by Kurt Winans
When asked by a group of colonists if Ross believed the rumor, he responded with, “There was a time on Earth when billions of people thought I was insane for believing in an alien species that ultimately brought us to this moon. That was not a very comfortable feeling, and I vowed to never be that narrow minded when it came to discussing the possibility of other life forms. Although I did not see one of the mythical creatures in question, I cannot dismiss the possibility of their existence.”
Having been previously unaware of the topic at hand, Jessica asked, “What type of life form are you discussing?”
“At least one hundred people have reported spotting creatures that they believe are Mermaids.”
“Did you say Mermaids?”
“Yes I did, and those who witnessed them are quite emphatic about their observations.”
“Do you believe them?”
“With everything that has happened during the last two years, and what we have encountered on this moon, it would be foolish to simply dismiss the thought.”
“Yes, but Mermaids?”
“All I know is that anything has proved to be possible here, so I plan on watching the lake very closely just prior to the next eclipse in the hope of verifying their claims.”
Several hours later, Ross met once again with members of the representative council. The counts had been tallied from each camp and sector of the colony, and the total number of dead was alarming. The first eclipse experienced by the colony had claimed the lives of four hundred and seventeen people. Most of them had been elderly and poorly nourished, but there were exceptions. Janet, and other trained medical personnel, had already begun an investigation into the cause of death, but it would take time to examine each of the bodies. The initial wave of examinations had revealed the obvious, as prolonged exposure to the extreme cold without adequate clothing or shelter had done them in. Ross couldn’t help but take the news personally. In spite of his best efforts with the short notice, the colony had obviously been ill prepared.
Turning to Jessica he said, “This is just terrible. We have now lost a total of eight hundred and fifty-nine members of the colony. We now number slightly less than nine thousand. If our collective gene pool is to survive, we must minimize the decline of our population.”
“That’s true, but at least most of those who have died were probably well beyond their reproductive years.”
“Speaking of that, the twenty-seven pregnant women should probably be examined immediately. We need to have them all report to the medical clinic as soon as possible.”
“Slow down a minute Ross. For many centuries women have been enduring a pregnancy in extreme conditions, and I’m sure that our expectant mothers are just fine for the moment. Besides, the medical team is rather busy right now.”
“Good point and they probably will be for some time.”
“Thank you. Now, perhaps we should discuss a few of the more immediate priorities.”
“That’s a good idea. First, after the bodies have all been identified and examined by the medical staff, we need to gather and move them to where the others are buried. In that respect, we need to dig graves as was done for many of those who died before the eclipse.”
“Alright, should I begin looking for volunteers?”
“Yes please, and let it be known that I will be the first of that volunteer group.”
“Consider it done Ross. What next?”
“It’s going to sound horrible, but it must be done.”
“Go ahead.”
“The clothing that belonged to the dead will need to be salvaged. If family members or friends can’t use them, then others will. We can’t afford to bury our dead in clothing that could help someone else survive the cold.”
“I agree. Is there anything else?”
“Yes. We will need to build some type of memorial on or near the gravesite to honor all those that have died during the early days of our life on this new world.”
“That’s a great idea. I’ll see if the engineers who built the perimeter fence have any suggestions.”
“Excellent, and thanks in advance for all your help with everything Jessica. We will have multiple projects to work on in the near future, with precious little time to complete them.”
“Just like our days in Washington then?”
“Yes, but without all the support staff.”
In the days that followed, the colony worked feverishly to complete many tasks. Hundreds took part in the digging of the mass grave site for the dead, and a subsequent service was held for those who wished to attend. Using the model provided by the Mayans, colonists began to construct small shelters from sunbaked bricks of small sticks and dry grasses mixed with lakeshore mud. Once completed, the materials from a lean-to would then be used for a crude roof. That would provide a nearly fully enclosed area to theoretically hold in the heat of a small fire during the cold nights and future eclipses.
As had been the case since the day of arrival on the moon, the majority of the long term abductees from the deep water vessel were the hardest workers. For the most part, they had also adapted to the current living conditions much quicker than other colonists. For Ross, and anyone who cared enough to notice, the reasoning was obvious. Many, like Janet, had come from a time on Earth that was void of the sometimes overly pampered modern conveniences. They were therefore somewhat accustomed to a more difficult or challenging way of life. In that regard, the abductees became most helpful. They taught those in the general population how to grasp the idea of coexisting with the natural surroundings.
In the midst of all the other work, Megan Crenshaw and the accompanying agricultural brain trust had also been busy. They had planted a variety of seeds in one-third of the irrigated rows within the crop fields just two days after the eclipse had ended. It had not been the most glorious of tasks for her team to perform, but per her belief, the soil had been enriched with a measure of human waste in the hope of creating additional yield.
