The Alliance in Peril

by Peter Lewis Atkinson

  The time soon arrived for us to take this airship journey. We would not return until late in the day. Going on this trip would be all the adults with the exception of Perri and Yarkeli, none of the daughters would accompany us this time. Before we boarded the airship we were to be given a short lecture on how they were constructed. The most worrying part was that they used hydrogen. You know how dangerous that is. Why don’t they use only helium as a lifting gas for airships, as on Earth? But when then explained further the reason became clear. The hydrogen is there for two purposes. The hydrogen gas bag is surrounded by helium gas bags with no gaps between them. This means there wouldn’t be any oxygen coming into contact with the hydrogen bag. Hydrogen has a little more lifting power than helium. So this bag has two functions. One, it gives the airship slightly more lift than helium alone and second, some of the gas is drawn off to power the engines. Our fears were laid to rest further by the fact that the gas bags were strong and fireproof. The gondola was also designed in a way to be an escape pod and could be jettisoned, whereby it would float down to the ground by parachute. The journey was slow by my standards. Is took three hours. I could have done the same journey, just taking it easy, in less than thirty minutes. As we approached our destination we could see this ancient structure; it stood out from its surroundings like a sore thumb. It was shiny black in colour, four square blocks stacked one on top of the other, each block smaller than the one it stood on. It was hard to conceive that this had been there for aeons. It looked as though it had just been built. We had to take a short walk from where the airship had landed to get to this structure. Finally, I was standing in front of it. Strange hieroglyphs covered its surface, as clear as the day they had been scribed. No one so far had managed to decipher these hieroglyphs and what they meant. I could see that map I heard about, carved into its surface, depicting the six worlds that had once been occupied by the Owick.

  One of the senators pointed to one of the worlds proclaiming, “This is ours!”

  I was not convinced. Yes, it showed the third planet slightly larger to signify the planet that was inhabited, and then so did two others. The remaining three worlds showed the second, fourth and fifth being occupied.

  I said through Mieka, “Sorry but I think you are mistaken. As there is only one planet displayed here showing the second planet being occupied and that planet, therefore, must be Alkarr. The planet you think is yours is actually Earth.” I pointed at the next one and said, “That one is yours and the other three have not yet been visited. And another thing, if the gaps between each star are to some sort of scale then it will be fairly easy to triangulate which stars host these other worlds.”

  The senator was going to dismiss my conclusion. After all, I was a male and in her eyes could not be bright enough to come to such a conclusion.

  Jenna came to my defence saying, “Jakes is right, you have mistaken Earth for your planet.” As it was confirmed by a female the senator was now willing to accept that they had the wrong planet down as Tazanter all along. We walked all the way around the monument. At the same time, I scanned not only the map and the distance of each solar system to the next but all those hieroglyphs. There are experts on Earth who may be able to decipher the hieroglyphs in time. We were returned to our ship. No further agenda had been planned for us, so we could leave to return home if we wished, which we did. I think the Tazsak now had a better picture regarding human males and I suspect that they will be talking about my visit for some time to come. I do hope some good comes about over this visit, such as education for Tazsak males. We will just have to wait and see. During our long voyage back to Alkarr Ellie had her sixteenth birthday; she would now be regarded as an adult. We held a party, though it was a happy occasion it was also sad because the rest of the family were not there to celebrate with us. Presents were given to Ellie. I had something special lined up for her, but she would have to wait until we returned to Alkarr. Though I told Ellie I had something special for her, I did not give the surprise away, even though she harassed me the rest of the journey home.

  Chapter 7

  Déjà vu

  What a journey! It was so tediously long. I definitely do not wish to do that trip too often, which to me means never again. We had a tearful reunion with the rest of my family; we had all missed each other so much. Jessica’s birthday would be the next one, just under two weeks to wait. I would not be able to keep her present a surprise as it would be exactly the same as I was about to give Ellie. After making arrangements I was ready.

  I did not have to go looking for Ellie as she was eager to ask about her surprise and came looking for me. She said, “Dad, what about this surprise you have waiting for me?”

