by Gian Bordin
"You make it sound so simple. There must be more to it."
"Yes, there is. It must have been very hard on him that his niece of less than half his age became his boss."
"Yes, he seemed very depressed the last three weeks, but then suddenly last evening he was a different man. He hummed at the dinner table — I was at dinner with them because Dan is away. I have never seen him like this. And then in the middle of the meal he announced that he had resigned from UniCom and would enjoy the rest of his life painting. You should have seen grandfather. He almost fell off his chair and wanted to know if dad had lost his mind. But he only smiled and said ‘no, thanks to Yuen-mong, I finally have found the courage to do what I should have done over thirty years ago.’ Mai literally jumped out of her chair and hugged him."
"That’s a lovely story, Bee. I’m glad for him."
"He then also told me that if I wanted to work with you, I should, regardless of Foundation custom. Dan had already agreed that as long as the children will not suffer, he had no objection. You told me that he might surprise me."
"Tell me, what did grandfather do after that?"
"He only shook his head and then muttered something like ‘I should have known she planned that.’ I guess he meant you. Dad also said that Pat was going to resign too and that you had fired Cor Deng."
"It’s too bad I got on the wrong foot with Pat right from the beginning, but I think he too will be happier not having me as his boss. Cor Deng did something that meant Atun and I could not trust him any longer. So he had to go."
"Dad hinted at it. But aren’t you afraid of grandfather and of the Dengs?"
"If I were afraid of them, I wouldn’t be where I am. No, I think that Xi Deng will be afraid of me. He will do nothing. I have more trust in Kim Deng and his two sons. I think they’re OK. And grandfather? You judge yourself. Look, Bee, let’s now talk about your position. I would like that Atun and Anouk join us — she’s the young woman I trained as my matched medium. She is also an exceptionally sensitive empath and her abilities will greatly help you assess potential candidates.’
25
Yuen-mong, Atun, and Anouk moved into her villa on Wednesday. Anouk found it initially forbidding to return to that place, but reconciled herself to it when she could choose a small self-contained apartment in its right wing.
Pat had left it in a rather sorry state. In the gardener’s shed, they discovered the broken pieces of the nude statue she had seen on the video cubes. It seemed to have been deliberately smashed. She immediately engaged an architect to restore the villa to its original design. Anouk was put in charge of organizing its cleaning.
They also took delivery of the special space shuttle for Vishnu and had it temporarily stored in UniCom’s air shuttle garage.
Atun got an invitation to become a member of the Foundation, sponsored by Ko Young and Syd Twan.
Yuen-mong scheduled a series of sessions to meet the employees of the various divisions. She outlined how she saw the future of UniCom — a firm where ability, performance, and loyalty would be rewarded, regardless of background and gender, and that her door was always open if a person felt not treated fairly. Her message was all the more believable when it became known that the successors to Cor Deng and Pat Young were employees that had no family connections with either the Youngs or the Dengs, and that the first two women were promoted into the middle management positions. With rare exceptions, she sensed goodwill toward her whenever she encountered employees in the building. She had not appointed anybody to Ko Young’s position. In consultation with Kim Deng, she left it open. He agreed that he would assume an overall supervising role, hinting that he had done some of that even while Ko Young had been chairman of the board.
By the end of the following week Atun ventured as they were relaxing in her office for a drink after work: "I think you have won them over, even Kim Deng. He mentioned this morning after our meeting that there seems to be a welcome fresh wind blowing. I find him very cooperative and helpful."
"Yes, I also find it easy to work with him. He’s competent."
"I think you can strike him off your list of potential culprits."
"No. I have not figured him out yet. The only ones that I have removed are Syd, as I told you after that aborted dinner meeting with him, and Ko Young."
"Him too?"
"Yes, he is too ineffectual for something like this. He is basically a nice guy who lacked the courage of his own convictions and led himself be forced into a mold that did not fit him."
"But he set these guys on Anouk and me."
"I know. It’s just a feeling and I trust it. I also think that my mother would have noticed that something was wrong. His mind would have betrayed him, and I think that he would have confessed to her when confronted."
"So that leaves only your other uncle and your grandfather, and the two older Deng brothers, and there I put my money on Xi. But it could have been Kao Deng. He was vice-president of finance and could have panicked by the implication of instantcom, especially if he didn’t really understand its limitation and potential. By the way, the UniCom shares have already regained two thirds of their losses. I’m suddenly rich beyond my dreams. Crash-landing on Aros was the best thing that ever happened to me."
"It’s strange how perceptions change over time. Come, Atun, let’s go home and have a quiet evening, just the two of us. I would like that."
"You don’t have to ask me twice. I’m all for it."
He got up and held out his hand to help her from the low soft chair, taking her into his arms. "You know, love, there’s another thing that I would never have dreamed would happen to me." He kissed her. "Kissing my boss."
"Sure, because you couldn’t have imagined that your boss might be female."
"Yes, the most delicious female."
They rubbed noses together.
"I’m glad you aren’t painting your face. We could never do this," he said.
"No. Did you paint your face before that best thing happened in your life?"
