Read Online The Star Dwellers by David Estes - Free Book Online

hasn’t slept at all. I couldn’t sleep either, but
     chose to pass the time in silence.
    As the train doors ease open I feel my
     stomach lurch with hunger. The greeters push their way inside.
     “Ben!” the woman in front shouts as she sees us. Ben is on his feet
     in an instant as the woman charges him, hugging him fiercely. She
     looks to be in her early forties, with the beginning of wrinkles
     under her amber eyes and creasing her broad forehead. She wears a
     long, brown ponytail with just a touch of gray around the edges.
     Her jaw is firm, her lips full. I stand up next to them and wait in
     uncomfortable silence as they embrace. I feel somewhat embarrassed
     at the emotion they display, especially given Ben is a married
     man.
    My confusion is erased when Ben releases the
     woman and says, “Tristan—meet my sister, Jinny.”
    I break into a smile and extend a hand. Smack  Instead of shaking my hand,
     she slaps me across the face, stunning me. “That’s for being the
     son of the President,” she says. Then she hugs me tightly, pulling
     her head into my chest. I don’t hug back—my arms flail helplessly
     past her back—because I’m too shocked.
    When she releases me, she says, “And that’s
     for joining the Resistance.”
    “I, um, I, well…” I blubber.
    “What he’s trying to say is that he’s pleased
     to meet you,” Roc says, extending his hand. When Jinny takes it, he
     says, “Can you show me how to do that slap you just laid on Tristy
     here? It could definitely come in handy.”
    Jinny laughs while I continue to try to
     figure out what the hell is going on.
    “My sister can be rather opinionated,” Ben
     says.
    “Father?” Elsey says, rubbing her eyes
     groggily.
    Ben’s head whips around, as if he’s forgotten
     about his youngest daughter. With a single large step, he moves to
     her side, puts a tender arm around her shoulder, and says,
     “Elsey—there’s someone I’d like you to meet.”
    Jinny steps forward, reaching her hand out
     slowly, as if she’s afraid she might frighten her. “Hi, Elsey, I’m
     your Aunt Jinny.”
    For a second I think Elsey might be angry as
     her eyes narrow, but then she rushes forward past Jinny’s
     outstretched arm and throws her petite hands around her back. When
     she pushes back to look up at her aunt’s face, she says, “But why
     didn’t you ever visit?”—her head swivels to face her dad—“And why
     didn’t you ever tell me you had a sister, Father?”
    Ben’s eyebrows arch and he smiles lightly.
     “I’m so sorry, El. I had to keep Jinny’s existence a secret for
     everyone’s safety. There are bad people that wanted to take
     her.”
    “Like they took you and Mother?”
    “Exactly like that.”
    As she pulls away from Jinny, Elsey’s hands
     move to her hips and a scowl appears on her face. The expression
     reminds me so much of Adele. “Are there any other relatives I
     should know about?”
    Ben laughs. “I’m afraid not,” he says. “Your
     mom is an only child and it is just Jinny and me.”
    “Then I suppose I can forgive you…this time,”
     Elsey says, once more smiling.
    “Ahem.” Someone clears their throat at the
     train door. I turn to see a towering, dark-skinned guy with a day’s
     worth of stubble. He’s wearing a dark brown tunic cut off at the
     shoulders. Powerful, muscular arms hang loosely at each side, like
     rock-crushing sledgehammers. “We should really move inside,” he
     says.
    “Ram,” Ben says, “it’s good to see you
     again.”
    “I’m glad you’re alive.”
    “Thank you.”
    “Ramseys—meet Tristan Nailin.”
    “I know who he is,” Ram says, his eyes dark
     and glaring. “Follow me.” Without another word he leaves the train,
     clearly expecting us to follow. He doesn’t like me—that much is
     obvious.
    “Sorry about him,” Ben says.
    “No problem,” I say. “I’m used to all kinds
     of reactions to me. I think I prefer Ram’s to