  “Oh that,” I replied, “You want your surprise do you?” Ellie nodded her head in an excited way. I smiled and said, “This afternoon your mother and I will be taking you somewhere, that somewhere is the…” I paused before saying, “The pilot evaluation centre.”

  Before I could say anything further, Ellie let out a shriek off excitement, and then said, “Dad that’s the best present ever, I can’t wait to get my pilot’s certificate.”

  I replied, “It’s totally down to you if you pass or not, so don’t do anything that will cause a fail, such as going too fast! Take it easy, go by the book and hopefully, you will pass. Now go and brush up on regulations. You have two hours before we leave”

  I had full confidence in her ability as long as she did not go too fast. My daughters like to do everything at a fast pace. I would again remind her to keep it steady when we arrived at the evaluation centre. Jenna and I went to a nearby park while she was being assessed. We returned after two hours to wait for her. Ellie came out from the building where they do the exam on regulations.

  Ellie was not smiling, I said to her, “You failed! What did you do wrong?”

  Ellie did not reply at first, but then burst into laughter and through her laughter said, “Got you, dad! I passed with flying colours, you should have seen your face”

  I shook my head at her and replied, “Ellie, you little horror. You had me worried there for a moment. Don’t scare your dad like that.” Her mother was not too pleased with her for making both of us think she had failed. Jenna was a little harsher with her criticism of our daughter than I had been. Two weeks later I repeated my trip to the pilot’s evaluation centre, but this time with Minty and Jessica. Only this time I was not teased, Jessica was grinning like a Cheshire cat the moment she exited the exam building. So we knew at once she had passed. And this time the party encompassed all family members. Time passed and three months later my daughter Rachael had reached the age of sixteen and again I had the pleasure of taking her to the pilot evacuation centre, the end result being no different from her sisters. So now we had five qualified pilots on board our cargo freighter. I had more daughters eager to learn, the longest trainee being Misty.

  Routine cargo runs continued for many months without anything unusual to report. As for an update regarding the Silka, things had gone quiet which I must say it was unsettling. We had a regular run to Molk and very often we visited the small cove, mainly for the children. I could see a fishing trawler coming into the mouth of the harbour and I decided that I wished to watch it arrive at its mooring.

  I said, “Jenna would you chaperone me as I want to watch that fishing trawler arrive?”

  Jenna replied, Ok, if you must. We started to walk towards the jetty. As we did we were joined by the three eldest daughters.

  Ellie said, “Are you going to watch that fishing vessel arrive at the jetty, if so can we watch too?”

  I replied, “Yes you may,” but stay away from the edge I don’t want you falling off the jetty and into the water.”

  We stood on the wide jetty and watched as the trawler pulled up alongside, two crew members jumped from the b
oat onto the jetty where they then tied up the trawler before jumping back on board. Jenna caught the eye of one of the crew and polite conversation between the pair ensued. The daughters and I kept our distance.

  Jessica said in a very surprised way as she pointed towards a male teen, “Look there a young Alkarren male that’s about my age, and he is working!”

  My other two daughters and I turned towards the direction that Jessica was pointing, and sure enough, there was a young teen. He was stacking boxes of fish on the deck ready to unload.

  Ellie had one thing on her mind and said, “Do you think he is married?”

  I replied, “I have no idea but I could go and talk to him and find out.”

  Ellie said, “Can I come?”

  I replied, “Don’t be daft Ellie, if any of the mothers’ from his house spot you talking to him they would intervene. I do have an idea how you could talk with him though.”

  Ellie was keen, so replied, “I would like to talk with him, but how dad?”

  Stacked on the jetty was a line of what looked like lobster pots, so I said, “Ellie go and sneak behind those pots and then make your way to the far end, but keep hidden until I call you.” She did as I instructed. I then turned to Jessica and Rachael before saying, “You two please go and stand next to Jenna. I am hoping his mother may not intervene if she just sees me talking to him; as long as she can still see him that is.”

  I casually walked up to the point level to where he was stacking the boxes and said to him, “That what I like to see, a male Alkarren working hard.”

