“Greetings. Welcome to MAH,” the docent said.
“Thank you.”
“There’s a guided tour starting in thirty minutes—or do you prefer to wander around on your own as usual?” the docent asked.
“On our own,” Kismet replied.
“Don’t forget to see the new interactive exhibit—Flight to the Planets.”
“It’s live?”
“Opened yesterday!”
“Excellent. I can’t wait to see it. Good seeing you again, Midreg.”
“Come here often?” Karma asked drily as her sister led her down a corridor.
Kismet chuckled. “A few times. When I have time to kill, I come here. What you’re going to see are botanical habitats from planets around the galaxy. Native flora are growing in contained, climate-controlled rooms. It’s like visiting the planets themselves.”
“Why are we wearing booties?”
“To avoid picking up seeds or spores that could spread invasive alien plant species across Kaldor.”
“What’s the Flight to the Planets?”
“You get an outer space view of the worlds featured in the museum.”
The first exhibit they entered was a lush, misty rain forest. Red umbrella leaves spread out in a canopy. Thick vines dangled from the trees. Roots covered the forest floor where purple ferns fanned out, competing for space with the thick brush. A narrow walking path wound through dense forest.
Karma joked, “Do they have to hack through with a machete to keep the path clear?”
“Not a machete, per se, but something like that. This planet’s vegetation grows fast,” her sister explained. “Ready for contrast?”
The next habitat offered a room full of moss-green rocks.
“This is it?” Karma asked. “Just moss?”
“The entire mossy rockisthe plant, but yes. Follow me. The next one is the one I brought you to see.”
They entered the habitat, and she sucked in a deep breath and exhaled. Her entire body relaxed. “I didn’t realize how much I missed Earth.”
Kismet smiled. “This is why I come so often. I feel closer to Mom here. I pretend she’s not so far away.”
Green grass covered the floor, and gardens of daisies, lilies, irises, and roses bloomed. Karma stopped to smell a flower. Her eyes misted. They strolled through the parklike exhibit until they came to a bench beneath the branches of an oak tree.
They sat. Soil, greenery, and flowers perfumed the air, warmed to the temperature of a perfect spring day. Spirits lightened among the familiar sights and smells of home. She sighed. “Thank you. This is just what I needed.”
Her sister hugged her.
Birds chirped. Somewhere close, she heard the buzz of a bee. Leaves fluttered in a gentle breeze. This was the perfect spot to sit and drink it all in.
“MAH is one of Jaryk’s pet projects. He championed it and partially funded it. I contributed, too.”
“You did? How?” They hadn’t been on Kaldor very long.
“I told Jaryk the exhibit should have a bench.” Her lips twitched.
Karma giggled. “The most important part.”
