Londuo felt the warmth of sunlight on her face.
Oh, that feels good!
She slowly opened her eyes, but the bright light from a window made her squint.
‘James, is that you?’ Londuo asked in Qinant, noticing a figure standing over her.
‘You’re awake. Good,’ the voice of an old woman replied in an American accent.
Londuo suddenly remembered what had happened. She quickly glanced around the room, looking for a means of escape. She instantly tried to get up, but the old woman took hold of her hand to stop her.
‘No. Stay still! You need to rest!’
Londuo was in a bedroom of an old house.
‘Walter! She’s awake!’ the old woman called out in the direction of the closed bedroom door.
A few moments later an old man entered. He had a smile on his face.
‘Told you she would be all right,’ he said, walking over to check Londuo’s shoulder. ‘Remember, I’m the doctor in this house, my love.’ He smiled at Londuo. ‘The stitches will be fine as long as you rest for a few days,’ he said to her.
Londuo could only understand some of the words he was saying to her. She felt very uneasy. James had been teaching her English in the weeks before the fatal crash, but she was at a very early stage of learning. This meant that she could understand more then she could speak and, apart from simple sentences, coherent conversation was still some way off.
‘How are you feeling, Jane?’ he asked Londuo.
Londuo did not reply.
‘Is she deaf?’ he said, looking at his wife, Violet.
‘No, she’s definitely not.’
Walter coughed.
He has a cold! I can’t catch a cold.
Londuo suddenly freaked out and tried to get out of the bed. Turning away from him, she shouted, ‘No!’
Walter and Violet looked at each other. He coughed again.
‘No! Away,’ Londuo said, franticly grabbing the bed sheets and covering her mouth and nose.
Londuo knew before arriving on Earth that any cold caught could kill her, and Walter’s coughing was starting to stress her.
What do I do? How can I make them understand?
Violet then said, ‘Walter’s just had a cold. He keeps trying to give it to me, before he’s finished.’
‘No!’ Londuo said.
She was frightened, and unable to communicate with them is English, she continued in Qinant.
‘Please, you must keep away.’
‘She’s not American,’ Walter said. ‘She’s trying to tell us something.’
‘Please, I’m in danger,’ Londuo said in Qinant, from behind the sheet.
I may have to get out of here.
Londuo looked towards the door.
But where can I go. I’ve no idea where I am. I’m all alone!
‘She seems upset with your cold, Walter. I’m not surprised as you never cover your mouth. Go get a tissue, will you!’
Walter raised his hand.
‘All right. Whatever you say, darling.’
He got a tissue from a box on top of a dressing table.
‘There, satisfied?’
Londuo listened while they talked.
What are they saying?
‘Where’s she from, then?’ Walter questioned. ‘Her papers say she’s American. Her name’s Jane Packard, but to me she sounds Swedish.’
‘No; more like Dutch,’ Violet replied.
Londuo was still holding the sheets over her mouth.
What are they going to do? I don’t belong here!
I wish James was with me.
She started to cry.
‘It’s all right,’ Violet said, deliberately and slowly to Londuo. ‘I suggest you leave, Walter. She’s upset and appears to be very frightened.’ She looked at Londuo. ‘He’s going now,’ she said, her voice now slightly louder.
Walter left the room.
He’s gone. I must calm down. I have to try to communicate with her.
Violet sat down on the edge of the bed.
Londuo felt relieved. She slowly lowered the sheets from her face. In broken English Londuo spoke to Violet.
‘I… Not... Tell… Er… Say... English.’ She paused between each word.
Londuo touched her shoulder; the stitches felt strange. She wondered what they were for, then realised.
‘Thank. Thank you.’
The old woman pointed to herself. ‘My name is, Violet.’ Then she pointed towards the door and said, ‘Walter.’ Finally, turning towards Londuo, she prompting her by saying, ‘Your name is…?’
Londuo understood enough to reply, ‘Londuo. My... Name. Londuo.’
‘Unusual name. Sounds very foreign,’ Violet smiled.
Londuo mimicked a coughing noise and said, ‘Danger... No.’ She pointed to her face. ‘Londuo. Die.’
Violet realised why Londuo had reacted to Walter’s cough.
‘Walter!’ she shouted out. ‘She must have a problem with her immune system. You know; an immune disorder.’
Londuo felt relieved that she was able to make Violet understand.
‘You mean,
immunocompromise
,’ he shouted back.
*****
While Londuo was recovering in bed, Violet helped her to learn English. Londuo also began to read every book in the house and the newspapers. This enabled her to perfect her understanding of this new language, to gain knowledge of Earth’s history and culture, and have an up to date view of current politics, economics and sports.
Walter and Violet were both amazed that after only two weeks of teaching, Londuo was able to speak and read English like she had grown up with it all her life. Londuo also spent time watching Violet pursue her hobby of painting and she instantly fell in love with Violet’s works which were hung all around the house. There was nothing like this where Londuo came from: the use of brushes and liquids to create a picture based upon the painter’s interpretation of reality. All this truly excited her, and she really wanted to try this strange pastime, so with Violet’s help she learnt how to paint. They both enjoyed each other’s company, spending time together painting in the garden and surrounding countryside.
Walter and Violet never raised the question of why Londuo’s name did not match the one on her identity paper, Jane Packard, or the fact that she was obviously not from America. They assumed that she had her reasons and she would tell them in time.
