Entara marveled at the tactful approach the Kael were taking. She had learned that they tended to settle disputes among themselves mainly by proxy. She suspected that this habit of removing themselves from direct confrontation must have contributed to their skillful deflection of a rapidly escalating crisis involving the Blynthians and the Song Pai. At the same time, it provided a convincing reason for a delay that might cool tempers all around and allow for some maneuvering toward peace.
“This idea is honorable,” concluded the Song Pai. “It is never out of place to reflect on the exact situation of a fight. All implications must be evident in order for it to assume its true importance and thus for the greatest glory to be awarded to the brave ones who offer their lives in conquest. As we say, the blood that is washed away in a swift current never tastes as fine. By all means, let every race present weigh the values that are at stake, so that each delegation shall speak with deepest meaning. As for us, we set no limits to our own risk, other than those implicit in our own sense of sacrifice.”
The theoretical logistics of a Song Pai versus Blynthian confrontation took up the rest of the day. While the Blynthians balked at revealing anything about their armaments, they shocked most of the participants by engaging in discussion of certain tactics, including a unilateral establishment of a large Neutral Zone in reaction to a Song Pai invasion. The Song Pai reacted by denouncing this as an unworthy sign of cowardice. Deep in their cephalopod organs, though, they were suspicious almost to the point of fear that such a withdrawal might be a prelude to an awesome display of destruction that had not been seen in recorded memory anywhere in the Perseid Spiral Arm, perhaps in the whole galaxy. When the session closed, they hurried to establish secure comlink with Song Pa to get their strategists working on possible deployments to such an unexpected move. They were not planning to attend the main evening event, a traditional Phiddian Love Court that promised nothing more than lewdness and profanity for them.
The Forlani delegation smiled as they saw the banner over the entrance to the Love Court bore the eight octagonal stars that were the universal sign of welcome. They had been worried that the sensual Phiddians would have something much more lewd over their doorway. The invitation to attend had specified “non-diplomatic attire – prepare to be relaxed,” and the Forlani had had a meeting to discuss how to dress, or not, for the occasion. On their home planet, Forlani females rarely wore more than a sash or a light cape, unless the weather was particularly bad. Entara was relieved when she learned that her mostly younger colleagues thought, like her, that to appear au naturel on the space station would not set a good example for interspecies relations, no matter how “relaxed” the Phiddians intended to be. They had settled on a song costume – a tunic, mid-length cape and scarf that was often used on Forlan for gatherings where songs were shared among the different matrilines. In Entara’s honor, they all bore the yellow and orange colors of the Eyes of Alertness.
By contrast, the Phiddians who filled most of the room were ablaze in an array of competing colors and most wore a profusion of glowing crystals and other decorations. As hermaphrodites, they were endlessly trying to attract sex partners in various modes and combinations. They openly displayed all available sexual organs, covering only irrelevant parts of their anatomy that had nothing to do with coupling. Other than their large reddish ears, which were apparently considered quite erotic, they resembled humans for the most part. All had silvery-whitish hair, which apparently was a reaction they developed to space travel, for Entara had read in reports that on their own world, their hair resembled the auburn hues of Forlani females. Several of the Phiddians were quite visibly pregnant, including the greeter who swished up to Entara and took her by the hand.
“My dear delegate Entara, welcome to the Court! My name is Fianni and this is my co-parent Blazhin,” the greeter added, nodding to another less round Phiddian who accompanied.
