They were herded off the vehicle into the pet shop. Isaac and Janet shared a pen with Silvia, the girl from the previous cargo. There was pandemonium in the building as the new arrivals were medically examined, treated for any ailments and washed.

On his return from his treatment, Isaac said, "I really resent having a chip put in my body."

"It's so that if you get lost, they can trace you and bring you back home," said Sylvia.

"I suppose so. But I get no say in the matter."

"I didn't get any say in the matter when they saved my life." Silvia held his hand to comfort him.

"What?"

"On Earth I had MND and would have died. I had spent as much time as I could with my husband, but my condition worsened. I could no longer speak, or get my computer to speak on my behalf. I was able to use hand signals that we had developed to tell my husband I loved him, and he said he loved me too. That moment was magical. It was my last communication with my husband and I will always remember it. My condition worsened after that. I think I had only days, maybe only hours before I died. Then these people rescued me. Cured me, and gave me a new life."

 

Janet was almost in tears at the story. "Why didn't they take you back to Earth?"

 

"I don't know, but I wouldn't be able to live as before. I would be a celebrity - the girl who defeated MND - Doctors would be constantly testing me to learn what had happened. I would be a guinea pig - a bit like those people from Proxima b you were telling me about. I wouldn't have any life to myself. Don't get me wrong. I would gladly give the occasional blood sample if it helped understand MND, but these people cured me, changed me. Their technology is far more advanced than ours. Our doctors and scientists have got to work it out for themselves so that they can fully understand it."

Janet was led out of the pen by the staff for her treatment session. She desperately looked at Isaac, a frown creasing her forehead.

"It's OK Janet. They won't hurt you, and as Silvia says, they will treat you well."

***

 

Life was a series of walks. A lead was fastened around each of their necks. They were taken where the pet shop staff led them. They were unable to explore for themselves. They were exposed to the visitors of the pet shop. Being stroked by some of the visitors. Being hurt by some of the visitors, albeit unintentionally. Being fed unfamiliar food at a time convenient to the staff, rather than when hunger called. Yet they were well looked after and settled into their new routine.

Nighttime had changed to daytime when Glosnik entered the room. They hadn't seen the Co-Pilot since their arrival in the pet shop. "I've come to take you to the auction."

"What's on sale?" Isaac rubbed her cheek against his. He knew she liked that.

"You are. It's not as heartless as you think. Everybody who wants you as a pet has to apply to bid, so that they can be verified as safe to own pets."

"Pets. That's all we are." Janet was angry.

They were sold off like slaves, but unlike slaves they had no work to do. Instead they fed on the love of their owners. They were not bought as ornaments for the rich to show off, but for the love they could give to the owners, and the love that the owners would give to them.

"Well that went well." Egred, the pet shop owner, was talking to Glosnik. The sale had more than covered the financial outlay she made to Glosnik for her entire cargo of pets.

"So, would you like another load?"

"Rather. But could you make them all from Earth this time."

"No problem. I've already shortlisted my next cargo. I anticipated that you would like more Earthlings." Glosnik led Isaac away.

"I didn't get sold." Isaac looked up at Glosnik.

"You weren't up for sale, my pet. I never sold you to Egred. You are mine, and always have been. I will look after you."

"Thank you. I like you very much and would dearly love to spend more time with you."

"I'm going to get another cargo from Earth, and I need you to come with me, and with the new cargo. Talk to them. Reassure them. Make them relax."

"I can only speak English."

"I know that. I will make sure they understand you. I was impressed with your understanding of the situation last time. You even brought peace with Preeter."

"Can I ask a favor?"

"Ask away."

"Can I travel to Earth in the cockpit. I would love to see how you control the craft."

"Yes, of course." Glosnik picked him up and they rubbed cheeks.

Thanks to Isaac, the next group of captives were more relaxed. He made it sound like they were on an exciting adventure rather than items for sale. When they were in the Pet shop he said that they would be meeting new friends, native to this planet. It was going to be fun.

"This is going to be a long night," Isaac said to the group. "It will last for about a week. Then their equivalent of our Sun will rise. It will follow a circular path in the sky, before it sets about three weeks later."

"Why does it follow a circular path?" Audrey was one of the new arrivals.

"They call this planet Egremontey, and it always has the same face towards their Sun, like our Moon always has the same face pointing to Earth. It means that about half the planet is always in daylight and about half always in night. We live on the boundary, which is more conducive to life, and is where primitive life first started. By the way. Never, ever, look at their sun. It's a red dwarf, and although intrinsically fainter we are much closer to it than Mercury is to our Sun. Consequently it's much brighter in the Egremontey sky and if you look at it you're in danger of being permanently blinded." Isaac never mentioned that they had the technology to repair such damaged eyes.

Glosnik arrived. She was proud of what Isaac had achieved. "Ah!” said Isaac, “This is my friend Glosnik. You will recognize her as the Co-Pilot of the craft that brought us here. Soon you will meet someone from this planet, and they will take you to their home. My friend has come to take me home. She will do this at the end of each working day. It will give you a marker of time replacing our familiar sunset at the end of our working day. I didn't understand that when they first brought me here. I had no way of knowing when twenty-four hours was up and I was in, like, jet lag. When I leave you - that is when Glosnik fetches me - it won't be every twenty-four as we measure time. It will be similar, and our bodies will adapt to it. Mine did."

***

 

Glosnik lived alone. The many dates she had never developed into a relationship lasting more than a month. She threw her love into the many pets she had. None of them loved her back to the same extent as Isaac, and only Isaac had the privilege of sharing her bed where they rubbed cheeks frequently. Their size difference prohibited intimate sex, but that didn't stop them loving each other.

"I want to try something new." Glosnik smiled at Isaac who shared her pillow.

"Go on." Isaac smiled in anticipation.

"I want you to make one of the girls pregnant. I think she would make more money if she had a baby. 'Buy one get one free' sort of thing."

"Oh. I'd be happy to help you."

"Which of the new cargo do you think you could achieve that with?"

"Audrey seems suitable."

At the end of the next working day, Glosnik took Audrey and Isaac home. Glosnik was correct in her assumption and the pregnant Audrey made the best price at the next auction.

The third cargo was entirely Earth girls. Isaac only just managed to meet the deadline of the auction date to make them pregnant. But he didn't mind the extra work involved.

***