by Candy Rae
As the settlement meeting-hall was relatively undamaged, it was decided to hold the gathering there. The sun was dipping beyond the horizon as the delegates began to make their way there. The agenda was long. Jim and Robert had spent their meal together making minor adjustments to the list with no help from Afanasei or Larya, who surprisingly, as far as Jim was concerned, did not appear to be as interested in the agenda as he had hoped. When asked why, the two Lind again looked wise and refused to comment.
The Gtratha would be present, together with the Elda of every pack that had taken part in the battle. Robert and the surviving Council would represent the humans of the coastal plains, Jim and Larya the vadeln-pairs, Francis and Asya the Vada and Winston Randall those humans who had chosen to domicile with the Lind. Jim was to take the Chair (it had taken quite some time to explain the concept to the Lind) and Tara and Kolyei were to stand behind him, ready with translations if they proved necessary. Jim hoped not. If they had to translate every word, the meeting would likely continue well into the night.
The major item on the agenda was to be the future of the continental land mass. To help with this, a large map had been produced and tacked on to the wall. It was made from individual duraprintouts held together with tape. The Lind had never seen its like before and all afternoon the meeting hall had played host to long lines of interested and excited Lind, all wanting to look at the wonder. Once they understood what two-dimensional maps were all about, they had had great fun placing their own home rtathlians on it. Emily and Tara had spent hours annotating the map with this information in bright blue ink.
Once all were assembled, Jim opened the proceedings.
“Friends,” he began, “we are here to decide what is to happen next. The Larg and convicts have been defeated in battle, but not destroyed. We of the north may well have to fight them again. We have two major decisions to make.
First, we have to make sure plans are put in place so that we are never invaded in such force again and if we are, that our enemies can be defeated.
Second, we must decide what is to happen here. The Lind have welcomed us, allied with us. We have fought and died together. We humans thank you from the bottom of our hearts. If you had not done so, most of us would be dead. Unwarned and unarmed we would have been easy to overwhelm. Thank you all.”
There was a burst of clapping and cheering from the assembled colonists.
The Lind looked embarrassed.
The oldest member of the Gtratha stood up at that point and cleared her throat.
“Mariya I am,” she said in understandable Standard with merely a few words of Lindish here and there. “Some of you might know me. I am Senior Elda of Lind. I am the Gtrathlin. We thank you. If humans not here Larg now be killing all.”
There were muted whines of agreement.
“Humans are friend of Lind.”
Mariya nodded to Afanasei, who stepped forward. He cocked an ear at Jim. The original agenda was now redundant. He and Larya had laughed long when they had listened to Jim and Robert talking over dinner. Afanasei was looking forward to this.
He began to talk.
“Lind wish to make all right and proper. Humans live here. Here there is no rtathlians of the Lind, so far to the east. We Lind do decree that all land as far as edge of hills where my own rtath, Afanasei, live, is to belong to humans for all time. Up to river there, and up north to cold wastes. Here there are plenty rivers, woods and plains for humans to live, keep herds and to cultivate.”
He stumbled a little over the last word, but it didn’t matter. There was a burst of cheering from the human delegates and also from the large numbers who had squeezed in uninvited.
“Wait. There is more.” Afanasei drew himself up to his full height. The cheering subsided.
“From river to big river be land for human and Lind together. There are four rtath there. All four wish stay. Human and Lind live and learn together, many vadeln there will be. Other Lind and vadeln live there too if wish. There will also be based our Vada.”
Francis nodded. The Lind agreed with him that the Vada would continue. He stood and bowed to Mariya.
“I am honoured,” he began, but Afanasei was not finished.
“Not all Lind will wish vadeln. Not all human will wish vadeln. They will prefer to live with own kind. Some Lind wish not vadeln but happy are to live in domta beside vadeln. These welcome in joint lands.”
There was silence and a few frowns in the audience as they worked out exactly what Afanasei was proposing.
“Lind know Larg always will be a threat. The Larg will be of great danger to humans at coast. It has been agreed each pack shall spend two moons in turn in human lands, here, in lian above battle plain. They will aid the humans, help guard coast and will patrol. In return humans will give food for that Lindar so they not need take kura and zarova from human herds. Also humans will tend Lind hurts.”
“I’ll train them!” cried out Winston Randall enthusiastically. “We want to help!”
There were more cheers.
Jim stood bemused. The meeting had been taken completely out of his hands by their four-pawed allies. The Lind were proposing much more than he had dared hope.
“We can help the Lind in other ways too,” he said and looked round at the humans present. “I think we can agree to these proposals, don’t you?”
There were enthusiastic nods and wide smiles and more cheers.
“One last thing,” interrupted Afanasei. “When every hot season come, young Lind and young humans who wish to pair must come to our joint lands. You will arrange this?”
Robert spoke up.
“May I just clarify? Our youngsters who wish to pair will present themselves to be chosen. Each year at a certain time, is this what you mean?”
“Yes. This mean there will be a fair chance for all.”
“I think we can do that,” said Robert. “Not all will wish to do so though.”
“Accepted,” said Afanasei.
And that was that.
With a light heart, Jim moved the discussion on to the other topics. There would be plenty of time for celebrations later.
The rest of the items on Jim and Robert’s agenda were hammered out between the two species one by one. It was reluctantly decided that nothing could be done about the women and young girls captured during the battle, at least for the time being. Jim kept quiet about their spy in the south. The least known about Gerry’s existence the better for the man’s safety and effectiveness. Afanasei and Jim were planning the best way to make contact and planned to talk to Jsei on the subject as soon as they could.
The detailed defence plans for the vulnerable coastline were worked out to everyone’s satisfaction and the humans agreed that all youngsters from twelve years old would receive weapon and battle training.
In all, it was a very productive meeting and the future was looking bright for the north, despite the continuing southern threat.
Walking back to Robert’s cabin afterwards, Jim spoke up.
“I didn’t expect that. Thought we’d have to negotiate a bit.”
Larya snorted.
“What did you expect? Lind are happy humans here. Larya is very happy Jim here. Now we have time for each other.” : I glad to be going home : she added.
Jim had a thought.
“What about the orphans, Robert? There are a fair number.”
Larya answered for him.
“Come with us to joint lands.”
Jim thought absently that the land needed a name. Saying ‘joint lands’ all the time seemed rather awkward.
Larya was on to his thought in a flash.
: No : was Jim’s telepathic denial.
: ‘Jimsland’ sounds good : She sent a mental chuckle in his direction.
Robert Lutterell was unaware of the interchange. Perhaps it was just as well.
“I would prefer that the young orphans stay here, but I know we have too much to do with the rebuilding for the foster parents to spend the needed ti
me with them. Many of the children are deeply traumatised and need a lot of time, care and love.”
“Ask them,” said Larya. “Home for them at domta. Much love.”
“I think at least the older ones should be given the choice,” said Jim with caution. “I know that Kath and Matvei are taking the four they rescued home with them. James and Rozya can’t wait. I didn’t know that Kath can’t have children of her own and the kids themselves only have an uncle left to them and two grown-up cousins. The uncle has agreed to them going as long as contact is maintained.”
“I will talk to the Council,” Robert promised. “Now we have to plan how we are going to say goodbye to the Lindars that leave tomorrow. Come with me for a nightcap and we can discuss it.”
“Good idea,” replied Jim. “I’m as thirsty as a parched kura!”
Robert laughed and led the way inside the cabin. By the time night fell both men were feeling rather the worse for wear after some celebratory drinks. Larya looked at them, sighed and settled down to sleep. She did not care for alcohol.
* * * * *
