The Pipe, segment 6

Sanaa and Jiro backed away from the aliens, faces tense with fear. They’d seen lots of  UFO movies and were sure these two beings, though they looked almost earthly, would abduct them. Before they could turn to run, they heard, Don’t be afraid; we mean you no harm.

Sanaa looked at Jiro who met her glance instantly. “Did you hear that?” she asked.

“It was more like my mind heard it,” said Jiro, turning to face Reema. At least she had long hair, if it was a she. Her jumpsuit was made of the same silvery material the rest of her world was made of, except there were dark side panels from her arms to her ankles. It made her look slim, though Jiro could see she was as buxom as he was. He started to say, “I’m Jiro.”

Instantly he knew her name was Reema. She’s a telepath, he thought, like the ones on Star Trek.

Sanaa couldn’t help but notice the tiny tendrils vibrating between Kraft’s dark curls. I’m Kraft, he introduced himself to her mind. His face was almost feminine and she wondered if he were a boy or a girl.

Kraft answered, It’s the name. Have you heard of a girl named Kraft before?

She almost giggled. So did Reema, who quickly added, We better get outside before our parents stop us from helping you find your way home.

Jiro hadn’t thought about going home. He wanted to stay and learn more. Most of all, he wanted to discover the workings of mental telepathy. Reema must have heard his thoughts. She stared at him with a seriousness that worried him. Telepathy isn’t just what you think. It’s dangerous. It’s worse than being naked.

We’ve got to get out of here, Kraft was urgent. He grabbed two thin sheets, black as the trees outside, from a shelf near the wall. He handed them to Jiro and Sanaa. These will shield you against Alberio’s damaging rays.

“Alberio?” Jiro said out loud his face full of interest. He wondered how the aliens could know earthly star names.

You thought the name when you wondered about the color of our sky, said Reema who helped Sanaa fix the sheet around her shoulders and over her head. The material didn’t slide off like ordinary cloth would. It shaped itself to Sanaa’s body. Ready,let’s go.

The aliens led the two children through the spaceport to the portal that allowed ships direct access to the wasteland outside the city. It hadn’t seemed like a great deal of time had passed since their arrival in the alien world, but the dark of night had vanished. It had been replaced with the deep bluish-purple of daylight.

Reema cleared their confusion, Our day-night cycle is only five hours.

When Alberio’s companion sun swings around to light our sky, the days will be longer and our world will bloom again under its golden warmth, Kraft explained as he led them through the spaceport to the main exit from the city.

  Before they reached their destination, the gate slid open. Together, Kraft and Reema shrieked Trip!