The Eyes Have It, P.J.Lawton [i can read book club .txt] 📗

The Eyes Have It

“So, all of it was just a lie?” he asked, looking closely at the alien’s one enormous eye while waiting for an answer. It was widely known that when the aliens lied, the color of their eye changed from green to blue.

“I’m afraid that’s true,” the alien said. The eye stayed a bright green.

“So, what happens now?”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“We can’t just sit here forever. Something has got to give.”

They literally stumbled on each other the day before. A massive blowing sand storm caused visibility to be near zero. Attempting to find shelter, they entered opposite ends of the narrow passage at just the same instant.

Now, almost ten hours later they sat, weapons trained on each other, neither wishing to make the first move, or trusting the other not too. For the past couple of hours they’d been discussing their situation.

His government’s reports said the aliens had been completely and utterly defeated and exterminated. The big fellow sitting across from him with his shiny green eye completely shattered that tale. The alien told him that they’d simply withdrawn to regain their strength. They would be back and soon, more powerful than ever.

“So, you were sent here to scout for a possible forward base. So was I.” The little asteroid on which they were sitting was way forward, at the edge of what had been the neutral zone. “I wondered why we would need a forward listening base when the war was over. But I’m a soldier and I go where I’m told.”

The alien sat in a relaxed position, his weapon down but at the ready. “Yes, I too simply follow orders. I have been away from home for over two years. I miss my family greatly.”

“Family huh, funny, I never thought of aliens having families.”

“Oh yes, you see we are not all that different than you. Oh, and to us, you are the aliens.”

He was thoughtful for a moment then said, “I see.
Yeah, I guess we’re not at that different after all.” Even though he knew he shouldn’t, he found that he was beginning to form a bond with this big alien. He knew they couldn’t be trusted, but somehow this guy didn’t seem so bad.

Wanting to keep a friendly dialog going he said. “My supply situation is a little troubling. When the scout ship dropped me off they dumped my supply pack down a steep ravine. So far I haven’t been able to locate it and the stupid sand storm didn’t help matters.”

The somewhat friendlier alien’s green eye shone brightly as he replied. “I also have supply problems. As I attempted to land, the sand storm struck with such fury that my ship crashed. I was barely able to escape with my life.”

“So, it looks as though we are in the same situation huh? Maybe we should call a truce and work together. If you help me, we should be able to find my supplies. I have enough food for both of us, at least for a few days. My scout ship will hopefully be back by then.”

“I believe that it could be to our mutual advantage to work together.” The scout didn’t notice the alien’s eye was not quite as green as before.

For the next few minutes they discussed how they might best work together for their mutual benefit.

Through his one outsized eye, the alien noticed how healthy the human looked. Obviously the human didn’t know his system could not tolerate the pasty substance the humans called food.

On the other hand, others of his race said that the humans were rather tasty, a little stringy but tasty never the less. One the size of this human should last quite some time, at least until his relief force arrived. The human was again talking.

“Great, the storm has passed. If you are in agreement, let’s put our weapons down now and work together.”

“Yes,” said the alien.

“On the count of three we lower our weapons. “One, Two, Three.” At three he lowered his weapon and glanced expectantly toward the alien. The last thing he saw was that the alien’s eye had turned a bright shiny blue.

Publication Date: 07-16-2011

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