Colleen’s voice quavered. “We don’t know what the Lraenu look like.”

“Hopefully we don’t need to know yet,” Ru said. “Hey Randy, what time are your parents usually asleep?”

They decided on a time to meet, then rushed home. Ru noticed she wasn’t the least bit tired. She and Jayson talked about the bracelet books on the way — they didn’t want their mother to find the books by accident, but she was rarely around to take care of the house anyway, so it wasn’t likely she’d stumble across them.

“But I guess aliens would explain all the weird stuff that happens in Quarterhill,” Ru whispered.

“Or dreaming,” Jayson said flatly.

“It had better not be a dream this time,” Ru growled.