  He turned to me and said after spotting my captain’s hat and that I was not Alkarren, “Oh, you are that human I have heard about. You’re Jake, aren’t you? I read that you were a captain of a cargo ship. That is so exciting. I long to be able to travel to distant planets.”

  I smiled and said, “Why don’t you then?”

  He sighed and murmured, “Little chance of that happening, I would have to get a prime wife who is in the business that takes her into space and beyond.”

  I said, “You are not married then? By the way, what is your name and if you don’t mind asking, how old are you?”

  He replied, “My name is Jasper and I was seventeen last week.” Jasper pointed towards another fishing vessel and sighed again, saying, “My mother bless her, she wants me to marry a girl from the house that owns that boat. The girl is ok, but I am holding out, as I want to meet a suitable girl from a vessel that travels in space, not a vessel that goes to sea. You don’t know of anyone that would be suitable, do you?”

  I smiled and said, “Really, well I have a daughter who has already noticed you. Would you like to talk with her?”

  Jasper looked towards his mother who was still talking to Jenna, he whispered to me, “Yes please, I would be honoured to talk with your daughter. What’s her name and how old is she?”

  I again smiled and said, “Her name is Ellie and she is sixteen and guess what, she is also a qualified pilot.” I pointed towards the lobster pots and continued, “Look towards the end of those pots.” I first glanced towards his mother. Her attention was focused on Jenna. Turning back towards the pots I said, “Ellie, you can reveal yourself now.” Ellie poked her head out, just enough, so as to be not seen by Jasper’s mother. I have not seen her ever grin so much. Jasper was surprised but managed to smile back at her.

  Jasper then said, “Wow, Ellie you’ve got a great smile.”

  I said, “I think that is my signal to leave you both to talk to each other. Jasper, don’t go out of your mother’s sight or she may come over here and things may get difficult.” I turned to Ellie and said, “Stay out of sight of his mother. With luck, you can have some time talking to each other.” I turned and walked the short distance to where Jenna was standing.

  Jenna introduced me, “Takisha, this my husband Jake. Jake this Takisha, the mother of Jasper.”

  I replied first, “Pleased to meet you.”

  Takisha replied, “I am honoured to finally meet you, you know, you are my son’s hero and role model. I am pleased he has met you at last.”

  A little astonished I said, “Hero, role model, me! I did not consider myself being a hero or a role model to a stranger. Please explain?”

  Takisha explained, “Jasper dreams of becoming a spacecraft captain and you are the only male he knows that has reached the position of captain. It is you he wishes to aspire to. He refuses to choose a wife from the local girls, due to all of them being tied up in the fishing business on this planet. He works hard, unlike his father or any other male that I know. I heard you work hard also, so I believe Jasper decided to copy you in that respect. All he talks about is cargo ships. The walls of his room are covered in posters of all types of spacecraft. I feel sad that I can’t fulfil his dream. I don’t know of anyone personally that is in the cargo transport business so I can’t find him a wife which he seeks.”

  I smiled and said, “You do now. Are you willing to let your son choose who he wishes to select as his prime wife?”

  Takisha nodded her head before saying, “I came to the conclusion, and he will never rest until he has, so yes.” Suddenly, Takisha let out a gasp!

  I turned around to see Ellie and Jasper walking towards us hand in hand. This was going to be difficult. I thought Ellie had made her move too soon. This would only cause embarrassment to me and Jenna. This type of encounter was unorthodox, then so was the way I ended up being married.

  Jasper turned to his mother and declared to her, “I have found the girl I wish to marry, her name is Ellie.” He then waited to see his mother’s reaction.

  But before she did, I jumped in with an apology, “I know this is not protocol. I only expected the pair to talk. As long as Jasper stayed in sight of you I did not think it would be a problem. Alas, it turned out that Ellie and Jasper have a different agenda.”

  Takisha did not reply to me. Her attention was directed towards Jasper, whom she spoke to, “Son, are you sure this is what you want? You both have only just met for the first time. I think you should get to know each other a little more before jumping into marriage.”

