Sacred Trust by Roxanne Barbour Page A

time.
    Finally, Tata said, “Know location pass card.” Tata rubbed his forehead this time.
    I really needed to understand Arandi physical reactions. However, in the meantime, I asked in a soft voice, “Will you get the card so we can investigate the space museum?”
    Tata hesitated, and then said, “Yes. Meet space museum afternoon.” Tata gave me the directions and left.
    Back home, my afternoon activities included lunch and research. However, my sleuthing only netted an aerial view of the monument’s spoke pattern. So when I reached the space museum the following afternoon to meet Tata, I had nothing illuminating in regards to the history of the ruins I’d discovered.
    While I waited for Tata outside the museum’s soaring glass walls, I tried to look nonchalant, obviously without much success. After all I was one of only a handful of humans on Arandis. I was glad I didn’t have to wait too long outside a restricted museum. The last thing I needed was another trip to the police terminal.
    When Tata appeared, he held up a card and said, “Obtain difficult.” His face revealed a tinge of blue. Do I need to worry about his health? The range of colors his face exhibited surprised me.
    â€œRuins picture. Unknown description,” said Tata, showing me his com.
    â€œI did some research too, but to no avail. There must be some big secret behind those ruins I stumbled upon for them to be restricted. I wonder what it could be.”
    â€œPerhaps discover today.” His facial expression changed to something inextricably Arandi.
    My shoulders slumped. “Only if the ruins have something to do with spaceflight, and can be found in this museum.” For some reason, I felt discouraged before we had even started.
    His pass card easily let us enter the nearly empty museum. We wandered from room to room for a couple of hours. A few glances came our way, but no one spoke to us.
    Tata showed me the timeline carved into the museum’s floor. The informative path led us chronologically from the beginnings of spaceflight to modern day, from exhibit to exhibit, from floor to floor. On the third floor we encountered a sealed room, but Tata’s card didn’t work in the door lock.
    â€œSo what’s this? A secret room even more secret than this building?”
    â€œNot know. No information door, drawing only.”
    I took a closer look at the surface scratches. “This reminds me of those ruins I found. What do you think?”
    Tata rubbed a hand over the door. “Drawing vague.”
    â€œNo. I’m convinced this is related to my ruins.” I stomped my right foot. “We need to get into this room.”
    â€œHow?” Tata rubbed his eyes with both hands.
    â€œMaybe there’s another door. Or maybe you can use your com to—”
    â€œIdentification?” A uniformed Arandi startled us.
    Tata groped in an opening in his clothing and handed the official a card.
    I said, “I’m sorry; I don’t have any identification on me.” Something I needed to remedy.
    â€œKnow you,” he replied. “Why museum?”
    Tata took the initiative. “Explain space program, Nara.”
    â€œNo access authority.” He tapped his com, and then escorted us outside. The officer pointed at a waiting vehicle. “Tata, home. Await guardians.”
    Without speaking, Tata and I travelled to his home. In approximately an Earth hour, our parents arrived and the two of them stood silently before us in the Tatas’ main room.
    Finally, Ambassador Tata asked, “Anyone beverage?” No one answered. She sighed. “How access Museum Spaceflight?”
    â€œI wanted to learn about Arandi space travel, so I talked Tata into taking me there.” I wondered, would I be successful in sidetracking her?
    â€œHow enter?” she repeated.
    Neither Tata nor I responded to his mother.
    Then my father got into the act. “Nara,