Even without sleep, I ended up sleeping on the porch. I returned nervously to the bedroom to get at least some blankets from the bed, since Siever did not use any. The cold now was not as intense and deadly as it was at first, but it was persistent. It was something I should get used to.
I woke up to the whispers coming from the porch entrance. A couple in black uniforms stood there, watching me. I got up quickly, nervous.
"Ah... Hi?"
The couple looked confused. I came to understand why when I remembered that I used the universal translator's point to talk to Henry, but they probably did not have a receiver for this equipment, and I did not have a simultaneous translator. I could understand what they were saying, but they would not understand anything I said.
I was getting more nervous. I still remembered with chills the last "reception" I had when meeting people of Keret who did not understand me, but to my relief Henry appeared soon after, drowsy and crumpled.
"What's going on with this meeting on my porch?" He asked distracted, rubbing his face.
They both seemed as surprised to see Henry as they were to see me. They apologized for the rudeness of having been seen, did not want to have interrupted anything, and had already stocked and prepared the house as Henry had instructed. What struck me even more was the expression of horror and disappointment on the faces of the couple.
"What is it?" Henry asked after noticing my expression when the two of them left.
"Why were they frightened of you?" I asked, feeling my own surprise.
"Hum... them? They were not afraid. Here in Keret, it is customary for workers to be invisible while at work. Especially for domestic servants. It is a position of great honor and trust, so the more invisible the employee is, the better he is considered." He glanced over his shoulder, watching the way they had come out "It's been a good few years since I've seen them in person... they must have been embarrassed."
"Isn't that too impersonal and cruel?" I asked. Treating someone as invisible on my planet was certainly considered cruel.
Henry did not seem to understand the question for a moment, but he replied shortly:
"In fact, it would be as if their work was not appreciated and I did not consider them as people. As far as I know, no one really likes to be seen working, no matter the area. It's a very intimate thing... as long as the results are achieved in a dignified way, it does not have to be visible. On this planet things are treated as being at different poles. The professional self is different from the personal self, and the two must be evaluated and perceived in different ways... People are not the work they do or how much they won, but what they do outside of this work" he explained, but then stopped in surprise looking at me directly for the first time, "Alesia, what's this you're wearing? Is it a shirt of mine?" He grinned and really seemed to be enjoying himself.
"Any problems? There was nothing else to use…" I explained, embarrassed, looking at me in that shirt.
"No problem... it kind of looked good on you," he said politely. "So, let's go out?"
I was surprised by the invitation.
"Out? Where? I mean, not that I'm complaining" I said excitedly.
"I don't know, let's go out and let Mr. and Mrs. Sruar work in peace, or they will scold me. We can go sightseeing the city, buy some new clothes, eat real food... that sort of thing."
My stomach twisted anxiously as he spoke of food. Twenty minutes later, Henry left some orders with the Sruar couple, took a quick shower, and boarded the ship, heading for the center of town. Henry had also taken two pairs of glasses for us, and advised me not to remove them in any situation.
The city was very "close". It took us just over fifteen minutes to get there. That's considering the speed of the ship, and because Henry respected the traffic laws. The first stop was at Sue Delicatéssen, and we settled on the balcony enjoying the morning sun. I had no modesty in asking for more and more different delicacies, from savory pastries to sweet pastries, until I could not take it anymore. Henry, for education, or perhaps he was as hungry as me, accompanied me on every plate.
Then we went to Kalanit Square, which has an impressive concentration of boutiques and people shopping. I did not know where to go first. Every window was more beautiful than the previous one, all showing fantastic scenes and allegories, where the mannequins moved by staging various situations, dancing and showing the clothes they sold.
Henry took me to each of the stores and let me choose what I wanted to buy, only recommending that it would be best for me to wear only warm clothes now. You just couldn't carry so many things, he even seemed to be renovating all his wardrobes, so in each of the stores he left the address for the purchases to be delivered. Contrary to what still happens in Sattie, buying clothes in Kalanit Square was something unusual at least.
