The Galactic Circle Veterinary Service

by Stephen Benjamin

  The final blow came when Rabbi Pearlman omitted the cup of wine poured and placed at the open door for the Prophet Elijah to drink. Levi became apoplectic.

  “We must fill the cup and recite the invitation to the Prophet Elijah. His presence foretells the coming of Messiah,” he screamed. His red face, white scar, and twitching eye had half the kids at the meal hiding behind parents.

  The rabbi stood and fixed Levi with her own, equally scary glare. “Reb Schvartz, we welcomed you to help us celebrate a sacred portion of our traditions as Jews, and you do nothing but denigrate and berate us for our hospitality. Our own rabbis have spent much time interpreting the Torah and the Talmud in the light of new knowledge gained from our spread through the galaxy. Tradition is one thing, fantasy another. This is the fourth millennium, time that ghost stories are put away from our religion.”

  “Pfeh.” Levi spat. “You are no better than a bunch of heathens. You call yourselves Jews? I have met aliens that were more observant than you.”

  A laughable statement considering the depth of Levi’s xenophobia.

  “I cannot tolerate this travesty a moment longer. We will send a mission here to bring you back to the true religion. You will learn what the true faith means.” He turned and stomped out of the hall, leaving an enraged congregation behind him.

  Unfortunately, the congregation turned their anger towards Fur and me. I thrust my gorge back down and shouted over the multitude of furious voices. “Friends. Please. Listen to me.”

  Senator Schwab raised her hands, and things quieted down.

  “Please let me apologize,” I said. “If I had known Levi would act like this, I would not have brought him tonight. He does not speak for me, or Mr. Cohen, or for most of the forward thinking Jews of Dovid’s World. Unfortunately, a few reactionary and parochial people like Levi dominate our world’s government. That is our problem, not yours. This is a solemn holiday. Let’s not allow a closed-minded fanatic spoil it for the rest of us. Your service is wonderful. Please, let’s complete it in the spirit of our ancestors.”

  Senator Schwab added, “It is my fault, not Dr. Berger’s. I knew of Reb Schvartz’s nature, but did not expect such narrow-minded hatred.” She turned to me. “Dr. Berger, sometimes one must experience something to truly understand it.” She turned back to the assembly. “Let us continue.”

  After the Seder, Senator Schwab spoke to Fur and me. “It is truly my fault that this happened. After you informed me of the nature of your world’s government, some puzzling events became clear. Your Reb Schvartz has been fomenting dissension in parts of our community, amongst people who form the lowest rung of our society. His threat about a mission to convert us was not bluster. From what I learned, this man and his thugs truly plan to invade our world. He should not have been invited.”

  Fur responded. “I’m glad you’ve seen through his duplicity, Senator. You should know that he has done this on every world with a Jewish population that we have visited. I am a member of the main resistance organization to the Testamentary-Literalists, and I have kept tabs on and worked against Reb Levi throughout this voyage. We have thwarted his attempts to create an environment ripe for conquest on other worlds. I would have contacted you about this had you not learned of it yourselves. From your reaction, I think that Cennesari will be prepared.”

  I watched Fur, wide-eyed. It amazed me that he had come into the open like that.

  Schwab looked at Fur with newfound respect. “You surprise me, Mr. Cohen. And you, Dr. Berger. There is more to your mission than meets the eye.” She fixed me with her steely gaze. “There may be more we can do for you in the future, Dr. Berger. A threat to invade our world may require a response. We will discuss this further.”

  ***

  It took a week before the news of the introduced epidemic hit the vids. When it did, the current Cennesari administration came down with a crash. You could almost feel the city reverberate. The scandal stripped out bureaucrats from top to bottom.

