The Fate of Nations Book II The Harvest by Laura Watson Read Free Book Online Page A

approve of him bringing a guest. Mikel thanked the Brancher for saving his life but politely refused the Brancher's request to accompany him.
    The Brancher had not made a request. The
    Brancher made the decisions. He wanted to stay with this being Mikel. He sensed that Mikel was frightened of him, and he was wise to be, but he had no intentions of harming this wise old being, or of frightening him. I will let him think he has persuaded me, the Brancher told himself. What he does not know will not hurt him .
    The Brancher's voice moved silkily through Mikel's mind. When will you return? He asked. His satin smooth voice showed no indication of his intentions. “I will return here after the patrol ship has completed it's next mission,” Mikel replied. Carefully...walk the razor blade carefully, Mikel reminded himself, “that could be a year, or ten years, it depends on the mission,” he added.
    “And what is a year, for you?” The silky voice asked in return. “Our year, on the patrol ship,” Mikel replied, “is fifty years on Liftun.”
    The Brancher knew this already. The Brancher knew every thought Mikel had now. His mind had slipped sleekly into the deepest recesses of the being Mikel's mind and had gathered all of the knowledge it contained.“I will not keep you any longer, as you must be on your way before nightfall,” the Brancher's smooth voice said as it unwrapped itself from Mikel's mind.
    The brilliant white light in Mikel's mind slowly faded and Mikel was back in his body. He removed his hand from the Brancher, hesitantly, almost reluctantly, and turned to leave. After one last look back, at his benefactor, Mikel walked quickly back to his ship.
    Back on board safely, with his bag of specimens safely tucked away, Mikel pressed a button on the lighted keypad at his instrument panel. The ramp retracted. He thought he heard a hurried, scratching noise as the ramp closed.
    Mikel listened intently for a moment, but the sound, if there had even been one, wasn't there anymore. He pressed a quick sequence of buttons to start the craft's engines. The ship made a rapid ascent into the oncoming night sky, leaving the Brancher, and Liftun behind.
    Sarah had no idea what the Brancher was. She sat against the far wall of Mikel's living area and stared at it suspiciously. Mikel was amused by her reaction to him, but he had to think seriously now. He would talk to her about the Brancher later. The first order of business was to instruct her about Serel's decision.
    “You should not have doubted me,” Mikel began, “Serel read your fear.” Sarah looked at Mikel, guiltily.
    She couldn't deny that she had doubted him. “Serel sees your fear as a weakness and your doubts as an insult against me,” Mikel continued. “He won't allow you to stay with me here.” Sarah was beginning to feel like the main course again, images of the Grays feasting on her intestines buffeted her mind.
    “Don’t assume,” Mikel warned her, as he read her thoughts. “Serel promised that you would not die at the Grays’ hands. You do, however, have to return to their space, and stay there, until we can return you to your home.”
    Serel's decision mortified Sarah. How could she survive there with the Grays? They horrified her.
    “Serel’s decision is final... and... fair, don’t you think?”
    Mikel asked gently. “Some of the young ones in the Command area and in these living areas are very impressionable, Sarah.”
    “The young ones don't understand humans, and they have already begun to imitate you. That can't be allowed. They'll be punished, and they've done nothing wrong. It's just their nature to imitate.” Mikel paused, “Do you understand, Sarah?” he asked.
    Sarah reluctantly nodded her head in agreement.
    She had already seen a young one brush hair, that he didn't have, out of his face. He had instantly imitated her gesture after watching her as she stood in front of Serel.
    “He is being punished now Sarah,” Mikel