Each store had at the entrance a scanner that took all the body measurements of the clients that entered. Soon there was a walking mannequin that increased or decreased its measurements to show a body exactly the same as the newcomer. It was enough for the person to show interest in one or another piece of clothing, that the mannequins activated a holographic receiver that reproduced the clothing as if it were in the client's body. "There's nothing better than seeing the clothes on your body as if you were someone from the outside", as one consultant said in the third store.
Surely I never had so much fun shopping, making the mannequins that followed me change clothes the way I wanted, and playing with the various options. I was feeling spoiled there, and I was not going to dismiss Henry's goodwill.
When we finally finished shopping, we were already hungry again. Henry led me to the Aeon Ice Cream Parlor in the center of the square, which boasted openly of offering only milk-based products from Niceian otters, where I ordered a large sundae of sour fruits. I soon discovered that ice cream was no longer something I could eat. It was extremely uncomfortable, as if I had super sensitive teeth. So the attendant recommended the ambrosia cheesecake, which did not need to be eaten cold, and I did not regret accepting the suggestion.
Henry then passed in a gallery and bought several books. I leafed through each one, each cover was more beautiful and well crafted than the other. Good books printed on paper were very expensive and luxurious items. The best were still hand made by famous craftsmen, who worked the covers with the most diverse materials and some were even manuscripts, with fancy and extravagant calligraphy. True works of art. The most expensive ones came to be worth the price of a house in the noblest districts of Keret.
Henry spent the rest of the day showing me the sights of the city he knew, and letting me have as much fun as I wanted, but always keeping a short distance as he watched me smiling. The days here were several hours longer than the days in Sattie, so just before dusk, as we walked along the Andinus Waterfront, I was calmer and exhausted. That was when someone approached Henry and greeted him cheerfully.
"But see if it's not my old colleague Henry Siever!" said the stranger full of smiles, coming even closer with open arms, "How long has it been! Where have you been in the last few years? Nobody heard from you anywhere!"
Henry seemed momentarily puzzled to have been recognized, but was cordial in talking to the stranger. I could see that several people had heard the stranger speak Henry's name, they had stopped their footsteps, and now they whispered and pointed in our direction.
"How are you, Lobrë! It's really been a long time…"
"Famous people are really something else!" said the Lobrë increasing the smile and insisting on the questions, "So, if you went back to Keret, you'll resume your public life?"
"I'm still evaluating my plans about this, now, if I may, I must continue…" Henry replied awkwardly trying to get out of the conversation.
"Ah! Wonderful! You are accompanied…" exclaimed Lobrë, suddenly noticing me, "And a young, exotic girl... In our college days, you were still dating Cássira, how is she?"
Henry looked overtly upset now.
"I'm sure she's well, I haven't seen her for as long as you…"
"Really... just before disappearing you established your network of research centers. It should be very difficult to keep in touch."
Henry smiled awkwardly, and began to look around. Several people had crowded in at this point and took pictures of them. After all Henry Siever was being seen in public for the first time in so many years! It was great news. Lobrë suddenly noticed the commotion forming, and smiled resignedly.
"Sorry, I ended up attracting attention to you! But it was good to see you. I hope everything is fine and that we can see each other again." Lobrë apologized, excitedly said good-bye and left.
Henry grabbed my wrist and dragged me back to where the car was parked. He seemed very annoyed to have been found by an inconvenient acquaintance.
"I ended up spoiling the day and ending the tour earlier than expected... I'm sorry" he commented annoyed.
"No... no problem... I'm already tired!" I replied in surprise to the apology, It was an excellent day, thank you for everything. You had so much work to save my life and still gave me all those gifts. I am very grateful.
But he did not say anything else, even after we got home. The groceries had all been delivered and there was a tasty meal waiting at the dinner table. I ended up feeling uncomfortable with Henry's retracted posture, and I remembered the nightmare he had last night, and the painful expression he had the first time I saw him sleeping. Who was Nadia? I was wondering. But other names instilled curiosity in me at that time as well. Who was this Cásira that Lobrë mentioned? I thought I had made a good friend in Henry, but I realised I knew nothing about him.