  Scott told me, “We used the recording to approach the Premier first. We had reason to believe that he would never have countenanced such a barbaric action. He was appalled. He put his entire staff to work, and they pinpointed the functionaries who had thwarted efforts to help the Hunters. While not many, they held strategic positions in the bureaucracy. A few of them broke down, and that opened the floodgates. People pointed fingers in every direction. Most of the extreme anti-Hunter politicians have been forced to resign.”

  The cadre that had smuggled in and released the virus was not in government, but had ties to it. Some of those responsible escaped. I worried that the anti-Hunters might learn of our complicity in their downfall and come after us, but Scott told me that they kept our part in the operation secret. Fortunately, I doubted Ric would remember what he had said, or admit it if he did remember.

  ***

  I met the Cennesari veterinarian, Sammel Cressel, who came over from the other continent to assist. We collaborated with the scientific and medical community, and managed to mass-produce the needed vaccine.

  When we had some time alone, I raised the question of the cenoxen. When I told him about my suspicions, he was somber.

  “Your talent is quite extraordinary. I can only imagine how useful that would be. On the other hand, in a case like this, I’m not sure I envy you. Are you sure?”

  “Yes. I don’t receive clear, rational thoughts from animals or humans, just emotions. The Hunters and the cenoxen are both telepaths. We know the Hunters are sentient. If the cenoxen are not sentient, they are damned close to it. I feel like I should do something, but I was warned off by Charl Cooper. She said it would devastate the economy of the planet.”

  “Charl is a sharp woman.” Cressel was silent for long moments. “She’s right, you know. The export of cenoxen meat is the keystone of our economy. If that stopped...” He shook his head. “I’m not sure I have a good answer for you. Right now, you have half the humans on this world who love you and half who hate you for what you have done. You drop this on them and you would probably push it to ninety percent against. As far as this world is concerned, the cenoxen are cattle. I can’t tell you what to do. That has to be your decision.”

  ***

  With the vaccine ready, we headed for Hunter territory. Cressel and I instructed the medical personnel in how to treat Hunters with dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. While too many of the Hunters were beyond help, we did manage to save a significant number. We set up field clinics for mass vaccination and sent out Hunter representatives to have as many of their compatriots as possible gather at the clinics. After two weeks, we had vaccinated over eighty percent of the estimated remaining Hunter population. That was all we could do, but it would break the back of the epidemic.

  I told Sammel that I had to raise the question of the cenoxen. I could not live with myself if I did not. After putting forth such an effort to save the Hunters, how could I ignore the cenoxen? I saw them in the same light, both sentient telepaths. I wrestled with the recognition that I might cause a major upheaval and untold hardship for an entire world and I did not sleep well the rest of my stay on Cennesari.

  Senator Schwab made the official announcement regarding possible sentience of cenoxen in their parliament. Give her credit. She agreed to make the unpopular disclosure even though she knew it could damage her own political career. The response was quick and overwhelming: The vast majority of the Cennesari population vehemently disbelieved that the cenoxen were sentient. Of course, there were no other empaths who could confirm or deny my assertion, so I was portrayed as a rabble-rousing nut case. The media denounced my so-called “telepathic ability” as prevarication. Fortunately, I was off in the wilds; otherwise, I might have been torn limb from limb by an angry mob.

  As it was, Levi’s wrath came down on me doubled because I had not told him of my abilities. I blew that off as best I could and looked to Fur for needed support.

  “You’ve done what you can,” he told me. “Wha
t happens from here is up to the Cennesarians.”

  “Yeah, but I doubt they will do anything about it. They’ll keep on eating and exporting the creatures unless pushed to change.”

  He pulled at his beard. “You’re probably right, but do you want to take on a galactic campaign against them? There are a lot of good people on this planet that you would harm, as well as the bigots and xenophobes.”

  I leaned my elbows on the table, my head in my hands. The small GCVS commissary felt claustrophobic. “Many worlds would stop cenoxen imports if they knew, but that could cripple this planet. I just don’t know what to do.” The painful knot in my chest would not go away.

