It’s an efficient system.’
‘We share everything on Astras.’
‘You are similar to a large family here.’
‘Yes, but soon we’ll be too big to be one family.’ Then she told him about the herds kept on Astras for her siblings, as a vegetarian Ralse kept his horror to himself.
Lucessa realised her mistake and explained that most Astrians were vegetarians. She left it at that, unaware Ralse knew her mother well. He didn’t probe. So she changed the subject.
‘Everyone shares the fields,’ she explained, ‘and, everyone is expected to help with planting and harvesting. Mother says young Varan often work off world on the Earth projects.’
‘Nowadays an assignment off world is sought after, and those who miss out complain we are becoming too insular.’
‘My mother says that too.’
He introduced her as his cousin from another district and side-tracked those who questioned her parentage. They sat in a park and shared food.
‘You’ve no working bracelet, are you tired?’ he asked.
Lucessa laughed, ‘I've got a Hyclos crystal, it works the same as a Varan bracelet.’
‘I’m sorry, I should have guessed, your mother has more.’
‘Yes.’
‘If you’re not tired, we could climb the hills and look at the city?’ Ralse suggested.
‘Yes,’ Lucessa agreed.
They sat on an old stone balcony, enjoying the views and wine, and being close.
‘Is it true you must leave soon?’ Ralse asked.
‘I must.’
‘I wish you could stay longer?’
‘I can’t,’ she whispered, believing that when she left, her heart would break. She was bold in her distress, ‘You could always come and visit us, no one need find out?’ she put her head down, embarrassed at what she blurted out.
‘I’ve wandered off to many places; it would surprise no one if I went missing for a while.’
She had the courage to lift her eyes to his and saw the love in his warm smile. ‘Ralse, I’m not always this relaxed, I can spend days researching in my lab.’
‘We sound as if we’d get on well, then I could wander while you work, perfect!’
‘I’m not used to having boyfriends.’
‘That’s obvious, and as much as I’m fond of your mother, I’m glad you’re not her. Lucessa I’m falling in love with you.’
The kiss said everything. They walked back to the house, oblivious to everything around them.
Doella knew the moment they met they’d marry.
Ralse went to Astras with them after a hasty marriage on Varan. He rarely re-visited his home planet. Lucessa’s discovery of a rare parasitic crystal, not only helped the Hyclos boys, but was found to have many uses. Ralse and Lucessa’s children were scientists and artists, and Lucessa learned from Ralse to think as a creator, and both patterns increased her knowledge. The arts flourished on Astras.
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