Author Description

Silhouetted against the faint light from the window is a small, incredibly dirty girl. Her big brown eyes are open wide, filling with tears. She wears a tattered white dress. Her feet are bare and bloody. She holds a squirming baby. One of her small filthy fingers is in the baby's mouth. "Do you have any milk?" she asks. Her voice is so soft that Marisol has to lean forward to hear. "I have milk at home, nearby," she says. "Where are your parents?" "The monsters took them." Monsters? "What did they look like?" "Great big bugs," she says. Her expression dares Marisol to argue with her. "Mm. I see. They must have been Mengsee. They are aliens, not monsters." "Monsters! They took Mama and Papa away and some cats!" she blinks. "Maybe they will come back for more cats," the girl says, "and bring Mama back." Marisol rubs her forehead. What to do first? Mengsee are not allowed on Azureign, the baby needs milk, the girl needs care, and the cats...why the devil are aliens stealing cats?