  “Cy, leave it. I understand where you are on this, but you can’t be the final arbitrator of what is right and wrong with the universe.”

  I looked up at Fur and took a deep breath. “You’re right. I can’t even do anything about our own little corner of it back home.” I stood and turned to leave. “I need to take a break. I’ll see you later.” I wanted to cry alone.

  ***

  We wrapped our vaccination efforts up late one evening and found that a celebration had been prepared. As we approached, a huge bonfire roared, as did the Hunters who surrounded it. I even saw a few male Hunters present. The sounds caught my breath. The fire’s heat distorted the atmosphere. Monstrous shadows from even the smallest members of the celebratory party danced like drunken wraiths against the night. It recalled some of the ancient African jungle vids I had watched. I half expected Tarzan of the Apes to swing down out of a tree—though there were no trees here on the edge of the Cennesari plain. Beer flowed like liquid gold—not the Anselms’ variety, but good enough. The Hunters brought in fresh game, exotic-looking and -tasting meats. No cenoxen, thankfully.

  At the end of the evening, after many libations, the Hunter elders gathered and one ancient tigress addressed me.

  I heard gasps from the humans present. Anne Stannard, who had joined us at our request, leaned toward me. “Get up. You’ve been made honorary Hunters. You need to respond. Nothing like this has ever happened before.”

  Fur and I stood and I stammered through thanks I could not recall afterward.

  Fur was more articulate. “You honor us. To live among you would be a life of joy. Your offer of food is beyond our expectations, although we will be leaving your planet and won’t be able to accept. Having been able to assist you is reward enough.”

  Levi did not stand or speak. I sensed that the title of honorary Hunter insulted him.

  Lieutenant Stannard stepped forward and addressed the Hunter clans. “We have already uncovered many of those who were responsible for the atrocity that has been delivered upon the Hunters. Some are still at large, but make no mistake, we humans will find them and bring them to justice. When we do, we will ask the Hunters to assist us in judgment.”

  This created a major stir among the small group of humans present. These people stood behind our work for the Hunters and my plea for the cenoxen, but the idea of Hunters standing in judgment of humans was unheard of. I had discussed this with Anne earlier, but others were not prepared. Anne had forewarned the Hunters. This message would move through the human population with alacrity; that was deliberate. The party wound down after that, perhaps cooled a bit by the thought of what lay ahead for those responsible.

  Then the eldest of the female Hunters approached me, dropped to her belly, ears back, and rolled onto her back. I recognized this classic demonstration of submission, that I was dominant.

  Stunned, I was not sure of the proper response. I knelt, put my arms around the massive head, and spoke. “You are among the most magnificent beings I have met in our galaxy. You are strong, brave, and wise. If I can be half so much, I will face my end in peace and honor.”

  The elder stood and voiced her thanks.

  At this distance, I could examine her extremely red and swollen gums; her breath was foul enough to turn the stomach of a carrion bird.

  I addressed her again. “One more thing I might accomplish for the Hunters and for you. May I please clean your teeth?”

  CHAPTER 15

  “I will tolerate no more of these useless diversions.” Levi’s face was even redder than usual, and his white scar slashed his face like an exclamation point. “Worlds of lizard-men—if you can call them ‘men’—and dragons do not add to our knowledge.”

  Of course, he meant military knowledge, or worlds that might be targets for the Test-Lits’ evangelical activities.

  “We will stop only at the two human worlds we have contracted with. And you...” He looked at me and squinted to stop the twitch of his eye. “You will refrain from alienating the people of these worlds. We left Beta Cygnus with nothing after your outrageous act of attacking Master Fredo. You alienated most of Cennesari with your insistence on helping a bunch of cats, not to speak of your insane insistence that their cattle were intelligent.” He spat the words like a curse.

  It seemed that his alienating the Jewish community on Cennesari didn’t count.

  “They would have paid us much more, if not for that. You seem to forget about your parents, Berger. My hyperwave reports to home keep your parents unconfined and unharmed. This could change.”