Walter and Violet were both retired and although their lives were comfortable, they rented their house. Once recovered, Londuo said she would find a job to pay her way. Walter bought her a number of face masks to minimise the risk of infection while she was working around other people. Londuo knew that, with time, there was a chance her body would adapt, lowering the risk of illness and death, but she could never be certain, so she always used her face masks. At first she only took on small jobs where she could work on her own, but this meant she relied on Walter and Violet’s generosity to let her stay there.
Londuo wanted to somehow pay them back for all their kindness, so after three years she made a brave decision and decided to use her advanced knowledge of propulsion systems to get a permanent job. One afternoon when Violet and Londuo were both painting in a nearby field, she decided to break the good news.
Londuo looked with satisfaction at the canvas she was painting.
That’s almost finished. Just needs a bit more contrast on the blades of the weather vane.
And while she was applying some light-yellow paint to her canvas, she told Violet,
‘I’ve just found another job, Violet.’
‘Oh, that’s wonderful. What are you going to do this time?’ Violet asked, looking over the top of her canvas into the distance.
‘I’ve managed to get a full-time job.’
Violet stopped and looked to Londuo.
‘But that will increase the risk of infection, Londuo. Are you sure? We don’t need the money if that’s what you’re thinking.’
‘I know, but I feel I’m not helping out as much as I could. I would really like to help you buy your house. Call it a thank you for looking after me.’
‘I’m not going to even try to persuade you not to take the job, Londuo; I know you can be very determined when you want to be. Just be careful. Promise me you’ll always wear your mask.’
‘Don’t worry, I will.’
‘You kept it quiet. It would have to be a very high paid job to help us buy the house.’
Londuo could sense that Violet was unconvinced by her new job.
‘I’ve got a job as a consultant in the aerospace industry.’
‘You always seemed well educated, but I never expected you to have studied in such a difficult subject. Who’s going to be your employer?’
‘They’re called the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. I’ll be working in the state of Florida at a place called the Kennedy Space Centre.’
‘N.A.S.A,’ Violet said. ‘You’re going to work for N.A.S.A! I didn’t see that coming. Walter will be very surprised.’
‘Let’s just say, I know everything there is to know about that area of engineering. I’ve worked on a few propulsion systems in the past.’
‘But you’re only twenty-one; how did you manage to learn all this and have time to work in that field?’
Londuo suddenly realised she would have difficulty in explaining, so she lied.
‘Oh... Er… I had a good teacher. My father was a professor.’ Londuo quickly changed the subject. ‘So what do you think of my painting?’ She turned it towards Violet.
‘You’re getting better by the day, Londuo. I have to say, I think that’s your best so far. You’re starting to make me look amateurish. You should think about doing it, instead of that job.’
Londuo smiled.
‘Maybe one day. At the speed I paint, I don’t think I’d make much money! And, anyway, who’s going to buy one of my paintings around here? Most of the people of Hinsdale have one of yours already!’
‘I had to give them away,’ Violet said, with a broad smile. ‘No one would buy them!’
They laughed.
‘Londuo, I’m very pleased for you. I wish you every success in your new job.’
Londuo felt very proud. She could see Violet was very happy for her.
*****
The job soon enabled Londuo to buy the house for Walter and Violet. She also surprised Walter by buying him a new black convertible Ford Mustang: something he had been wanting for a few years now. But the job also meant Londuo had to interact with more people. She very rarely got a cold now, but those she did were very frightening, as any one of them could kill her. Each time she had to call upon all her mental and physical strength to survive.
After a few years, Londuo began to spend more time away on business, travelling across America and occasionally to Europe. Her long-term plan was to move to Orlando, nearer to the N.A.S.A. space centre. She knew the time had come to move on and one late summer evening, while they all sat in the living room, Londuo decided it was time to tell Walter and Violet.
It doesn’t seem possible I’ve been here nine years now. How time’s gone.
Londuo smiled to herself.
I need to tell them, but they’ve been like a mother and father to me. I owe them so much, but now I have to go. Look at them sitting there, relaxing in their own little world. Walter’s reading the paper, as he does every evening at this time.
She glanced over at Violet who was listening to the radio.
They’re such down to Earth, simple sort of people. No television, no technology, just each other’s company. They’re so happy together.
Londuo felt saddened as she thought of James.
They’re so lucky.
She sat for a while watching them, holding off from the moment. She was feeling very apprehensive as to how they would react.
Londuo took a deep breath.
Well now’s as good a time as any.
‘Violet, Walter! I need to tell you something. I… I need to move closer to where I work, and I will be moving out soon.’
Violet smiled at her. ‘You do whatever you need to do, Londuo. We somehow knew this day would come.’
Just that! Is that all Violet’s going to say?
Londuo was surprised and said again,
‘
I’m going to leave soon; I need to move to Orlando.’
‘We heard you, Londuo.’ Violet turned off the radio. ‘Londuo, you’re a young woman; very intelligent and independent. We know you need to make a life of your own. You need to explore places; meet people; make new friends. You don’t want to stay here.’
‘Maybe you’ll find a nice man and settle down,’ Walter remarked.
‘Walter! You don’t understand us women. She’s still in love.’ She looked at Londuo. ‘Aren’t you?’
Londuo felt sad. She nodded slowly back.
‘You’ve been so kind to me all these years. You’ve never asked me how I got here, or why I’m here. I’ve never understood why. You must know I’m not Jane.’
Violet nodded.
‘We knew that straight away, Londuo, but to the authorities you are, and that’s all that matters.’
‘But why did you look after me?’
‘Because you needed us. Calling the police did cross our minds, but only for a minute,’ Violet replied.