  Jenna spoke up and said, “I am with Takisha on that one. Perhaps you both would like to visit our cargo freighter and see what spending most of the time in space entails.”

  Takisha replied, “I think that is a good start, but if you don’t mind, I will need to talk with the prime wife of my house first.” Turning to her son she said, “Stay here where I can see you.” Two other mothers’ from her house were watching to make sure Jasper did as his mother requested, as she stepped aside to make a call on her pid.

  While she did, Jenna called up Alenna on hers to inform her what had happened. Ellie in the meantime introduced Jessica and Rachael to Jasper. They moved a little away from Jenna and me, but I was keeping a close eye on the four. All I could hear from them was giggling and laughter. They were whispering to each other so I could not comprehend what they were talking about. Alenna arrived and we went and introduced her to Jasper, she did not have long to talk with him before Takisha came back over to us. Again we had to introduce Alenna to Takisha.

  Takisha said, “Sheba the prime wife of my house will meet us at the port when you are ready.”

  Alenna said, “There is no time like the present, so if you are ready we will walk up the hill to the port.”

  Alenna, Jenna and Takisha walked in front, nattering as they went. I walked close behind. Jasper and my three daughters were following a little further behind me. I was continually looking behind me, as were my two wives and Takisha. One minute Ellie was the only one holding Jasper’s hand and the next Jessica was holding the other. After a couple of minutes, I heard Rachael say, “It’s my turn now,” and she took his
hand from Jessica. I was not the only one to notice this. I suddenly had this foreboding of déjà vu. I was now suspecting Ellie has already lined up Jessica and Rachael as her deputy wives. Sisters taking these positions is a very popular move, someone you can trust. Alenna had of course done the very same thing with Jenna and Minty when they married me. Alkarrens tend to go by the first impression of someone. Usually, they are correct, but occasionally they are wrong. Look at how Alenna was not keen on Zitter Bobeck until she really got to know her. Takisha and Jenna wishing to delay the marriage was totally down to the suddenness of Ellie and Jasper meeting. So sudden that they needed to come to terms with the situation. My daughters were half human, but to them, they are Alkarren through and through. They live by Alkarren protocol. I, as their father, would have to accept their choice, even though I played a role in it. I was aware that sometime during the tour of the ship they would try and sneak away to make the marriage official. On the other hand, Jasper is likely to be chaperoned by his mother and the prime of his house, Sheba, but we would have to wait and see how it played out.

  We were joined at the ship by not only Sheba but Jasper’s father, Logan. We invited them all into the cargo freighter and gave them a guided tour. They were impressed with the hologram room, especially after selecting Molk.

  I commented, “Jasper will feel at home in here. Do you know where on Molk this scene has been copied from?”

  Logan replied, “It looks remarkably like the beach on the other side of the island.”

  We visited the bridge next. Once there, I let Jasper sit in the pilot’s seat, at which point the three daughters surrounded him, telling him what control did what. Next, we went to the living quarters. We reached the point of showing them the galley, Alenna thought it was time to discuss with our guests what should happen next. Jenna prepared some refreshments, and we then sat down at one of the tables, while my daughters and Jasper sat at the other. There was still some reluctance from Jasper’s mother. Deep down I still think she wanted him to marry the girl associated with the other fishing vessel. Logan’s outlook on the situation was different. He was pleased for his son, if not just a little envious at the thought of his son having the chance to visit many different planets and moons. Sheba acknowledged that this marriage would be good for her house, having an alliance with a house that was not just tied up with fishing has its rewards. She was hoping to cut the middle man out in selling her fish direct to a merchant on Alkarr. I could not help noticing the girls and Jasper. They had moved to a position near the door. Jessica was watching us. Every time the mother of Jasper looked up at them, they pretended to be looking at some of Yarkeli’s paintings. I knew what they wanted to do. I had to accept that my daughters had made their choice. Next time Jessica looked towards us I made a gesture with my head to go, and at that moment I distracted our guests by asking if they had any concerns about the Silka. This was not the thing I should be discussing, but a least it drew the attention of Jasper’s mother long enough for the four to sneak out of the room.