Human Sister

are on their way here. I’ll take care of your things. Get inside the house. Hurry!”
    Elio led as we ran between rows of vines, down the hill guarded by the old oak tree, and up a slope to the drive. There, under the archway of locust trees, Elio ran beside me and panted: “I didn’t know there were androids on the moon.”
    “I didn’t either.”
    “Your parents were going to some conference, weren’t they?”
    “Yes. I said good-bye to them last night. It’s a conference on space medicine. They go every year.”
    “Do you think they helped the androids hijack the plane?”
    “I don’t know. I just hope they’re safe.”
    My mind raced: government agents, search warrants, Michael, interrogations, Mom and Dad on a hijacked plane. By the time we got to the arborway leading to the house entrance, my legs felt heavy, and I was out of breath.
    “We’d better get in,” Elio said, pointing toward the throbbing whir of helicopters in the distance.
    We found Grandma in her bedroom watching WNN. I glanced at aerial scenes of lunar resorts resembling giant upside-down fishbowls packed with fantastic buildings of organic architectural designs.
    “What’s going on?” Elio asked, charging ahead of me.
    “They’re just showing the same scenes over and over,” Grandma answered. “Apparently, all transmissions from the moon have been cut.”
    “What about Mom and Dad?” I asked.
    “Oh, honey,” she said, holding out her arms for me and bursting into tears. “The FBI told Grandpa the lunar plane they were on was hijacked at the same time the attacks on the moon began. Lynh was there, too.”
    “What?” Elio gasped.
    “Yes, dear. I’m so sorry.”
    “But she was supposed to be on a plane to Amsterdam this morning.”
    “That’s all I know, honey. That’s what the FBI told Grandpa.”
    “Where is Grandpa?” I asked.
    “On a conference call with Senator Franklin, the FBI—I don’t know who all. The door is locked, but just ring the bell. He said he wants to talk with you right away.”
    Elio and I rang the bell to the communications room. Grandpa peeked out. “I’m on a conference call. Go to your study. I’ll be right there.”
    We found that Michael and all evidence of his existence had already been immured. I hoped Grandpa and Grandma hadn’t frightened him, for now I couldn’t even communicate with him to let him know Elio and I had returned safely.
    After about five minutes, Grandpa entered. “You saw the news,” he said. “I don’t have much to add to that. Not yet, anyway. I’m trying to negotiate a deal. The FBI and some other government people want to talk with both of you. They think you may know something, since Sara’s parents—and perhaps your mother, too, Elio—seem to be involved. Now is no time for playing games. I have to get back to my call right away. I must know whether either of you knew or even had a hint of this hijacking or of the attacks on the moon. Sara?”
    “No.”
    “Did you ever hear your parents talk about hijacking a plane, even hypothetically?”
    “No.”
    “Did you ever hear them talking about the moon?”
    “Just that they were going to the annual medical conference.”
    “Did they say anything that seemed special or peculiar about this conference?”
    “No.”
    “Do you have any idea what their plans are?”
    “No.”
    “Do you know how androids got to the moon?”
    “I didn’t even know there were any on the moon.”
    “Good. So you wouldn’t mind if Mr. Casey asks you these and related questions?”
    “Casey? But he—”
    “It would only involve questions about what you knew beforehand about these matters and what you know about their plans. If you satisfy them that you know nothing about what’s going on, they won’t pursue other questions. At least, that’s what I’m trying to negotiate with the help of Senator Franklin and my attorney, Jane Copley.”
    “Are you sure they’ll only ask me about Mom and Dad? What about questions that might lead to Michael?”
    “I can’t be sure of anything. They need to quickly find out whatever they can about the attacks on their military bases and about the taking of several thousand hostages. Evidently, there are three members of Congress and four U.S. senators on the moon right now—some conference about space sovereignty—plus similar dignitaries from other countries. The authorities know they can’t make you talk, Sara, so they seem willing to deal.”
    “Do I have to do