"Very little. I didn’t like it, and when I space traveled, there was little point doing it… I think you’ve started a trend in UniCom, and even outside. Did you notice?"
"That there are more and more employees who use little or no face paint? Yes."
"Next thing, they’ll imitate your limp."
She pushed him back. "No, you cannot be serious."
"Yuen-mong, people are strange. They always want to copy those they admire."
"But that would be horrible. That could convince me to have corrective surgery."
"No, don’t. I like the way your bottom wiggles when you walk. It’s very sexy. Especially in tight pants, like the ones you wore on Aros. Come, let’s go." He put an arm around her back and then let go. "No, I don’t think it’s on if somebody sees me holding the boss like this."
"If you’re embarrassed, then I will hold you. Actually, I think anybody seeing us will like us all that more. We show them that we are human too."
As they walked arm in arm through the still crowded entrance lobby to their waiting car, she was aware of lots of smiles following them.
* * *
Next morning, she finally got the message from the young mechanic in the shuttle garage whom Atun had promised a big reward if he would let them know when Chen Young ordered an air shuttle for an extended outing. He was scheduled to be picked up at his home at noon, 13:00 hours. Twenty minutes prior to that they got out their new space shuttle and went to an altitude of 15,000 meters. From there they tracked Chen Young’s air shuttle on their radar as it took off from the Young mansion, staying always a bit behind at that altitude.
"This is a dream," exclaimed Atun, trying out various maneuvers using AI control. "Much better than the shuttle I crashed. If it works even half as well on manual control, I would have no fear taking it to Aros."
"We can test the manual control later. Right now I want us to focus on our target. Where is it?"
The moving dot on th
e screen had suddenly disappeared.
"They must have landed," said Atun. "I have the coordinates where it happened."
He turned the craft back. Below them was an expansive mountain chain, the whole area covered by dense forests except for the rocky tops and a few small lakes, nestled in between. It extended at least one hundred kilometers in all directions. They saw no roads, no buildings, no signs of civilization.
"Shall I go down? Although our flight plan says that we’ll be staying at this altitude."
"Does space control track each vehicle?"
"They’re supposed to."
"Do they also use radar? We could go sufficiently over the horizon so that they lose us and then go down."
"No, the shuttle’s control system sends out radio pulses… So if we switch to manual control, then no pulses will be emitted."
"But we also lose all navigational aids."
"We’ll have to search visually. Look, I’ll stay at an altitude of about 3000 meters, that’s about 1000 meters above the tallest peaks and we’ll do a few sweeps. OK… Here we go."
He shut off the AI system. All engines cut and the craft began to drift down. When he finished turning on the manual system, it took a sharp left turn, but he quickly corrected with his two control sticks and it righted itself again. Then he let it drift down in wide circles above the approximate area of the coordinates. Initially, he needed to make frequent manual corrections before he had the craft fully under control.
As they got closer, the scenery revealed a majestic ruggedness. Deep valleys plunged in dark shade, trees clinging precariously to the steep sides, the lower slopes a mixture of conifers and deciduous trees that glowed in brilliant yellow if caught by the sun, glimpses of wild rivers, waterfalls tumbling over high bluffs and vertical rock walls, the north facing tops of the mountains still showing remnants of dirty snow. A wilderness seemingly untouched by humans.
"It’s no use," she said. "Let’s go back up again and wait until they return. Do we have enough fuel for that?"
"Yes." He started climbing steeply. "But this is spectacular country. It must be the famous Blue Mountains Wilderness, supposedly out of limits to everybody, except special research teams and they only go in to observe and leave no traces. Surely your uncle isn’t a hermit, living illegally in there?"
"I don’t think so. Maybe we lost them before they were over the park. Stay closer to where we entered."
At 10,000 meters he switched back to AI control.
"You remember when we went to the eastern mountains on Aros," asked Atun. "It was so beautiful."
"Yes, I loved it too. I was happy to be there with you, to show you that other side of Aros… You thought I was silly, calling the echo."
"But at the same time, I loved it. I learned another side of you, and I fell ever more deeply in love with you."
"Atun, look at me. I want to tell you something important." She waited for him to turn his head. "I think I love you, really love you."
The craft made a sharp dive to the right when Atun let go of the controls before he steadied it again. "Oh, Yuen-mong, you tell me that up here when I can’t take you into my arms."
She smiled.
"You’re cruel."
"Atun, I said I love you. Is that all you tell me? … Shouldn’t you tell me something too?"
"Yes, but you let me wait six months, so I’ll now let you wait a while too."
"But not too long. You know that I’m not a patient person. I want things to happen right away. Please, relent."
"I love you, Yuen-mong. You made my dream come true. I knew that you were fond of me, but I was hoping for this."
"Shouldn’t you watch the radar?"
"How can you be so businesslike and focused at a moment like this?"
"Is that not one of the qualities you admire me for? … How much longer do I have to wait before you ask me to marry you?"
"Oh, that’s a new trait in you. I’ve never seen you hesitate taking control when it comes to ask the important question."
"Will you marry me, Atun?"
"Will you marry me, Yuen-mong?"
They said it at the same time, and both smiled and replied "yes".
