Amy Thomson - Through Alien Eyes

She leaned against the counter, listening to the breathy gurgle and splash of the coffeemaker. Looking out the window, she saw Moki, head down, cut across the barnyard, and back out to the fields. There was a furtive air about him, as though he had been doing something he knew was wrong. He was spending a lot of time lurking in corners alone, or watching Juna and the baby. If he had been a human child, Selena would have suspected him of being jealous of the new baby. But he seemed so self-sufficient, and besides, Juna had told her that Moki was nearly as old as she was.

She could hear, faintly, Juna talking on her comm unit. Juna’s daughter was getting stranger every day. The other morning she had come in and found the baby sitting in the front hall, methodically tying and untying the laces on Toivo’s work boots! Mariam couldn’t even walk yet, but she could do things that much older toddlers had trouble with. And the way that child looked at you! It was like she was seeing your thoughts projected on the back of your skull!

A couple of days ago Selena had found Juna and Moki linking with the baby. She understood using the alien’s strange linking for urgent situations like labor, but this casual linking with the baby bothered her.

With a final wheeze and a soggy chuckle, the coffeemaker finished its work. Selena poured herself a cup, and then, with a sudden resolve, poured another cup, and set it on a tray with some cookies. It was time to talk to Juna about her concerns.

Toivo was putting some tools back in the barn when he saw the chicken with three legs and four eyes. He watched it limping awkwardly along for a moment, then picked it up and wrung its neck with one swift movement. He reached to pick up the shovel he had just set down, when he saw Moki.

“I was going to fix it after lunch,” the little alien said. Toivo was startled by Moki’s sullen and resentful tone.

With an effort, Toivo swallowed his anger. “Come with me,” he said, gripping Moki’s shoulder. “We need to talk to your mother.”

He strode into the house, not even bothering to remove his shoes. Juna was talking to Selena in the family room, the baby asleep beside her. He tossed the dead chicken into Juna’s lap.

“Moki did this.”

Juna looked from the malformed bird to Moki and back again. She closed her eyes in pain. “I’m sorry, brother,” she said in Amharic.

“I was going to fix it,” Moki explained. “I just needed :o eat first.”

“But Moki— ” She paused, looking from Selena to Toivo to Moki and back again.

“Moki, these animals are under our protection. We don’t do things like this to them.”

“But how will I learn?” he asked.

“I don’t know, Moki, but these are not your birds, and you shouldn’t play with them without permission. Do you understand?”

Moki shook his head. “What can I work on, then? I need something to do.”

“I don’t know,” Juna said again. “I need to talk to Uka-:onen about this. All of this,” she added with a significant ook at Selena.

Selena reached out and touched Moki on the arm. “Do you miss Juna?”

Moki’s skin turned deep walnut brown. “Yes,” he said. “I need her too much.”

“No, Moki,” Selena told him gently, “you need her as much as you need her. It isn’t always easy being a brother. Human children get jealous of their siblings all the time.”

“Really?” Moki said, the deep tone of shame on his skin lightening.

“Really,” Selena said. She turned to Juna. “You need to spend more time with Moki.”

“But Mariam— ” Juna began.

“Mariam has other parents who love her. Let them look after her a little more. Right now, Moki needs you.”

Juna looked at her bami, tears forming in her eyes. “I’m sorry bai,” she said. “Let’s go for a walk and talk things over.”

Moki nodded. Juna put a hand on Selena’s arm. “Can you watch Mariam for a while?”

“Of course, Juna. It’s my turn in the nursery today. You two go on, and don’t worry about a thing.”

“Thank you.” Juna scooped up the deformed chicken. “We’ll bury it, and I’ll try to explain the problem a bit better to him.”

Toivo nodded. He glanced at Selena, who was watching Juna and Moki leave, a worried frown on her face.

“What is it?” he asked.

“I was going to talk to her about Mariam, when you came in,” she said. “That chicken isn’t the only thing Moki’s been playing with.”

“What do you mean?”

“Mariam was sitting in the front hall, tying and untying the shoelaces on your boots the other day. She’s still crawling, but already she can do things like that.”

Toivo looked down. “Juna told me that she and Mold had been working with Mariam. Juna wouldn’t let the baby come to harm.” Despite his reassuring words, the situation made him uneasy.

“I don’t know, Toivo,” Selena said. “But I think Marian should have a chance to prove what she can do on h erown. She’s only a baby, after all.”

Toivo sat beside his wife. “You’re right. We should talk to her about it. But let’s wait a while. I don’t want to say anything to Juna until w eunderstand what’s happening.”

“We should give this thing with Moki a chance to settle,” Selena agreed. She smiled at him. “It isn’t all bad, Toivo. It’s just— different.”

“And being different can be hard,” Toivo observed.

Juna and Moki walked hand in hand along the edge of the vineyard. The dark, gnarled grapevines were sporting bright green new shoots. Juna was silent, trying to find ihe words to express how sorry she was. They came to ±e grove of three large chestnut trees, overlooking the weathered tables where the laborers ate their meals. Juna sat at one of them.

“I’m sorry, bai. I— ” Juna stopped and held out her arms for a link. Moki sat down across from her. He reached out to her and they linked. Juna felt her bami’s wall of silent frustration and loneliness dissolve as she enfolded him in ove and affection. His need was intense, and their link *as long. The light was dimming toward dusk when they iaaerged, and it was growing cold.

“Bai, when you need me, please tell me. I may not always be available right away, but I will make time as soon as I can. I promise,” Juna told him.

“Yes, siti,” Moki said. “Thank you.”

“Now,” she said. “What are we going to do about the lamckens?”

“I don’t know, siti,” Moki told her. “I’m bored. There’s meching to do.”

’Well, we can’t have you messing with the chickens. It[[

’i— people.”

Itt I need to do something.”

“Let’s go see Isi and Netta. Maybe they can help us. * Jrr, it’s getting too cold for you to be out. Isi can run

home in the truck.”

Moki brightened. “I’d like that,” he said. ; “flfcy wound up staying for dinner. When the meal was Teuvo stumped down into the cellar, coming back a bottle of gleaming golden wine. Juna’s eyes widened she saw the label.

Tri. that’s from Earth!"]]

He nodded, his work-roughened hands peeling away the foil over the cork. “Bernkastler Doktor ’36, beerenauslese, one of the classic vintages, heavily botrytized.” He smiled. “It’s like drinking flowers! Even this little one may like it,” he said, nodding at Moki.

“But why now?” Juna asked. “Is there some reason for celebrating?”

Her father shrugged. “Life is a celebration, if you look at it the right way. But, no, I got it out for my grandson here. I want him to try it.”

“Why?” Moki asked. “You know I don’t like wine.”

“Try some,” Teuvo urged him. “It involves a project I want you to do for me. Something to keep your spurs busy without bothering the chickens.”