“My kind can talk with our mouths, but we also talk with our minds into the ear inside your head.”
Chapter 2 Excerpt: Oliver Oddsocks Danger On Mars!
The door slid open with a swishing noise. He got up out of the seat and stood in the doorway. Right in front of the door sat a dog, a big dog with a smile on its face.
“Hello Oliver, my name is Zuuuumi. I’m here to greet you and take you to the village.”
Oliver was not surprised by the dog talking. On his adventures, animals talk. Some talk a great deal.
“Hello Zuuuumi.”
“I’m sorry. You’re not saying my name correctly. Names are very important here. We pronounce it Zuuuumi. With a long UUUU. My name means The Friendliest One.”
“Thank you. I pronounce my name Oooliver. With a not quite so long OOO. My name means…” Oliver had no idea what his name meant. “…I think it means Olive Tree.” He laughed, thinking what would have made Mom call him an olive tree. Gathering himself, he realized he liked his name no matter what it meant.
Zuuuumi’s tail was wagging vigorously. “Being named for a tree is a very high honor. Well, the formalities went very well. Don’t you think? I wasn’t sure how it would go, having never spoken to an alien before. But you seem a very nice alien.”
Oliver stepped out of the saucer and onto the ground. “Yes, they did.” He heard a pop, pop, pop noise behind him. He turned around, and the saucer had shrunk down to the toy it once was.
“Your transportation is certainly interesting.” Zuuuumi offered. I thought I had seen all the gadgets folks have made, but I have never seen that. Did you make it?”
“No. I think my grandma made it with magic.” Oliver answered.
“Wow! With magic? I really hope you have some magic for us. We really need it.”
Oliver nodded and put his pack down. He picked up the toy saucer, took a moment to look at it, and put it back in his pack.
“That was really interesting. I have never seen magic at work. Good then, let’s be on our way. It’s just a short walk to the village.” Zuuuumi turned and started up a red dirt path. The ground shook. Oliver staggered, and the ground settled.
“That has happened a lot lately.” Zuuuumi said. “It’s a concern.”