“Most honored to meet you,” Entara pronounced, as she allowed herself to be led into the gathering. Blazhin gave a similar hand-clasp to each of the other Forlani in turn, inviting them in. The humans had already arrived, led by Ambassador Macdougal. To Entara’s surprise, they all seemed to be dressed in some kind of military uniform, perhaps to impress the other races that, notwithstanding the weakening of their species by the devastating plague that had struck Earth, they considered themselves still to be a major interplanetary power, to be feared and respected. The Garanians who were present also wore studded metallic garments that seemed to project war rather than peace. Entara smirked as she thought what the Song Pai would have thought of this display. They had defeated humans in short order whenever they had the chance to fight them and usually trounced the Garanians who were deemed, at least, formidable opponents. No Song Pai was present at the Love Court. They probably would have defecated all over the invitation, since the idea was so alien to their way of life. Blynthians were likewise absent, holed up in their own atmosphere on their ship. A few Kael were gathered at one side, where they took evident pleasure in being able to flap their leathery wings a bit after confining themselves uncomfortably for hours in the council hall. Natives of Coriolis pressed around a buffet table, eagerly sniffing everything with their long coati-like noses and happy that the Phiddians, like them, had no prohibitions against eating meats in informal situations. Despite all the foreplay going on among the hosts, the assembly did appear to be quite relaxed. Ayan’we caught her mother’s eye and gave a little sign that all was going well. The Forlani females each grabbed a bit of fruit from the table and fanned out through the crowd. Phiddians kept trying to corner them to pepper them with questions about the “pleasure training” Forlani females continued to receive, since so many worked for the home planet by servicing clients of other species at the numerous houses off-planet. The Forlani all hastened to explain that, although they took great pride in pleasing their clients, their own physical pleasure actually came from strictly from giving birth, an idea that seemed to stop the Phiddians cold.
Eventually a horde of attendants brought in a circle of bench-like furniture that they placed in a circle within the room and it was clear the Love Court was about to begin. Fianni sounded a little whistle to get everyone’s attention and explained, “Most of you have never been to one of our Love Courts, but I can assure you that it is one of our favorite entertainments and that no self-respecting Phiddian would go a week without attending. There are even Courts of Courts, that discuss which meetings are the best. As you will see, the Court takes the format of a debate where two lovers are discussed to evaluate their relative value in some capacity. The goal is, of course, the success of a lover in terms of establishing one’s ongoing appeal and reputation in the world of blissful pleasure. So,” Fianni added, turning to the humans, “You will not hear anything like your histories of Romeo and Juliette, where people wind up killing themselves all over the place. Nor, for you Kael,” the speaker added, turning to the bat-like creatures, “Will you find cases like Adtripperus and Kasattylathe, who go on mooning about their unrequited relationships. Only instances that result in sultry skin-to-skin activity, repeated as often as possible, are suitable for our Love Courts.”
The Kael looked a bit disappointed, but the humans, Garanians and Coriolans displayed piqued interest in the topics that were developing, while the Phiddians clapped and cooed in delight.
“Now in honor of our distinguished guests from Forlan, we have chosen as the subject of today’s Court the case of Ambassador Entara and her consort from Earth, the renowned mankiller Klein, and the question will be as to which of them sacrificed more deeply to earn the affection of the other!”
Most of the audience applauded, but Entara and Ayan’we each took a hasty breathe and the other Forlani glanced their way with troubled looks. This situation obviously threatened to develop in multiple awkward directions. Ordinarily, Forlani would not be bothered at all by discussing the most explicit details of copulation, since these were the subject of song and discussion with
out any hint of shame in their society. Diplomatic protocol, however, specified that such things were to be avoided at all costs, since wars had broken out in past interspecies conclaves over open displays or descriptions of sexuality. Moreover, the nature of the debate seemed predetermined to cause individual embarrassment to Entara. Her separation from Klein on Domremy in order to marry and breed for the matriline on Forlan would not be understood by many of the creatures at the Court. Besides that, Klein was still officially considered a criminal by the Earth corporations, even though many humans held him in high regard for taking action against the insidious Kinderaugen Project that had first forced him to become a murderer. Garanians, who were very proprietary about sexuality, were rumored to consider Entara as nothing more than an interstellar whore. It was clear that the Phiddians had used the cover of “relaxation” to throw a sharp, reckless blade into the delicate network of respect and toleration that made a peace conference possible.
