VISITORS - II

                                                                               Chapter 3

EARTH

Germaine thought the man sounded funny. He spoke in English quite alright, but his words sounded stiff and stilted. She opened her mouth but could not seem to form any words. Not only did the man sound funny, the three of them looked strange as well. They were dressed in sleeveless tunics with skirts that were made from the thick fur of an animal.

A bear. I'm sure of it. The thought sailed into Germaine's mind as she continued assessing them.

Two of the men had long straight dark hair that fell like a silk curtain, to their waists, but that was not what made Germaine's mouth drop open. They were tall and muscular and had more charisma than any man she had ever set her eyes on before, all except one who was a dwarf. His hair was as white as cotton wool but not as long as the other two.

She cleared her throat as addressed them. "We don't want any trouble either, but this is my bakery and you happen to be in it. I don't know how possible that was, but I beg you to be on your way, we won't tell the authorities, I promise you."

When she had finished, she felt proud of herself. Her voice only shook a bit at the end. The men did not look at each other, but somehow she knew they were communicating with themselves, for one of them, the one in the middle, nodded, and said. "Very well, then, we bid you good bye."

Germaine expected them to disappear, the same way as they had appeared, but nothing happened. Cordelia made a funny mewling sound at the back of her throat, moved closer to Germaine and whispered. "Why are they still here?"

Germaine shook her head and whispered back. "I don't know." Out aloud, she said to them. "Why are you all still here? Go on, scoot, get!" She made a driving motion with her hands.

"We would, if you would stop interrupting us." The man who had first spoken scowled. He looked at the man beside him and said something in a language she could not understand.

Then something strange happened. Even though she swore the other man's mouth did not move, she heard his reply clearly, as if he had spoken. It is not yet time for us to leave. Germaine has a role to play in our mission.

Her mouth fell open. "What do you mean I have a role to play in your mission, and how did you even know my name? Who are you people and how did you even get into my shop?"

She snapped her mouth shut when they all turned their eyes on her. The second man whose words she had heard without him opening his mouth, stepped forward, and she backed away involuntarily, because his eyes - they were bright orange. It was strange but, it looked like fire oozed out from them. Flames raged unhindered in them.

"How is this possible?" Germaine asked, forgetting her myriad of questions earlier and how three strange men had appeared in her bakery, became mesmerized with the man's eyes as she stared at them.

"My lady!" The man bowed low before her. "My name is Storm, and jerking his thumb to the man beside him, he continued. “He is called Keratin." The man in question bowed stiffly. "And this here is Kenki." He pointed to the dwarf who was already bowing low to her as well.

Germaine blinked, and also introduced Cordelia and her two staff.

"My lady, please give us leave to sit so we can speak to you about our mission and how you will play a role in it."

There were only two seats to a table, so Maria, still in a daze, brought three extra seats from the other tables while Trisha busied herself making coffee for everyone. Their alcohol-induced state had long vanished, ever since they first set eyes on the strange-looking men. Some minutes later, they all sat, cradling a cup of steaming coffee in between their hands.

The one called Keratin pitched forward and began to speak. "We come from another world."

At this, Germaine's eyes widened, but Cordelia threw her head back and laughed. Maria just sniggered, while Trisha kept quiet.

"What is this brew you gave us?" Storm asked, taking a sip. "It is delicious."

"Thank you!" Maria said, deferring her head to him. "It is called instant coffee." Her eyes twinkled as she said it. "You have never drank coffee before?"

Storm shook his head and the others looked just as intrigued, as they took tentative sips form their teacups. "Back in our world, we have a brew called Broga. It is nice but not as tasty as this coffee."

The emergency lights dimmed and Germaine groaned. "I don't know why the electricity is acting up now."

Cordelia got up and went to the window where she drew back the blinds. She came back frowning. "It seems this is the only building that doesn't have electricity."

"Let me help with that." Storm said. He raised his hands towards the ceiling and Germaine gasped as she noticed his eyes glowing brightly.

The overhead light came back on and the hum of the freezer and the coffee machines could be heard. The girls sighed simultaneously, but Germaine turned to the men, shock and apprehension, lining her features. "How were you able to do that, and who exactly are you - all of you? What is this mission you talk about and what on earth does it have to do with me." She shrugged. "And how did you appear in my bakery?"

It was the turn of Storm to lean forward. With eyes that brightened and flames that danced within, he began speaking.