Space Knights: The Arrival

of food he’d had back on Earth. He was amazed how similar the food was.
Suddenly Maxine had a thought as she looked at him and noticed what Trance was wearing. It just occurred to her that this was probably the only clothing that he had. She went to the doorway to the hall and called, “Martin, please come here a moment.” She turned to Trance, “I think that before you have breakfast that you might want to use the restroom and put something else on.”
Just then a tall, broad-shouldered boy with dark brown hair and brown eyes came in. He appeared to be about sixteen and had obviously been out to help his father on days that he wasn’t in school. “I’m here, what do you need mom?” he said, right before he saw Trance and equally eyed him not sure what was going on.
“Martin, I want you to meet Trance. Trance, this is my son Martin. Martin, Trance is going to be staying with us for a while,” Maxine said, explaining. “I want you to show him where the bathroom is and find him some of your clothes to wear. We’ll go and get him some of his own later today, but right now he needs something else to wear. By the way, are your sisters awake yet?”
“I think they’re still in bed yet,” Martin said, and then he extended his hand to Trance and they shook hands. He then turned to his mother and told her that he would do as she had asked. He took Trance down the hall and showed him where the bathroom was, patiently waited for him to relieve himself and then took him to his room at the end of the hall. Inside one of the rooms that they passed girls’ voices could be heard. Martin stopped and knocked on the door and voiced up, “Hey, mom wants to see you two in a minute.”
The two boys went into Martin’s bedroom and shut the door and went to the closet and started searching for something for Trance to wear. As he searched for clothes, Martin started asking Trance questions about who he was and where he was from. The two boys talked as Trance took off the suit and put on a light knit-shirt that reminded Trance of a t-shirt, a pair of very well-worn dark brown leather pants and a pair of well-worn shoes, which Trance assumed were athletic shoes. Soon the two were becoming friends. They talked on and on, sharing stories long enough that there was a knock on the door and Martin’s mother called.
“Are you two ready yet? Breakfast is ready and we’re waiting for you,” she said, just like any mother Trance thought.
They left the bedroom and continued their conversation back down the hall toward the dining room. Martin had been telling Trance about the different worlds in the galaxy and about the wicked Sphinx King that seemed to be trying to take over the entire area. The Sphinx seemed to have many allies, one of which was the Boulthorians.
“The Boulthorians,” Martin explained, “are ruthless people with a rather evil king and a very fearsome prince. The news has said that the prince is very devoted to his father and is quite at ease that his father is king. The king has absolute power. Some people even say that they had heard that the prince doesn’t even want to be king. What is known for sure is that the Boulthorians are the most feared and lethal allies of the Sphinx.”
Trance soon learned that Althora also had allies. The most powerful were the Griffins. They were the balance against the Sphinx. The Griffins and Sphinx had been at odds for thousands of years. The Griffins were fierce, yet very just and compassionate. They also knew history and prophecy and were experts on politics and religion.
On entering the dining room Trance was introduced to Martin’s sisters. Margaretta was a petite girl of twelve with light brown hair. Then there was a tall dark-haired girl, Martina, Martin’s twin sister. The girls giggled and one at a time came up and met Trance. It was apparent that their mother had told them about him. Trance took notice that Chorus must have eaten and headed out.
They all sat down at the table and Martin was asked to give thanks. They bowed their heads and Trance was very pleasantly surprised that they worshipped God too. They then started in with their breakfast and Trance asked about their religion and how they worshipped. He found out that there were many churches that were rather similar to those that he remembered from Earth. He even learned that they had Bibles and he was invited to read Martin’s Bible whenever he wished to learn about God’s plan for their world. They talked on for a while, everyone enjoying the conversation. The Markems were just as fascinated with Trance’s stories of growing up on Earth, as he was to hear of Althora. Trance greatly enjoyed sharing as many of the Bible stories as he could remember. He was impressed with himself that he remembered them so readily and completely.
The day progressed. Trance helped around the house and just seemed to fit in with everyone. Later in the day some of Martin’s friends came over and Trance found himself greeted by the other boys and soon they were involved in a game outside that was like basketball. Trance enjoyed himself so much he didn’t feel the pain deep inside from missing his real family and wondering if they had survived as well and where they were.
Also that day some of the girls’ friends had stopped by. Some of their brothers had been among Martin’s friends and had told them about Trance, and they had come to see him for themselves. It was one of the best days Trance had ever had. It was the first weekend day and every kid in the area seemed to be out playing.
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