Daughter demonstrated this by changing her skin color to a mottled brown and white and collapsing into a ball. Amy had to admit that Daughter did look just like a rock.
Amy’s brain was reeling from the information given, hard to absorb due to the way Daughter jumped from subject to subject.
Daughter continued, “When the Mother of the Clan Adv’fr’gaite said ‘I would learn more about you, and for that purpose I will send a Daughter with you’, the purpose was this. I am to travel with you. I can travel through the pillars alone using my staff, or with your group. I am to be a member of your group, fleeing or fighting as a group, as determined by the leader Amy Elizabeth La Reine. I may assist you in your sworn task, but I am not to provide guidance. I may answer questions if I determine that it serves the One Who Tests’ purpose. I carry a secret message to the Wayfarers from Mother of the Clan Adv’fr’gaite and will deliver it if you are successful in your quest. On the success or failure of your quest I will report all I have learned to the Mother of the Clan Adv’fr’gaite. That is all I shall tell you now. Amy Elizabeth La Reine, you may ask questions.”
Amy was not sure where to start. Frank leaned over and whispered, keeping his eyes on Daughter. She agreed. “Daughter of the Clan Adv’fr’gaite we thank you for the information you have given us, and we will need some time to absorb this information. Frank Bristol Wiseman has asked that I clarify what you meant when you said ‘all ancestral and ancient memories’?”
“A good question Amy Elizabeth La Reine. I will answer it. Each Daughter is given the memories of her Mother, and the Mother of her Mother for many generations back. In distant generations the memories become less distinct and are called the ancient memories. So that you understand fully, I will tell you this. As these are not my memories, they cannot be read as a human would read a book. You cannot remember something if you do not know that you know it. It will take my entire lifetime before most of the ancestral and ancient memories have been remembered.”
“Thank you Daughter of the Clan Adv’fr’gaite for that information.”
Paul asked, “Daughter of the Clan Adv’fr’gaite, my full name is Paul Augustine Fortezza but I request that we use our informal names at times of privacy and in emergencies. This is our way as humans.” There was no response from Daughter, not even a twitch. “Our informal names are Amy, Frank, and Paul. If you consent, what would your informal name be?” Daughter was silent, and Amy hoped she was thinking, and not upset.
Daughter finally responded after half a minute of silence, “Mother of the Clan Adv’fr’gaite told me that being with humans would be difficult, but I had not expected to have to deal with such an issue now. I am to be a member of your party, Paul, and therefore will accept your request. A member of the Clan is polite and formal at all times, but I will learn what it means to be with humans.”
“What informal name will the Daughter of the Clan Adv’fr’gaite take?” Amy inquired, and watched as Daughter stayed still but twitched her legs slowly. “I have thought on this Amy.” The informal name was deliberate. “It is the human way in the old society on the Isolated Planets to take a new name when a significant change in life occurs. I will determine what my new name will be as we travel. For now my informal name will be Daughter.”
Amy found that was the end of useful information from Daughter that day, as most of their questions were calmly answered: ‘You ask for guidance. I cannot answer’; or ‘I will not answer. The One Who Tests’ purpose will not be served’; or more frustratingly, ‘That is not the right question’.
They took a break for supper. It was Paul’s turn to cook. Daughter watched intently, getting in Paul’s way sometimes. Daughter was especially interested in the packages of dried food. Amy asked, “Daughter, we have stayed on planets without animals, fruit or grains. What would you eat there?”
“A good question Amy. I do not have access to manufactured foods such as these, so I must bring fresh meat, fruit or grains to those planets. If the stay is long then I will have to travel to other planets to forage. You have been to such a planet?”
