The Afterlife of Alice Watkins 1
Page 13
The man with the red hair also had a ponytail like Statesman Patrick. Alice had always thought only yobbos and bikies wore their hair in that manner, but these men couldn’t be yobbos or hooligans, they drove a starship, but they all needed a good haircut.
The two men looked up as Statesman Patrick approached and gave him their full attention before looking over at Alice. Neither man smiled, giving Alice the distinct impression that her presence here was little more than a chore.
They didn’t approach her and waited until Statesman Patrick drew her into their midst before acknowledging her with a slight movement forward of the head and shoulders. Statesman Patrick introduced her as Dr Langley.
Alice had not met military people before, either in real life nor in this one. She had been correct in her assumption the big-faced man was Principal Ryan. Along with Statesman Patrick’s description of stuffy, Alice added a sour and bored expression, but she would be polite, and in response to his bow, smiled a nervous acknowledgement, reminded of how she felt when she first met Principal Hardy.
The red-haired man, Statesman Hennessy, held a chair and invited her to be seated. She sat opposite Statesman Patrick, next to Statesman Hennessy, with Principal Ryan at the head of the table. These titles were tedious. She would much rather say “Patrick”, or “Ryan” or “Hennessey” but it occurred to her they probably weren’t their first names. She wasn’t likely to say anything, anyway.
Briefly, the men spoke amongst themselves. Amelia mentioned the Principality ship Significator was returning from a year in deep space, threshold space to give it its proper name, so Alice wondered if they were tired and just wanted to go home. But Alice didn’t mind silences. She wasn’t awkward with them because it meant no-one was listening to her or asking her questions.
The steward poured water into glasses and served something Alice had never seen on the station; a small brown roll, in the shape of a little sausage, with a tiny dish of clear fluid. Alice loved sausages and hoped, despite the odd appearance, it would be like the sausages she got from the butcher’s shop. Patrick commented to Statesman Hennessey, dipped the roll in the liquid and put the whole thing in his mouth, winking at Alice and pointing his fork in her direction.
It would be safe to follow his lead, he knew the technique. She inspected the roll, dipped it into the liquid and put the whole thing in her mouth. It tasted fine for a second, sweet and fishy but then the burning started, her eyes watered, and her throat turned to fire. Her nose and eyes were streaming, and she couldn’t see for tears. Gasping, she reached for what she desperately hoped was the glass of water but not quick enough, she coughed and spluttered most of the roll into her hands. She regained control in time to see Statesman Patrick laughing. Principal Ryan shushed him and got up to help her with fibrelettes to wipe her hands and give her the water while Statesman Hennessey patted her on the back.
Is there a stronger word than mortification? Alice doubted it. Right now, she might have to invent one. She closed her eyes and willed herself not to run from the room.
“I’m afraid Statesman Patrick is not a good example of table manners, Dr Langley.” Alice opened her eyes in time to see Principal Ryan send a stern and withering look towards Statesman Patrick.
“What?” Patrick pulled an innocent face, “it’s the only way to eat them. They’re disgusting without the firewater. I’m sorry, Dr Langley, I had no idea you hadn’t had them. They’re standard fare on Saturn Station—possibly not for patients.”
“Why do you have them then?” Hennessey cut in, “I swear you’d eat anything that’s put in front of you.”
Patrick gave an impish smile in response and Principal Ryan returned to his seat, waving away Alice’s mumbled thanks. The steward brought her a scented fibrelette to clean up her hands and then she found a neutral spot on the wall opposite to gaze at, hoping her lack of refinement had had enough of an airing for one night.
“So, Dr Langley. Saturn Station!” Patrick never stopped smiling that dazzling smile. “Have you had a trip through the rings yet? It’s spectacular. Research within them has brought to light remarkable data, even discoveries, many of them since you became a patient here.”
He had lovely teeth, not like Ted’s, dirty brown from smoking. Alice had hated them.
She had to answer, so far, she’d managed to stay out of the conversation and already her nightmare had come true with the roll. There must be something sensible to say, an answer that might suit. They were watching her, and she wished she was invisible.
Putting on a brave face, she tried to smile. It’s not easy, trying to hide the fact you’re an idiot. No point in pretending. Eduction chips did a lot of things but they wouldn’t turn you into the life of the party. She opened her mouth to speak, hoping, by some miracle, something intelligible might tumble out. If not, she had to hope they would be as accepting of her as they were the roll incident.
To her amazement, the miracle did tumble out.
“I haven’t been through the rings, Statesman Patrick, but I would be fascinated. In my time, space travel was in its infancy. The space program, restarted in the mid-21st century with much fanfare, was abandoned almost as quickly in the wake of the plague. Not enough that our planet was infected. Best not contaminate the entire universe! We didn’t know how the virus might behave in space.”
The men agreed.
But Alice had heard herself. What? What on earth was she talking about? She wasn’t even there in the mid-21st century and her only knowledge of a plague was what Kelly and Amelia told her. But the confusion didn’t end there. She spoke with confidence, looking across at Statesman Patrick and this time, he saw something else in her eyes. Something that hadn’t been there earlier.
