Jiu Na looked up sharply. “What does it all mean?” she exclaimed. “Why are you and I seeing the same things half way around the world?”
“That’s what we’re trying to find out,” said the protector. “The dog-like creature you saw is from a cruel race of creatures known as the ‘Grak.’ While I know they are up to some type of mischief with these fallen stars, so far I haven’t been able to find out what it is.”
Suddenly they heard a screech from the corner of the little shack. Turning, they saw Emberly looking with disgust at an egg plant sitting on the top of a little basket on the floor.
“You have one of those awful egg rocks! You should throw it away!” She picked up the egg plant and aimed it at the shack’s single, tiny window.
“Emberly, stop!” commanded the protector. “That’s food for Jiu Na and her mother. It just needs to be cooked and it will taste good.”
"Really?” said Emberly, looking at the egg plant in wonder. Suddenly she thrust the egg plant at Jiu Na’s mother. “Cook it,” she commanded. “I want to try some.”
“Now, Emberly,” said the protector gently, taking the egg plant, “It would take too long to cook, and besides we have plenty of food at home.”
“I want to try some!” yelled Emberly.
“I can cook some if she likes,” said Mrs. Na gently. “We also have fried rice.”
“I’m sorry,” apologized the protector. “I’m afraid I failed to introduce us properly. This is Emberly, an orphan in my care. She is also from another world. I’m afraid she doesn’t yet know very much about earth manners.”
“What don’t I know?” demanded Emberly in surprise. “I thought you taught me to be honest and open with people about what I thought?”
The protector sighed. “True,” he said patiently. “But not all the time. There are times you need to not say anything in order to be polite.”
Emberly shook her head. “Earth is a very confusing place. First you’re supposed to do things, then you’re not. Then you’re supposed to say things, then you’re not. How are you supposed to know the difference?”
Mrs. Na took Emberly’s hand and patted it. “There, there, it’s not that bad,” she said. “I’m sure you’ll learn what you need to know soon enough.”
Emberly pulled her hand away from Mrs. Na and looked at it. Then she looked up at Mrs. Na. “That felt nice,” she said in a trembling voice. “Why did you do it?”
“To comfort you,” said Mrs. Na simply.
Emberly looked confused for a moment. Then she took Mrs. Na’s hand and patted it. A tear was in her eye. “You’re a mother, aren’t you?” she said softly. “I had a mother once.”
Mrs. Na took Emberly in her arms and gave her a hug. Emberly was crying softly. The protector coughed uncomfortably and George shifted from one foot to the other again. Jiu Na stood to the side, not knowing what to say.
At last the protector said softly to Mrs. Na, “there are some things I have not been able to provide for Emberly. Thank you.”
Suddenly Jiu Na said to George, “What’s that blinking light in your pocket?”
George looked down to see his cell phone blinking. “Gosh,” he said. “I thought it wouldn’t work here.” He pushed the answer button and said “hello?”
There was no response.
"It’s probably not working normally,” said the protector. “In fact, I’m surprised it showed in incoming call. The signal probably linked through my car and the transporter somehow.
“Is that a cell phone?” said Jiu Na. “My father used to have one.”
“Yes,” said George simply. Turning to the protector he said worriedly, “Looks like I might be in trouble with my Mom.”
“Yes, we’d best be going,” said the protector. “I think we found what we needed here. And I’m especially grateful that you have the Uth rock, Jiu Na, rather than someone else. I think it’s safer in your hands. Be careful with it, and don’t tell another soul you have it.”
"Before we leave,” he continued, “let me give you something.” He pulled two small, silver rings from his pocket. He handed one to Jiu Na. “It looks like an ordinary ring for your finger, but it’s much more. It’s actually a communicator.”
“Here, George,” said the protector, handing the other ring to George. “You need one too. The way it works is pretty simple, really,” said the protector. “If you want to call someone, just slip it off your finger and put it in your ear—“
“Your ear!” exclaimed Jiu Na.
“Yes,” said the protector. “Just the outer part of your ear, like this.” The protector slipped a third ring into his ear. “Try it—it fits quite well.”
Jiu Na and George each put the ring in the outer part of their ear and were surprised that the protector was right—it did fit quite comfortably.
“So,” continued the protector, “just put it in the outer part of your ear then say the name of the person you are wanting to call. Of course it has to be someone else who has a similar ring. No matter where they are in the world, their ring will tighten three times, to let the person know someone is trying to call them. When that person puts their ring in their ear, the two can talk to each other.”
