The Cagliostro Chronicles by Ralph L. Angelo Jr. Read Free Book Online Page A

over and say hello.”
    The two men were humanoids, but not f rom the planet they were all currently on. Both were big beings, with flat faces and bald heads, soft ridges started at their brows and went over the tops of their heads to their necks. Their skin color was a dull red. They each wore a dull brown coverall.
    The waitress returned with the mugs of ale . Mark paid her in a few gold coins. A moment later she returned with change in a coin of a smaller size, then disappeared into the crowd.
    “I have no idea what we just paid for these drinks but I have a feeling it was too much.” He commented with a slight laugh as he took a sip and shook his head up and down on an angle. “Not bad actually. I think this’ll do for now , gents.”
    “How long do we wait for our admirers to join us?” Red asked as he drank his ale.
    “As long as it takes, we’re explorers enjoying some down time out of our ship. Remember, we’re Earthmen who knew of alien life before but never met anyone of other worlds ourselves.”
    Sledge looked at Mark “That is the truth you know, boss.”
    “I know Danny. Let’s just keep all our cards hidden for now and play this hand warily.”
    Red shook his head and scowled, “I hate poker analogies.”
    “That’s ‘cause your poker game sucks.” Eddie chided Red , with a quick smirk.
    “Quiet,” Ariel hissed, “they’re coming over now to find out about us.”
    “Ari if you hear anything underhanded in their minds while they’re talking to us, tell us through your telepathy.”
    ‘ Will do, Mark .’ Her mental voice rang through their minds in a bell-like tone.
    The two burly aliens walked to the end of the teams table and stood there, with what looked like an attempt at a smile on each of their faces. Finally, the one on the right started to speak.
    “Greetings, I am Endorf and this is Credom. We noticed you sitting here but were unaware of your species. We have never seen anyone that looked exactly like you do. Where do you hail from?”
    ‘ That’s a lie, they know exactly where we’re from. ’ The bell-like mental voice of Ariel pinged through their minds.
    “We’re explorers from a small planet several light years from here. What about you two gentlemen? Where are you from?”
    “We are from a world known as Tanzi-7. It is some light years from here. What brings you beings to this place?”
    Mark held up his mug and smiled, “The ale. We heard it was good here and decided to check it out for ourselves.”
    The alien on the left stared on with a perplexed look upon his face.
    “Seriously?” He asked.
    His companion nudged him with an elbow, and then resumed smiling at the team, “I beg your indulgence, you must ignore my friend here, he does not get out much.”
    “That’s quite all right, Endorf. ” Mark replied congenially, “Why don’t you and your friend sit down and join us for a drink.”
    Both aliens nodded , after looking to the other and sat at the end of the table, each ordering a flagon of the ale everyone else was drinking.
    “So I’m curious, what do you two gents do here? You both have what appear to be work coveralls on, at least to my untrained eye. Are you ship mechanics?” Mark asked.
    “ Yes that we are. We actually saw you land here earlier today.”
    “Ah okay, so how’d you like our ship? It’s the first of its kind.”
    “It’s very nice.” Credom replied enthusiastically enough that Endorf gave him another nudge in the ribs immediately.
    “We like it just fine ,” the seemingly more intelligent of the two replied.
    Mark leaned forward, almost surreptitiously, and then asked,. “Have either of you ever seen anyone like us before? We’re looking for a lost friend. He’s going to look very much like us, with our skin tone and hair type.”
    “No, I cannot say that we have , I must apologize. You are the first of your kind we have ever seen.”
    ‘ Another lie. ’ Ariel’s voice rang in their skulls.
    Mark shrugged and