“I really did see an alien!” insisted Zotz.
“I opened the gate,” Ravana told him, ignoring Zotz. “I used my implant.”
“Never had you down as a military spy,” Hanuman admitted, not noticing her look of confusion. “On that note, we should go before we all get into trouble. Are you hungry?”
Ravana glanced at Ostara, who seemed equally surprised by his apparent show of concern. Ostara nodded, for none of them had eaten since leaving the hotel. Beside her, Zotz’s stomach had decided it was an opportune moment to start rumbling audibly.
“Good,” said Hanuman, smiling properly for the first time. “Ganesa’s cooking up one of her specials and it’s been a while since we’ve had guests.”
“You’re very kind,” said Ostara meekly.
“It’s more an invitation to an informal interrogation,” he said solemnly and tapped his pistol. “I do hope you’re not spies. It would be such a shame to shoot you.”
Ganesa was waiting for them at a cabin on the edge of the forest clearing, well away from the strange plantation. The ten-metre hut was a camouflaged pre-fabricated habitation module as used by the military when establishing temporary command bases in the field. This one had home-made curtains at the windows and other homely attempts to soften the hard lines of the utilitarian metal shell, though none succeeded quite as well as the pleasant aroma of cooking that greeted Hanuman, Ostara, Ravana and Zotz as they drew near.
It was a warm night and Ganesa had set up a table and chairs beneath the canopy overhanging the front of the cabin. A large pot of stew sat in the middle of the table and when Ravana saw the five dishes and associated tableware laid out for them she realised Hanuman had deliberately set out to find them. Ganesa herself was already seated at the table, visible in the pale illumination spilling from the open cabin door. As they approached, she looked up and gave a friendly wave.
“Our stowaways had broken into the compound,” Hanuman told her with a wry grin. “I thought I’d better bring them back here before they caused any more trouble.”
Ganesa looked impressed. “I’ve never been inside. What did you find?”
“Alien eggs,” stated Zotz. He did not mention the grey face. “A big nest of them.”
“Is that what they harvest in there?” she remarked. “Well, I can’t promise you egg, but there’s plenty of stew if you’re hungry. Please, take a seat, all of you.”
Ravana and Zotz were ravenous and eagerly helped themselves to a large bowlful each, almost forgetting that Ostara, Hanuman and Ganesa were waiting to follow suit. Ravana ate hungrily, amazed by the stew’s rich flavours.
“This tastes wonderful!” Ostara told Ganesa, after finally getting to the pot. “You must give me the settings for this.”
Ganesa smiled. “We have no food molecularisor here. When you rely on zero-gravity rations as much as we do it becomes a pleasure to cook something the old-fashioned way.”
“You didn’t use a ’risor?” Ostara looked astounded.
Hanuman retrieved a bottle of liquor from inside the cabin and poured a generous measure for Ostara, Ganesa and himself. Ostara politely declined, for she had found upon the table a pot of wonder in the shape of freshly-brewed Yuanshi tea. Hanuman offered the glass instead to Ravana, who cautiously sipped at the clear sweet beverage and instantly felt a warm buzz from the alcohol within. Her father permitted her to drink wine sometimes but she had never tasted anything like this.
“A local speciality,” Hanuman told her with a grin. “The fruit of the deggdra.”
“Dead Horse Gin!” exclaimed Ravana, recognising the ingredient as being that of her father’s favourite tipple. “Aren’t deggdra berries poisonous?”
“I wouldn’t eat them raw,” Hanuman advised.
“Can I have some?” asked Zotz, eyeing the bottle hopefully.
“You’re too young,” Ostara told him.
Ganesa pushed aside her empty bowl and reached for her own glass.
“We should acquaint ourselves properly,” she said. “If Hanuman hasn’t told you already, I am Ganesa, co-pilot of the Sun Wukong. Hanuman and I are what you might call independent traders, as far as that is possible in this star system. I’m curious why you three chose to flee Hemakuta by hiding aboard our ship. Are you on the run?”
“We’re trying to get to Ayodhya,” Ostara told her. “I’m Ostara, head of security on the Dandridge Cole and this is Ravana and her friend Zotz. Ravana’s father has been arrested and his ship hijacked, all thanks to a slimy, double-crossing acquaintance of ours!”
Upon hearing the name of the hollow moon, Hanuman and Ganesa visibly stiffened and a hush fell upon the table. Ostara appeared not to notice, but Ravana caught their awkward expressions and gave Hanuman a questioning stare.
“So you must be Ravana,” he said, breaking the uncomfortable silence. “Complete with some sort of electric pet, I see. Where have I heard your name recently?”
“Yaksha mentioned someone called Ravana when we were at Kubera. She asked the young Raja if he knew anyone by that name,” interjected Ganesa. She gave an apologetic grin in response to Hanuman’s glare. “Whoops! I’ve said too much.”
“The Raja!” cried Ravana. “The Maharani’s kidnapped son?”
“The holovid call,” Zotz murmured to Ostara. “Taranis mentioned their ship.”
“That’s right!” Ostara declared, looking at Hanuman. “We listened in on a conversation between Fenris and someone called Taranis. We know you were delivering equipment to Hemakuta for them. How do you know the Raja?”
“I’m supposed to be asking the questions!” he retorted. “Why are you so interested?”
“Fenris pulled a gun on my father and forced him to fly the Platypus to Ayodhya!” Ravana said bluntly. “All I want to do is find my father and go home.”
“The Platypus?” Hanuman looked startled. “You’re O’Brien’s daughter?”
“You know my father?” Ravana asked, hardly able to believe it.
Ganesa rolled her eyes. “This galaxy is getting smaller by the day.”
“We know Quirinus and the Platypus of old,” said Hanuman. “We’ve shared a Dead Horse Gin or two in many a trading post around the five systems. I had no idea he was involved in this stupid plot Taranis and Kartikeya have cooked up for the conference.”
“Bit of a coincidence, you knowing her father,” Ostara said doubtfully.
“It’s hard not to remember someone who flies a ship called Platypus!” Hanuman said with a smile. “Besides, we’re in the same trade and there’s not many of us independent flyers around. He’s a good man, Ravana. I am so sorry you’re caught up in all of this.”
He spoke with a genuine fondness. Ganesa reached out to Ravana, pushed aside a lock of the girl’s hair and gently touched the scar on her face. Her smile wore a sadness that suggested she knew what had happened to Ravana and her family all those years ago.
“Zotz and I came to Daode to play with the Newbrum band at the peace conference,” Ravana said and sighed. “We thought Fenris asked to come along so he could talk to the Raja’s kidnappers. Nothing seems to make sense anymore.”
“I agree with that,” murmured Ganesa.
“I don’t know the full story myself,” Hanuman admitted. “What I do know is that we’re finding it increasingly difficult to tell one side from another in this crazy war.”