Dear reader, today is a special day in Donna. The village is preparing a great celebration: the fifteenth birthday of Elara, my daughter with Anastácia. To make the moment even more meaningful, a group of thirty Sekvens currently in Shoros will come to visit us, after four years without seeing them.

  They will also bring Ana, my eldest daughter, who spent two months on Earth.

  It is still night here. I woke when Sariel, my six-year-old daughter with Tariel, decided, in the middle of the night, to sleep between us.

  We have adopted some Sekvens customs, such as sleeping together—of course, not pressed close, and not naked. We have no issue with nudity, but sleeping without clothes is uncomfortable; each body finds rest at a different temperature.

  Anxious about the intense day ahead, I could not fall back asleep. I found myself remembering the frantic days I am now recording.

  That morning, the Sekvens withdrew to their quarters aboard the Mirtis, leaving the hangar lively and loud.

  — Zircon — I called — is it possible to provide enough grain to feed Bona Vista through the winter?

  — Why help them? — he asked, though he already knew the answer.

  — The Known Universe does not bring misfortune upon others. We will give them time.

  Zircon nodded. He consulted the observer and replied:

  — We can supply half of what will be needed now, and the rest in a few days.

  — Good. I will survey Bona Vista shortly and, from there, go on to the Selium Village.

  Since everyone was still gathered in the hangar, I clapped my hands to draw their attention.

  — My loves… — I faltered when I realized how I had addressed them. — In Bona Vista, are there abandoned human children? And people who refuse to consume Seliums?

  I did not have to wait. They told me nine children lived on the streets; two had died a few days earlier. They also spoke of three families ostracized for refusing to eat Seliums.

  When I asked whether they would accept these people coming to live in the village, their gazes turned to Anastácia. They all knew her story.

  — I like Anastácia — Mila said. — She gave me one of her clothes when I dirtied mine.

  — I just don’t understand why you’re asking us — Hima remarked from the back. — You rescued us. We are grateful.

  — Each of your opinions matters.

  The words drew smiles and a quiet sense of satisfaction.

  — Save them as well. We will help — Nissi answered for them all.

  With a lighter heart, I took the hands of Anastácia, Tariel, and Ana, and we headed for the Jazzia.

  — Welcome back.

  — Thank you, Jazzia. We’ll rest a little — I said.

  — I’m going to take a shower — Anastácia said.

  The restraint in her voice caught my attention. I put Tariel and Ana to bed and went to the shower. I did not ask to enter; there were no doors, precisely so nothing could be hidden.

  She stood naked under the water, her back to me. She was crying.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  I stepped in fully dressed, not caring about the cold spray.

  — What is it? — I asked, wrapping my arms around her.

  She gave a shy smile, turned, and held me tightly.

  — I don’t know… I’m happy, but I’m afraid.

  — Afraid of what? — I asked, kissing her forehead.

  — Of being alone.

  — Do you feel alone?

  — No.

  — Then you won’t be. I will always be with you. Tariel, Ana, the Sekvens, the Observers… being alone is a luxury we no longer have. Besides, we need to worry about all those Seliums out there. Imagine them all around you, seeking attention.

  She laughed and sought my lips.

  — Hey! What are you two doing? — Tariel appeared suddenly. — Let’s sleep a little.

  In bed, the four of us rested together, close enough to keep warm, until Jazzia called us. It was time to visit Bona Vista, taking advantage of the cooler climate of the region.

  ----

  During the day, it was possible to observe the city from above. Bona Vista lay at the edge of a mountain range that separated the drier region from a vast forest. There were many places where the Jazzia could conceal itself, very close to the city.

  AX and I said goodbye to the girls and continued on foot, perhaps along the same path we had taken the night before. The sensation was strange: it felt as though several days had passed, and I startled when I remembered it had all happened only the previous night.

  — Why does it feel like it’s been so long since I was here? — I asked, idly playing with a small red flower I had picked from the grass.

  — The longer day on Donna helps explain it — AX replied — but we measure time by the amount of relevant information we store. There are exhausting days, and days that seem to last for months.

  — Do you feel that too?

  — No. I said “we” so you wouldn’t feel alone.

  I smiled.

  Unpaved streets and brick houses worn by time made Bona Vista very similar to Litéia. The difference lay in the more abundant green and in the river of clear water that cut through the city. There was a bridge and a large abandoned building. In its prime, it must have been a beautiful place.

  We soon reached a large square, almost entirely overtaken by weeds. Many people were in the streets; some were crying, others shouting.

  — Excuse me, is there a leader here? — I asked a woman seated at the doorway of a house.

  — No — she answered, curtly.

  — An elder? Someone who organizes things? — I pressed.

  She pointed to a man at the end of the street, sitting on a bench, fixing something with a hammer.

  — Just that grump. He’s the one who gathers people when it’s needed.

  I went to him.

  — Are you the one in charge of the city?

  — Say what you want and be done with it — he replied, without looking at me.

  — About the slaves—

  The man turned abruptly. His angry gaze ran over me and stopped on the flower in my hand. He stood up.

  — Step back. Who are you? — he growled.

  — Just a visitor — I replied, taking a step away.

  — That flower… if it’s crushed, the poison enters through the skin and kills within minutes. — He tightened his grip on the hammer. — Did you come here to kill me?

  I swallowed the bitter taste of anger rising in my mouth. I crushed the flower between my fingers and dropped it to the ground.

  — Are you insane?

  — I’ve been called that before. Don’t worry, I won’t die — he said, sarcastic.

  — As if I cared — he added, stepping back.

  Silence settled for a brief moment. Then I took the initiative.

  — The slaves—

  — They’re all gone! — he shouted, cutting me off.

  I stayed calm, though my heart raced. It wasn’t fear. It was anger at having to help that man.

  — I know. I took them.

  AX flared as he intercepted the hammer hurled toward me.

  — Thank you, AX — I said, stepping closer to the man, who collapsed back onto the bench, shaken by what he had just seen. — I think the madman here is you.

  — Give the slaves back! — he stammered, still furious.

  — They are mine. And the group you sent to capture Seliums will return empty-handed. Seliums will no longer be enslaved.

  He only stared at me, fire in his eyes. I realized I couldn’t trust him even for a moment.

  — For this winter, I will provide food. The next ones will be your responsibility — I said, turning my back on him.

  — What an unpleasant man — AX commented. — You’re shaking. You should calm down.

  — It went wrong… I thought I could leave the grain with him for distribution, but we’ll have to do it ourselves.

  I returned to the square, where the woman who had pointed the man out to me was talking with other women about my clothes.

  — I’ll be back soon with food — I announced, drawing their attention. — Each person will receive enough to get through the winter. I’ll be just outside the city. Bring the children to receive their share.

  I said that, turned, and walked away, certain that before long the entire city would know.

  — Wait! — one of the women shouted. — Are you serious?

  — I’m the one who took the slaves from here. I’m only paying for them.

  It was still daytime. The wind grew stronger, carrying the faint scent of the nearby river. Along the way, I picked three red flowers—one for each member of my family. But a fleeting thought sent a chill through me: should I be carrying more than three hundred?

  — Now it’s the Selium Village — AX said.

  — I hope it won’t be as stressful.

  — We can expect a few arrows.

  — Arrows?