Chapter 4: The Vanakh Of Aspartin “Kherris is coming here?” Kasinda’s eyes were wide with amazement. “Who?” Alex asked. “Kherris, the Vanakh of Aspartin. He really is coming here?” “If he isn’t, my father’s gone to a lot of work for nothing.” The two teenagers were bicycling through one of the many parkways in Nexus-1, on their way back from an open market where Kasinda had shown Alex some of the fabulous merchandise available from the many worlds that traded with Nexus. Alex had mentioned his father’s current project, and was startled by his friend’s strong reaction. Kasinda shook her head in mock anger. “And he didn’t even bother to tell me. I’ll kill him, that’s all there is to it.” “I suppose you know the Vanakh,” Alex said, and wondered why he was surprised any more. Kasinda kn