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And now Allen was alone with Ellie.

“You spoke of needing something to be done,” Allen said. “What is this ‘necessary’ thing you want the federation to do?”

“We’re all just so tired of all the fighting and bickering on our planet,” said Ellie. “We need to unite under one gentle and benevolent leader, and I was wondering how you all could play a role in that.”

“Do you have a particular gentle and benevolent leader in mind?”

Ellie’s wide smile grew even wider. “Why, me, of course.”

“I understand,” said Allen. “Well, I just told you that we don’t believe in bosses and we let each member planet go its own way.”

“Oh, I don’t want to boss anyone around,” Ellie said. “I just want to end all the divisiveness and make peace.”

“That will be up to you and your people,” Allen said. “As I said, we don’t typically interfere in each other’s business.”

Ellie was still smiling with her face, but her eyes seemed to grow darker. 

“I see,” said she. “Well, I guess that’s how it has to be.”

“Correct,” said Allen.

TriSight and Count Duckula returned.

“The boy is safe,” said TriSight.

“As he always would have been even without a babysitter,” said Count Duckula, who seemed a little irritated.

“Oh, I was hoping you boys would get to know each other along the way,” Ellie said.

Duckula and TriSight looked at each other and something was exchanged without words.

“We do understand each other better than we did before,” TriSight said.

“Splendid!” Ellie said, and her smile grew even wider — but Allen thought her eyes grew even darker. “Well, we will leave you to it, then. Thank you, Emissary Allen, for your graciousness.”

“I am in your service,” said Allen.

“Apparently not,” Ellie said, but then she shook her head. “I apologize, this has been a wonderful visit and truly historic. We have much to learn from you magnificent aliens.”

They watched Ellie and the count walk away for a while, and then TriSight raised all three eyebrows. “What was that all about?”

“It appears Tommy’s advice was sound. We have much to discuss with Fearless Leader,” Allen said. “But first, tell me why you said you understand each other better than you did before.”

“Ah, yes,” said TriSight. “We had a very enlightening conversation.”

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The meeting proceeded with much fanfare and an air of celebration — it is, after all, not very often that anyone receives an invitation to join an interplanetary federation — but Allen felt he should seek out Tommy afterwards.

He brought his aide, Trisight, along and found Tommy sitting on a nearby park bench.

“Thank you for helping us, young one, but I can’t help but notice you still seem to be unhappy.”

“I don’t know,” Tommy said. “I’m not sure you should trust Ellie.”

This surprised Allen. “It was not very long ago that you were saying I am the one who can’t be trusted.”

“I know, and I guess I kind of like you now that you admitted you’re an alien and all. It’s just that Ellie has a way of promising things that sound great but don’t come true.”

“What do you mean?” 

“Oh, she’ll say everyone should vote for her and everything will get better, and what do you know, they don’t get better.”

“I see,” Allen said, exchanging a glance with his silent aide.

“So when she says she’s real happy to join your federation, I’m not sure she’s telling the truth,” said Tommy.

“Why wouldn’t she be happy?”

“I don’t know. I think she likes to be the boss.”

“Our federation doesn’t have bosses,” Allen said. “We leave each planet alone to follow its own path.”

“She’ll probably want to boss you around anyway. It’s what she does.”

“That can’t happen,” said Trisight, breaking his silence.

“Doesn’t mean she won’t try.”

Allen thought about this news. “We will proceed with caution,” he said.

“What does that mean?” Tommy asked.

“We will be careful about giving Ellie an opportunity to try to boss us around,” Allen said.

“Good idea,” Tommy said. “Just don’t let her know I warned you. She can get crabby with people who get in her way.”

Just then Ellie appeared with Count Duckula at her side. 

“My!” she said. “Am I interrupting anything?”

“Of course not,” Allen said. “How can we help you?”

“I want to know more about how your federation works,” said the smiling duck leader. “If we wanted or needed something to be done, how would we go about getting it done?”

“I gotta go,” said Tommy, and he scooted away.

Ellie looked at Count Duckula. “Be a dear and follow him.”

“Why?” Allen and Count Duckula said together.

“To — make sure he gets home safely, of course.”

Trisight stepped forward to stand at Duckula’s side. “I will join the count so that you two can have a chat.”

This did not appear to please Ellie, but she agreed, and the two sidekicks followed after Tommy.

“Now, Allen,” Ellie said with a big smile. “About my question …?”

Continued next Saturday

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Our story thus far: Allen, an emissary from somewhere else out there, has been making friends with a tribe of rubber ducks here on Earth. Young Tommy, son of Cupcake and a very observant and forward lad, has unraveled Allen’s secret. Instead of further deflecting Tommy, Allen has requested a meeting with their leader.

The leader had a big smile that made Allen immediately uncomfortable. He didn’t trust people who smiled too much.

“It is a great honor to meet someone from beyond the stars,” the leader said.

“It’s not that far away,” Allen said.

“Well, it’s farther away than Osaka,” said the leader. “Oh yes, I’ve heard about your little white lies.”

“Ask him why he’s here,” said little Tommy, which earned him a “shush now” from his mother, Cupcake.

“Well, yes, as I understand it you’re some kind of emissary,” said the leader. “By the way, people call me Ellie. You might say I’m the president of our little tribe.”

“Tribe? It was our understanding that a group of ducks is called a flock, or a waddling,” Allen said. “Is tribe a more proper term?”

“Your understanding is correct, sir. When we’re flying, ‘flock’ will do nicely, and on the ground we are indeed a-waddling.”

“Oh, enough of this!” Cupcake cried. “Allen, my son believes you are here to conquer the world.”

“Tommy has a vivid imagination,” Allen said. “I come in peace, representing a federation of planets that are ready for space travel. Your forays to your moon have attracted some attention.”

“Well, yes,” said Ellie, “although I must admit our species has made only a few modest contributions to the space program.”

“Really?”

There was an awkward silence.

“Ducks don’t fly to the moon!” Tommy blurted.

“Are you here to offer us a seat in your federation?” Ellie said.

“I wonder if I should be speaking with the species in charge of your space program.”

“I’m not sure they would take you seriously,” said Count Duckula, who stood by Ellie’s side.

“Why is that?”

“The humans don’t think of us as an advanced species,” Duckzilla said ruefully.

“You seem advanced enough for me,” Allen said.

“Well, then,” said Ellie. “How do we begin?”

There was general cheering and applause, but Allen noticed that Tommy looked skeptical.