“Statesman Patrick, what’s your role on the Significator?”
“Just ‘Statesman’, Dr Langley, now we are introduced, it’s only when you speak of me to someone else, would you say, ‘Statesman Patrick’.”
“There are many protocols I haven’t yet mastered.”
“I’m sure society hasn’t changed too much, Dr Langley,” Principal Ryan said. “Social mores and protocols have, I’m pleased to report, remained constant over the years. You might draw comfort from that.”
She fancied he would be a stickler for mores and protocols. She inclined her head a little, deferring to him. Alice still didn’t know where she was in all this. Somewhere in the topmost corner of the room, it seemed, watching her body make sense of the conversation.
“Dr Langley asked you a question about your role here, Patrick.” Hennessey looked at Alice and then back to Patrick.
“Of course, I apologise, I’m an engineer, Dr Langley.”
“I was told by—” Alice’s voice continued, “—please excuse me, I’m not sure who, that a scientific background was a prerequisite for working aboard the starships. Isn’t engineering a separate discipline to science? Or has that changed?”
“Yes, my branch of engineering and metallurgy concerns space venturing vehicles only. It’s still considered a science.”
“So, you make the engines go, Statesman?” It sounded like a phrase Alice might use, understanding and interpreting things in the simplest of terms.
“I suppose I do, Dr Langley,” he waggled his eyebrows. Principal Ryan leaned back and passed his hand over his mouth. From her hiding place, Alice swore she saw him sigh.
“And you, Statesman Hennessey?” she said, turning her attention to the man on her right.
“I’m an anthropologist and phonetician, Dr Langley. I also specialise in ancient dialects.”
“Is there a need for linguistics experts in the military?”
“I’m a civilian, but yes, linguistics play an important role in contacting other species.”
Whatever was driving Alice, then directed her attention to Principal Ryan but his expression made it plain he would answer no questions about himself or his role, and he glanced away. Well, Alice supposed from her corner, he’s the one in charge.
“As I am sure you’re aware, we’ve just returned from a mission,” he said. “The A’khet gave us co-ordinates of two inhabited planets, both these planets are in close proximity and both are civilisations the A’khet visited before they arrived on Earth. The system is relatively close to ours, so it was expected the mission would take only a year.” He was matter-of-fact about meeting beings from other worlds, as if it happened every day! If it didn’t excite him, it excited Alice’s other self.
“My goodness, how thrilling! Were you welcomed?” Alice felt a surge in her chest. She had no control over it. She listened, riveted, her fascination must have reached as far as her face because Patrick laughed when he saw her expression.
“Not the last ones!!”
Principal Ryan held up his hand.
“Patrick, Dr Langley won’t be interested…”
“Come on Ryan,” Patrick turned his eager face to Alice. “It’s a great story.”
And before Principal Ryan had the opportunity to say another word, Patrick launched into the tale, about how, upon reaching the co-ordinates given by the A’khet, a landing party was dispatched, he wasn’t part of the landing party, but he would have loved to have seen it, he said, laughing as he went along, caught up in his own amusement.
It was impossible not to smile, even when Patrick ignored Principal Ryan’s unspoken order to silence.
“The inhabitants chased them with sticks and whips!” Patrick stopped just short of acting it out with his cutlery. “We all blamed Hennessey because he couldn’t speak the language or decipher any dialect. It was a miracle they made it out at all!”
Principal Ryan listened, his expression unreadable. He clearly knew Patrick well, but Hennessey’s face was like thunder. Principal Ryan didn’t let Patrick continue. He held up his hand again and this time, silenced him.
“Patrick has somewhat condensed the story for dramatic effect, Dr Langley.” Principal Ryan turned his unsmiling face towards Patrick, who allowed him to take over the story with a more reasonable and measured, but rather less humorous recounting.
“The A’khet, as you know, are telepathic, an obvious advantage, as they prepared the inhabitants of the planet...” He looked over at Patrick who was going too long without speaking, and who, without invitation, chimed in.
“…that they were arriving and were friendly,” he added, helping the story move along.
Statesman Hennessey nodded his head, agreeing.
“They’re a tribal society with little technology and no space travel, though they did have a rudimentary grasp of engineering and industry, in short, an evolving and developing civilisation.”
But Patrick couldn’t help himself. The story wasn’t heading quickly enough to the punch line.
“They landed a tube in the bushes, Dr Langley, made their way to one of the groups and announced their arrival.”
“It wasn’t like that Patrick,” Hennessey turned to Alice.
“We landed the tube where they wouldn’t find it, in the belief that seeing such advanced technology might cause fear or panic.” Even Alice, in her limited understanding, saw how that might happen.
Then Principal Ryan took back the story.
“We did approach the tribe, Dr Langley, we tried to dress like the A’khet, to be more recognisable. Statesman Hennessy has extraordinary linguistic skills—” From the corner of her eye, Alice saw Patrick bite his lip against a retort, Principal Ryan saw it too and ignored it.
