Hinekiri by Shelley Munro Page B

on. He sighed as he dropped his scrap parts on the ground at the base of the stairs. Hinekiri disappeared inside the ship and reappeared minutes later at the top of the stairs. She sniffed and scrubbed a scrap of white material across her eyes.
    “I…we need to collect the rest of the spare parts from the SUV before I can start repairs.”
    “I have a shovel in the back. Always cart around tools in case I have to help dig vehicles out over the winter. We can bury Killer and make a monument for her of stones. The dog deserves that much. She saved our lives.”
    Hinekiri descended the stairs and stopped at the bottom. She sniffed again and dabbed at a lone tear that escaped and ran down her cheek. “You’re a good man, Richard Morgan. I think Killer would like having a special monument in her honor.” She pressed a button on her small control pad and the spaceship vanished. “Let’s do it.”
    They made their way back down the track, the scuff of their boots and the noisy squabbling of a flock of tuis chasing each other through the treetops the only sounds to break the silence. The purple lump that was once Killer and the Torgon sat right where they’d left it, not disappearing like the other Torgon remains at Robbie’s Car Parts. When he heard a sob from behind him, he turned and drew Hinekiri into his arms. Her shoulders shook as she burrowed into his chest. Richard let her cry, holding her tight and trying to subdue the knot of sorrow in his throat. Damn if he didn’t feel like crying himself.
    Finally, Hinekiri drew back, her face red and shiny with tears. “We’d better collect the last of the parts and get back to the ship before more Torgon arrive.”
    Richard nodded and led the way down the track, instinctively knowing she’d want to gather herself without him watching. When they arrived back at the SUV, they quickly unloaded the parts and headed straight back to the ship.
    Richard dropped the assortment of car parts with the others before turning to Hinekiri. “Do you want to do the repairs first or take care of Killer?” He scowled without warning. “Blast, I forgot to grab my bag.”
    Hinekiri set her box of parts down and wiped her hands on the seat of her jeans. “We can collect it later. Let’s take care of Killer.” Her voice broke halfway through saying the little dog’s name.
    Nodding, Richard picked up the shovel, claimed her hand in his free one and they walked back to the spot of the attack.
    “Where do you want me to dig?” Richard asked.
    “You choose.” Hinekiri wiped away a falling tear. “Damn, it was a little dog. I shouldn’t be crying this much.”
    “She had a big heart. Of course you should miss her.” Richard glanced over Hinekiri’s shoulder at the pile of purple goo. He blinked and watched with quiet concentration. Yep, he hadn’t been seeing things. The bloody thing had moved.
    “Hinekiri, look.” He placed warm hands on her shoulders, turned her to face the right direction. “The purple stuff is moving.”
    “Killer?” Hinekiri whispered, hope in her voice. “She’s alive?”
    Richard frowned at the moving goo. “Do you think it’s really her? It doesn’t look big enough. Maybe the alien’s heart is still working.”
    Hinekiri snorted. “Trust me, Torgon don’t have hearts. They’re mercenaries seeking profit. Not a smidgeon of compassion in them. It has to be Killer.”
    “How do we get her out?” Richard bent to touch the moving purple ooze, but Hinekiri stilled him with a warning hand on the shoulder.
    “The stuff is toxic when it comes in contact with body covering. It is for me so I’d say you’d be the same.”
    “You mean skin? But what about fur?”
    “I don’t know. Usually the stuff reacts with the atmosphere and vanishes. I don’t know whether we should wait or not.” Worry creased her brow. “It should have disappeared already.”
    Richard glanced at the purple stuff. It wobbled like a jelly at a kid’s birthday party. The