“The ship didn’t rock enough, there’s no air pressure loss, so no hull breach. No alarms are sounding — and you’re still breathing!”
There were some tense smiles but it was unnerving. Then another explosion rocked the ship then a violent jerk, what felt like several nauseating direction changes, and a clanging sound.
They waited in tense silence for another few minutes then the Communication Officer announced, “We think we are in a sort of shield and in a tractor beam. The Keulfyd ship is also in a tractor beam and we have gone around in a U curve and are now accelerating towards Torroxell. They hit the Keulfyd ship with something I’ve never seen before. It lit up in a blue glow.” The awe in her voice was obvious. “This is going to be close because we’ve varied speed a few times while the Keulfyd fleet has been at a constant speed.” She paused. “I’m sorry, but we won’t have time to land and take off again. We’re here for the duration.”
There were some grumbles but no one was really surprised. And it helped they were alive to grumble, thought Kumenoprix. He was a little surprised at the grumbles: it was somewhat ungrateful. He was just glad to be alive. He had never expected to survive more than a few minutes after Cukudeopul died.
Eleven days before the fleet was due at Torroxell, Ludmilla went to see Sarah privately. “Sarah, do you watch the news? Do you know what they’re saying about you and Dai?”
“I don’t watch that rubbish.”
“Well, someone saw you two go into your apartment and not come out until the next morning. People are jumping to conclusions. Someone reported it and Dai couldn’t exactly deny it, could he? Under Niseyen culture he can’t say anything. Because you also have said nothing, haven’t denied it, by their culture something is going on. You need to make an official statement.”
“It’s no one else’s bloody business!”
“You’re the President of the planet! Your life is not private. Not when this is so important to the Niseyen. You need to do something. What do you want?”
“I don’t know! Leave me alone!”
“You need to do something. This reflects badly on both of you,” Ludmilla admonished, leaving behind a Sarah who didn’t know how to handle it.
Meanwhile, on board the Okme ship all was quiet, everyone too tense to make much noise. They had about eleven days before reaching Torroxell and could be fired on at any time, although the crew declared they were pulling away from the Keulfyd fleet. Kumenoprix was impressed. “The Loridsyl ships are each towing another ship and are pulling away? That means they have some serious engine power!”
When the passengers were allowed back into the control room Kumenoprix examined the scanners, which were unfamiliar to him. Someone pointed out a shimmer. He tried to look intelligent but hadn’t a clue what he was looking at. She said it was the Keulfyd fleet.
The days dragged on but finally they neared Torroxell and the view screen was turned on. Everyone struggled to get a look and finally it was Kumenoprix’s turn. He thought it was a beautiful planet, mostly green and purple, with a light, violet sky and white clouds and white snow at the polar caps. There were some large seas and lakes, but most of it was land. The Navigator told him, “The terrestrial population was about two hundred and fifty million at its peak when it was summer in the more populous northern cities, but was only about a hundred million when it was attacked. The original owners of the planet, the Priskya, who are fish, have been virtually untouched. They remain partial owners of the planet but we can’t understand why. How can fish contribute to a land war?”
“Who owns Torroxell?” Kumenoprix asked of no one in particular.
The woman who had pointed out the shimmer answered, “Torroxell is now a Treaty Planet with five Races — Okme, Priskya, Niseyen, Cats, and Terrans.”
“Who are the Cats and the Terrans?” someone asked.
For once Kumenoprix could answer. He knew this. “The Cats are unknown. The Priskya and the Terrans are protecting them and obviously like them. We don’t know where either the Cats or Terrans are from, but the Terrans are the Race the Niseyen originated from. Their presence on Torroxell was an accident. A rather fortuitous one, according to Helkmid, since they masterminded the counter-attack. The Terrans are another Race with some moral values but they are also very aggressive and alphas. An amazing combination. But they made a very good impression on Helkmid! A child of their race befriended him and turned out to have some very remarkable genes. Highly significant genes for the Niseyen. His father had the same gene arrangement so it is heritable. The SRY gene has shifted and other genes controlling the change to male have gone with it. It has shifted off the Y chromosome.”