  I ignored the pounding in my head and kept my voice even. “I agreed to schedule human worlds, but we won’t avoid nonhuman worlds if they are in dire need of our services. That’s both unacceptable and immoral. If we do, we’ll lose what credibility we’ve gained, and that won’t help your mission.”

  I could read the conflict within the rebbe; greed warred with his xenophobia. Greed won. “Hmph. So long as they are willing to pay well.”

  Hypocritical putz.

  Even if Levi’s avarice won out—he had about orgasmed over the treasure from the dragon emperor—his xenophobic harangues did not let up. We were on the next leg of our voyage, and we sat around the dinner table, over dessert and coffee. Fur leaned back in his chair and propped his size-fifteen feet on a stool. For the most part, he stayed out of my verbal battles with Levi unless things started to take a nasty turn.

  The Rebbe leaned across the table toward me, his black eyes intense. “Can you not see this, Cy?” he asked. “Neshama, the Hebrew word for breath, describes the soul or spirit. God gives the soul to a person in his or her first breath. It is written in Bereshit.” He used the Hebrew name for Genesis:

  “‘And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. Man became a living soul.’

  “Nowhere in the Torah does it say that souls exist in other species than humans.”

  I kept my voice tempered. “That may be the literal translation that implies the existence of souls in men. It does not specifically say that animals do not have souls, does it?”

  He narrowed his eyes, but I continued before he could respond. “The Torah was composed by humans millennia ago. They didn’t have a clue that there were other sentient races out among the stars. How could the writers even consider whether they had souls if they didn’t know they existed?”

  Levi sat up straight and lifted his chin imperiously. “The Torah is the word of God.” He looked at Fur. “I recall Mr. Cohen made that point to you the night we first met.”

  “Why are you so determined to look down on every race we meet as inferior to humans? That’s bigotry, plain and simple.”

  “You call me a bigot?” He removed his yarmulke and wiped beads of sweat from his bald dome with his sleeve. His eye spasmed and he rubbed it. I figured that he would unleash one of his threats, but he surprised me. “You are biased against the true religion. God handed down his laws to his people. His chosen people. Not to lizards, manlike or dragon-like, to cats, and Lord knows what else out there.”

  “Ha.
You just said it better than I could. ‘Lord knows what else.’ Isn’t that an admission that God does know, and care, about these other sentient species? Just listen to yourself.”

  He huffed, rose, and turned to leave the commissary, but he could not pass up a parting shot. “You and yours will regret this attitude, Berger. See if you do not.”

  True to form. My help to get him ingratiated with the Cennesari military had already lost its charm. I looked at Fur and shook my head. “What a schmuck.”

  “Our keeper is getting antsy,” Fur said. “My guess is that he’ll demand again that we return home before we finish our contracts, even though he agreed to go on. What do we do then?”

  “I’ve thought about that a lot.” I looked at the hatch and went to it. I checked the corridor outside, and closed the hatch before I returned to my seat. “If we return to Dovid’s World now, it won’t change Levi’s, or the Inquisition’s, view of me or my beliefs. It won’t get me or my folks out of danger. I don’t know what to do.”

  “Have you thought more about the resistance?” Fur asked. “You know the situation at home, the excesses of the Test-Lit regime, and the activities of the Sons-of-David. You could be a valuable ally—”

  “Yeah, but if I openly oppose the regime, my folks are in deep shit.”

  “The resistance could hide them.”

  “And they would be hunted like criminals. Can you guarantee their safety? At least they’re free now.” I thought about that a moment. “Unless Levi is handing us a pile of drek and they’re already prisoners.”

  “We have no reason not to believe Levi on that one.” He fixed me with his brown eyes. “I wouldn’t ask you to openly oppose the Test-Lits. You could help in other ways. If we are to have a free future on Dovid’s World, we have to take action.”