With each passing eclipse, the number of colonists to perish continued to decline. On the morning of the fourth, and most recent, post-eclipse dawn, the results of the count had revealed that only six people had died during the event. Ross flashed back over the previous one hundred and thirty-two moon days since the first of such dawns, and smiled. The total of the dead within that time frame was only seventy-three, and most of those had died during the second and third time of the black void.
Including the nearly complete cycle of thirty-eight days leading up to and through the first eclipse, one hundred and seventy moon days had passed since their landing. During that time, the colony had come a long way. As a whole, it had grown stronger, and developed into a much more cohesive population. Most had fit into a working niche that they enjoyed, so everyday activities had inherently become more streamlined with less wasted effort. Improved, yet cautiously tempered, hunting, fishing, and foraging techniques, helped provide a greater supply of food for the general population. That, along with Megan Crenshaw’s delivery of the first full yield of rotational crops, had lifted the spirits of most everyone.
On the day of the harvest, Ross had publicly credited Megan and the rest of her team for the outstanding work that they had done with the crops. Using the Mayan example, she managed to harvest those crops three days before the most recent eclipse, and had two other yields in various stages of growth. As has been the case previously, Megan planned on planting one-third of the irrigated land during the second post-eclipse day. That would help to insure a perpetual cycle. Ross knew that would be a long and busy day for all those involved, but was completely comfortable with how Megan had handled the task on previous occasions.
A few days later, Janet was providing Ross and Jessica with a tour of the four newly completed shelters that housed the medical clinic. The invitation to view the facility had come with a request however, as the entire medical team wanted to have a discussion with Ross. Prior to the first eclipse, Aurora made a prediction that had proved to be c
orrect. The number of confirmed pregnancies was escalating, and the medical team was concerned about their collective health and welfare. That discussion would need to be postponed however, as Ross spotted one of the Peruvian runners sprinting toward him.
Gabriela had sent word via the young woman that Ross was needed immediately. A group of visitors, that included the Mayan King, could be seen approaching from just beyond the irrigated fields. Ross sent a return message with the runner that he and Jessica would be there in a few minutes. Then he turned his attention back toward the medical team and said, “Sorry everyone, but we need to go welcome the Mayan King. Can we talk about your concerns at a later time?”
Janet responded, “Of course, but I’m coming with you. I have never met a Mayan before, let alone the King.”
“That fact holds true for nearly everyone in our colony mom, so others will undoubtedly wish to do the same.”
Having already ascended the embankment leading up from the crop fields, the Mayan entourage crossed over the stream and moved onto the plateau. Gabriela greeted the King and his group of twenty or so, and then motioned toward a large stump so the King could sit while they waited for Ross and Jessica to arrive. Megan, having been witness to the procession moving through the fields and past her shelter, crept closer in order to view the upcoming meeting.
A gentle respectful bow by each of the two leaders was followed by a handshake, and then in his practiced, yet broken Mayan, Ross said to the King, “Hello my friend. Welcome to our colony.”
The Mayan King seemed surprised to hear the words spoken by his counterpart, but nodded with understanding. Having previously used Gabriela as a translator, the King glared in her direction with an expression of irritation on his face. He then bluntly asked in the only language he knew, “Did your husband know how to speak my language at the time of your visit to our city? If so, then why did he disrespect me and my people by having one of his wives speak to me on his behalf?”
It was quite obvious to Gabriela that the King had been offended, and she knew her response to his inquiry could be vital in the history of how these two civilizations co-existed. If she admitted to the King that Ross had been ignorant to the Mayan language at the time of the previous encounter, it could, and probably would, be interpreted as a sign of weakness. On the other hand, his new found grasp of a few bits of their language could earn Ross some respect from the Mayan people. That scenario was better than having the King believe Ross had intentionally disrespected him, so she took a leap of faith. In Mayan, she responded, “No, my husband had no understanding of your language when we visited your city. It has been his wish since that time that many of his people learn your language in order for our two civilizations to communicate with each other. He did this as a show of respect toward you and your people, and has ordered me to teach the people who want to learn.”
With the tension now easing in his face, the King looked back toward Ross. Then he asked Gabriela, “How much of my language has he learned?”
“He has learned several words and a few basic phrases, but is working hard to learn more when he has the time.”
“If he has ordered you to teach his people my language, then you must be his most trusted and intelligent wife. Do any of his other wives shoulder the burden of important tasks, or are they simply used for breeding purposes?”
Now it was Gabriela’s turn to be offended. Although accurate, the King’s statement implied that she was no longer of use for child bearing. Fighting back the inner rage caused by his presumption, Gabriela breathed deeply, slapped a smile on her face, and responded, “That’s a very good question; let me ask Ross what he thinks.”
