not be needing
your services for as long as the contract has stated."
The Super rushed on to get in the little
alternative he thought might be needed to keep Jake calm when he
realized the extensive loss of pay they would receive. "Unless you
would like to relocate with the workers to the next job site? Of
course The Company will give you severance pay, but it will not be
the full agreed on contract price." The Super apologized.
He had no idea that Jake looked on this news
as a reprieve from what felt like a jail sentence that he and Arr
were serving on this planet.
"I understand completely. I know when the
time comes for The Company to pay us off that they will be more
than generous." Jake could be diplomatic when there was a need.
The Super sighed in relief. He stood to
shake Jake's hand and end the meeting.
Jake pulled up his sun goggles from around
his neck as he stepped outside. He wanted to tell Arr the good
news. He didn't have to hunt him. He knew where he would be, with
the family of Darills.
Arr learned their language as easily as he
did English but the little girl's sign language was a lot harder
for him. He so wanted to understand what she said to him. She was
like his shadow since he learned her language and started telling
her stories of his childhood and home. She was desperate to
communicate with him too. Arr's wall in the cubical was covered
with pictures she drew for him. Most of them of him at the places
he told her about the tree house, the lake, gathering reeds.
Neena's mother said the only thing the child wanted last month when
the supply ship arrived was a picture book dictionary so she could
see what Arr spoke of. It was the worst case of puppy love Jake had
ever seen.
The adult Darills were patient with Arr's
constant intrusions. Jake thought they were pleased that Arr took
an interest in Neena. That he didn't ignore her as the other worker
families did. This was an odd community. The children were quiet
and thoughtful. They spent long hours telling each other stories,
drawing and reading. They had to be quiet due to the heat. The
Darills were different. They came from an environment much hotter
than most of their fellow workers and adapted to this well. They
functioned normally at a higher temperature while the rest of the
population had to stay in cooler buildings as much as possible. The
Darills were great workers for the galnon mines, but there were few
who left their home planet. Jake heard they were poor space
travelers.
Jake knocked at the Darill's door looking
for Arr.
"Come in Officer Harcourt." Dicor, the
father, invited.
It was the one day a week when the
processing and mining plant shut down. The whole family was home.
Jake found Arr down on his belly on the floor drawing pictures with
Neena. He was talking like he was born a Darill rather than a
Henu.
"Can I offer you a drink?" Dicor asked.
"No thanks, I only came for my wayward
partner." Jake knew it was close to supply ship time. Everyone was
getting low even on water.
"I'm almost done, Jake." Arr said over his
shoulder in English then fast fell back into Darill with Neena.
Jake and Dicor sat and talked as Kaill,
Neena's mother prepared the mid-day meal. Most of the conversation
was about the eagerly anticipated arrival of the supply ship. The
ship came every thirty days. They were all looking forward to fresh
fruit and vegetables. Kaill apologized for the lack of variety, but
told Jake and Arr they were welcome to share the family's meal if
they would like. Jake and Arr declined politely. This close to the
coming of the ship food was tight. They didn't want the Darills to
come up short. Besides, Jake wanted to tell Arr the good news and
he couldn't do it in front of the Darills. After all, it would mean
they would have to be moving on soon.
Outside Jake turned a sober expression on
Arr. "I talked to the Super this morning and extended our contract
for another six months." Jake said with as close to a straight face
as he
your services for as long as the contract has stated."
The Super rushed on to get in the little
alternative he thought might be needed to keep Jake calm when he
realized the extensive loss of pay they would receive. "Unless you
would like to relocate with the workers to the next job site? Of
course The Company will give you severance pay, but it will not be
the full agreed on contract price." The Super apologized.
He had no idea that Jake looked on this news
as a reprieve from what felt like a jail sentence that he and Arr
were serving on this planet.
"I understand completely. I know when the
time comes for The Company to pay us off that they will be more
than generous." Jake could be diplomatic when there was a need.
The Super sighed in relief. He stood to
shake Jake's hand and end the meeting.
Jake pulled up his sun goggles from around
his neck as he stepped outside. He wanted to tell Arr the good
news. He didn't have to hunt him. He knew where he would be, with
the family of Darills.
Arr learned their language as easily as he
did English but the little girl's sign language was a lot harder
for him. He so wanted to understand what she said to him. She was
like his shadow since he learned her language and started telling
her stories of his childhood and home. She was desperate to
communicate with him too. Arr's wall in the cubical was covered
with pictures she drew for him. Most of them of him at the places
he told her about the tree house, the lake, gathering reeds.
Neena's mother said the only thing the child wanted last month when
the supply ship arrived was a picture book dictionary so she could
see what Arr spoke of. It was the worst case of puppy love Jake had
ever seen.
The adult Darills were patient with Arr's
constant intrusions. Jake thought they were pleased that Arr took
an interest in Neena. That he didn't ignore her as the other worker
families did. This was an odd community. The children were quiet
and thoughtful. They spent long hours telling each other stories,
drawing and reading. They had to be quiet due to the heat. The
Darills were different. They came from an environment much hotter
than most of their fellow workers and adapted to this well. They
functioned normally at a higher temperature while the rest of the
population had to stay in cooler buildings as much as possible. The
Darills were great workers for the galnon mines, but there were few
who left their home planet. Jake heard they were poor space
travelers.
Jake knocked at the Darill's door looking
for Arr.
"Come in Officer Harcourt." Dicor, the
father, invited.
It was the one day a week when the
processing and mining plant shut down. The whole family was home.
Jake found Arr down on his belly on the floor drawing pictures with
Neena. He was talking like he was born a Darill rather than a
Henu.
"Can I offer you a drink?" Dicor asked.
"No thanks, I only came for my wayward
partner." Jake knew it was close to supply ship time. Everyone was
getting low even on water.
"I'm almost done, Jake." Arr said over his
shoulder in English then fast fell back into Darill with Neena.
Jake and Dicor sat and talked as Kaill,
Neena's mother prepared the mid-day meal. Most of the conversation
was about the eagerly anticipated arrival of the supply ship. The
ship came every thirty days. They were all looking forward to fresh
fruit and vegetables. Kaill apologized for the lack of variety, but
told Jake and Arr they were welcome to share the family's meal if
they would like. Jake and Arr declined politely. This close to the
coming of the ship food was tight. They didn't want the Darills to
come up short. Besides, Jake wanted to tell Arr the good news and
he couldn't do it in front of the Darills. After all, it would mean
they would have to be moving on soon.
Outside Jake turned a sober expression on
Arr. "I talked to the Super this morning and extended our contract
for another six months." Jake said with as close to a straight face
as he
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