Tukui rubbed more of the dirt and the fresh flood of tears from Zac’s cheek. “Of course. You are Zachary Novak, brother of Clan Tukui. Family, like clanship, is forever.”
Sobs shook the child anew. He smashed his face against Osopa’s chest. The Nobek held him while grief raged.
Tukui gathered Tina in his arms, and when Yorso crowded close, he included him in the embrace. The Dramok gripped them tight. Tina was surprised to feel him shaking.
“I can’t believe how close I came to losing my Matara, my Nobek, and my little brother. If anything had happened—if I had lost the chance to tell you how much I love you, Tina—I was putting it off, waiting for the perfect moment, and I almost didn’t get to tell you at all.”
Tina clung to him. “You’re telling me now, when I need to hear it most. I love you, Tukui. I love my entire clan with all my heart.”
Yorso whispered in her ear, making it unanimous. “I love you too, my Matara. Please, don’t ever doubt it.”
They stood that way until a member of the medical unit prodded them to leave. By then, Zac had begun to get himself under control. He stood up straight, wiped his nose with his sleeve, and told Osopa. “Did you see me fight? I protected my sister.”
“As befits a good, courageous man. I’m proud of you.” The Nobek showed Zac the thin knife, wiped clean of blood. “This belongs to you as soon as I’ve trained you how to use it properly against its intended enemy, the Tragoom. You’ve earned it, warrior.”
“I did pretty good with it against the other guy.” Pride shown through his grief.
They chuckled in agreement. Osopa’s grin was the broadest Tina had seen from the Nobek. “You did, my little brother. You’re a born protector.”
“Can we go home now?” Zac clung to him.
The pair led the rest to the shuttles. Tina’s heart swelled to watch Osopa and Zac walk hand in hand.
Chapter Twenty-three
“Hey everybody, what dinosaur makes the best police officer?” the Tyrannosaurus asked in his gruff but piping voice.
Tina, the Stegosaurus, and the Apatosaurus chorused, “I don’t know, Mr. Rex. What dinosaur does make the best police officer?”
“A Tricera-cops. Ha!”
Laughter and applause washed over Tina. The puppeteers Zac and the Garcias stood up behind the platform of the puppet stage to take their bows with her. They received a standing ovation from those crowding the cafeteria tables.
Tina was delighted the talent show had been such a success. Even the three Kalquorian acts had received cheers from the less-than-trusting Earthers. Tina beamed at Admiral Jes, who accorded her a deep bow of respect.
Theirs was the last act. Yorso bounded to her with Callie in the curl of his arm. He planted a kiss on her cheek. “You see? You’re a talented performer.”
“I hardly think squeaking ‘Don’t eat me, Mr. Rex’ and ‘Can I fetch you herbivores a nice salad?’ makes me vid-drama material. Playing the human foil to dinosaurs is barely a step up from my first role as a tree.”
“You remembered your lines and faced your audience with absolute confidence. I’m looking at star material.”
She blew a raspberry at him. “Pull my leg any harder, and I’ll limp for the rest of my life.”
“We’ll work on acting exercises. By the time we reach Kalquor, you’ll be sailing through auditions like a pro.”
Tina waved off his effusive praise, but she looked forward to the lessons he was putting together for her. Whether or not she realized her dreams of acting, it was fun to learn the ropes.
Osopa and Tukui, having navigated through their fellow Kalquorians who insisted on stopping them for chitchat, approached the stage. Zac set his puppet down to spring on the Nobek. Osopa swung the boy up on his shoulders.
“Can I go to the campout now? Did you remember my gear bag? Will you take my puppets to the apartment for me? Are there any cookies left?” Zac was a ball of energy as he watched the other boisterous children leave, most of them in a large group. Tina was certain it would be late before any of them settled down.
Yorso handed Osopa a small backpack. “You’re set. We’ll take you in a minute, and yes, we’ll make sure your puppets get home safe.”
Zac bounced in excitement. The department that took care of orphans was having a campout for all the children of the site. It was to be a bittersweet farewell before the parentless departed for Europa’s new orphanage.
“They’re making s’mores by the fire. Maybe you should save this for later.” Mrs. Garcia gave him one of the few cookies left from the depleted refreshment stand. “Or maybe not,” she amended as Zac gobbled it down.
“Callie only had two during the whole show. You can enjoy a quiet night,” Yorso laughed as she accepted the little girl’s overnight bag from Tukui. Mr. G rocked the yawning toddler.
“You’re sure you don’t mind keeping her? You two worked all day to help make this happen.” Tina looked forward to a night alone with her clan, but she felt guilty for sending Zac and Callie off nonetheless.
“You’ve worked for weeks on it. What’s a single day and a sleepover?” Mr. G said. “Besides, it gets me out of being polite and helping with the cleanup.”
“You clean up?” Mrs. G snorted. “Since when? Anything happens to you, old man, I’m finding myself a nice Imdiko.”
They left on a wave of the clan’s laughter, Callie sleepily waving goodbye.
“Can we go now? Please?” Zac was frantic.
“Just a second, sweetie. Do you think the cafeteria manager will mind if I put off cleaning up until tomorrow?” Tina paused to check the state of the dining room.
“He can see me if it’s a problem.” Osopa mock-growled. Zac added his own fierce snarl.
Fortunately, everyone had been good about cleaning up after themselves. The kitchen crew was already finishing with wiping down, putting the tables in their proper places, and taking the recycling away. Just the decorations—streamers, flowers on the tables, and festive banners—had to come down, which Tina had planned to do the next day.
With Tukui carrying the puppet stage and Yorso commandeering the puppets themselves, Tina gave her approval. “A campfire and fun await this young man. Let’s get him to the party.”
“Yay!” Zac hugged Osopa’s head in excitement.
Tukui grinned up at him. “I liked the talent show. A lot of gifted people made it amazing.”
“Especially me?”
“Of course. You and your puppets were the stars.” He opened the door to the outside and ushered his clan, his happy family, out into the night.
* * * *
“It feels weird to not put the kids to bed.” Tina was keenly aware of the absence of Zac and Callie. She wasn’t the only one; the men were standing in the living room, at a loss. She smiled to note they missed the presence of her brother and sister. “They love you, you know.”
“Do you think so?” Tukui appeared touched, as did Yorso. Osopa put on his stoic face, which told Tina he was hiding his feelings. They must have been strong.
“I’m certain they do. Maybe as much as I do.”