Before she could muster the words, Ross interrupted them, “Some bits and pieces of your conversation with the King came through, but it was very fast. I definitely recognized the word for wife. What did he want to know about that?”
“The King wants to know if any of your other wives are as trustworthy and intelligent as me.”
“What other wives?”
“The King believes that you, like him, have many wives, but that I may be the most trusted. He’s insightful, but I think we should inform him that you don’t have multiple wives.”
“What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Do you wish to continue in the role of my wife?”
“Well this is all rather sudden sir, and I’m not quite sure how to respond to such a question. Are you asking me to be your wife for the sake of continuing our previous façade, or is this a legitimate and formal proposal?”
“This is not the time to joke around Gabriela. I’m asking you how we should handle his belief that you are my wife.”
“Who says I’m joking?”
“Gabriela, please!”
“Alright sir, try to relax. For the sake of harmony, I will continue the façade. It’ probably best for all of us if the King believes you have at least one wife.”
“Thank you. Now please inform the King that you are my only wife. Then present an offer of rest, food, and water before I show him and his party the grounds of the colony.”
In the hours that followed, the Mayan King and his entourage learned much about their counterparts and the host colony through quiet observation. There were introductions to several hundred people who had differing shades of skin color, and like those few who had visited the city, wore clothing that was unfamiliar to the Mayans. The two women directly behind Ross, who the King initially believed to be other wives, were the first to be introduced by Gabriella. The older one, Jessica, was said to be Ross’ sister, but the attractive and much younger Janet was supposedly his mother. To the King, that seemed confusing and utterly impossible, and the expression on his face showed it. Blended with a reintroduction to Colt and those who had visited his city, the King met Megan, Aurora, Amelia, and the crews of Flight 19. Certain members of the representative council, and all six astronomers had also been introduced as Ross took the King and his group on a walking tour of the colony. That was when the King discovered that as a ruler, Ross did not maintain absolute power over the people. He learned there was a council that represented the will of the citizens, and Ross met with them often to discuss issues involving the colony. Not once throughout the tour had anyone bowed when Ross walked past, and the shelters that the average citizen lived in were of seemingly equal quality to the one that Ross and his family occupied. The King also noticed that in spite of those limitations, Ross had heeded his warning at the conclusion of their first encounter. The citizens of his colony had indeed been convinced to become more harmonious with nature. The King realized that Ross must be well liked and respected by his people, but he doubted leadership could be maintained through a method void of force. And if such tactics did work, that in itself was a puzzling thought. Such an example of leadership could become a threat in the future to the King or his heirs, which meant cautionary measures must be taken.
Throughout a long and nearly sleepless night, the King contemplated over what his next move would be. Continued peaceful relations between the two civilizations seemed to be the prudent course of action at the present time, although the contact would need to be somewhat limited. Further study of Ross and his people would be wise, and any potential weakness would be exploited if the need arose. His counterpart possessed superior numbers, but most of those that the King had seen or met while in the colony would not be considered members of a fighting force. In that regard the King believed that his citizens were better equipped for survival in a conflict. Personally, after all that he had seen of the colony, the King knew he had total superiority over Ross.
After a hearty breakfast meal provided by their hosts, the King and his entourage bid a respectful farewell.
Ross again offered his best attempt at Mayan when he said, “Goodbye my friend. Have a safe journey, and please visit us again soon.”
The King looked at Gabriela, and she urged him on by nodding and saying, “Go ahead.”
Tu
rning to Ross, he said in broken English, “Thank you.”
Ross smiled in the belief that another breakthrough in their relationship had been achieved, and shook the Kings hand. Jessica smiled inwardly; as she knew that Gabriela was again proving her love for Ross. It was apparent that she was a strong willed and highly intelligent woman, and would do whatever she deemed as appropriate and effective. In this case, she took the initiative, and helped bridge the language gap between the neighboring civilizations.
To emphasize his supposed strength, the King set a brisk pace as his entourage headed off in the direction of their city. He never looked back, but felt confident that his powerful stride had not gone unnoticed by Ross and the others. Once beyond the rocky shoreline point and out of view of the colony, the King, sweating profusely, stopped to rest his tired legs. His thoughts then began to center on a specific thought. Will he absorb Ross’ colony into the control of his domain by taking offensive action, or leave them be?
Having watched the Mayan entourage until they were clear of the irrigated crop fields, Ross could waste no more time waiting for the King to look back over his shoulder. Turning to Megan he asked, “Can you please have a few members of your team keep an eye on the King and his party until they have rounded the rocky point. They don’t need to follow, but I would like to know if the King is returning for some reason.”
“No problem. I’ll send word when he is safely away.”
“Thanks Megan.”
“It may be a few hours though, as I doubt anyone of his age could keep up the pace he set for very long.”