While waiting and watching the radar screen, they occasionally looked at each other, beaming each time. They spotted half a dozen vehicles flying in straight lines over parts of the park. After more than an hour, a dot suddenly appeared, made several turns as if following a winding valley and then took a course toward Androma. It was several kilometers farther south than where they had searched, although one of their first passes must have gone partially over it. Atun saved the exact coordinates in the system.
"Let’s go down," she said.
"I’ll first report a change of course. I prefer using automatic control in difficult terrain such as like this."
A few minutes later they hovered over the valley. It formed a small south facing round basin at its very end, with a waterfall that fanned like a veil. Windows and narrow paths were hewn into its south-facing overhanging rock wall. At its base was a sizable terrace and the only visible building, a wooden structure that looked like a temple. A couple of men in orange monk’s robes were at its entrance, gazing at the shuttle, shading their eyes. The river fed from the waterfall formed several small pools with adjacent meadows. An air shuttle landing site was in one of them.
"Shall I land?"
"Yes, but you remain in the craft. I will go alone."
He nodded and descended into the basin, the noise of the craft amplifying manifold.
Yuen-mong took the path that led to the terrace. She sensed many serene minds and a few unsettled, questioning ones. As she climbed up, she removed her sling and picked up several flat, round stones. When she entered the terrace, a group of six monks was standing in a row at the bottom of the stairs that led up to the temple entrance, their orange robes a sharp contrast to the grey of the rock face behind. A seventh, in a more elaborate robe, stood at the top. The abbot? All their minds were closed off and unfriendly. She approached and stopped at the bottom of the steps.
"Stranger, leave. This is sacred ground, forbidden to women." The abbot’s voice was rich and full. A faint echo returned from behind her.
"I have come to talk to Kwong Fook who has lived here for twenty years. I will not leave before I have spoken to him."
"I know of no Kwong Fook among my holy brothers. Leave stranger, you are despoiling these sacred grounds."
"It is the man who has just been visited by Chen Young."
"We receive no visitors. You must leave now, or I will have you punished and forcibly removed."
"You are lying and if one of your monks takes a step toward me I will punish him."
"Idle threats, stranger. You are unarmed."
At that moment, she sensed that somebody was noiselessly approaching her from the back. She whipped her sling into motion, quickly turned and let fly. The man swayed and then fell sideways without uttering a sound. Two of the monks at the bottom of the steps made a move as if to rush her, but were checked by the abbot’s call.
"Stranger, you are only one. We are many. Leave."
"I have eight more stones and can let them fly faster than you can count. I have not come here to quarrel with you, but to offer my uncle a new life among those who love him. I will leave immediately after I have spoken to him. Now bring him here and warn your brothers that I can read their minds."
"Only I give orders here, stranger."
"Before I came, yes, and tell that other brother behind me to stay where he is."
A first hint of a smile appeared around his eyes. He held up his hand. The second man behind stopped.
"First One, fetch No Name."
She sensed the man leave. "Order your brothers to look after the unconscious one."
Again, the abbot smiled and nodded. Two of the monks cautiously walked around her and carried their brother away. The abbot scrutinized her. It felt like he was reaching into her mind. She could feel his
intense curiosity, and she met his gaze firmly. He was the first to avert his eyes. Then, she sensed another being approaching from behind. His mind was filled with sadness and remorse. She turned. Before her was a grey-haired man, head bowed, looking to the ground. His resemblance to Ko Young left no doubt that this was her other uncle.
"Kwong Fook, please look at me."
He raised his head slowly, and then his eyes opened wide. He took a step toward her. "Zoshan, is it you?" he murmured.
"No, uncle. I’m Yuen-mong, Zoshan’s daughter."
"And Zoshan?"
"She died eight years ago on Aros, defending me against the savages there."
He lowered his gaze again. "I sent her to her death."
"Did you? Tell me."
"Yes, I knew that my father and Kao Deng plotted against your father. I tried to convince Zoshan not to go with him. But she would not listen."
"You didn’t tell her about Aros?"
"No, I did not. I should have, maybe then she would still be alive."
"Uncle, I forgive you. You have repented long enough. I have come to take you back to your family."
"How can I? I cannot face them with my guilt."
"Forgive yourself. I will help you." She turned to the Abbot who had approached and stood at her right. "Tell him that facing his family is the last step of repentance that he must take."
"No Name, Yuen-mong — the one that makes dreams come true — is right. Do as she asks. She is wise and strong, in spite of her youth… You came with guilt, leave without." He bowed to her and slowly walked back to the temple.
Kwong Fook looked at her, confused, hesitant. "Come, uncle, let’s go home. Have courage." She gently took his elbow and led him away. At the steps, leading down from the terrace, she briefly turned and looked back to the temple. The abbot was standing at the entrance. He lifted one hand. "Go in peace," came his voice, repeated by the echo. She answered by raising her free arm.
It was night by the time they brought Kwong Fook to her villa. After a simple meal, she gave him a short account of life on Aros, their escape and the events since then. She realized that it would take a while to integrate him again to a normal life, but she was determined to succeed. Bringing him back into UniCom as quickly as possible might be the best course of action.
