you," an d they all laughed . " I always did have a problem with g re eting signs . Did Meg show you her namesign?"
Tesa shook her head, while Meg made a rude face.
"She's called, ' First - One-There '--' Speedy ' for sho rt ." He fended off a gl an cing blow that tu rn ed into a warm hug. "I got a call when you left.
They told me about the voders."
" I'll bet they did," Meg signed.
"And," Thorn continued, " I heard our new pa rt ner wants to see the sunset ." He suddenly felt a stab of embarrassment.
55
Tesa was deaf , and he ' d signed the word " heard ." Would she be insulted?
Tesa noticed his abrupt change of expression. " What's the matter ? Did I do something wrong?"
His hands fumbled. "I thought maybe, when I signed `heard ,' I offended
you."
Tesa rolled her eyes. "Oh, that . Don't be silly , that's just an expression .
I'm not sensitive about my deafness."
"Oh, good. I, uh..." He trailed off awkwardly , feeling foolish again .
You've been in the wilderness too damn long, he thought wryly, if seeing a strange woman does this to you!
"Tesa' s deafness won't be forever , either ," Meg was signing. "Once the First Contact ' s confirmed , she c an have that problem corrected ."
Meg was looking at Tesa warmly , but the younger wom an had tu rn ed her attention to the scene ry again.
"Well," Thorn interjected, pulling her line-of-sight back, "I hope you ' ll be patient . I've never known a deaf person befo re ."
Tesa gave him a knowing glance. " But I thought we we re all deaf on
Trinity . Meg tu rn ed her ears off the moment we landed."
He looked confused, until the older woman showed him the gold orbs on
her earlobes.
"My controls," she told him . " They're a lot more reliable th an the nullifiers ." Meg seemed so much like her old self that Thorn felt an immense sense of relief , remembe ri ng the way she'd been after
Scott's death.
"Well, if we stand around here much longer," Thorn signed, "we'll miss sunset ." Crooking his arms gallantly for the two women , he led them to the hillock ' s steep edge.
The hillock was a high, d ry land mass , thick with a rustcolored ground cover , shrubs, an d a scatte ri ng of trees. Behind them to the west was an old - growth forest , the giant trees forming a hazy mass on the ho ri zon.
The marsh stretched clear to the horizon. B ri lliant blue sky and white , fleecy clouds were reflected in the stretches of open water . Eve ry
where it seemed the peak of autumn , with trees in ri otous displays of reds, oranges , yellows, and soft browns, making the occasional splash
of green startling. Mosses in soft blues an d lavenders cushioned their
eve ry step.
Meg sat where she an d Scott used to, near the edge . Seeing
56
her love for this place reflected in her eyes, Thorn knew she had buried as
many ghosts as she could.
He gestured for Tesa to sit between them. Pulling her long legs up to her
chest, she gaped at everything, trying to drink it all in with her eyes.
Above the eastern horizon hovered the three celestial bodies the people of
Trinity called the Sun Family. The day of Scott's death, they'd been in a tight
triangle, an unusual configuration. Since the gas giant planet and the red
dwarf sun were at the farthest reaches of this solar system, changes were
gradual. While the triangle had been steadily drifting apart, it could still be
seen. The sky had already begun to color, and red-gold reeds nodded their
heavy heads in the breeze.
Tesa turned to Thorn, and he felt himself blush as though she'd caught him
at something. He reddened easily, a trait he'd damned his father's genes for
on many occasions.
"These sunsets are different from Earth's," he signed to her inanely, feeling embarrassed, "but just as beautiful."
"More so," Meg signed. "No contrails."
That seemed especially to please Tesa. "When I was little," Tesa signed, "I'd watch sunsets with my grandparents. When the stars came out, they'd show
me which little light represented my parents' latest work station. They'd sign,
`Tell Mom and Dad you love them.' And I'd sign with my little fingers,
convinced my parents were watching me from the stars." She held up her
hand in a sign he'd never seen-the thumb, index, and pinky finger extended,
the middle and ring fingers folded against the palm.
The colors shifted as the red dwarf-the "Child" star to the Grus-dipped lower.
It would be the first to disappear. Bands of scarlet ran across the horizon.
"Last time I was on Earth," Thorn signed, "I couldn't even see the sunset. I was in New York."
"What does a biologist do in New York?" Tesa asked. "Surveys songbirds in Central Park," he answered.
"On Shassiszss," Meg told them, "they're more interested in the night sky. I missed this terribly."
Oranges overlaid red.
"Once, when I was eight," Tesa signed, "my dad and I were watching a
beautiful sunset, and I asked, `What kind of sound does the sunset make?'
