Solbidyum Wars Saga 9: At What Price

by Dale Musser

  Marranalis also reported that the FSO had finished reviewing the data provided by Krossden. Our ships were still en route to Ming’s asteroid field site to set up Cantolla Gates. It would be a few more days before all gates were situated and properly paired. As soon as the first gate pair was in place, scout ships would be deployed to the area to collect reconnaissance data on the Brotherhood’s forces and defense configurations, so an effective strategy could be formulated for an offensive.

  Once I finished my updates with Marranalis, I unexpectedly found myself with nothing scheduled, so I decided I would take advantage of the free time and return to my estate to spend the rare free time with my family.

  The saddest part about watching my kids grow up came at the point when they became independent and the time I was able to spend with them was limited as much or more by their availability as it was mine. In any case, it wasn’t a huge surprise when I reached the estate to find Kala alone.

  “Lunnie went into Plosaxen with some of her friends and Reide and Volydalle are horseback riding someplace on the estate,” said Kala when I asked about their whereabouts. “What are you doing back here? Why aren’t you on the GLOMAR ROSA?”

  "Not much going on at the moment and I thought I might take advantage of the break to spend some time with my family,” I replied.

  “How nice,” Kala replied with a warm smile. “I don’t know when Reide will be back. He and Volydalle packed a lunch, so I suspect they plan on making a day of riding. Say, how about you and I hike to our favorite spot on the upper lake and take a swim? We haven’t done that in ages.”

  “Wow, you’re right,” I said. “I don’t think I’ve been up there since Reide was little and the estate was attacked during that big storm. That’s when Reide and Rory hid in the cave with Jenira’s Women with Swords.”

  “I had nightmares for months after that,” said Kala with a shudder. “Good, then its settled. Give me a minute to change into some hiking gear and I’ll be set to go.”

  A few minutes later, Kala and I were changed and on our way to the upper lake. It was about an hour’s hiking distance from the main house. Once we stepped into the sunshine and fresh air, I was quite excited to get to the lake. It was a rare occasion when I was able to spend any real daylight hours outside of a War Room, office or med unit, and the lake afforded me the rejuvenation of both the natural setting and the complete privacy. Other than Kala and the kids and me, few of the several thousand individuals who lived or worked on the estate ever went to the upper lake. It was never any sort of ruling or request that it be kept private, but for some reason, my family and an occasional friend of one of the children were the only ones who showed any interest in it.

  To get to the hiking trail that led to the upper lake it was necessary to pass through some neatly manicured garden areas. It had been awhile since I had been through these gardens – so long, in fact, that I didn’t quite recognize the foliage. We had nearly reached the forest’s edge when I realized why the grounds seemed so different.

  “Kala, all these trees and plants are from Earth!” I exclaimed.

  “Yes. Cantolla thought it would be interesting to grow some of them here before reintroducing them to Earth. They’re quite lovely.”

  “How is her program going?” I asked. “I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t kept up with her progress.”

  “It seems to be going very well. It’s been awhile since I spoke with her, but as of our last conversation, she’s been able to successfully reintroduce a number of plants and animals into the broader area surrounding the camp that we visited and I think the strongest terraforming has been taking hold on that southern continent, the one that was called South America. She said that a region once called the Amazon Rainforest was showing rapid signs of recovery. She believes that she’ll soon be able to develop more complex ecological communities by reintroducing animals such as monkeys into certain parts of the rainforest. They’ve already reintroduced a number of smaller fishes into some of the streams.”

  That area was once all jungle, like Alle Bamma,” I said.

  “Yes, Cantolla mentioned that. She said the plant cloning and reintroduction program for that region has advanced quite rapidly and successfully. She said within the next few years the continent’s equatorial plant life will look much like it did when you lived there, if the current rate of progress is any indicator. Well, not exactly like when you lived there, since the plants will all be young.”

  As we hiked along the trail, we came upon a place where the trail diverted to a short tunnel-like section through the mountain. I recalled that this was where a small landslide occurred and washed away part of the trail during the storm when Reide and Rory were in danger. I paused for just a moment to look at the scar on the mountainside where the rocks had given way.

  “This was where the path was destroyed when Rory and Reide were lost during the storm, isn’t it?” Kala asked.

  “Yeah. We nearly lost a member of the search party here. He almost went over the side.”

  “I was so frightened, Tib,” said Kala. “I’ve been frightened many times in my life, but never like I was then. I guess the fears we have for the safety and lives of our children are always greater than the fears we have for ourselves.”

  “I know. I was plenty worried until we found them in the cave. But you know, Reide showed a lot of common sense by seeking shelter there.”

  Kala laughed. “It sounds funny to say Reide had common sense with all the pranks he’s played over the years. But look at him now. He and Lunnie both. You know, I never expected to see them become what they are today.”

  “I know. I can’t put into words how proud I am of them. You and Jenira did a good job raising them. I wish I would’ve had more time with them…to help shape them like a real dad. Damn this war.”

