Why was she wearing a Zecka? That could only mean she was going to go into a dangerous situation. What was going on?
June saw Nathan standing at the edge of the clearing watching Mallory with her group. She looked at Mallory and then back at Nathan. Mallory had discussed her dream with June and she was concerned about what Nathan’s response would be. She looked up and said a quick prayer for the young woman singing with the children. The children picking pods with June saw her staring and turned to see what had her attention. They jumped up and ran across the field yelling at the top of their voices.
Mallory heard the children yell and stopped singing. She saw the children with June running toward the edge of the forest and for a moment feared a predator had come into the field. She turned around and saw Nathan standing at the edge of the forest staring at her. Her heart swelled and she felt a joy permeate her soul. Nathan saw her look at him and their eyes met. That beautiful smile grew even brighter. He smiled back and then he was bowled over by the eight children that came running in grabbing his legs to hug him. The children with Mallory saw Nathan get knocked down and they jumped up to join in the fun.
Mallory smiled and then started laughing when Nathan was knocked off his feet. She could see that the children really liked him. She stood and started walking toward the screaming mass of children.
“We got you, we got you, we got you…”
“You tricked me, I never saw you coming. You little jokers, I’ll teach you.” and Nathan started tickling the youngsters until they fell off laughing. He might have been able to stand but then the other twelve arrived and he was doomed to be held down by children hugging and kissing him.
June and Mallory arrived and June saw her wondering what was going on. June said, “When Nathan was a teen, he would come to protect us from predators on El Prado. He would tell the children stories about the stars and they have never forgotten him. Most of these children were very young when he was with us. They had a game at the end of each day where they would try to knock him off his feet.” Mallory smiled and June whispered, “They were much smaller then.”
“Hey, how about a little help here.”
June looked at Mallory and they both started tickling the squirming mass of children. Finally the three adults managed to remove enough so that Nathan could stand. “All right, you won this time but you won’t the next time I come. I’ll show you.”
Mallory saw the children loved Nathan. She felt tears in her eyes and quickly wiped them away. Nathan saw her and wondered what made her sad.
June looked around, “All right children, come with me and allow Nathan to have a few words with Miss Mallory.” The complaints were loud but they ran after June as she walked back to the field.
Mallory looked at Nathan and said, “I appreciate Julie letting you know.”
Nathan furrowed his brow, “I haven’t seen Julie.”
“You haven’t. Then why did you come here?”
“What was Julie supposed to tell me?”
Mallory smiled and said, “I told her I wanted to see you to thank you for taking me from New Ulmerton. So thank you.”
“What changed your mind?”
“The Zord were able to help me see the truth about my father. You and your friend were right; he’s not a good man.”
Nathan looked into Mallory’s eyes and said, “What happens now?”
“I’m going to stay here.”
Then Nathan remembered, “What are you doing wearing a Zecka?”
Mallory took a deep breath, “I’m going with Jingo and Drang to New Ulmerton to try and steal a military database.”
Nathan felt his heart go into his throat, “You can’t do that. It’s too dangerous, especially for you.”
Mallory put her hand on his arm and he enjoyed the touch, “I’m a member of this community now. They can’t do it without my help. All of us must do what’s necessary to ensure the safety of our world.”
“Mallory, you’re a Jongo. If you’re caught you’ll be tortured for treason.”
“I’m only a Jongo until I marry. Then that name will be gone forever.” Mallory took his hand and said, “Come and sit down a minute. I want to talk with you.” Suddenly, Mallory remembered, “You didn’t tell me why you came here?”
Nathan decided to be honest. He had to see what her response would be. “Anglo is of the opinion that you and I are going to be married. I came here to see what gave him that wild notion.”
“It’s not a notion, Nathan; he’s right.”
Nathan was stunned, “What, why, how can…”
Mallory put her finger to his lips and silenced him. She stared into his eyes and said, “I told you when I saw the Zord’s planet on the display that I had dreams about this planet since I was very young. Remember?” Nathan nodded. “I also told you that you were in those dreams.” Nathan nodded again. “I couldn’t remember that dream. I tried so hard but it wouldn’t come to me. I could only remember the planet and your face. I had that dream again after Kreej showed me all that has happened. I slept in the rocking chair on Julie’s front porch and this time I remembered it.”
Nathan looked at her and felt something inside him move. He saw the inner beauty of the woman in front of him and marveled that Anglo was right. He was drawn to her and felt it. Then she said something that changed everything in his life.
“I’m sitting on a bed holding our new born baby girl. You’re sitting on the bed with me and I can see snow on the mountain range through the window behind you. You say to me, ‘She has your eyes.’”
Nathan was speechless and Mallory continued, “I didn’t know if that dream was real or just something else. So I started looking at all the homes in our community that have a view of the mountains from a bedroom. There was only one that did.”
Nathan looked into her eyes and said, “It’s my home.”
Mallory felt her tears and reached forward and hugged Nathan tightly. “I felt my happiness and my love for you in that dream. The happiest time in my life is ahead of me and the biggest part of that happiness is you.”
Nathan knew. He lifted Mallory’s face and kissed her. “We need to get to know each other better.”
Mallory shook her head, “I’ve known you my entire life. You’re going to have to catch up.”
Nathan laughed out loud and hugged his new found love. Anglo was so right, this happiness was overwhelming.
June watched the couple and saw Nathan hug Mallory. She took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and looked at the sky, “Thank the Creator.”
That evening Nathan and Mallory walked to Scotty’s house hand in hand and knocked on the door. Julie answered and Nathan said, “If his Majesty would grant me a few moments, I need to discuss an important issue with him.”
Julie looked inside and Scotty came to the door, “Of course you’re going with Jingo and Drang. You need to meet them for a planning session at the learning center in the morning.” Scotty looked at Mallory and said, “You look lovely tonight, Mallory. That big smile really becomes you. You should also attend that meeting.”
Scotty raised his eyebrows and looked back at Nathan, “Is there anything else?”
Nathan stood wide mouthed and Mallory said, “No, I think that covers it.” She elbowed Nathan in the ribs and said, “Right?”
Nathan nodded. He shook his head and turned with Mallory back toward his house. Now he had to make sure she was not harmed in the coming attack.
Chapter Four
Niles and Toland were sitting on two rocks next to a fire in the clearing at the center of the Human Community. Niles was staring up at the night sky and took a deep breath, “I have almost forgotten how beautiful the stars are. It’s been so long since I’ve looked at them without wondering who we were attacking next.”
