As is usually the case with humans, emotions come in short bursts. Quickly getting rid of the adrenaline, my brain forced me to think more adequately. I was no longer thinking about the joy and happiness of flying. Now I only cared about one thing: the direction of the flight. I pulled the steering wheel toward me and started gaining altitude, maintaining speed. The speed meter was at 500 km/h. Lir turned toward me, extinguished his fire, and opened his mouth slightly, as if about to say something, but he didn't say a word.

-Did you want to say something?

- Yes... but no.

- Don't be shy, I'm ready to hear you out.

- See... Okay. Another question. Where are we going?

- Oh, you finally decided to ask. Honestly, I don't know. I'm flying in the direction I came to the island from. I may or may not make it home.

- And if it doesn't work out?

- I'll be looking for a new island or mainland. And if I succeed, you'll be my personal pet with great privileges.

- What do you mean, a pet?

- Well, you don't look like a child, but you don't look like a pet. So you'll be a pet, but you'll be a baby.

- That sounds really weird. You're scaring me.

- Anyway, you'll be a maid. Cooking, dusting, ironing clothes...

- Can't you do it yourself?

- I could, but it would be easier with you. You'd be at home all the time. I'd be at the helm all the time.

- What do you mean I'm gonna stay home? I didn't sign up for this!

That did sound really weird. You'd think I was some kind of animal killer. Though Lir is not an animal. Then maybe I'm a slave owner. Also no, he's not a human being. Maybe then- Maybe then you'll shut up, you stupid head. The stupid inner voice that gives me shameful thoughts. I blinked and shook my head, then tapped myself on my helmet with the palm of my hand.

- Slake, are you okay?

- Yeah, I'm fine, I'm just not thinking straight.

I stroked Lir's head, making him feel good. He lowered his ears and pressed himself against my body.

- You are a good spirit. I immediately realized that you possessed a sincere kindness that I have not seen in so many years. Very often I observe stupidity, disrespect, hypocrisy, hatred, envy and of course lying in people. Oh, if you only knew, my dear fluffy, how much people lie. From birth to death. They lie everywhere. In the family, at school, at work, with friends, with loved ones, on the internet, in society... EVERYWHERE! For them it's a science combined with art. And all for what?... Money. Money, authority, benefit. That's it. These three things drive us all, but only here, in a very different environment, can I take my mind off all these sins of humanity and experience an environment where friendship, respect and compassion are most precious.

- You sound so smart... I think I've begun to realize the environment you were living in before this meeting. I truly feel sorry for you. I certainly wouldn't want to be in that environment.

A slight pause in the conversation interrupted our dialog.

- Listen, Slake, can you please tell me why you like to hug me so much?

- Well... first of all, you're very nice. Every time I look at you, it makes me feel really good. Your physique is quite nice in proportion. Secondly, it's very nice. A kind little fluffball with big black eyes. The touch of your body is quite pleasant also because I can slightly feel the energy of light that comes from your heart. And thirdly, I have no one else to hug. I have no mother, no wife, no children. I still haven't found a mate. Everyone thinks I'm a total asshole and a freak. Instead of me, girls prefer tall, athletic, rich men. Or beat-up, crazy, brazen thieves. And at the very least, dark, sweet, feminine, anime-ish transgenders. I can't even deal with those. It's disgusting.

Lir flapped his eyes in bewilderment for a few seconds, but without daring to say anything, he just hugged me even tighter.

- If you need a hug, just say the word. I'm willing to give you some of my light. Always and everywhere. You're the best thing in the world to me. Don't feel bad, Slake. Why do you need these people? You have me.

That phrase tried me to the core. Not one person in my life had ever said that to me, and here it was NOT a person saying it to me. God, he's so kind. His little heart doesn't know the horrors of this world yet. I wish he could always stay the way he is now. And I don't want any girls. I just want him. Sweet, kind, little Lir. He's the only one who can do that... I put one arm around him and tilted my head so he could snuggle against me. And for a moment, I even closed my eyes. Let this be my gratitude as a sign that I am touched by his sincerity. May this flight go as well as possible.

- Slake, can I still tell you this?

- Of course you can, I'm listening to you, my ray of light.

- I had a dream last night. And it was the reason I didn't want us to go flying at first. In that dream, you and I were flying high in the sky. Almost like we are now. Suddenly, a huge bird with white eyes and black feathers appeared behind us. It started to catch up with us and... and with its beak it... it broke the cockpit of the airplane and-

Lir could not go on calmly. Tears of fear appeared on his face. I did not ask for more. But why was he so worried about the dream? Maybe he found it too realistic? No, it's nonsense. How could he be scared and believe that the bird would materialize? Exactly, you can't!

Meanwhile, I heard a beep on the dashboard. A new special contact. A single green dot appeared on the radar behind my plane. I looked at the radar, but there was nothing there. I started to switch radar modes and only in OLS mode could I see the dot. Optical instruments correctly saw this object, but the aircraft could not recognize the object model. The alien-versus-alien system didn't recognize it either. Strangely, the object did not emit any radio waves, but light rays were coming from it. How could that be? Maybe Lir was right after all. Maybe he was right.

- Slake, wake up, you're in your head again!

- Lir, strap yourself to my harness. Looks like you were right. She's here.