Entara quickly regained her composure. After all it was she herself who had unveiled every detail of her actions and feelings regarding Klein to the leadership of her mahäme, her matriline and even the lofty Council of Nine that governed her planet. The songs shared by all Forlani females – some of them composed by Entara herself – often recounted their trysts and their most intimate expressions. “I am most personally flattered that you should think of me as a paragon for your Court, but I am sure there are many others, not only Phiddians, but others present and not, who would furnish a far more interesting and entertaining subject for your … proceedings.”
“Nonsense,” sputtered Fianni, “You cannot deny that on your own world you are considered para-pa, an example for all females to emulate. Are you saying your own clan is wrong to give you this designation? Would not your failure to stand by your actions be considered as an insult to the Council of Nine that sent you here? And certainly you cannot claim that the mankiller Klein is less than suitable for our consideration? Or has your family life caused you to think less of him? Or perhaps certain unfortunate details of your married life have soured you to the study of love?”
Ayan’we made a sign to her cluster members in case they should have to leave quickly. Fianni’s rude question was a direct provocation of Entara and she would be quite justified in quitting the Court immediately. She was surprised when her mother made no move to the door, but calmly looked Fianni in the eyes as she responded, “I am honored to be called para-pa, not because of anything I have done to deserve it, but because it represents the concepts of the matriline for which I would lay down my life. The Council understands this even better than I do, as they understand the true nature of my friend Klein and the sacrifices for his planet and mine, with no consideration of recognition or reward. Had I never met him, he would still be worthy of the highest esteem. He saved so many of the children of humans from loss of their own individual awareness. He helped save the original inhabitants of Domremy from extinction. Similarly, he saved my sister Forlani from lives of slavery, poverty, and degradation. As for my family life, I defy any creature to say that they have been more respectful than I to a husband. Tays’she paid for his shortcomings by being reduced to a horrible, barely conscious state. Despite his shortcomings, I stayed with him long years to look after him, defend him even. With the blessing of the Eyes of Alertness, I could have left him to raise my children in a richer, more comfortable place. If I cared only for myself, I might willingly exchange this trying life for a single day at the side of Klein. Others,” she said with an almost imperceptible nod to Ayan’we, “helped me realize that this would have been the wrong path. So I listened to them and learned. I can’t say that I am in any way innocent, but, on the contrary, nobody can claim to be more responsible. I am so confident of this that I say, examine away, and bear the consequences.”
As one, the Forlani came to attention and saluted her with a high-pitched trill reserved only for very special people.
Fianni shot back, “I am sure that you are correct. Far be it from me to deprive you of the chance of being your own advocate in the debate, since you have just proved your eloquence. But Klein must have an advocate for his cause as well, and I can think of no one better suited in this assembly than the one who attended his funeral, your daughter Ayan’we.”
Ayan’we turned to Entara, who smiled and gave her a look she had seen before when she was little and clambered up a tree trunk on her own for plums or later when she left the dwelling to take her first civil service exams. It meant, “I know you can do it.” She turned to Fianni and said, “Who speaks first?”
“As moderator, I have that privilege, so I pose this question to both of you: as all fires stem from a single spark, what was the basis of the original attraction?”
Ayan’we herself was shocked when she responded right away. “I wish I could have discussed this more with Klein on the occasions when we spoke, but I know enough to say this much. He arrived on Domremy alone, reviled, shunned by all his fellow humans except the Religious Dissenters. No sisters or brothers shared his suffering. I cannot imagine how it must feel to be that lonely. He must have been on the verge of self-destruction. He reached out in what must have been desperation and,” she looked at her mother, “He was incredibly lucky.”
“Indeed,” admitted Fianni, “Klein was lucky to find a companion as remarkable as Entara. Her seductive skills must have been formidable to soften Klein’s suffering.”