Ekridarcus, a programmer, said slowly, “The SRY gene has shifted. Yes, I noted that. Donny is a named individual, then? So the shift is stable, from father to son. That is significant.”
“Their morality was the bit we liked,” Kumenoprix’s friend the self-appointed cook said. “When the Nashi attacked Oberterk they enslaved us, as usual, and the pirate force that attacked Torroxell included some of us as slaves. Pinched from the Nashi when the Keulfyd joined in on their side. The Terrans categorized them as former slaves and therefore not complicit in the attack and so they freed them. How many Races would do that?”
“Very few! What about all the equipment?”
“Our people suggested a deal after talking to the locals and learning a few things about these Terrans. They suggested they would work for the Terrans for about four years, as unpaid contractors, not slaves, and then the equipment would be theirs to do with as they liked. Earned in lieu of wages. The Terrans agreed! The ships are all traveling between Torroxell and the Terran planet. Lots of customers even if they are non-paying. We can own our own Healing Center with only four years of labour. And we can set up permanent business on Torroxell eventually if we want to with no rates and no taxes, just like the deal the locals made with the Terrans. Helkmid says they will honour that.”
Kumenoprix was impressed. A Race that would pass up the opportunity of getting some enslaved Okme along with their equipment. Untold riches! And setting them free! Nice people. He was keen to meet them. But mainly he just wanted to see Helkmid. He wanted to work with him in the brilliant lab he described. He had had enough of being alone, working alone, being the only Okme he ever saw, never having someone he could discuss his ideas and findings with. He yearned for a colleague, a mentor, a student, someone, anyone who could understand what he was talking about! He also wanted respect and recognition for what he had done. That need had surprised him. And he wanted understanding, not ignorant condemnation.
Kumenoprix had made the best of the situation among the Keulfyd. His genius had set him apart from his own people and he had always been a loner but he had not anticipated to what extent he would feel loneliness when he was truly alone. It had been an aching need to be with his own kind in the latter years. A lot of this was because he thought he would die without having anyone giving a damn nor knowing what he had achieved. Now he felt so alive, so full of energy, he badly wanted to live, to start again. In a sudden flash of insight, he wondered if he had been depressed. Was that why he had just plodded on without really caring what happened to himself?
This type of thinking was puzzling Kumenoprix, and he was too embarrassed to discuss it with others. That was the problem at the moment — there was too much time to think. Unusually for him, he couldn’t concentrate on work. He made several attempts and gave up.
He continued to think about the future, now it was possible he would have one. He wanted a wife and children. All the relatives he had known had died; he had outlived them all. He felt desperately alone and wanted a family. On Torroxell there were no population restrictions. He could father as many children as he wanted. That was another thing that was bringing the Okme to Torroxell — unrestricted breeding. The centuries-old rule on their own planet was a restricted lifespan or no total-body Healing Machine treatment after age seventy which amounted to the same thing. One advan
tage of living on another planet and owning a Healing Machine! They had only one planet and, not being aggressive or explorers, hadn’t gotten any more. Until now. He wondered if these Terrans realized how vital this was for the Okme.
And women. He hadn’t a clue how to attract a woman. He couldn’t remember. He knew there were ritual moves, but not what they were now. He had no idea of the current ground rules. They would have changed over the centuries. He didn’t want to think about how old he was. It frightened him. He had so much to catch up on. He had followed the news from his planet — he had been allowed the news broadcasts — but so many taken-for-granted customs he would no longer know. He had forgotten his own culture. So now he felt like an alien amongst his own people. He hadn’t been able to explain this to Helkmid or anyone else. He felt Helkmid would understand after meeting him. He looked wise.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Nine days before the fleet was due, Bert and Ludmilla went to see Sarah. Bert began, “You have to do something about Dai. We need him and he’s preoccupied. The media are continually badgering him and he can’t think straight. For God’s sake, give the man a decision.”
