“Because you’re human,” Lallie replied softly.
“I’m human too,” Zac put in. “I just have some extras.”
Lallie smiled.
“Well, I’m sorry, but a lot of mutants don’t see it that way. A lot of us see us as a different species.”
“I never did anything to them! What does being human have to do with anything?” Mary Anne wailed.
“Humans have treated mutants badly.”
“How can they when we don’t even know you exist?”
“Because they do know, in some way or other,” Zac replied quietly.
They looked at him, Lallie with a curious smile.
“I mean, think about it, we’ve met mermaids and selkies here. And we’ve been told that some of these guys turn into fish or sharks or whatever. I mean how many fish, or other underwater creatures have been killed or captured, that were really mutants? You haven’t met any, yet, but I’ve met werewolves and insect people, and heard tell of vampires. I know a girl who could be mistaken for an angel – actually I know two,” he added with a sly grin at Mary Anne.
Mary Anne managed a small laugh.
“What are insect people, exactly?”
“They’re mutants who have an insect power that turns them into these little creatures. They get mistaken for fairies a lot. And you should hear them when you call them one! ‘We not magical fairy beings! We be mighty insect people!’ ”
Lallie laughed.
“That sounds just like them.”
“We have a couple of hangers on,” Zac admitted ruefully. “They like me and Jess most, because I saved one from the Goblin, and Jess healed his foot back on.”
“You’ve met the Goblin?” Lallie asked.
“You’ve heard of her?” Zac continued when Lallie nodded. “Yeah, I met her. Actually she kidnapped me, but I escaped.”
“You escaped? Now that’s something you don’t hear about every day. What did she want with you?”
“Umm,” Zac looked a little uncomfortable. “I’d rather not go into that.”
“Hmm. Well, Mary Anne, Zac is right. Humans have attacked us. Sometimes, it is simply through ignorance – they didn’t know we were that fish or whatever. But sometimes, well, you’ve heard of witch hunts and such. Well, a lot of people victimised were mutants. They could turn into a cat, and while they would have tried to hide this, well, they got caught, obviously. And that is just the public stuff. Surely you can now understand why so many mutants feel this way. Especially those born as mutants. It’s a case of a gross lack of understanding on all parties, and unfortunately, it’s not something that will be resolved any time soon. Many people distrust what is different from them, and even in mutant communities you will have those who don’t like others just because of what powers they have,” Lallie sighed.
“That’s so stupid,” Mary Anne muttered.
“Yes, it is.”
“We have to get back,” Zac said. “I mean, aside from the fact that all our friends and family are up there, this… they already made one attempt to kill Mary Anne, and we haven’t even been here a day.”
“Quite right,” Rama agreed, striding into the room. “Normally during the Festival of Founding we do not conduct business, nor do we leave our city, bar those who may have crops due to harvest outside. This festival is a popular event and a great tool in general morale. We cannot have this peace invading by petty bickering and unnecessary prejudice.”
He gave Mary Anne a sympathetic look.
“My dear girl, any human vouched for by any mutant – or Triggered – is fine by me. Not,” he added with a smile, “that I automatically think the worst of any human I meet, on the rare occasion that I do. But certain precautions are wise when dealing with ones you don’t know.”
“So, what are we going to do?” asked Lallie.
“Obviously Zac and Mary Anne must leave. However, I do not feel right allowing you to go without knowing where you will go. If it were just you Zac, I wouldn’t mind so much. Your powers would help you. But this also involves you Mary Anne, and you have no powers. I would like to send some scouts to see if they could find some trace of those who were in the ship with you. But, like I said, no one leaves the city during the festival, and I cannot in good conscience assign someone this duty during the festival.”
Rama frowned thoughtfully.
“I could go,” Zac said. “And when I find something I could come back for Mary Anne. In fact, I think I could manage to look after her without any direction.”
“You’re not familiar enough with these waters, Zac,” Lallie smiled.
“Right. And besides, I think Mary Anne would be safer and more comfortable with you here,” Rama affirmed. “Definitely safer. Despite today’s attack, I think that if it’s known you’re constantly in each others presence, then your abilities, Zac, will offer a greater deterrent.”
“It’s really hard to gauge. We’ve never had a human down here before. Not one that hadn’t drowned on the way down anyway,” Lallie said grimly.
“Stay here for the time being,” Rama advised. “I will confer with Lallie, Kavita and Moriarty on this matter.”
“Con should certainly not hear of this,” Lallie agreed.