****

  "Mom, he's gone."

  "I know, Alice."

  "He didn't even say good-by."

  "Alice, it hurts him terribly to say it. He's said it far too often."

  "Yeah, too often. I understand. Will he be back?"

  "I don't know, but we'll make sure we have pepperoni pizza on March eighth. Just in case he shows up for a slice."

  The dark brother was angered at the loss of another of his kind. He traced the woman back though time. He would find the escaped one at their first meeting and destroy him before any of his brethren died. He laughed. The foolish slave had even left the door to his ship open. He would herd him to it and be waiting within.