Chapter 7 #2
Kaden thought about that, thought about the way Harris had been disgusted by Kaden’s Crunchy Nut Flakes, and even more by his Coco Pops, partly because—sugar!
Think of your teeth! —and partly because Kaden was prone to taking handfuls out to eat at random times—unhygienic!
—and also because Harris was always going on about the importance of balancing gut health, protein and fibre.
Don’t pollute yourself with rubbish like this!
He smiled and wrote a new opening paragraph, including Harris’ concern that a kitchen work surface was a metropolis of bacteria just waiting for the right conditions to start multiplying.
That’s good.
Thank you, Joe.
He added little snippets about Harris happily spending hours waiting for microbes to grow but refusing to join queues in shops.
Harris used to spend more time trying to find what he wanted elsewhere than if he’d waited in line at the first shop.
He also droned on about how everything was trying to eat everything else.
A microbiologist was the only person who knew how to turn spoiled food into a scientific breakthrough.
Maybe a good last line would be Make sure you wash your hands before you touch a microbiologist. He wished he could put especially if they’re called Harris. But he couldn’t.
Now the words flowed. The article had the life he’d been looking for.
When he’d done, he stood up and stretched. “Think I’ve gone too far?”
Not far enough.
“They won’t accept a vindictive piece but one that gently pokes fun? Hopefully. And I’ve been clear about the good work the company do.”
Well, he’d go over it again later. Harris had wanted to read it before submission.
Tough. That wasn’t going to happen. Kaden was not working for him or Lixian.
This wasn’t a public relations exercise.
And there was nothing technical in it that needed checking.
He’d made it clear there were no animals in the building apart from employees.
The one lie he’d told. Aliens were animals, right?
Then he went through the box he’d brought from Alistair’s. Again, Joe helped him to speed read and Kaden had to admit it was useful. He found an envelope halfway down filled with US dollars.
“Wow, that’s a lot of money. I don’t think Alistair remembered that was in here.”
Money?
“Currency used in America. Dollars.”
We only use digital credits to pay for everything.
“People are using money less and less. Oh God, look at this.”
What is it?
“A medal. And Alistair said there was nothing precious in here.”
Kaden read everything else. Postcards and handwritten poems, newspaper cuttings… He supposed it had all been precious once.
You’ll remember everything you read.
“You didn’t make me remember what you were looking at while I was asleep,” Kaden pointed out.
I didn’t want to swamp your brain. But tell me if you want to recall it and I’ll make it happen.
“Could I learn another language?”
Yes.
“Or become a nuclear physicist or brain surgeon or a volcanologist or—”
No. Just having expert knowledge wouldn’t enable you to work in those fields. Do you want to do any of those things?
“No. I’m happy doing what I do. What would you like to do?”
I’m not sure. Something that lets me be good, kind and fair like you. Qualities my planet lacked.
Kaden swallowed. “Not everyone on Earth is good, kind and fair, though most people try to be.”
In all 195 countries?
He chuckled. “Yes.”
How can I belong here? What makes you belong?
“When I was born, my parents registered my arrival and were given a birth certificate. Every child born in this country has to have their birth registered. And death for that matter. A birth certificate is legal proof of parenthood and needed for things like a passport, which we use to travel from one country to another. But not all countries issue birth certificates.”
We didn’t have them, but a record was kept of us from birth to death. Do I need a birth certificate?
“You can’t just get one. You can apply for a replacement but you’d need to have been issued with one when you were born. We’ll have to think about how we get around that because if you can’t prove you belong here, they…”
They what? And who is they?
“Tonight, read about immigration, legal and illegal, and let me remember what you read.”
Okay.
“My head’s aching. I need a break. How would you like to go swimming?”
In water?
Kaden laughed. “Don’t you use water for leisure?”
Too precious. We use beams of light to rid ourselves of dirt and bacteria.
As they headed for the leisure centre, Joe asked him questions about what they were passing and Kaden answered in his head.
When Joe wasn’t asking questions, Kaden told him about things that he thought Joe ought to know, such as how to cross a road, to look out for cyclists, especially those on electric bikes because you couldn’t hear them coming, and not to throw litter—an antisocial and selfish thing to do.
