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

said.
    The young one would learn a painful lesson today, administered by Serel himself, Mikel thought, sadly.
    Sarah's eyes filled with tears. “I'm sorry Mikel, I didn't mean to get him into trouble.” “I know you didn't, Mikel replied, adding firmly,“but that is why you cannot stay in this part of the ship.”
    “You won't be harmed,” he continued, as Sarah listened intently, wiping her eyes with her hand. Mikel immediately wanted to imitate her gesture, as was also his nature to, but refrained. “The Grays have been forbidden to harm you.” he stated.
    Mikel glanced over at the Brancher, who stood against the far wall, listening to the discourse. “It was the best and most fair solution for you.” Mikel said resignedly, “Serel would have given you back to the Grays and you would have been killed if I hadn't intervened on your behalf. I told him how you helped me escape the prison I was in on your world.” The Brancher stretched forth one of his spindly limbs, and pulled the vivid memory from Sarah's mind.
    “I told him how you walked so far from your home, alone, Mikel continued, “to set me free from the cell that the humans had locked me in.”
    The Brancher explored the memory that he had pulled from Sarah's mind, feeling the heat and the bitter cold of the Earth's desert. He smelled the dust and the strange smell of the desert life that lurked under the rocks and in the dens during the daytime heat. He saw the broad expanse of stars in the night time sky. He tasted the cactus that Sarah had eaten, savoring the watery, strange, new flavor.
    “He wasn't easy to convince, Sarah.” Mikel informed her, “He says that your thoughts are impure.”
    The Brancher lowered his outstretched limb.“You doubt, you fear, you question, and he can't allow you to pollute the thoughts of the other beings here.” Mikel shook his head, sadly and looked at the Brancher, “He finally agreed that you didn't deserve to die at the Grays'
    hands, but he also determined that you couldn't stay here with us.”
    Sarah cried, but tears held no pity for Mikel, they were merely a curiosity to him. She didn't want to go back there to the Grays' space but she couldn’t stay here either. The look that Serel gave her had already told her as much.
    Mikel explained to her, that he would check on her. She was always in his thoughts. He would also keep his friends Samel and Pate in a space close to her, in the event that the Grays attempted to disobey the instructions from Serel, which was very unlikely. “The Grays are an abominable caste of beings, but they are not stupid beings by any means.” Mikel stated.
    Sarah felt like puking up what little bit of spongy substance she had eaten earlier. Her stomach lurched alarmingly. So there is a fate worse than death, she thought miserably. She felt her gorge rising. She had to go back to the Grays’ space!
    The Brancher watched Sarah with interest. This being loves Mikel. he thought. He had reached into her thoughts as she walked, through one of the long desert nights, to save him.
    This being is worthy, he thought, but her primordial mind, unsophisticated and base, had learned too much, too early, of the negative aspects of existence. Her doubts insulted him as well.
    Mikel is an ancient!, the Brancher fumed, silently. He is learned and truthful. Mikel isn't pure, though, the Brancher corrected himself quickly. None were pure, except for the Highest.
    The being Sarah, loved Mikel, and she had saved him once, the Brancher thought, as he lowered his sensor, she cannot be allowed to die at the Grays'
    hands. The Brancher reached back in time, to Serel's mind, as he conversed with Mikel. The Brancher made the decisions.
    Mikel allowed her to stay for a few more hours while he instructed her on how to behave and what things she could and could not eat and what she could and could not do there. Sarah felt the young ones in her mind as she sat and listened to Mikel's instructions.
    They