The other end was silent for a moment. No doubt she’d already run through a few conspiracy theories herself. “Either way, you’re not safe down there.”
“We’re as safe here as back at camp.” Schaeffer pulled the link back. “Send me a shuttle. Make it absolutely clear that the indigenous life-forms are NOT the enemy. I want no instances of hostilities towards them, no matter what they do. At this point they consider us allies.”
“Schaef, what are you planning?” I leaned across, whispering.
He waved me off. “Pick me up in one hour. I’ll send coordinates.”
Clear of the connection, he got up from our circle. “I need to get aboard the ship to report back to HQ, to get our sister ship remissioned.”
Lizzy bit at her lip, looking up at him. “You’re coming back?”
It was an odd question, sounding a bit worried. Schaef gave her a strange gaze back. “Of course.” He smiled at her. “You’ll be safe here. You just keep working with Yinet on their history and culture. We want as much detail as possible.”
I got up too, waving to Yinet and pointing to include Gerret. They started up the cliff. “An hour. You’re intending to be picked up somewhere else?”
Schaef looked to the distant range. Its height made it visible, even from our vantage point. “They’ll be watching to see if we know about them yet. If I can hitch a ride further down the range, we can keep them from pinpointing this location. We don’t know how well the Parredet have been hiding from them, hopefully a lot better than they did from us.”
“I’ll try to get it across to Yinet for the other villages to lay low, and that we might have to wait for backup. They’ve waited this long to tell us…trust us. Hopefully we can keep this contained.” I stepped back as Gerret crested the ridge first. Yinet came up beside him. She gave me a nuzzle before going to Lizzy. Her mood had improved.
I waited until they both perched on the benches to try explaining what we wanted to do. Lizzy was going fast and furious to draw it out, to make it as clear as possible.
Yinet studied the plan for a moment, then studied me, as if trying to read my mind, my intentions. Turning to Gerret, she rambled out a long series of their chirping communications. He gave her a quick nuzzle before disappearing down the cliff face.
“I take that as a go?” Schaef picked up his pack, but stopped as Yinet gave him a curious look. He held the pack for a moment, before handing it to Lizzy. “I probably won’t need this and it’s just more weight to carry.”
“Leaving it indicates you’ll return.” Lizzy took it, putting it behind her. “However, she probably expects a ‘see you later’.” She stuck her face out to Schaeffer.
Seeing him blush was weird. As weird as him bending down to give Lizzy a kiss. “That good for you?”
“Had better.” Lizzy smirked. “But I’ll wait for you to come back.”
Gerret returned with two large Parredet. They remained on the edge of the cliff wall as their leader spoke to them, gesturing to the southeast. He knew a location suitable for the shuttle to land, but far enough away to be misleading. He motioned for Schaef to approach.
Though this was his idea, I could see Schaef pale just a little. Lizzy saw it also, going to him and giving him another kiss and nuzzle, as our hosts would. “Just hang on and think about being eight years old. They’ll do all the work.”
“You’d know?” He turned to the first of the two giant males.
“I went to circus camp for book research.” Lizzy gave him a push, laughing as the first male grabbed Schaef and swung him around onto the other male’s back. Schaef scrambled to get a grip, before falling down the side of the cliff. “Remember to let go when they do.” She shouted her instructions down the wall as the two males disappeared, two more joining them as they reached the trees.
I watched too, gritting my teeth. “Man, he’s going to hate me when he gets back.”
“It was his idea.” Lizzy still giggled. Yinet did too.
I backed away from the edge. “Let’s get to the rest of the message, so Yinet can get her emissaries on their way too.”
Hearing her name, Yinet rejoined me on the bench, Lizzy next to her with the drawing pad. I talked, Lizzy sketched and Yinet gave me slow head nods, mimicking our gestures. When I got out the last of my instructions, she gave us nuzzles and disappeared over the cliff.
Remy had sat by quietly throughout our exchanges. He looked a bit dejected. “What’s wrong, Hon?”
“Just feeling left out, I guess.” He came over to take Yinet’s vacant spot. “Nothing to build or fix, and no boy scout duties right now.”
“Sorry. Maybe you should have gone with Schaef.”
“No, he’d want me here, just in case.” Remy gave Lizzy an elbow. “He’d worry you’d get yourself in some kind of trouble.”
“With who?” Lizzy nudged him back. “Let’s see about that tour you two were getting. We’ve only seen the history cave and there’s so much to learn yet.” She saw me look down at her feet and she kicked one out. “I’m much better, really.”
The raw blisters had dried up and there was only a slight redness to them. “Our medics would be interested in those leaves.”
“Again, your field, not mine.” Remy stood up, offering Lizzy a hand, even though she didn’t need it. “Come on, I’ll show you as much as we saw, then hopefully we’ll find someone you can talk to about the rest.”
Lizzy took his hand, but let go quickly, nodding to the Parredet village. It was pushing customs to be in close proximity while
