“They trashed our house,” Joey said. He sat hunched in front of Errl. An empty Chow Mein box and a spoon sat next to Errl on his cot. Crusts littered the floor. “At least they took off those handcuffs.” Joey leaned forward and frowned.
“They threw a note through the window on a rock. Alien lover leave town. I know who it was. Peter Puffin and his guys. Or somebody from my school. They"re giving me a bad time. I don"t know how much longer I can keep coming here to see you. Maybe this is my last visit.”
Errl bared his teeth and tried to smile. He rubbed his wrists. He sometimes understood the boy now. Errl remembered part of his language lessons but it was too late, maybe. Joey"s hair was blue, like his sister Torannee"s hair. Errl"s heart ached for home.
Two exobiologists stood in the ha
