Choron recognized Nara in a thousand little ways before he saw her. He became aware of the sound of her breathing close to his ear. He knew the sensation of her delicate hands, which now ran through his hair. Hers was the only intimate touch he knew, or allowed. Her words were the only aspect of her greeting that came unexpected to him: “I know what you have seen.”
He turned to look at her. She wore an elegant blue dress, modest in cost, tasteful on her form. Nara had never needed to expose her flesh to make it worth seeing. “What do you mean?”
Her eyes surveyed his face. “You landed on the Planet. Miro died. When you launched, you had a vision. I saw it all through your eyes.”
Choron felt relief for the first time since Miro had coerced him into landing on the Great Rock: he wasn't crazy, as the rest of the self-proclaimed prophets were. “We don't have enough time to say all that we'd like to. The only part you need to know is that I will follow what He commanded me to do. I hope you chose to join me some day.”
“I would like to help,” she said. “Is there any way?”
“Just tell the truth when the time comes.” Choron noticed they had spoken the entire time as though they feared others would hear them. Forcing himself to speak up, he grinned. “I brought something for you.”
“What is it this time? A ruby? A sapphire?”
“Much more valuable,” he whispered as he drew her to himself. While he held her glance with his own, he placed a cool glass vial in her hands. “It's part of the Great Rock.”
She marveled at the gift for a minute, turning the vial. “It's soil, isn't it?” She seemed to ask the question of herself. “God gave us a gift.”
The noise of the approaching parade filtered through the door through which Nara had come. “That must be my father,” Choron added.
“He has launched an incredible campaign on us.”
“Oh?” It hardly surprised Choron, after the captains had revealed the extent of the reward his father had given them.
“You're a prefabricated hero. I guess your proximity to the working class makes you a figure they can understand.”
“And my father's power makes me one they can't resist.”
Nara put her hand to his cheek. “I never thought I'd hear you talk like that. The Planet did more than hurt your body.”
“Yes, but please don't worry about it.” He took her hand from his cheek and held it between both of his.
Choron saw his father and a small entourage approaching the entrance. He wanted to spend more time with the beautiful young woman in front of him; You will have time when it's over, he told himself. There was one question he had for Nara before he reunited with his father. “It was you who told them I was in danger, wasn't it?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you, Nara. I knew something was up when my rescuers told me I had sent a distress call.”
“Where are they?”
“I convinced them to stay in orbit.”
“How did you manage that?”
He winked. “I promised them the payoff of a lifetime.”