  Kala stopped me and put her hands squarely on my shoulders. “Don’t kid yourself, Tibby. Your very life – your dedication to all good people – is the standard that has already become the model for their own lives. Your son and daughter love and admire you. Those weren’t just words that Reide was reading at his graduation, Tib. They were the thoughts that silently churned inside of him after visiting Alimar-4. They were nothing less than a boy’s emotional rite of passage into manhood after realizing the magnitude of his father’s battle against an unfathomable evil. In one heaving blow he had to sort through horror, guilt and outrage and in the end he emerged with a new understanding of himself and an enormous sense of pride and love for his father.

  “The same goes for Lunnie, Tibby. For all her craziness, she is no less influenced by you than Reide. Sure, she probably wouldn’t have chosen a military life, but Alimar-4 still changed her. She’s just focused on a different fight. Since Alimar-4 that girl has latched onto life like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Whether she’s celebrating with her friends, or growing plants, or terraforming, or rescuing animals, that girl will never let death get the best of her. And she loves you so, so much, Tib. Lunnie wasn’t just jumping to protect you at the graduation ceremony because you’re an admiral whom she has a duty to protect; she was instinctively safeguarding the life of her father. Under any circumstances she would die to protect you.”

  “Yes, well, enough gloom and doom,” I said as I tried to shake off my emotions and change the topic. “I'm looking forward to that swim.”

  Kala opened her mouth to say something more, when we heard a high-pitched scream ahead of us. We took off running in that direction. Uncertain of what might lie ahead, we traveled low and fast until we could identify the danger. We had almost arrived at our swimming hole when we heard another scream in a different tone followed by laughter.

  Then we clearly heard Volydalle’s voice say, “You are in so much trouble now! I told you not to get my hair wet!”

  “You look good with wet hair,” came Reide’s voice in reply.

  Kala and I stopped and looked at each other, then slowly peered through the foliage into the clearing adja
cent to the lake.

  Two horses were tied to the shrubbery, where they grazed on the surrounding grasses. A blanket was spread out on the beach with a few containers of food placed on it and two piles of clothing laid across a nearby boulder, while a naked Reide and Volydalle stood kissing in waist-deep water.

  “Well, well,” said Kala. “It looks like someone beat us to our swimming hole.”

  “Hm, yes. What shall we do?” I asked.

  “If my sister were here, she would barge in there and say, It’s about time you two got together.”

  “Yeah, she would, but we’re not your sister.”

  “Agreed. Let’s just back away and let them have their time together. Surely there are some other places around the lake where we can enjoy a swim without disturbing them,” said Kala.

  “There’s a nice spot on the other side of that rocky ridge close to Reide’s cave,” I said. “That might work.”

  “Lead the way,” said Kala, just as we heard another squeal and a splash.

  “You know, this feels kind of weird to me. In some situations, I still can’t help thinking of Reide as a child, even though I know rationally that he’s a young man. But seeing him with Volydalle and knowing that… well, you know.” I let my words trail off.

  Kala laughed. “What’s the matter, old man? Are you having a hard time letting go of their youth? Try not to think about it and let’s go for our swim.”

  Our retreat hike took us about three hundred meters away from Reide and Volydalle. We made our way to the far side of the ridge that jutted up beside the lake, just a stone’s throw from the cave. One end of the ridge ran right into the lake, where the rock formed a wide ledge about a meter above the water’s surface. From the ledge it was possible to see through the crystal-clear water to the lake bottom. This small inlet appeared to be several meters deep. We decided to stay on the ridge and stacked our things on a flat section of stone. I disrobed and jumped into the water feet first, allowing myself to sink toward the bottom. I had learned as a child not to judge distances underwater by looking from the surface. I had been fooled too many times, having misjudged the water to be either deeper or shallower than it was, so I wasn’t about to dive into these waters without knowing the depth for sure. I had descended more than five meters before my feet touched the gravel bottom. I pushed off with my feet and rapidly shot toward the surface.

  “It’s deep enough to dive,” I said to Kala, who had just finished undressing and was standing on the ledge, looking at me as I surfaced.

  “Is it cold?” she asked.

  “It’s cool, but I wouldn’t say cold. Maybe just a tad cooler than our pool at the estate.”

  Kala took one look and then dove in. Seconds later, she popped to the surface and splashed me. “You said it wasn’t cold!” she spat.

  “It isn’t,” I said.

  “So you say. Look at these nipples and tell me it’s not cold.”

  “Hm… those nipples look perfect to me,” I teased.

  Kala splashed me again and replied in mock anger, “That’s not what I meant!”

