The Lost Colony
Copyright© 2026 by D M Arnold
Chapter 1: Birthday
Nykkyo Kyhana stepped into the living room of the house in Queens. “Hey, Nick!” he called.
“Hey, Nick,” Nicky answered, laughed and ran toward him. Nyk traded high-fives with the boy, picked him up and kissed him.
“Do you know what day today is?” Nyk asked.
“Birthday!” Nicky replied.
“Whose?”
“Mine!”
“How old are you?”
“THREE!”
“And, what do you get on your birthday?”
“PRESENTS!”
“Come on, buddy -- let’s go see Grandma.”
Nyk set the boy down and he climbed into a chair with a booster seat. Yasuko set a cake with three candles on the table. “Blow them out, buddy -- while I take your picture.”
Yasuko cut pieces of cake. “Can you believe three, Yasuko?” Nyk asked.
She shook her head. “I cannot.”
“Here, buddy,” Nyk said and handed Nicky a package.
Nicky ripped off the paper and opened a case containing two child-sized chopsticks. “Nick!” Yasuko exclaimed. “Those for him?”
“They said not for children under three. He is no longer under three. Don’t you think it’s time for him to start learning to use them?”
“I suppose it is. I can’t recall when I learned.”
“You were probably born with a pair in your hand, Yasuko. Let me take a picture...”
Nicky hopped off the chair and headed toward the living room. Yasuko spoke to him in Japanese. He turned and walked to her. She held out her hand and he dropped the chopsticks into it. She said a few more words and Nicky headed back to the living room.
“I think I’m beginning to understand some of what you’re saying to him,” Nyk said.
“That’s impressive. Japanese is a difficult language.”
“So is English.”
She nodded. “I won’t argue you on that. You must have a good ear for languages, Nick.”
Nyk walked into the building housing his office. “Good morning, Mr Kane.”
“Good morning, Jaquie. Here -- look.”
“Pictures ... Oh, how adorable. Three years old! He’s turning into such a fine little man. Is that his grandmother?”
“Yes, indeed.”
“She resembles Sukiko.”
“So does Nicky. You can see her features in his face. And, he has her coloring, her black hair and her dark, dark eyes.”
“How is your mother-in-law getting along?”
“Better. She still misses Suki and George, but ... better.”
“That’s good. I’ll bet you miss her, too.”
Seymor stepped through the door. “When you’re done, lad,” he said and headed into his private office.
Nyk followed his boss into the office. “Shut the door, lad.”
“I don’t know why we keep up this charade with Jaquie,” Nyk said. “She KNOWS I’m not really Nick Kane, and she KNOWS Suki isn’t dead but living on Floran. I know she knows. I don’t know if she knows I know she knows.”
“She thinks she’s sheltering us. She probably is. I heard you say your mother-in-law is doing better.”
“Yes. Having me home has helped ... a lot. She still has her moments, but overall -- she’s doing better.”
“Getting over it?”
“I don’t expect she’ll ever get over it.”
“How’s the long-distance relationship working out?”
Nyk sighed. “It’s evolving. I think I’m growing more distant from Suki. I still love her. She’s becoming more and more important on the homeworld. When I first took her to Floran I promised her I’d call every day. Now, I’m lucky if I can speak to her once a week. I’m afraid she’s found another husband.”
“Another man?” Seymor asked.
“No -- her work. I can’t believe how her career there is taking off. Her courses at Sudal University are always full, and she’s asked to do speaking engagements. She told me she’s been asked to deliver an address at a convention of educators on Myataxya. On Myataxya, Seymor! I’ve never been there.”
“Neither have I. Myataxya ... This must be a bunch of real big-wigs.”
“They’ll put her up in one of the resorts there.”
“She should get herself an agent.”
“Do such exist on Floran?”
“Of course they do. No one could keep a speaking calendar straight by themselves.”
“I’ll suggest it to her.”
“Pretty soon she’ll have her own ax’amfin assistant.”
“She has Andra,” Nyk replied.
Seymor made a slight smirk. “That’s right. You have that menage a trois going.
“I don’t have any menage at all going ... not with Suki and Andra on Floran and me here. I am happy for Suki. I know she’s more fulfilled there than she ever was on Earth. But -- it’s not how I expected it to be.” Nyk held his hand to his eyes. “I miss her so.”
“I’m sorry to open a wound, lad.”
“It’s all right. It’s the story of my life, Seymor. I’m always surrounded by women -- by people who are more important that I am.”
“You’re doing important work here.”