3

Every day I tortured the alien with my curious questions. Airu did not always answer, citing being busy.

"What is your job and is it really so easy for you to travel to my planet? Doesn't anyone limit it?"

"My job is communication with the initial civilizations of the humanoid type, related to us spiritually and physically. We help those who have ancient relationships with us."

"Are there others?"

"Of course... and those who are hostile to us... It is forbidden to physically move towards you, it's even dangerous… but I'll try to take a risk... I'll find a loophole."

"Then don't take risks, since it is illegal with consequences for you..."

"Have you already changed your mind that you want to see me?" Airu chuckled ironically. "It's fun for me to bypass the system... it's fun..."

"How can they punish you for violations?"

"They will arrest my personal transport... This ship is called Ehron. She is capable of very fast travel between star systems through a portal. I'll try not to let anyone notice."

"Where are you now anyway?"

"Still at home... waiting for the right moment to pass unnoticed..."

It's so strange that he was ready for such criminal actions for the sake of our meeting... Until the last moment I didn't believe that we would meet in reality and all the time I secretly laughed at my naivety with the inability to share with someone. Well, at least it's more fun than nothing at all in our quiet provincial town.

"Do you intend to communicate live with my father?"

"No, our meeting with you must remain secret. Don't tell anyone... continue to remain silent about our acquaintance, otherwise I will be suspended from work. We are not allowed to interact live with representatives of your civilization, only through telepathy, and not with everyone."

"Why is everything so boring? People deserve normal communication with brothers in mind, don't they?"

"Are you talking about brothers in mind? Not everyone living among you is human, although they have a humanoid appearance."

"Who then?"

"Yes, someone. Predators... all sorts of different ones. I don't want to scare you, but you have no idea how many there are on the earth. They are dangerous and know how to disguise; they are invisible to you because they know how to hide their true appearance. All of them have an unhealthy interest in your biosphere in a consumer sense. It's hard to explain to someone who doesn't see the difference..."

"Will you show me your true appearance? You're honest, right?"

"Sure! But are you ready to see me? Still, I am different from earth's men..."

"And with what?"

"The face and body are different..."

"You called yourself a human!"

"That's right, I'm a human, two arms, two legs, a body, a head... but they are different."

"Sheer intrigue!" Discontent burst out of me. "You're just making fun of me! What's on your head? I hope you're not bald?"

He laughed.

"No! I have hair… You see, appearance matters to you! Therefore, I would not rush to meet in person, but you invited me and I will fly."

… Wow! He was embarrassed by me and was stalling for time. In fact, he would have arrived long ago with such an advanced technology.

"I'm not shy!" Airu answered. "Although they don't think I'm handsome! More like ordinary..."

"Well then, what are the problems? I promise not to make any complaints about your appearance..."

"Tomorrow... we'll meet in the park near your house, at seven in the evening, your time zone..."

"How do I recognize you?"

"I'll be near and be in touch..."

The waiting was very exciting and in the evening after dinner I managed to leave the house unnoticed, so as not to create legends about why I urgently needed to go out. Mom is too worried about my safety so that I don't hang out anywhere unattended, well... not without reason, because according to hidden statistics that are known to my father, many people disappear without a trace in our country... especially since I am a minor female teenager.

It was getting dark at that time of year when the leaves fall. In the spacious, deserted park, where timid deers sometimes drop by and insolent squirrels frolic, only a few passers-by with their pets were walking and a few athletics fans were carried away jogging. Nothing scary or strange... I'm just walking on a damp lawn in sneakers among half-naked maples and inhaling the aroma of rotten fallen burgundy leaves.