“I did! I told him to forget it ever happened.”
“Well, that’s obviously not the answer he wanted. And you still have said nothing officially. Make up your mind and make an announcement!”
“Keep out of this, Bert!” Sarah snapped. “It’s none of your business.”
“Sarah, this is beyond personal. You have a world to think of. This is distracting people from what we need them doing. Including Dai. We need him. Sort it!” He stormed off.
Sarah sat stony-faced. “I don’t need this now,” she fumed. “Not now!”
Ludmilla sat down quietly beside her. “Sarah, you gave him all the wrong messages. For a start, you should never have accepted food and drink from him. And how could you not have known never to eat alone with him. Niseyen courting behavior 101, apart from smiling at him. And yes, I know you can’t help that. But he doesn’t! He smiles at you, you smile back.”
“It’s a reflex. He’s so good-looking and I like him! But those bloody reporters are making a meal of it. All the Niseyen want one of their own in government. And the ear of the President. Me!”
“Politically, it would be a good move. We are in control but they outnumber us three to one and rising. It’s causing trouble.”
Sarah sighed. “He’s cute as hell but after my disastrous marriage I decided never to let anyone get close again. Never to fall in love. Never to let myself be vulnerable. And I keep mucking things up with him, giving him the wrong messages. I know that! No wonder he’s confused. And his instincts are right. I am keen on him. But I don’t want it to go anywhere. Like all the other times I’ve gotten keen on someone.”
“But when you were drunk you gave away your feelings.”
“I know.” She wanted him. She could admit it to herself. To anyone else? That was entirely another question. And did she love him? Another question where she wasn’t sure of the answer. And now Bert and Ludmilla said he couldn’t think straight.
“I’m convinced he is obsessed with you,” said Ludmilla, “and Kudales agrees.”
“When did you Choose him?”
“Weeks ago. I’m astonished you didn’t notice. But then people keep telling you you have a man’s mind. One-track. One thing at a time.”
“It’s partly true. When something is vital, like survival, I do. I didn’t want to be distracted by Dai. I didn’t want emotional entanglement when I had to think straight.”
Brutally honest, she realized that wasn’t entirely true. She could compartmentalize and he apparently couldn’t. Marrying him would get him back on track and wouldn’t affect her — unless he chucked her over or cheated. But when Robert did that she still passed all her papers, worked, and had Katy two months after her exams. Still undecided, she headed off for the next meeting which was to discuss finance.
As the meeting started Dai opened with, “Finance, or lack of it, is becoming a huge problem. The Terrans have no access to money, which didn’t matter until the Niseyen and Okme came here in numbers and effectively that instantly made the Terrans an underclass. Crime and resentment are becoming a problem.” He looked around. “I have a solution if you are interested. I was contacted, some time ago I admit, by one of the leading financial institutes of Medala. The one that owns the bank on my ship. They have sent some representatives and staff here, in the hopes that they can get a toe into a new market. I haven’t told you this before because they want to get off the planet before the fleet arrives and it looked like it would be a close thing. But their ship is fast and they think they can just do it, if you will see them as soon as they land and deal quickly.
Their offer is data bracelets and accounts for all Terrans — start-up capital since you seem to have mislaid Torroxell’s.” He looked directly at Sarah, who smiled sweetly back. “And to create Torroxell’s trade accounts. Of course, the bankers will get hazard pay if they remain to do this.”
After not terribly much discussion, Sarah said, “All right, Dai, you handle it. It makes sense to leave the organization of this to you since this is your Race and your secondary job. Just make sure you get your priorities right and put Torroxell first, not the bank or the Niseyen. OK?”
He nodded. “OK. I’ll let them know and set up some meetings.”
Sarah waited until all the others had left. Dai was always last. Maybe because every day he hoped? God, she was so nervous! What if he declined?
Dai looked up at her and what she was feeling must have shown in her face. He went very still.
