A huddled of six stood before Niki and Trevor.​

     One of them stepped forward, an older woman with an air of authority about her.

     She spoke calmly and clearly.

     Neither Niki nor Trevor understood a word of what she said.

     Niki tried to sound every bit as calm as she replied, "As you must know, we are strangers here. For the moment, we request nothing except to be left alone." She indicated with her hands, in a way that couldn't possibly be considered combative, that she and Trevor would like to continue down the road they were on that seemed to lead beyond where the people lived to whatever came beyond. "We would like safe passage."

     And then she smiled.

     The people drew tighter around her.  

     Some smiled with their eyes, although they weren't welcoming smiles. They smiled in anticipation of being able to wail on Niki and Trevor with their clubs.

     They drew tighter around the two of them.

     "Do everything you can to let these people know that we intend to be friendly," Niki said.

     "Think that'll work?"

     "No, but I do want to give them one last chance."

CONTINUE