. Then he draped an arm around her shoulders, and they started walking again.
As they came in sight of the house and barn, Alexa stopped suddenly. There was a familiar car in the driveway that she never expected to see again. Lawrence had found her. He had come to make her pay for sending him to jail; she was sure of it. Only ten days after his release, it hadn't taken him long to find her.
Alexa had a restraining order against him in Illinois. It was hardly worth the paper it was written on. She also doubted his parole officer knew he'd crossed state lines either. Eventually, she would have told Chaytok about that part of her past, but not like this.