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  "We weren't lucky. You risked your life to keep him away. We can't abandon you after that. Besides, we've come to love you over the years." I felt the truth of that and saw it in Carola's misty eyes.

  "Thank you, but no. I feel fortunate to have had four wonderful years with you. Let's not destroy that."

  They stayed for several hours and then left sad but relieved. I was a dangerous person to have around, which led to the question I didn't want to think about—where could they put me? I don't know how my attacker found me, but he had upped my notoriety.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  A new beginning—again

  I stayed in the hospital for two weeks while I healed and Adela tried to figure out what to do with me. She had stopped in every other day, and we spent hours talking about my stay with the Bordans, the school I attended, and life in general. I liked her. What you saw was what she was, based on my growing awareness of people's emotions. She wanted to help but couldn't figure out a solution. I would pose the same risk to any family as I did to the Bordans, and she agreed with me that it wasn't a good idea to go back to them—for their sake and mine.

  Adela called the day Doctor Renata cleared me for release and told me to be ready to go the next day. I was confused, since I knew she hadn't come up with a place for me to go.

  "Ready?" she asked. "I have your clothes in my skimmer. The Bordans packed everything of yours and had it delivered to me. You live a very Spartan life, considering I know the Bordans would have bought you anything you wanted. They really do love you."

  "I know. I didn't need anything. I had everything I wanted. Things don't interest me, maybe books."

  "Aren't you interested in where I'm taking you?" she asked as we entered the skimmer. I guess I was afraid to ask for fear I wouldn't like it, although all I was doing was prolonging the inevitable.

  "Would it change anything?" I asked and immediately regretted it. "Sorry. I'm feeling sorry for myself. I love the Bordans and was happy there. They treated me like I was their daughter."

  "I understand. They feel the same way. Magistrate Bellona has asked to see you. She has taken an interest in you, and I understand you write her regularly."

  "Once a month. We've had some interesting discussions. I like her." The first time I wrote her, I hadn’t expected a reply. I had written because she asked me to. But she had answered promptly, and over the years I had begun to think of her as a friend who I could ask for advice.

  "Well, she likes you. Let's hope she’s smarter than we are, because I admit to being stumped as to where to place you." She shrugged and gave me a lopsided grin.

  I laughed. "Maybe I could go to the planet Surus and become a monk and wander the land begging."

  "Let's hope the solution is a bit closer to home." The remainder of the flight was made in silence. I thought the monk idea wasn't too bad. I had become a loner out of necessity and had adjusted to where I was comfortable. Red helped, a lot.

  When we reached Magistrate Bellona's office, she was waiting and waved us in.

  "You've grown, Anna. I'd love to give you a hug, but it probably isn't a good idea. Red might not understand." She smiled and put out her hand, which I took in both of mine.

  "I'm not sure. He's lazy and doesn't seem to mind people, but I wouldn't want to take the chance. The antivenin would save your life, but you would be sick for several days."

  "Consider yourself hugged," she said. "It’s not your fault, but you present a problem. Actually, to be precise, your red-headed friend presents a problem. You seem to have him under excellent control, but we do have periodic outbreaks of the Coaca Virus. When we do, some people like that man who attacked you are going to consider Red their savior. And I envision thieves will soon be involved. The medical researchers have only found four other red-headed kraits to date, so supply is miniscule and the demand great. Consequently, they are worth tens of thousands of credits to the right person. That threatens you and those around you. By the way, everyone was impressed by the way you handled that incident. Warning the police saved lives and perhaps a larger outbreak. And risking your life to save the Bordans was very brave." She sipped at her water, looking pensive. "We've exchanged a lot of letters over the years, and I think I understand you. Red keeps you isolated. Your love of learning and Red's companionship have compensated for your lack of a social life and friends. Come live with me. I have security and will double it. And it won't be for long. I'm working on getting you into an advanced school as soon as you pass your fourth quarter."

  I didn’t know what to say and sat with my mouth open. I liked Bellona and would love staying with her, but my presence would put her at risk. The thought of continuing my education was exciting, but that would put me with much older ... young adults. I wasn't sure how that would work out. Would I live with them at school? It seemed to me the older kids got, the crueler they could be. Eventually, I closed my mouth and took a deep breath. I stroked Red, which tended to relax me.

  "I’d love to stay with you, Your Honor—"

  "Alexa, please."

  "Alexa. But that would put you in danger, and I would hate myself if I caused you to be hurt."

  "I was in the navy for thirty years, Anna. I'm used to risk. Some things are worth taking a risk for. I think you are. My security is good, which will preclude men from breaking into the house, and you and I will use reasonable caution."

  I could feel she meant what she said. "I'd like that ... Alexa." My eyes stung with tears as relief washed over me. I had tried to ignore the problem of what Adela was going to do with me, but all the terrible alternatives, like being confined to a ward and treated like a lab rat or locked away someplace out of the way had run through my mind as I lay awake at night.

  "I'm as relieved as Anna, Bellona. I have gotten some unpleasant suggestions from people I thought better of," Adela said, confirming my worst fears.

  "Then it’s settled." Bellona smiled. "I'm looking forward to having company. I too tend to be a bit of a recluse."