“—but he isn’t telepathic. The key to A’khet’s success with these people is their ability to reassure, to mollify. Humans don’t have that ability...”
“So, they chased them with those sticks and whips and they had to run!” Patrick interrupted again, “sticks that burned like hell if they touched you!”
Principal Ryan glanced at Patrick, then turned back to Alice with a look that showed a certain amount of long-suffering.
“Statesman Patrick believes a diplomatic solution would have taken the form of landing the tube and charming them into accepting our overtures of friendship,” Principal Ryan concluded with a trace of sarcasm.
“Or talked so much they begged for mercy,” Hennessey murmured, his own sarcasm a little less restrained.
Patrick looked over and beamed at her, this time, she met his eyes. Yes, charm. A skill he had in abundance.
“Well, Principal Ryan,” she said, bringing the conversation back on track. “Thank you for that amazing account. I can’t speak for the people you visited, but I understand a little about strangeness. I remember none of this technology,” Alice gestured to the registry, “and I know of no-one able to relate a story such as the one you have. Every day, I’m presented with new and unfamiliar concepts which baffle and bewilder. Even though I’m human, your manners, your dress, your society; they’re all strange to me. I can imagine how those people felt; hiding the tube, and I don’t even know what that is, might have been the least frightening part of your arrival there. Perhaps a member of the A’khet should go with you or you should present yourselves as you are, with less elaborate planning or trickery.”
Principal Ryan didn’t agree with this young woman with amnesia. She remembered nothing of space travel, meeting or intermingling with people from other worlds and she’d been ill for a decade. He wondered what branch of science gave her the title of doctor and had to remind himself he was only doing this for Hardy’s sake.
“I agree we got it wrong, Dr Langley. We’re not so experienced. The two societies, the A’khet called them ‘Baru’, meaning ‘double’ in their language, appear to have a common ancestry but of course, we don’t know how they came to be related, as neither race possesses the ability to travel in space. We have placed a restriction on travel to their system. Their origins will remain a mystery I believe, as both civilisations rejected any form of contact with humans.”
“The A’khet won’t travel in space again, Dr Langley,” Hennessey told her, “they have refused to join missions or be separated from one another. We can’t insist they join us. We respect their privacy.”
“So, why do you want to meet these other species? Travel to distant planets? Isn’t there enough on Earth that warrants your attention?”
“It’s called exploration, Dr Langley,” Principal Ryan’s voice took on a tone that Alice recognised in Amelia when she was firmly in the role of educator. “And exploration can mean a simple study of the composition of a mineral or examining the complexity of a microcosm. In a larger sense, the universe is purely that, something we need to understand, to explore. It’s far too large for us to place under a microscope in a laboratory. So, we go out there, travel amongst it, endeavour to unravel its mysteries.”
Alice fell to silence. Inexplicably, and with no knowledge as to why such a thought might come to her, she considered that, when exploring a bacterium, she would essentially view it from the outside. Further exploration might be aided by microscopes and petri dishes and chemicals but how much more satisfying to unravel its marvels by being part of it? And in that moment, she came down from the corner of the room.
What was that conversation about? There was a vague rattling sensation inside her head. She looked at the safe spot on the wall and realised that all three men were still watching her. Was there a question? Who asked it?
“You want to meet the neighbours,” she said. It sounded good.
Hennessey gave a small laugh. “That’s a good way of putting it, Dr Langley. Yes, we want to meet the neighbours.”
Bake them a cake, thought Alice.
Alice didn’t choke, cough, splutter o
r do any other things to embarrass herself for the rest of the meal and afterwards, the steward brought them Alice’s favourite coffee.
The men were talking, their voices in the background as she sipped. She’d asked sensible questions, hadn’t she? If only she could remember. What did they discuss? Other worlds? That rang a bell, but the more she tried, the more the memory faded. She looked across at Patrick and seeing her, he smiled. It would be nice to have him as a friend along with Kelly and Amelia.
“Dr Langley,” Statesman Hennessey addressed her. “We’ve been advised not to tire you with questions, but to be away from Earth for so long a period, you must be glad to be returning.”
“I don’t remember it at all. None of it,” she said, not wanting to get into a discussion about time periods.
“Once you’re home, you’ll remember. It’s a beautiful place,” Patrick said. “The most beautiful in the galaxy.”
“You’ve only seen four others, Patrick,” Hennessey pointed out.
“Yes, but of those four, Earth is the most diverse.”
The two Statesman started a good-natured argument on the virtues of Earth and Alice found herself intrigued by the camaraderie existing between the three men, even with poker-faced Principal Ryan acting as a quiet referee. She was on the periphery of their conversation now, they sometimes acknowledged her but mainly they were happy just for her to listen in. She made a mental note to ask Amelia about the protocols of the military because the rules seemed pretty relaxed tonight.
But protocols were again sharply observed when Principal Ryan rose to his feet at a lull in the conversation between Patrick and Hennessey. The other two men also stood and Alice, not knowing what to do, stood as well.