The Arrival by Adair Hart Read Free Book Online Page A

Kathy. “I will be back to check on you in three months’ time. Make sure that what you tell your parents stays between you and them. The less others know, the better.”
    John glanced at Kathy, who had sidled up to him and slipped under his right arm. In a cracked voice, he said, “Thank you again for bringing us back our Kathy. I’m not sure I fully understand what’s going on, but we’ll get through this.”
    “I have no doubt you will,” said Evaran. He glanced at Kathy. “You have a lot to catch up on.” He nodded and then headed to the glass doors he had come in initially.
    Sally barked at him.
    Evaran turned and tilted his head. “Yes, I will be back.”
    Sally barked again several times.
    Evaran paused as he studied Sally. “Very well.” He faced Kathy and her parents. “Sally wanted to say thank you for rescuing her.”
    “What?” said John. “You can … talk to Sally?”
    Evaran half grinned and then looked at Sally. “It is a rough translation, but yes.”
    Sally walked over to Kathy, who knelt and put her arms around her.
    “You’re … not human, are you?” said John with widened eyes.
    Evaran pursed his lips. “I am a traveler who decided to help Kathy.”
    John looked at Cassy, who shrugged, then nodded at Evaran. “Well, we’ll be here when you return. If you’re going to go after whoever did this to Kathy, I’d like to help.”
    “It is too dangerous for that. Kathy can explain more in detail.”
    John glanced at Kathy, who nodded. “Well, where you going now?”
    Evaran gestured at Jake. “To find his father.”
    “Were you taken too?” asked John.
    Jake grimaced. “Yeah, when I was six. My mom was killed, and my dad was left behind.”
    John pulled his head back and drew his lips flat. “I’m sorry to hear that, son. I hope you find him.”
    Jake’s throat constricted. “Thank you.”
    Evaran gestured at Jake and then to the glass doors. They exited the house and headed toward the Torvatta.
    As they walked, Jake looked back to see Kathy and her parents step outside the door to watch him and Evaran leave.
    Once inside the Torvatta, Evaran sat in his command chair and tapped at its console. “U4, decloak and take us up, and then cloak.”
    “Affirmative. Torvatta stealth mode disengaged.”
    The Torvatta decloaked and took off. The front right screen showed Kathy and her parents outside, with John pointing at the Torvatta and looking between Kathy and it.
    Jake figured if John did not believe in aliens before, he would now. It would definitely help Kathy’s explanation to them on where she had been. His mind drifted to his own dad. They were going to look for him now. He was excited at first, imagining it would be like Kathy and her parents, but he realized it would probably be more like meeting a stranger.

    After ten minutes, the stealthed Torvatta entered low Earth orbit.
    “Query. Destination?” asked U4 as she interacted with the front console.
    Evaran perused his ARI. He tapped at it and, with a flick of his finger, said, “Take us to these coordinates. We need a more comprehensive access point to Earth’s data network.”
    “Affirmative.”
    Jake looked at the front right screen. It showed multiple locations in orbit. “Satellites?”
    “Yes,” said Evaran. “Earth appears to have quite a few. The Torvatta’s cursory scan when we first arrived indicated they handle voice, data, and video transmissions. They also cover aspects of communication, reconnaissance, military usage, and a variety of other purposes. There appears to be a small space station nearby as well. Most of these satellites appear to be in low Earth orbit, with a few in medium orbit. We are not likely to encounter anyone while up there.”
    Jake pursed his lips as he turned to watch the front screen. Maybe Earth was more advanced than he thought. Kathy’s house and their computer suggested otherwise, but satellites showed Earth not only had the concept of satellites, but the ability to