He gave me a funny look. Ìt's too beautiful to make noise ,' he signed . `
Sunsets are silent.'
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That made me so happy ! I feel the same way ri ght now." Thorn realized he and Meg were both giving Tesa that
"funny look." In fact , Meg's eyes were a little glitte ry , he thought.
"Sorry," Tesa apologized , " the hiber drug makes me ramble."
Meg patted her and smiled, then suddenly g ri pped her arm, pointing .
Thorn peered , straining to see what she was showing Tesa . He finally saw them , a flock of high-flying birds coming in from the east . They were too far away to see clearly, just a ragged vee formation and wings
beating steadily in that distinctive two-beat patte rn . It was the Grus.
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CHAPTER 5
The Grus
They moved fast, on huge, outstretched wings, long, black wing-fingers
spread to aid their maneuvers. After circling the waterway, they pointed their
dark legs downward, backwinging slow and easy, parachuting, barely
disturbing the water as they landed. In a world of color, their simple black
and white feathers and red crowns were striking. When the last one touched
down, the flock lifted their heads to the suns and called.
Vibrations ran through Thorn's body. He glanced at Tesa and felt
inordinately pleased at her wide-eyed amazement. When their calling ritual
was over, Thorn cupped his hands and shouted. When the Grus turned and
saw Meg waving at them they began flapping and jumping exuberantly,
many breaking into dance. Then the flock stretched their wings and ran
forward, taking to the air, heading for the hillock.
As the humans backed away from the cliff edge, Tesa made a sign over her
heart, to show them it was beating wildly. For a moment, it seemed as if the
avians might land on the humans; they were buffeted by the wind from those
great wings. Then the avians alighted, shuffling and shoving one another to
find a good location near Meg, surrounding the humans in a forest
58
59
SILENT DANCES 59 of legs, necks, and wings . The Grus' trim, oblong
bodies were level with Tesa ' s shoulders . When they stretched their
necks they towered over her . Tesa sta re d up at them in awe.
Meg became lost in a cloud of black and white feathers, as her Grus fri ends
enveloped her under their wings in a special g
reeting , rese rv ed for family . When Thorn caught a glimpse of Meg ' s face , he could see it was streaked with happy tears.
He noticed, too, a scatte ri ng of birds that stood outside the group ,
obse rv ing eve ry thing wa ri ly , remaining uninvolved. The re' d been a lot of that lately , and it made Thorn uneasy.
Tesa pulled at Thorn' s sleeve as the chaos began to subside. " Is that Taller?" she asked.
Thorn glanced at the great bird conversing with Meg, then nodded, sta rt
led . " Yes, it is." It'd taken him months to learn to tell one of the avians from another.
Just then, Taller moved gracefully away from the crowd and approached
Thorn and Tesa. Thorn moved to make introductions.
"This is Taller," he signed , formally , " the tallest Grus in this ter ri to ry."
This was the closest the Grus came to a title. Suddenly the avian pulled
himself up until he was standing
nearly on tiptoe, his neck ri gidly straight , towe ri ng over his flock , fixing them with a cold gla re. They respectfully lowered their heads ,
even those who were still hanging back.
For the Grus, height was an impo rt ant factor in social status, an d these days , Taller needed eve ry little help in clinging to his precarious
leadership.
"And this," the avian signed, " is the human who will fulfill the plans of my son, Water Dancer, an d our human f ri end, Puff."
Thorn saw Tesa' s quizzical expression and knew he'd have to explain
Scott ' s name-sign later . Taller had given it to him because Scott ' s bushy moustache always puffed out when he spoke. The name - sign
imitated this with the fingers mimicking the dangling moustache as it
blew with the force of Scott's breath.
Slowly the avian approached Tesa, never lowe ri ng his height as he
circled her slowly , walking stiffly . Tesa was t ry ing hard to hide how ra tt led she was by his examination . Finally the avian stopped , staring pointedly at her face , his deadly black bill inches from her nose . Thorn admired the woman ' s ne rv e. She barely flinched , then gazed back unblinking.
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Thorn had trouble enduri ng " the look" as the Grus called it, a test that , they believed , would reveal the lies hiding in the back of a dishonest
person ' s eyes . Thorn, ever the biologist, had t ri ed to still his ne rv es by memo ri zing the unique bill that could pluck out his eye like an hors d'oeuvre, the perfectly round golden eyes, and the black hairlike feathers
that sparsely cove re d the red crown up to whe re the gleaming white
began. It hadn ' t helped - he would inva ri ably ave rt his eyes.
Taller continued to peer down his bill , making him seem almost cross-
eyed. Then, as familiarly as any Terran bird, he cocked his head to look at
Tesa first with one eye, then the other. It was a comical gesture, and for a
second, Thorn thought Tesa might burst into giggles , but she
controlled herself.