  “Maybe not, but it’s what I meant!” I laughed and ducked under the water to avoid another splash. When I came to the surface, Kala had set off at a steady pace across the lake, so I took off swimming after her. Kala and I had raced in the lake and in pools many times over the years. We were fairly matched in speed, but Kala was far more competitive about it than I was; so there was no reason for me to expect that she would give me any slack to catch up with her. It was nearly a half kilometer across this section of the lake. I had almost caught up to her when she reached the far bank and turned around to head back. As she turned around, I did the same and began swimming beside her. She didn’t say a word, but I could see a look in her eye that told me a race was on and I had better be prepared to swim as hard as I could. She steadily picked up the speed of her stroke and I matched her pace. At first I had no trouble keeping up with her; but as we approached the middle of the lake, I started to find it difficult to stay even with her. By the time we had gone three quarters of the distance, we were both swimming as hard as we could. Finally, we reached the far side at the same time, slapping the rocky outcrop in unison. For a few minutes, we just hung onto the rock to rest and breathe.

  “That was fun and refreshing,” said Kala as she climbed onto the ledge. “I don’t feel so cold now.”

  I was still winded, but I didn’t want her to know that, so I jokingly said, “You want to try again?”

  “No, but if you wish to swim some laps, I’ll be happy to sit here and watch you. You know, Tib, you surprised me today. I assumed that after your injury last week, you wouldn’t be able to match me. A’Lappe’s treatments really have accelerated your healing.”

  I climbed out of the water.

  “I thought you said the water wasn’t that cold, Tib,” said Kala with a grin.

  “It’s not,” I said. “It’s perfect.”

  “Oh, really? I would say that not all of you agrees with that assessment,” said Kala as she looked at my groin with a raised eyebrow.

  “Alright, alright. Maybe it’s just a little on the cool side.”

  “Mm-hm,” replied Kala with a seductive grin. “I think I know the perfect way to take care of those wrinkles and get everything straightened out again,” she said as she bit her lip.

  “Okay, now you have my attention. What have you got in mind?”

  Kala looked around futilely. “Oh dear. What I had in mind requires a space where we can lay down, but these rocks are much too rough.”

  She was right. Unlike our favorite swimming hole, this location had no sandy beach or soft grassy areas, only lots of jagged rocks. Kala and I looked around until she said, “There! There’s a bare spot of rock and it looks smooth enough to lay on.”

  The stretch of rock was perfect, except that it was only wide enough for one person. “Now,” she said with a coy grin, “You just lay down here and let me take care of you.”

  And take care of me she did!

  It was nearly two more hours before Kala and I headed back to the estate. When we reached the location where Reide and Volydalle had been earlier, they were already gone. We could see hoof prints in the trail that indicated they took the same route we were taking. At one point where the trees opened into a clearing, we had a clear view of the estate. We could see them riding toward the stables.

  “Tib, what do you think of Volydalle?” asked Kala.

  “She seems nice. She passed Jenira’s test,” I chuckled.

  “Hm, that’s not exactly what I meant.”

  “Just what did you mean?”

  “Well, obviously Reide is more than just a little interested in her.”

  “Okay. Is that supposed to be good or bad?” I asked in a confused tone.

  “That’s what I mean,” said Kala. “Is it good or bad?”

  “By the stars, how would I know?” It took your sister to knock sense into me about my feelings for you. If I need help with my own feelings, how can I judge others?” I asked.

  Kala looked at me as if I had said something insightful. “You’re right. Lunnie will know. I’ll ask her.”

  “What? You’re going to ask Lunnie what?” I sputtered.

  “I’m going to ask her what she thinks about Reide and Volydalle.”

  “Are you serious? After the way Lunnie acted at dinner last night with Volydalle? I don’t think you’ll get a straight answer – or at least not a good one.

  “I think you’re misjudging Lunnie,” said Kala. “Lunnie may make wise cracks and jokes, but if you ask her directly for an honest answer, she’ll give you one. Plus, she’s like her Aunt Lunnie. She sees relationships and dynamics between people that everyone else seems to miss. Lunnie will know.”

  “Okay, now this is thoroughly confusing,” I said.

  Kala grinned and wrapped her arm in mine as we walked. “As it should be,” she replied. “Exactly as it should be.”

  After we returned to
the estate house, Kala sent out invitations to Lunnie, Reide and Volydalle to join us for dinner, but they all declined with one excuse or another. Lunnie replied with a message that she would be at The Lounge on the NEW ORLEANS that evening, if Kala and I wished to join her there. It sounded like a fun way to spend the evening, so after checking with Marranalis to see whether there were any new developments that required my attention and upon learning there were none, I told Kala to inform Lunnie we would be there.

  The Lounge was one of the most fascinating places I’d ever been. It had been in steady operation almost from the time I bought and staffed the yacht. It wasn’t a commercial venture. Drinks were free and entertainment was always provided by the endlessly talented crew members. I was never sure just who it was that coordinated all the performers and events, but whoever it was did a great job. There were other smaller clubs and lounges on the ship, but none drew the crowds like the main employee lounge. It was strange that the club had never been given a name, at least it was strange to me. I know some of the smaller ones had been properly named – like The Locker, Marranalis’s favorite watering hole – but the main lounge was simply called The Lounge. Most of the patrons were those who worked aboard the NEW ORLEANS or at my estate, but I had come to learn that word of The Lounge’s unique venue had somehow spread through the Federation to the point where it had achieved a level of distinction equal to clubs frequented by the most famous celebrities.