“How can they understand when you talk?” asked George. “Don’t you have to take it out and put it up to your mouth?”
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“No,” the protector said. “I know it sounds crazy, but when you talk, the sound echoes through your head. We’re all a bit hollow headed, you know. The transmitter in your ear picks up these vibrations and is able to interpret them.”
“What about the language difference?” asked Jiu Na. “If I call George in America, will he understand me? Or do I need some of your special gum?”
“No gum is needed when you use these,” said the protector. “I’ve given you each a ring that translates all incoming calls into your own language. I’ll be wearing a ring too, so you can call me anytime you need to. Just don’t call me during the 6:00 o’clock news. That’s my sacred time, you know.”
George looked at the ring curiously. It was a tremendous relief to have it, since he had often wondered what to do if he needed the protector’s help when he wasn’t there.
“What about me?” demanded Emberly. “Don’t I get a ring?”
“Yes, of course,” said the protector, handing one to Emberly. “Although you’ll usually be with me, wherever I am.”
A big smile spread across Emberly’s face. She put the ring in her ear and said “George Brown!” George immediately felt his ring tighten on his finger three times. Emberly then started repeating “George Brown!” over and over. George’s ring kept tightening so many times that it felt like his finger was being mangled.
Turning to Mrs. Na, the protector said, “Thank you again for accepting us into your home. We’ll be off now, but will be in touch with Jiu Na.”
The protector, George and Emberly left the shack, followed by Jiu Na. It was very late, and fewer bicycles, people and cars were around than before.
“Now, Jiu Na,” said the protector, as they walked toward the car. “If anything unusual happens to you or the fallen star, call us immediately. The Grak are up to something, and it’s only a matter of time before something happens. We’ll be counting on you to let us know what goes on here, and we’ll let you know what’s happening at George’s home. Also, make sure to let us know if you have any more strange experiences with your Uth stone.”
“O.k.” said Jiu Na with a worried look on her face. “Will you find out how the Uth stone works, and how to help my father?”
“I’ll do all I can,” the protector replied. “I don’t know how your fathers are involved in this whole thing, but I intend to find out.”
After a hurried good-bye, the three left Jiu Na and went quickly back to the car and Ant Number 4. As they got in, they could see Jiu Na and her mother standing in the doorway of their shack waving at them.
“It’s a great relief that Jiu Na has the rock, rather than someone else,” said the protector. “She seems like a sensible girl. I’m sure she’ll keep it safe.”
Ant Number 4 put the car in gear and they started moving along the road. Soon Jiu Na and the field with the fallen star were out of sight.
George’s mind was so caught up in what had happened at Jiu Na’s house that he hardly noticed the scenes of China passing along the side of the road. There were still quite a few bikes everywhere, as well as taxis, buses, street carts and people. Many of the streets were of cobblestone. In the window of many shops were pictures of products for sale, everything from ice cream to stylish clothes, with a mass of Chinese characters below or to the side of each picture describing the product.
However, George saw very little of any of this. Instead he was wondering how Jiu Na’s father and his father fit into everything that was happening. Why had he and Jiu Na seen them on the Grak ship when the Uth stone had tunneled their vision out into space? Why had they been captured by the Grak a year ago? And what was their connection with the fallen star and the Uth rock? None of it made any sense.
The car dipped down an incline and George saw that they had returned to the hidden gully where the transporter had brought them. However, the transporter door was nowhere in sight!
"Not to worry,” said the protector, noticing the concerned look on George’s face. “The transporter door is still there—it’s just cloaked.” He pulled what looked like a small remote control from the glove box of the car. When he clicked one of the buttons, the transporter door instantly appeared in front of them.
“It will disappear and no longer be here as soon as we’re through,” said the protector. “Now let me check one little thing…” He clicked a few more buttons on the remote control, then studied a tiny viewscreen at the top of the remote.
“Looks like it’s all clear on the other side,” he said. “There are no human life forms within 1,000 feet of the transporter door in California, so we’re o.k. to go through.”
Ant Number 4 moved the car forward. Once again as they moved through the door George felt his skin tingle and saw the rainbows of color bubbling through the car. It felt almost as if they were floating through a stained glass window that was constantly shifting color.
Suddenly George heard a scraping, scratching sound and felt the car jerk wildly. Muffled California sunlight came back in a rush, but there were tall bushes and brambly branches screeching along the windows and exterior of the car as it came through the other side of the transporter.
“Something’s wrong!” the protector yelled over the scraping noise. “There were no bushes here when we went to China! The transporter door must have shifted somehow!”