  After Adela left, I met Alexa's driver, Jason, and we were taken in a ground vehicle to her home, a grey two-story stone mansion set off by itself on several acres of wooded land.

  "Let's start by giving you a tour of your new home." She took me into a large living room. The room looked comfortable with its two lounge chairs, an oversized couch, tables, and an entertainment suite. A large bank of windows looked out in front of the house. Several landscape paintings gave the cream-colored walls a splash of color. Off the living room was a formal dining room was a mahogany table with eight upholstered chairs. Down the hallway a bathroom, office, kitchen with a large island and two chairs and equipped with modern appliances, and a bedroom with its own bathroom. Stairs in the hallway as we entered the house led to the second floor. There, Alexa showed me to her study, which intrigued me with its shelves of books and computer equipment. On the walls were pictures of military cruisers and groups of individuals in naval uniforms. From there we passed two empty rooms which were probably intended to be bedrooms and then entered Alexa's bedroom, which had a bathroom attached. She smiled as she opened the door to the last bedroom.

  "And this is your room. You are welcome to change it to suit your taste," she said with obvious pleasure. I wandered around in shock—it had its own bathroom.

  "It's ..." I stuttered, choked with colliding emotions of gratitude and relief. "The room is lovely ... Thank you for saving me." When I looked at her, her eyes were misty.

  "You're very welcome."

  * * *

  The next day, Alexa drove me to a private school about a half hour drive from her house. When we arrived, we were ushered into a small conference room where a man and a woman waited. They rose when we entered.

  "Alexa, it's good to see you, it's been a long time," the man said, smiling and giving her a hug. He was tall and athletic looking, a full head of short curly brown hair and a pleasant smile. The woman joined them and also gave Alexa a hug. She was nearly as tall as the man and looked t
o be about the same age. Her midnight black hair just covered her ears and had streaks of grey. Her angular face wasn't smiling, but it was relaxed and friendly.

  "I'm afraid I tend to stay in far too much, but after listening to people argue all day long, the peace and quiet is welcome." She laughed. "Santos, Selina, I'd like you to meet Anna. Anna, this is Mr. Hahn, the headmaster at the Waldron School, and Mrs. Cain is the technology director."

  "I'm pleased to meet you, Mr. Hahn, Mrs. Cain," I said.

  "It's nice to meet you," Hahn said. Cain just nodded, appearing to study me.

  "She's very ... young, Alexa, and the class you want to enter her in is in the last half of the fourth quarter curriculum," Hahn said after some hesitation. "I don't mind making an exception for you, but I'm concerned. That's asking an awful lot of the child, even if she is exceptional."

  "I understand, Santos. Give her any kind of test you want, written or verbal. Afterward, I'll abide by whatever you suggest."

  "That's fair," Cain said, nodding her approval. "What about the snake?"

  "Anna has the krait under complete control. The only people it's bitten were beating her half to death."

  "Anna?" Cain looked at me. Not sure what she wanted, I reached into my blouse and pulled Red out. He wound himself around my arm with his head pointing in her direction.

  "Red never leaves me. Never. He’s never aggressive, and I'm careful not to touch anyone. You might think of him as an organic medicine dispenser to keep me in balance." I shrugged, not sure what she expected.

  She laughed. "Him, not it?"

  "He’s been with me twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week for more than five years. He even stays with me in the bath."

  "Yes, that would elevate its status from inanimate to animate." Cain smiled. "Santos, I'm fine with testing her and deciding afterward."

  They left me in a small room with a wooden table and several padded chairs. Two large windows looked out onto a manicured sports field with a track around its perimeter.

  Sometime later, Cain returned with several tablets and a couple of books. She sat opposite me at the oblong table and slid a tablet across to me.

  "This is one of our standard tests for admittance to Waldron. It's not a timed test, so there is no need to rush." She sat back and picked up another tablet and began tapping on it.

  I tapped on Start and began answering the questions. It didn't take long to go through the one hundred questions, as they were standard third-quarter material.

  "I'm done."

  She frowned and tapped on her tablet. Her frown deepened.

  "You got them all correct. Have you seen this test before?" she asked.

  "No, ma'am, but it's all standard third-quarter material."

  "Yes, it is." She tapped on her tablet again. "I've put the next test on your tablet. Would you or your friend like something to eat or drink before you start?"

  "I'm his food dispenser," I quipped. I regretted it immediately when her mouth dropped open. Then she smiled.

  "Symbiotic. You both benefit from the arrangement. Would you like something?"

  "Water or juice. I'm a little thirsty."

  "You can begin the test," she said while tapping on her tablet. A few minutes later, a young boy entered with two glasses. He set one by me and one by Cain and left without a word. This test was a little harder, as some of the material was new, and I had to spend more time on several of the questions. When I looked up, Cain sat staring at me.

  "Does ... he always look at what you are reading?"

  "Most of the time. I would imagine life as a snake is boring." I gave a tentative grin.