Amy looked over to Frank, asking him to give the answer. “Simon, the Master Wayfarer we met, was camped on a planet in a two sun system. We were told that every seven Earth years the smaller sun, one thousandth the size, swings in close, increasing the amount of radiation and killing off all life on the planet’s surface. We saw no animals there and the only plants were large ferns and a number of types of grass. The planet had been inhabited and we found some type of outpost, near the pillar, that was connected by…” Frank was unable to find a way to say monorail, but after a short description, Daughter provided a word. Amy was puzzled; how could spiders living in some hills on a desert planet know about monorails? Frank was continuing, “Yes, a monorail. We did not have time to follow the monorail, but it must lead to another town or city on the planet. Do you agree?”
“That is a good question Frank. I will answer it. Your conclusions are valid. Simon’s planet must be a planet that was never changed to human types of plants and animals, the word in Galactic is terraform, but the monorail indicates that the planet could have been used for scientific study or mining, or both. In twin sun systems with a much smaller sun the time of radiation is usually short, and human and other kinds on the planet could choose to leave the planet or go underground during that time.”
It sounded like someone describing what was happening on TV. Daughter was giving them something from her memories! Before Amy could ask, Daughter left saying only, “I will return in the morning.”
* * *
They were comparing schedules when Daughter arrived the next morning. The process of selecting a date to come back to the planets had to be delayed while Frank explained to Daughter why weeks didn’t add into a year, and months had different numbers of days. His explanation of months named after gods and periods of sacrifice, Amy hadn’t known that, would make anyone think Earth was barbaric.
Daughter responded, “Thank you Frank Bristol Wiseman. I understand the source of your calendar. The result is administratively ineffective.” Frank opened his mouth to object, but didn’t. He laughed, “Daughter, it is! But it’s what we work with. Looking at our administratively ineffective calendars, to match Amy’s reading week I will lose a few days of classes just before exams, but Paul’s going to lose a full week. Not good.”
Paul shrugged. “I can’t afford to lose a week; I won’t be coming.”
Frank suddenly had a thought. “Daughter, do you intend to come to Earth with us now?” Amy was startled; she hadn’t thought of that!
Daughter responded, “Yes, I do. As you are splitting up, I intend to travel with Amy Elizabeth La Reine, as she is the leader.”
This was unexpected; Frank wasn’t sure how to deal with it.
Amy said anxiously, “Daughter, I have to be back at my school by tomorrow for a session that I am leading, which means I must fly there. Let us tell you about Earth and the problems with travel.”
For the rest of the morning they took turns explaining how Earth society worked. Daughter had many questions for them on conflict between nations, weapons and Earth’s technology. Daughter had difficulty with understanding borders and nations, and Amy could see why; when pillars took you from planet to planet in an instant, what did national borders mean? Only when they discussed air travel restrictions did Daughter finally see that Amy could not take her to Earth today.
Daughter insisted, “Amy Elizabeth La Reine, the option remains that a surface crossing of the border to your country is possible. If necessary I can do that alone, at night no human could catch me. You must provide for surface transportation and return here in sixteen days. I will be waiting.”
Amy looked at Frank, and he did a quick calculation. “That’s early on a Wednesday morning, Earth time.”
Amy quickly figured that to do that, she would need to drive down to Mexico, driving time of thirty hours, so she would have to leave Duke on Monday morning, collect D
aughter here, return to Earth, and drive back to university, all before the following Monday, but it was possible. There were no critical classes or events for her that week, and she could catch up, she hoped.
Amy answered, “Daughter, I will meet you up here in sixteen days, and then we will travel together to my school.”
They would then all meet on Simon’s planet after their graduations. Frank reminded Amy and Paul, “On Earth it is now early morning of the day we are flying out. We have to go.”
Daughter addressed Amy. “Amy Elizabeth La Reine, prepare to leave, but I have something you must take with you. I request you wait for an hour.”
Amy quickly glanced at Frank, and he nodded, so she answered, “Daughter of the Clan Adv’fr’gaite, we will wait.” Daughter left without explaining why, quickly lost to sight in the rocks.