Her heart was pounding and he must have heard it. Her hands were suddenly sweaty. Her throat started to seize up. Before it could, she said softly, “I Choose you, Dai.”
His face was suddenly radiant. “I accept!”
Neither of them saw the shadow by the door that quickly reversed direction and went away. Perhaps because they were locked in that pivotal moment you have when something happens and you know your life has changed course and will never be the same again. When you know you have changed your future. Locked in each others arms, they didn’t see the someone quietly walk away looking for someone with a particular occupation. She spotted one and headed him off.
“For fifty thousand I’ll give you your tonight’s headline.”
“That’s a years’ salary!”
“It’s worth it. Fifty thousand.”
A minute later the deal was done.
Ludmilla was standing near the reporter when Sarah and Dai walked past and the reporter said loudly, in front of a strategically placed camera crew, “Sarah, I hear you Chose Dai.”
Sarah looked at the reporter in astonishment and then saw Ludmilla conspicuously playing with a credit chit. She took a deep breath. “That’s right,” she said, and curved around him to have a little word with Ludmilla, who laughed as she handed the chit to her and said, “Here’s your wedding present. Enjoy!” She laughed at the dumbstruck look on Sarah’s face. All captured by the camera crew. Media gold.
Sarah heard spluttering laughter behind her and turned around to see Dai laughing so hard there were tears in his eyes. She noticed that he was being filmed too. She thought, sometimes there is no justice in life — and with friends like these two, who needs enemies? She swerved around the reporter and made her escape, but he had an accomplice blocking Dai’s exit. They may be culturally reluctant to physically block her but had no qualms blocking Dai, who was making little attempt to get away, possibly because he was still too busy laughing.
Bugger this nutty custom of the female having to announce marriage! She would be prepared to bet he was making sure she left no doubt as to their marital status. She wondered if he and Ludmilla had been co-conspirators. I’m getting paranoid, that’s ridiculous.
She decided she had better deal with this and said, “I choose Dai and he accepted.” She grabbed Dai and forced the camera crew to let him leave. They walked away, lea
ving behind a very satisfied reporter whose bonus for this would far exceed Ludmilla’s wedding present, since Ludmilla had sold him the exclusive for four planets. Any reporter could use this film but they had to pay him for it, and they would! Ludmilla knew full well that Sarah would almost certainly refuse to give another statement. So did the lucky reporter.
Sarah and Dai made their escape to organize an impromptu wedding feast, which Sarah found to her relief was culturally his responsibility, as were any costs. She tucked the credit chip away happily as it was the only money she had, then she remembered the banking group had promised bracelets. She would be able to buy whatever she wanted. She wondered how much was on the chip. Money of her own! That was a point; she hadn’t organized to get a salary. Another note for “after the war”.
Later that night they decided to go back to Sarah’s apartment which was bigger than Dai’s. As they entered and Sarah hung her cloak up, Dai slid his arms around her and held her tight. “There are a lot of things I’d like to do right now but there is so much you need to know — about me, about the Niseyen, about what our military are up to. The latter you need to know now. Come with me. You’ll need your cloak.”
They walked over to Dacklorat’s apartment, Sarah in considerable puzzlement. This was not what she expected of the first night of their honeymoon! Dai left her outside and walked into the apartment. He waited until the screens were all lit up then opened the door and motioned Sarah inside.
Sarah saw a startled Dacklorat and Kudales in a large lounge that looked like a control room because there were eighteen screens covering two walls, all lit but three blanked out. The lit screens showed Niseyen, mostly men, mostly older than her, with varied expressions ranging from anger to shock to curiosity to intrigue. Several were smiling in delight. Sarah nodded as she looked around then, decided to take over. “Nice to see you all. Does this mean the Niseyen are finally going to contribute on a military basis? That would be helpful since our ship isn’t going to make it in time and I have diverted it. I gather that this meeting is informal or, dare we say, illegal? Can anyone tell me why the Niseyen will not recognize us?”
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