An Abyss of Light (The Light Trilogy) by Kathleen M. O'Neal

as Ari squirmed like a fish on a hook.
    Funk clamped his teeth and scowled, giving Yosef an evil glare, as though he were responsible. Yosef yawned, ignoring him.
    When the guard’s hands rose to Ari’s crotch, the old man smiled broadly. “Pretty nice, aren’t they?”
    The guard halted, face growing red. “I beg your pardon?”
    Yosef gritted his teeth and closed his eyes, knowing prison waited just inside the terminal. Ari jumped on any opportunity to antagonize government personnel.
    The guard stood up and thrust out a hand. “Let me see your papers.”
    Yosef dug inside his coat pocket and handed his over, waiting for Ari to do the same. Then he jabbed his friend in the kidney and whispered, “I want to talk to you!”
    “What for?
    He gripped Ari’s sleeve and dragged him a short distance away while the soldier examined their travel authorizations.
    “What’d you do that for? They’re going to run us through the mill now.”
    “Bah!” Ari waved a withered hand. “I didn’t do it, he did.”
    “You imbecile. You’re the one who resisted.”
    “Did you see him run his hand around that other man’s jewels?”
    Yosef shifted positions, thinking. “No, but—”
    “These Philistines are all alike: jealous. They have to make sure the stories about Gamants are true.”
    “I knew I shouldn’t have brought you. You’re nothing but trouble. Insulting people—”
    “Have you ever seen Philistine testicles?” Ari pressed, propping his hands on his bony hips.
    “I’ve never made a study.”
    His friend formed a tiny circle with his thumb and forefinger. “Pathetic things.”
    “What do you do? Spend all your time in latrines examining people?”
    “You don’t have to be scientific about it. You see one or two sets and you can tell the difference.”
    “Calas! Funk!” the guard called sharply. “Here’s your papers.”
    They walked back and retrieved them. “Thank you,” Yosef said politely and headed for the door.
    “Wait a minute,” the guard protested, thrusting an arm roughly at the Seros. “Get back on that ship. No Gamants are allowed on the planet’s surface today.”
    Yosef cast a sideways glance at Ari and cringed as he saw his friend’s mouth tighten until it looked like a withered prune. “What do you mean? We’re just as good as—”
    “Cut it! I don’t care one whit about your mother’s mother. My orders are that no Gamants are allowed in today. I’ll let you know when the situation relaxes.”
    “What’s tense about Gamants?” Ari insisted, his chin thrust out indignantly.
    “I don’t have access to that information, sir.”
    “Well, go find out!”
    A hot gleam filled the guard’s eyes and Yosef grabbed Ari by the tail of his coat, pulling him backward. “Forgive him, Private,” he whispered conspiratorially. “His doctors have been working day and night to find out what’s wrong with his brain, but to no avail yet.”
    The youth frowned suspiciously. “I suggest, then, that you take him back to the ship so he can’t get in any trouble.”
    “I’ll do that.”
    Yosef forcibly dragged his friend away. But when they’d gone no more than ten paces Ari blurted, “I’m not going! They can’t treat us like this. We’re citizens of the galaxy, too.”
    Yosef opened his mouth to respond, but pain flashed so powerfully in his head, he staggered. The world spun around him. What was it? Something was wrong somewhere. Something was very wrong. The pain grew until he thought it would burst his skull. He clasped his head between his hands, trying to press the agony away.
    “I refuse to—”
    “Shut up.”
    Ari blinked at the harsh tone and his expression changed from defiance to concern. “You all right?” he whispered, grabbing Yosef’s arm to steady him as he stumbled backward. “What is it?”
    “My head … I …”
    “Come on, let’s go sit down.”
    “I have to get to my niece’s funeral, Ari. If I land in prison because of something