T’ZAK
Maria asks me many questions on the walk to her employment interview. She wants to know more about the history of our people, where we live and our culture. It seems we share more similarities than differences and I enjoy her curiosity. I have to adjust my stride so I can walk at her pace, but it is pleasant to take in my surroundings with this beautiful female by my side.
I am aware that as we approach the more populated area, my height and size are attracting attention. Dr. Plœsae’s Human Behavior manual mentions humans will point and laugh to indicate something or someone out of the ordinary, and that has not happened yet. But many humans give me a second glance, especially the females, and a small child learning to walk stops completely still and then falls over in surprise.
The cars spewing out the highly polluting fumes look so old-fashioned to me now. The human race is at least 200 years behind ours in terms of technical progress. But I enjoy seeing the families going about their business, some with small, furry beasts attached to reins to control them. The beasts are a different species to the one Maria has lost. I spot her posters everywhere. I must help her to find this beloved creature.
“Okay, so this is the coffee place. If we go in, you can sit down by the window and stay inconspicuous while I have my interview.” She rubs her hands together.
“You are worried about this interview?” I look down at her. Her eyes are wide as she stares back at me.
“Yes, I’m a little nervous.” She shifts her weight from foot to foot.
“I can help you.” I press my palms together to harness the energy there and then hold her small shoulders in my hands. Her expression changes as her eyes close and her whole body relaxes. She’s so relaxed that I have to take some of her weight in my hands to hold her up. Perhaps this is too intense for her.
I release her body and she sways slightly.
“What the hell was that?” Her voice is breathy and her eyes are still halfway closed.
“That is the Hedian relaxation technique. Did you find it soothing?” I ask.
She clears her throat, licks her lips and raises her eyebrows. “Um…soothing is one word for it. Amazing is another word.”
“Shall I do it again?” I step forward.
She shakes her head and steps back. “No way, T’zak. I can barely remember my own name and my whole body is tingling. Let’s see if I can get through this interview in one piece.”
We enter the coffee shop, which is brightly lit with piles of food stacked in symmetrical arrangements on the counter. I sit down by the window and Maria brings me another coffee before she goes into a room behind the counter with the manager, Jimmy. A steady stream of customers come in the door and then leave with their drinks.
I enjoy the slow pace here in this human environment. I am tired of fighting, and now the Great Wars are over, my time in the army is not satisfying to me. My parents are dead and I have no brothers or sisters, so I feel no great pull back to my life on Hedian.
I do not like Maria being out of my sight for so long, so my whole body unconsciously tenses into a battle readiness posture. The old man on my left stares at me with his mouth open and backs his chair further from my table. I realize I must look aggressive, so I camouflage the position by dropping my elbows to the table. He looks at me again and then down at the piece of paper he is reading.
I drain my coffee. We do not have anything like this compelling drink back on Hedian. I fall into a daydream where I take Maria back to show her my world. I wonder what she would think of the Vert’orian springs?
A very small woman, smaller than Maria, walks from the counter with her coffee. She has long nails painted an unnaturally bright pink. As she walks past my table, she turns her head to look at me and the cup falls from her hand.
I reach my hand out and intercept the cup, so that none of the coffee spills. She is gazing at me with a slight smile on her face. I stand up and she scopes the whole of my body, her mouth slightly open.
“Good morning. Here is your coffee cup.” I hold it out to her.
“Thank you so much.” The woman’s voice is breathy. Her hair is streaked with pale yellow and there are heavy cosmetics on her face. I do not have the draw I feel towards Maria with this female.
“It has not spilled.” This is a statement of fact. I am not sure what else it is customary to say in these situations. Dr. Plœsae’s manual has no section on coffee shop etiquette.
“You were so quick. Very quick for such a big guy. Wow. I’m Lidia, by the way. I am the manager at the Hooray Hotel across the road. Let me know if you ever need a hotel room.” She closes one eye and then snaps it open. This is a wink. I cannot remember the response, so I close one eye in return.
A flush of pink sweeps up her face and she smiles very slowly. She waggles her fingers at me and walks, hips swaying, out of the door. The old man at the table near me raises his eyebrows at me. “Think she likes you, son.”
I am about to reply when the sound of something crashing to the floor grabs my attention. My hearing is more sensitive than human hearing, so I can pick out far away sounds over the hum of the coffee shop. Maria is still out of sight but the noise came from the place where she is with the male manager. Is she under attack?
I charge through to the back room, picking up the woman working behind the counter and moving her to the side so I can get by. She looks at me in surprise and starts to speak, but I don’t wait for her response. What if Maria is in danger?
I duck my head under the doorway and run through the small hallway and through the open door of the back room. The man is standing over Maria as she tries to sweep up something from the floor.
I am enraged. This beautiful woman should not be on her knees while this man stands over her. I grab his arm and lift him off the floor.
“What did you do to her?” My voice is a battle cry and the cups lined on the wall vibrate at the pitch.