“I will say something that might surprise you,” Entara broke in, “And that is that any other female in our house, any other female in my matriline, any of my sisters of any birth, could have done as much. I have never claimed to be more beautiful, more seductive, or more arousing than the least of my sisters. If I had any gift at all, it was to see right away that Klein offered so much more than a companion for one-sided coupling. What pleasure I gave him simply opened the way for us to get to know each other in an entirely new way. I had never been trained in that. Perhaps no one can be. I simply learned to take what came naturally of our being together, so different, yet so one.”
A murmur of admiration ran through the audience seated on the benches. Garanians and Coriolans, Kael and humans, Phiddians and Blastöo whispered comments to each other.
“So we may conclude,” summed up the moderator, “That the relationship seems to be evenly balanced at the outset. Yet, as we Phiddians understand so well, at some point one party must do the giving and the other the receiving. What did each side give up?”
“As for me,” said Entara, “I gave up nothing. I received affection. I learned the value of what Klein called Spass, fun. We played with each other mostly, like two cubs of the same birth. Each with its own memories, its own way of looking at things, its own past that same-born cubs never have. I learned what I could be, to be myself. Like most of my sisters, I had always tried to be faultless in my duty and loyalty and I dreamed of the ultimate pleasure, the bliss of giving birth. I had never imagined that another creature could appreciate or cherish me for anything beyond that. How easy it was to spend the night with a human and caress his body to bring such an opening to my own consciousness. It was free of cause and effect, totally non-determined.”
Ayan’we chimed in, “My mother is quite right. My words with Klein convinced me that the affection he shared with Entara cannot be understood with any kind of no-sum-gain mathematics. Klein, too, felt that he was not giving up anything for her, no matter how much people speak of his sacrifices. He told me once he did what he had to do for most of his life. Entara gave him the opportunity to do something he didn’t have to do. I don’t know what he thought of the value of his life before he met her, but I can testify that afterwards he had no hesitation to give up his own life, as long as he did not have to give up his self-respect…” Ayan’we’s voice drifted off a bit as she remembered that night she had held a knife to Klein’s body. In her confused juvenile mind she was prepared to kill him, she thought, to save Entara. How could this human, who had ended so many lives, overco
ming several skillful assassins of his own species, and later even bested a Song Pai warrior in individual combat, have refrained from swatting that little Forlani like a fly, if it was not as she was saying.
A sharp rejoinder from Fianni brought her back to her senses. “Ayan’we, little more than a young woman herself, though admittedly intelligent, could hardly have the maturity to give such an evaluation of emotional depth.”
“I acknowledge that I have not mated. That does not mean I do not know what it is to sacrifice or to feel the tides of my feelings respond to another individual.” She lowered her eyes and then glanced quickly at Entara, who gave her the encouraging look once again, probably thinking back about that young Forlani male a couple of years ago that had captured her daughter’s first interest in the opposite sex. Could Entara guess that there were newer emotions that were rustling around Ayan’we’s two hearts? She scrambled for a way to get on a more abstract line of thought. “Again, I must ask all those present today who have not lived in our fur… not to forget… that we Forlani … have all grown more sensitive to the emotional depth of all beings because of the influence of Klein and of my mother’s songs about the two of them. In fact, most Forlani females are never allowed to mate or to experience the birth bliss, simply because of the unusual nature of our species, so dimorphic, so unbalanced in the number of males and females. A sister always walks in readiness for a family, in longing for children, but we all share the joys and sorrows of our sister mothers. They are as common to all in the mahäme as the air.”
“There remains,” Fianni remarked, “One final question. You have touched on it. It is your mother’s marriage. Klein never married. Clearly there is no balance between the happiness your mother experienced again and again as she gave birth to what? … over fifty children, and the barrenness of a human in a vile career who goes on to… yes, I can say it because the Song Pai are not here at this Court… slavish vilification, then mutilation, then, if I am not mistaken, a period of nearly insane wandering over the surface of Domremy. Does this not show that he is more worthy than Entara, crowned with honors and swathed in comfort?”
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