How there were rules to follow, laws that protected everyone…
In theory. He’d never considered how much there was to learn about everyday life, how much you needed to know just to fit in.
But the information flow was very one-way. Joe seemed reluctant to tell him anything more about life on his planet.
It’s no longer my home. Earth is. I’ll never go back.
Kaden paid for entry into the leisure centre and went looking for an empty changing cubicle.
What is this place?
“Wait and see,” Kaden whispered.
Once he’d changed, he piled everything into a locker, put his phone on silent and slipped the band with the key around his wrist. As he walked towards the water, the echoey sound of kids shrieking and laughing grew louder.
When the pool came into view, Joe gasped.
The wave machine was operating and swimmers were rising and falling in the water.
Kaden waded out and joined them with Joe whooping in his head.
“Do you have anything like this where you come from?”
No. Water has to be protected. Earth’s water makes her look amazing from space.
“It does. Our astronauts are always saying the planet is beautiful.”
Kaden had a few minutes’ fun in the waves before they were turned off again.
He swam into the lazy river, which was another hit with Joe, then went on the slide.
Joe kept insisting he had another go. Kaden was enjoying himself more than if he’d been on his own.
Even if Joe wasn’t physically next to him, he was as good as.
Everything was going well until they went into the main pool, which was around twelve feet deep at the end where there’d once been a diving board. Kaden found himself swimming down to the bottom. Something he’d never done before.
I love swimming!
And I love breathing.
Keep your mouth closed and we’ll be fine.
Kaden looked up at the surface, which seemed a long way overhead, but he let Joe take charge.
He settled on his back on the bottom, not even struggling to stay down…
Do I weigh more now? …and for a few moments, it was so peaceful and restful that Kaden forgot he needed to breathe and closed his eyes.
When arms wrapped around him, he thought it was something Joe was doing. Kaden struggled against the hold, then gave in as he was pulled up. His head broke the surface and Kaden took a gulp of air, blinking water from his eyes. One of the pool attendants was towing him to the side.
“Let me go,” Kaden spluttered.
The guy gaped at him.
“I’m not drowning.”
They reached the side and the guy put one of Kaden’s hands on the edge. “You were lying on the bottom with your eyes shut.”
“I was fine.” Kaden glared at him.
People were watching, and another attendant was reaching to pull him out.
“I didn’t need to be rescued.” Kaden was hauled from the water.
“No need to be so ungrateful.” The other attendant scowled at him.
“I’m not ungrateful but I wasn’t drowning! I can hold my breath for a long time.” He couldn’t usually, but…
“And we were supposed to wait and let you drown?” asked the attendant who’d pulled him up from the bottom.
Flushed with embarrassment, Kaden pushed to his feet and headed for the changing rooms. Joe didn’t speak to him until they were outside.
I’m sorry. I made an adjustment so that you could hold your breath for longer than normal.
Kaden groaned. “Don’t do anything that makes me stand out.” Not that he thought there was much chance of the pool guy assuming he had an alien inside him.
It was fun. Being at the pool. Don’t be upset. It was an adventure and I liked it. Thank you. Thank you for everything. Thank you for showing me what a friend can be like.
Kaden felt better then. Except he didn’t know how much of that was because of Joe.
When we get back, we need to talk.
They were always talking but Kaden immediately felt uneasy. “What’s wrong?”
I’m nervous about staying in you for too long.
It was a bit late to think of that now! Anger surged and Kaden clenched his fists. Joe had nearly killed him entering his body, and maybe the same would happen when he came out. When Joe didn’t respond to that, Kaden’s throat closed up.
I’m sorry. I’m sorry.
Joe kept repeating the same thing over and over, and hearing him upset made Kaden upset too. But gradually, he calmed. He could guess why.
Back in his bedroom, Kaden sat on the edge of the bed and waited. The silence stretched until Joe finally spoke.
The longer I stay inside you, the more I bond and blend with you. I don’t know enough to be certain that I’m not changing you in some way. That worries me. I never meant to put you in danger.
“You need to come out of me.” Now! Fear lurched inside Kaden, then settled again.
Yes. Not now but soon.
“What will you be like when you come out?”
Like you, same age, probably skinnier. There was a hint of excitement in Joe’s voice. I can adjust my features so we’re not identical.