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That evening in his bedroom, Tommy pleaded with Dargust not to go.
“Tommy,” said Dargust, “I have to. I can’t let anything happen to you or Jim. Your grandfather was right. Your lives would be in great danger if I’m discovered. I couldn’t bear it if you were injured, or killed. No, I’ve made up my mind. I’ll leave in the morning.”
Tommy could see it was no use pleading with Dargust.
“Where will you go?”
“I don’t know ... somewhere far away.”
“I’ll miss you,” sniffed Tommy, a big tear coming to his eye.
“And I you. I never thought earth people ... young earth people, could be so kind.” Dargust could feel his left heart pounding with emotion. A strange feeling, he thought. What is it? And suddenly Tommy was hugging him and crying into his neck.
****
At the same time the two bounty hunters had returned to the ship. The others were there.
“Nothing,” growled Manterog, glaring at the Gargusert and Austerog.
“No,” said Gargusert. He glanced at Austerog. His eyes were watering and glistening mucus was flowing from his nose.
Manterog studied Austerog. “What’s wrong with you?”
“I think he’s picked up some sort of earth bug,” said Gargusert.
Just then Austerog sneezed.
“Get him to the isolation unit now!” roared Manterog, backing away.
He glared after them as Gargusert led Austerog to the back of the ship and through a narrow door. Moments later Gargusert returned.
Now the bounty hunters gathered around their leader as he outline another strategy.
****
Around two in the morning Dargust awoke. He had made up his mind. He was going. He studied Tommy who was sleeping soundly. I’ll go now. Better to leave the Earth boy before he wakes. He’ll soon forget about me.
Quietly he opened the bedroom window. Seconds later he was in the garden. With a long, last, look, up at Tommy’s window, and a soft whine, Dargust headed for the edge of town.
****
Dargust was hurrying along the edge of the footpath on the New Bridge, making for the far side of town and the open countryside, when he saw her. He stopped. What is she doing out at this time in the morning? he thought, his mind reaching out to the little girl. Gasping, as he realized what Mary was going to do, he raced towards her.
Mary, crying, was standing on the other side of the iron railings that bordered the bridge, looking down at the water far below. Her right hand was holding tightly onto the railings. She was just about to jump.
“Mary! No!” shouted Dargust racing up to her.
The distraught girl turned towards him. It was several seconds before it registered with her who Dargust was. She grabbed the railings with her other hand.
“Don’t, please,” cried Dargust.
Mary sniffed, “Leave me alone,” she cried. “I don’t want to live. Leave me alone.” She turned and looked down at the fast...flowing muddy water below. Swaying she released her left hand again.
“No, Mary, don’t,” pleaded Dargust. “This isn’t the way ...”
“What do you know!” cried Mary. “You didn’t have a brother. You don’t know what it’s like. I miss Paul. I ... I miss him so much... my Mummy and Daddy miss him too ... they don’t think I do, but I do ... they ... Leave me alone!”
“Mary,” said a quiet voice.
Mary gave a start when she recognized the voice. She stared at her brother. He was smiling.
“Paul,” she whispered. “Is ... is that really you? No!” she screamed. “It’s not! You’re trying to trick me. Leave me alone!”
“Please, Mary,” said Dargust, in the image of Paul. “Please, come home with me. I’ll stay with you. Please.” He reached out and gently touched Mary’s hand.
The little girl turned. She stared at Dargust. “You’ll stay with me?” she said. “Like ... like –Paul...”
“Like Paul, yes,” said Dargust, at the same time wondering about the bounty hunters. Now he was putting Mary’s life in danger. But, he thought, she had been determined to take her own life anyway. “Come on, Mary, let’s go home.”
****
Seconds later, Dargust, invisible to anyone else except Mary, still in the image of Paul, was leading her back across the New Bridge. As they walked home, Mary explained to him how she had given up on her life. She told Dargust how much Paul meant to her. She missed him more than anything. Every thought in her head was of her dead brother. She couldn’t bear to see how hurt her parents were. “Mummy cries every day,” she cried..
They stopped near the end of the bridge. “Will you really stay with me, like ... like... Paul... like that? Just for a little while, until I get... get...”
“I’ll stay with you, Mary,” promised Dargust. “Just for a while you understand.”
“Yes,” said Mary smiling.
“I’ll have to remain invisible from everyone, except you. And you mustn’t talk to me, or let on I’m here, or tell anyone.”
“Not even, Tommy?”
“Especially, Tommy.”
Mary frowned. Then she said, “I can do that.” She smiled again. “Oh, Paul ... Er, is it OK. to call you, Paul?”
“It’s OK.” said Dargust.
They walked on.
****
Shortly they were in Mary’s bedroom. Soon the little girl was asleep. As he sat on the bottom of her bed studying her, Dargust thought about his life on Earth so far. He sighed. If only things had been different. He wondered about the bounty hunters. By now they would have realized their power unit was gone.
****
By then, three of the bounty hunters were sneezing.
Manterog touched his brow. Bubbles of green sweat covered it. He knew all of them were infected with some earth disease. Getting away from earth was his priority now. But how? They were trapped here without the power unit. He coughed suddenly, then sneezed violently.