  "Yes, I would imagine it would be." She chuckled, then looked at her tablet. "I see you're done with the test," she said, looking at her tablet, which was obviously linked to mine. "You missed six. That’s impressive, considering it's fourth quarter material. It's the final test for fourth quarter students. Seventy-five percent is passing, so you passed. At this rate you are going to graduate college before your age group is struggling with fourth quarter material." She shook her head and gave a short laugh. "Well, let's go tell Alexa she has a prodigy on her hands."

  * * *

  At my suggestion, the instructors didn't call on me or single me out, and the five months went by quickly. I enjoyed the classes and the time with Alexa. She was an interesting person. She had been in the Oxax Navy for thirty years, had been promoted to captain, fought in several border wars, and had been injured in a space battle that had required a career change to the judicial branch, which was the reason why she became a magistrate when she retired.

  Many nights we sat on her oversized couch talking or just reading like we were tonight—quiet companionship. My concentration was broken when I realized Alexa's cold feet were resting on mine. Somehow the contact was comforting, and I closed my eyes and sighed with contentment. I opened them when I felt her foot change position and found her staring at me and looking concerned.

  "Are your feet always so warm? You feel like you’re burning up."

  "The doctors claim it's the effect of my body fighting the poison Red injects me with. But I'll tell you that after the Coaca fever, this is nothing. I lay in the snow in only a light nightshirt and still felt scorching hot—" I froze as I felt Red working his way down my leg, and his head appeared at my ankle.

  "Alexa, trust me and don't move, please," I said just above a whisper. Alexa's eyes flew wide open and her jaw dropped open, but she didn't move. Red's head slid onto her foot, wound around her ankle, licked her skin, and then retreated back into my nightdress.

  Her voice was raspy when she spoke. "I just aged ten years. I don't think I was ever that scared, even in war." She gave a strangled laugh. "But if that means I can hold your hand and give you a kiss on the cheek good night, it was worth it."

  I nodded. Red seemed to know friend from foe—at least I hoped so. "I'd like that." I had missed being touched—very much.

  She slowly reached out and gave my hand soft squeeze. "I meant to bring up … I hope you don’t mind that I talked to a few friends at the Naval Academy. There's a chance they might let you attend. You wouldn't graduate as a naval officer at the end of it. You would be too young. But you would get a good education, and I'm hoping the military environment would mean less trouble than a normal college."

  She was thinking about my future, which I tended to avoid. What was I going to do as an adult? I needed a job, a profession, so that I could support myself. The thought terrified me; being a kid with a poisonous snake and an incurable disease was scary enough.

  "Thanks. I don't know what I would do without you," I whispered. She squeezed my hand again.

  "Anna …" She took a deep breath. "I’d like to adopt you. It would help for getting you into the academy, but that's not why. If you agree, I would do it regardless. I want you to be my daughter."

  I was too choked up and happy to even talk, so I kept nodding my head. Family. The Bordans had made me feel loved and wanted. I needed that, much as I tried to convince myself I didn't. I forgot and in my excitement hugged her, then froze. Where was Red? Around my neck and hers. Alexa smiled.

  "I guess I just adopted a red-headed krait too."

  * * *

  Alexa had some very influential connections, because I was admitted to the Oxax Naval Academy as a student. I would be enrolled in all the normal cadet classes but wouldn't have to drill, or live in the cadet's quarters, or exercise, or be an ensign on graduation, or serve in the military—everyone seemed happy. As Alexa said, the drilling, exercising, and other details are strictly to teach the youths discipline. You already have more than most will ever have.

  The first week of class was comical. I stood one hundred forty-centimeters, where the average cadet stood around one hundred eighty. I would show up around the time they had finished their morning chores and exercises—just in time for morning classes. Alexa's driver, Jason, drove me to the academy each morning and picked me up each night. I'm not sure w
hether the cadets envied or despised me, probably a little of both. By the third week, the novelty had worn off and I was ignored.

  I loved the classes. The instructors were all naval officers—commanders and above. Their attitude in the beginning varied: a few didn't like my presence, and a few pretended I wasn't there, but most seemed willing to accept my presence conditionally.

  The few who didn't like my presence apparently thought to drive me out by embarrassing me in front of the others. That didn't work well, as I studied hard and was always prepared. At times, it became a contest between the instructor and me—and Red. He seemed to be more interested than normal in my studying, whether in the car or at night. And that seemed to make everything easier to understand and made me delve deeper into related issues. Consequently, I could hold my own with the instructor, and we were soon off on tangents. At some point, they realized it wasn't having the intended result and stopped. Although most ignored me completely, a few came to accept me and would talk with me before and after classes.

  When the instructors found I was always prepared, they used me to drive the cadets to work harder—who wanted to be embarrassed by a child? By the end of the first half-year, it was acknowledged I was there to stay, and life settled into a routine.

  "Well, Anna, I have to admit I thought admitting you to the academy was a bad idea for several reasons, but you've been a surprise," Commander Pogue said as we sat watching the cadets in a marching drill while I waited for Jason to arrive. "You're so young, I thought you would be disruptive in class. It turns out you not only aren't, but you are making the cadets study harder to avoid being shown up. And I like the way you go beyond the basic materials in class. I think you're winning over most of the first-year instructors. And a few of them are hard nuts to crack. I hope the navy finds a place for you."