00038

Albert Zoeniga swept the floor as Kelli O'Mally shut down her trailer stand for the night. The two moons showed several couples lingering on the beach, refusing to leave the Sea of Fun, but Kelli's watch showed it was past closing time, and now she planned to relax a bit before the church house meeting later that night.

Jane Ashton stood nearby, waiting for Albert to finish up. This young couple had only recently come to the World of Hope, and already they became a part of it. Like Mrs. O’Mally, they would be attending the meeting.

The young man smiled at the young woman as he continued sweeping. "I can't believe you decided to stay, rather than go back to Earth for a few weeks to finish up business there. I hope your parents didn't get too excited about your decision."

Jane Ashton said, "Oh, no, not my folks." She and Albert both laughed at that. "But, like you, I felt that if I went to Earth, I might not ever see you again in this life. I am not sure what it meant, but I am not taking any chances.”

Kelli O’Mally made coffee for the four of them, including Nina McCleer, who sat with Kelli O’Mally at the counter. Nina tried to not look as depressed as she felt. "Thanks for inviting me to your house church tonight. I followed your suggestion and came here for the directions to the place. With George gone, I don't know what to do, or where to turn."

"You can always turn to God when you need His help, Mrs. McCleer," Kelli assured her new friend.

"I hate spending my time at the Governor's House, just moping. Lot of good that does me. Or George, if he is still alive. I hope I am not putting you out by coming here at closing time, Mrs. O'Mally."

"Not at all. And I can certainly understand you not enjoying Gov. Bright's company," said Kelli.

From where he worked, Albert Zoeniga said, "I second that thought, Mrs. McCleer."

"Me, too," said Jane. "We saw a few things and heard a few things that tell us the Governor is not as great as our poor confused friend Osmo Martin has been led to believe."

"I- I think my George is alive, but yet, since I can't be sure, it drives me crazy! If he were really gone, I would know it, wouldn't I? In my heart? Oh, I hate not knowing!"

"I understand, Mrs. McCleer," Kelli said soothingly.

"I don't trust Xavier. Not anymore. I don't want to believe he did this to me, that he took George from me- They were roomies at college! But the rumours say how it's becoming a habit for the Governor, to take away people's loved ones and stick them in the mines. How terrible- it frightens me, to think Xavier may have fallen so far. I mean, even in college, he had a terrible ego problem. But to do something like this- He seems the same Xavier that I always knew, but I know people change over time, and not always for the better. Before George went with Xavier to inspect the mines, I tried to convince my George not to go, because I worried that Xavier might try something like this... I hated to think that Xavier could be capable of it, but I forced myself to see him objectively, and I worried for my husband then!"

"You knew Gov. Bright in college, then, Mrs. McCleer?" Kelli asked.

"Way back in our college days, we went together for a time. Xavier was always so loving to me then. Heh, he even stopped being such a flirt with the other girls while we saw each other. He used to send me roses all the time. Still, he had an ego like no other. But he was always so loving with me. I don't know whether he really did love me, but I guess at this point it no longer even matters- not if he made George a prisoner at the mines!"

"I should say not," agreed Kelli.

"But why would he do that to George- and to me, especially, if he ever did love me? How could he do such a thing? You don't think it's because I married George, instead of him, do you- like he would still be angry, after all these years-"

Albert Zoeniga found the story so interesting, he paused, forgetting to sweep, until Kelli scolded, "Hey, I don't hear the broom-" Albert quickly resumed his work.

Kelli said, "I have no idea why he would kidnap Mr. McCleer, or the dozens of others as well which have gone missing."

Nina McCleer took some more coffee. "Maybe Xavier figured George would submit a bad report about him, and the way he ran your world. The Earth Leaders sent my husband here so that he could rate the job Xavier was doing, and to recommend whether to keep Xavier here as Governor, or to replace him. George had worried how Xavier would react, if George had to give a bad rating of his old room-mate. I guess now we know. Huh... Something has to be done about Xavier's bad deeds!"

"Hmm. What did the people on Earth who sent Mr. McCleer on this mission have to say about the matter, if you don't mind my asking."

"When I met you at the rocketport, I was there waiting for a representative from Earth, who was supposed to come and investigate the matter, to get to the bottom of this."

"But nobody showed up," remarked Kelli.

"Yep. When Al here mentioned that his pal Osmo Martin had been offered a position working for Xavier, I put two and two together. I think Xavier convinced Osmo what a great guy Xavier is, and so, in turn, Osmo convinced his father, Gunther Martin, who is very influential with the Committee that oversees how this place is run. They must have concluded that there was no real reason to investigate this so-called accident, and they just took Xavier at his word about it."

Jane Ashton nodded, also listening. "Makes sense, Mrs. McCleer. Gov. Bright's niece, Sheila, once even admitted to us that her uncle invited Osmo here, so that it would positively influence Osmo’s father, and then the Leaders on Earth. Sheila said Gov. Bright is always trying to get more supplies, adequate supplies from Earth, for the World of Hope. I must admit, Gov. Bright seems right about that, that not enough help is sent here, so the people can make a decent living.”

“Hmph!" huffed Nina McCleer. "Xavier must've saw trouble coming because of the very convenient 'accident', so he headed it off by giving Osmo a job. Xavier is like that..." Nina shook her head, thinking about the whole affair, frustrated. "I am really looking forward to going to that house church service tonight and hopefully the singing and worship will help me to be able to carry this burden, until I get some answers..."

Kelli had something to say. She hesitated, then spoke. "Mrs. McCleer, you might want to be careful. Gov. Bright does not like our little state-unapproved church. With you living right there at his mansion, you could be putting yourself in a bad spot."

"Oh, I will be sure to be discrete," Nina replied. "Before, I drew strength from George and from God. Now, I don't have George. I still have God, though. And maybe tonight I can also draw strength from the fellowship of all of you tonight."

"I hope so, Mrs. McCleer," said Kelli. "The service starts in a quarter of an hour. I hope you will not be missed at the Governor's House.”

“Well, much of the time I am in the guest suite, anyway. But I already gave the robot butler an excuse for not being there. I have a question, though- How is it that you, a member of the house church, can run this beach stand so out in the open, and not be hassled by Xavier or his Security Leader Clyden?”

Kelli O’Mally shrugged. "I suppose the Security Agents have not yet connected me with the church. Must be the grace of God."

Nina McCleer nodded. "I see. Good, good."

Albert Zoeniga put aside the broom and announced, "Okay, done.”

“Let's split up, then, and all head for the church services by different routes. I got directions for you, Mrs. McCleer," said Kelli. "See you all again in a little while."

The others left first, one by one, and Kelli O’Mally, after turning out the lights, was the last to go.

(c) 2012 drk