Page 69 of Black Mamba

I flick my eyes from Lukys to Levy, then back to Lukys. “I don’t think we should risk it.” I don’t want him to get hurt. It’s true, not all the broadcasts about the nagas have been good. Some have warned they can be vicious, deadly, unreasonable.

Either way, I don’t want Lukys hurt. Or worse, captured and held against his will. It’s one thing going to a camp, it’s another going to a highly militarized one. That changes things.

“I do not plan on leaving your side, Elena. If they do not want me here, I will leave and you will join me.”

My mouth opens and closes. “I know I promised I wouldn’t leave your side either but…” Jenna… “I need to search for my sister. If she’s here… I’ll know…” She’s reasonably famous. “Quickly. You’ll have to let me go, at least for a little while.”

His gaze narrows. “No.”

“Look,” Greg interjects, “we won’t know unless we find out. There are drones following us, but they haven’t attacked you. Also, some of the other camps broadcasting have mentioned safety from naga-kind, some have not. If they don’t want him near, they’ll let us know and he can easily just go back home.” He glances at me before facing Lukys.

Lukys stares at me. I don’t want to risk his life, but I can’t abandon my sister. She could be here. “It would be quick,” I whisper.

What if Jenna is here, and we could be together again this very evening? What if all three of us could be?

Tearing my gaze away from Lukys’s, my lips flatten before I reopen them. “Let’s try.”

“If you wish, but I will not leave your side.” He unclenches his hands. “I do not mind you searching for your sister, I only mind that you are safe.”

“Then let’s get a move on it,” Levy grumbles. “It’s already evening and I want to be there before nightfall. One night in the forest is enough for me.”

I stare at Lukys as he pushes forward to lead us through the final interspersed trees, my heart thrumming frantically. As we go, I see more signs of human activity. Eventually, I hear voices in the distance.

Pausing at the threshold of where the forest ends, I gaze over a massive circular encampment stationed across a large field covered in spaceships and tents of all shapes and sizes. Flowing behind the encampment is a river that disappears into the mostly flat, grassy landscape. To my right, there’s an expanse of tall grass past the forest, while to my left is more of the forest and river.

There are groups of people between the tents and ships, talking and convening. Farther down to my left are several large logging machines, processing trees. Next to one machine is a green and brown naga helping the workers move the equipment.

I peer at Lukys as he squints at them before he glances at me and turns away. “We have been lonely for many, many seasons. I understand why there may be others that are here,” he says. “It has happened since the beginning, since the first ship arrived, and the King Cobra, Zaku, as well as other nagas I know traded technology for human females.”

“What? Human females were given to you?” This is the first I’ve heard about this.

Lukys coils his long, black tail. “Yessss. For a hunt among my kind to claim a bride of their own.”

“Wow.” My brows rise. “I never thought Volp would traffic his own kind to aliens, but I can’t say I’m surprised.”

“Damn,” Greg murmurs.

I had no idea so much was happening on Earth.

“Did you participate in one of these hunts?” Levy asks.

Lukys tilts his head at Levy. “No. I did not.”

Licking my lips, I drop my eyes, relieved.

Lukys uncoils his tail and leaves the trees. The drones fly past him and into the open air but remain nearby. As the four of us start across the hilly field, I glance behind me at Greg and Levy, seeing excitement and relief flit across Levy’s expression.

“Hey! You need to go to the processing tent if you’re new refugees,” a soldier wearing an unkempt uniform shouts. He steps out from several of the larger ships and takes in our group as he walks toward us. Several people come out behind him to watch. “Nagas can’t enter through the barricade without special entitlements.” The soldier eyes Lukys warily before stopping a short distance away, shifting the gun strap over his shoulder with fidgety hands. He points to his right, in the direction of a giant, white tent on the far side of the field past a dozen ships. Behind the tent is a giant warship.

“What’s the processing look like?” Greg shifts his pack on his shoulders. “He’s not going to get shot if he approaches, will he?” He nods towards Lukys.

The soldier lifts his chin. “He won’t be shot if he does what he’s told and keeps his distance from everyone who does not directly approach him. If he earns an entitlement from the commander, he will be allowed the ability to barter. For humans to register, just a simple name, caste class, profession, and number registration⁠—”

“Is it a registry of everyone in the camp?”

Everyone looks at me.

“Yes,” the soldier says. “Everyone outside those of us who have been stationed here by the previous Supreme Commander⁠—”