“We’re OK,” said Frank, “their hour here is about 90 minutes long. We have a couple of Earth hours before we must leave, even allowing for time to say goodbye to people in Ravinesedge, and to confirm our return date with the Holy One.” Amy remembered that the Holy One had offered lodging while they learned about the Isolated Planets. Amy was thinking that lodging was fine, but forget the tutoring.
They grabbed some lunch and packed up the campsite while they waited.
Daughter returned carrying a small package, a package that Daughter placed at Amy’s feet. “Amy Elizabeth La Reine, as a member of this party it is required of me that I assist in our sustenance. This is a sample of what I can provide. Use this sample to prepare for trading.”
They were all curious. Frank grabbed his camcorder and knelt next to Amy. The outside wrap was a loose weave grey fabric. Inside was a piece of iridescent cloth, about three feet by three feet, so light it seemed to float, which felt like silk but reflected the colors around them as if each thread was a prism.
Amy awed, responded, “Daughter of the Clan Adv’fr’gaite, this cloth is beautiful, it will certainly be valuable for trading. How much will be available?”
“Amy Elizabeth La Reine, I am pleased that you find the cloth valuable. It is made of silk produced from my own glands. Each Earth thirty-one day month,” Daughter was commenting on Earth’s calendar, “a piece, the same width and three times as long, will be available for you for trade. Plus there are four such lengths in the package, a gift from Mother of the Clan Adv’fr’gaite.”
Frank reached over to feel the spider silk. “I’m sure some Hollywood actress would pay a fortune for this. Four lengths is more than enough for an evening gown.”
“Good idea Frank, and enough left over for a blouse for me,” whispered Amy.
Daughter jumped up on one of the rocks, announcing, “I am pleased that you find my gift useful, and now I must let you go. When you return Amy Elizabeth La Reine, one of your tasks will be to teach me English.” With that, Daughter picked up her staff and case, and was out of sight in seconds.
Paul jumped on a rock to try to see where Daughter was going. “I guess spiders don’t believe in saying goodbye.”
* * *
Daughter of the Clan Adv’fr’gaite arrived at the breeding chamber, the clan administrative center and home of the Mother. Lamps lit the chamber, throwing shadows across the stalactites hanging from the cave ceiling. Mother of the Clan Adv’fr’gaite raised her body up in respect, announcing to all the spiders in the chamber, “Daughter of the Clan Adv’fr’gaite, I am pleased that you have returned safely. Report to me all that you have learned about these three humans.”
Daughter of the Clan Adv’fr’gaite took a ceremonial stance. “Mother of the Clan Adv’fr’gaite, your wisdom is great, there are many things to be learned from these humans. Their technology is less than that of the great civilization that is now gone, but it is greater than what can be accessed now and it is produced in great quantities. I have seen pictures and ‘movies’, a memory in technology, of them landing in a spaceship on a moon. I have learnt, Mother of the Clan Adv’fr’gaite, that there are a great number of humans on their planet. The United States nation that Amy Elizabeth La Reine is from has over three hundred million people. How many humans are in the other nations I have not ascertained.”
Mother of the Clan Adv’fr’gaite and the other spiders, advisors to the Mother, tensed, shocked by this. The Mother questioned her, “Daughter of the Clan Adv’fr’gaite, how do these humans not destroy each other? The human protocols as written by the great civilization only permitted a hundred million humans on each planet in order to prevent internal conflict between them.”
Daughter of the Clan Adv’fr’gaite proceeded to tell Mother of the Clan Adv’fr’gaite and her advisors of what else she had learned of Earth and the humans. Of nations, borders, wars and conflict, cold wars balanced by a concept called mutual assured destruction. Of recent peace, technology, and weapons.
The resulting discussion continued over many days.
