“Okay,” Thad said, glancing at Hope while he munched down on a stick of celery layered with some kind of thick dip. “I’ve got to ask.”
Hope looked at Thad wordlessly.
“Do all aliens have pointed ears where you come from?”
Scott stopped himself from lowering his head completely down to the tabletop in embarrassment. He felt his cheeks beginning to burn and wished that he had sat closer to his brother so that he could kick him under the table—or worse. Hope’s silence only increased his discomfort.
Hope stared back at Thad. Her expression betrayed nothing. Thad stared back, his eyebrows rising inquisitively.
Hope’s dark eyes remained on Thad’s for several moments before she finally answered.
“Yes.”
Scott felt a vague disappointment.
“Oh,” Thad responded mildly, chewing thoughtfully on the celery.
“Actually,” Devereux interjected, laughing softly. “Not all of them do.”
“All Aerians,” Hope interrupted.
“Yes,” Devereux agreed, glancing toward Hope with an amused smile. “All Aerians do.” She turned back to Scott. “But not all non-humans.” She gave him a warm smile. “There’s as much variety as you might imagine. I can even show you some pictures if you like.”
“That’s okay,” Thad said with exaggerated casualness. “Forget I asked.”
Again, Scott wanted to assault his brother’s shin from underneath the table. Instead, he had to settle for a sharp glare. He did want to see those pictures.
“Why?”
Scott was surprised at Hope’s question. He saw that Thad was as well.
“Umm,” Scott interjected before Thad could turn the situation even more awkward. “Because it was rude.”
“You seek information.”
Scott studied Hope with a hint of uncomfortable suspicion. “Yeah, but . . .” he sighed and trailed off.
Devereux tried not to laugh.
“It’s okay, Scott,” she told him. “There isn’t much that offends Hope.” She paused for a moment, genuinely thoughtful. “Actually, I don’t know that I’ve ever known anything to offend her—that she’s said.”
Scott studied Devereux’s expression and then looked again at Hope. He seemed to be working up the courage to continue the line of questioning that his brother had begun. He still wanted to whack Thad for starting it, but his curiosity won out.
“Proceed,” Hope said.
Scott looked puzzled. “Huh?”
“With your questions.”
Scott composed himself and then began again.
“We were just curious,” he explained. “They do it a lot in movies and TV, to make them look different than humans. It’s cheap and easy. Sometimes there’s even an attempt to explain it—from an evolutionary or environmental point of view.”
Hope just stared at Scott.
He swallowed, growing increasingly uncomfortable under her gaze.
“Is there a reason,” he finally asked, looking away from Hope, “that you—your people—have pointed ears?”
“We assume the Creators did.”
This captured both brothers’ attention.
“Creators?” Scott asked, clearly startled by Hope’s response.
“Yes.” There was a long silence before Hope added, “We were made in their image.”
Thad appeared bemused, but also seemed to have lost interest in the conversation. Scott’s expression, though, was troubled.
“You seem surprised, Scott,” Devereux said, watching him with bemusement.
Scott felt his cheeks begin to burn again. “It’s just . . .” he trailed off and then decided to finish the thought anyway. “It’s just that with all your technology and advancements . . .”
“Scott,” Devereux said with calm amusement, “Science and technology don’t preclude religion . . . or spiritual beliefs.” I’m a fine one to talk, she chided herself.
“Oh,” Scott replied thoughtfully. “Yeah,” he went on, his voice quiet, “I guess I can see that.”
“You just better hope she’s not into human sacrifice or something,” Thad chimed in, shattering the suddenly reflective mood.
This got a chortle from Elizabeth, and an uneasy smile from Devereux. Scott wanted to kick him again. Hope, to no one’s surprise, did not react at all.
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