Mother of the Clan Adv’fr’gaite sent for the full advisor council, a declaration was to be made. Once everyone was gathered, the Mother of the Clan Adv’fr’gaite declared, “Daughter of the Clan Adv’fr’gaite this is the decision of the clan. We will continue as originally determined. If the humans on Earth appear to be a danger to the galaxy, you shall make a declaration and isolate them, and if necessary lock all the pillars and archways connecting to the Isolated Planets. If these three humans are the ones foretold, then you will assist them. If they are false councilors, then they must be killed.”
Chapter 25 – Spider Silk and Invitation
Rosemary La Reine was preparing snacks that Amy and Luc liked. She was curious as to why Amy had asked to meet with both of them. Sometimes it seemed lately as if Amy was someone else, speaking with exactness, politeness and formality. Rosemary had been told about the company and the sapphires. Luc had shared the results of the investigation, but she didn’t know what to make of it, and Luc wouldn’t say what he thought. That was strange too; usually Luc was open with her about everything.
She decided to set things up in the breakfast nook. The nook was cozy, with four cushioned chairs around a small antique table. The window in the nook looked out onto the garden and the trees, and this was where most of the family conferences took place. Even if this was to be a ‘meeting’, they would all feel more relaxed.
* * *
Amy was relieved to get this started and knew it showed in her voice. “Mom, you know about the company I set up with Dad, and about the sapphires. I have more of the sapphires but we have something else that we want to sell.” Amy unwrapped a cloth bundle that she’d brought in with her. There were exclamations from both Mom and Dad as she unfolded the spider silk and laid it on the table. The top piece floated down, settling gently on the table, it was so light. Even though the package had been in her backpack for days, the spider silk didn’t have a single crease. As her Mom and Dad ran their fingers over the material, the spider silk shimmered with all of the colors around them.
Her Mom and Dad both asked, “What is it?” They laughed at each other.
“This is spider silk. As the name suggests, it’s made by spiders. These are the only pieces of this material on this planet.” Oops! Did they notice? She saw that Mom was still enthralled by the feel of the material, and Dad was busy touching the spider silk as well. Amy continued, “It takes a long time to make and we have this shorter length and four pieces the same width and about twelve feet long. From now on only one length each month can be provided. This is part of the stuff we want to trade through the company.”
Her Mom was still stroking the material with her fingers and looked curiously at Amy. “More secrets? Don't answer. So what are you going to do with this material?”
“Mom, you have contacts in the fashion world,” Amy answered, careful to not mention other planets again. “Frank suggested that the highest price for this unique material would be paid for by a Hollywood actress, and maybe he’s right. I want to you sell this shipment.”
Mom nodded, “Frank’s smart!
You’re right, I do know some people. How much are you asking?”
Amy hesitated, her parents might think her crazy. “I want you to sell each full length for $50,000 plus some conditions.”
Dad laughed, “Impossible!”
Mom turned to Dad and said, with some delight, “Luc, dear, Amy’s right to bring this to me. If Amy is the only source of this material, people will pay a lot more than that for it.”
Dad looked at Mom as if she’d lost her mind. “You’re kidding, right?”
Mom shook her head. “No, I’m not kidding dear. Some Hollywood star will spend a fortune to be the only person on the planet with a dress made from this material. Remember when I told you the black dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany's” sold at auction for over $800,000. Price is not the issue, it’s being unique. Of course, once we market more of the material the price would drop, but at the rate of supply that Amy stated, the material should easily bring in $50,000 a length, maybe $100,000, for a long time.” Dad just shook his head. Mom turned back to her. “Well, Amy, while your Dad gets over his shock at the stupidity of the fashion world, why don’t you tell me your conditions.”
Dad was looking at them as if they were both crazy.
Amy could appreciate her Dad’s feelings. She’d felt stupid saying the figure of $50,000 Frank had suggested, but here was Mom saying that $100,000 per length could be the price. “The cloth is to be sold through the company Dad set up, and the designer has to keep the source confidential. The material has to be publicly known as spider silk, and it must be said that it was made by spiders. And the designer has to make a blouse out of the material for me, for free.”
Step on the Sun Page 26