"She has good eye color," Taller signed . " Is she named?" The question was phrased as if Meg and Thorn were Tesa's parents. Names were
significant , since they were "ea rn ed."
Before Meg or Thorn could answer, Tesa began signing. "In my homeland,
I'm called 'White Spirit Animal.' This name has special meaning for my
people."
There was an explosion of activity. With a great flap, Taller leaped into the
air, landed with a bounce, then bowed. Several others imitated him , some
twirling in the air.
Tesa looked stunned.
"You have a real name!" Taller signed when he settled down. "You are the first of your people that has come here with a real name. Well, welcome to
the World, White Spirit Animal. The White Wind people greet you."
Tesa looked up into Taller's golden eyes. Damn, Thorn thought, she's
shaking all over. She's in love, he realized, and was surprised to feel a
stirring of jealousy. She's fallen in love with these big birds just like Scott did.
"The name given you in your homeland will always be your name the re,"
Taller signed . " But, to make the World your new home , the White Wind people will give you one of our names, as though you had be en
hatched here ." He peered at her. "Good eyes. That's what we wil cal you.
Good Eyes."
Then the huge white avian walked away , pa rt ing the flock. Stretching his wings and taking long st ri des , he sailed easily off the cliff edge .
The others paraded up to Tesa , one at a time, scrutinized her
momentarily , then followed Taller.
Forgett ing Thorn and Meg, Tesa ran to the cliff edge. Thorn
61
started after her, irrationally wor ri ed that she might leap off the edge
with them , when Meg snagged his arm.
" And where are you going , Romeo?" she dem an ded. He blushed furiously, hating his fair skin.
"You're very young, Thorn," she signed, her expression kindly. "Too young, I felt, for this job when you first came here. But you're a good worker, and you
believed in Scott. You ea rn ed my respect a long time ago." She
hesitated, then continued, "I know you've been alone here for
months ... I know you don't fit in well with the Crane crew."
Thorn sighed . It was just like Meg to talk around unpleasantness.
Lauren had become infatuated with him as soon as he'd arrived. But
Thorn had just endured a bitter divorce and wanted only to bury himself in
his work, too.
At first he'd accepted Lauren's attentions, but it'd been a mistake . He wasn '
t ready for any kind of relationship, even the most casual . He'd wound
up hu rt ing Lauren with an abrupt rebuff . Thorn knew he could ' ve h an dled the situation mo re tactfully , as Bruce , Lauren ' s resident big brother , had been quick to point out. As anguished as Thorn had been
by Sco tt 's death , it had been a relief to spend all his time on T ri nity and not have to face Lauren's cold anger, which only- reminded him of his
ex-wife.
Was it only yesterday that he'd gotten the news that Jane had remarried?
Glancing at Tesa, Thorn realized that his sudden interest in the newcomer
might be his psyche's way of telling him that he ' d finally healed.
"I didn't bring Tesa here," Meg continued, "to fall in love with you. She has to fall in love with them"--the older woman indicated the Grus--"and she has.
Don't interfere."
Tesa was crouched at the edge of the cliff, watching the avians spiral down
into the marsh. After landing, they'd separate, some pairs disappearing
into nest shelters, or mates relieving their pa rt ners from egg
incubation duties so they could feed. Younger birds would form small
groups and, in secluded areas in the re eds , sleep , balanced one-legged , in the open water . Tesa ' s body slumped as though she felt empty now that her "first contact" was over.
The tiny "Child Sun" had disappeared, and the large "Father Sun ," the solar system ' s yellow star , was half hidden by the ho ri zon . It seemed huge , re d, wave ri ng in the thick
62
atmosphere. The "Mother Sun," the b ri ght gas giant, still hovered in the sky , now rampant with color.
Thorn turn ed to Meg . " You're ri ght. It's just ... she's got a lot of presence , wouldn ' t you say?"
"I'd say."
"Meg," Thorn signed, " we've got to talk , and Tesa's not paying much attention to us--let ' s head for the shelter. We'll come get her when
supper ' s ready."
The older woman nodded, an d the two walked tow ar d the shelter . Thorn
tried to decide what to tell her first, what was most impo rt ant
. He'd have to wa rn her of the Grus' feelings about Taller's decision to take
Tesa into his family. Even the leader ' s most loyal followers thought it
was a mistake. There were three suns. There were three moons . There
were three members of the Grus family-father , mother , and child. Some of the less loyal flock members blamed the attack that killed Scott and
Water D an cer on their plans . How else, they said, could such a
disaster st ri ke on a day that histo ri cally omened good luck?
Tesa sat at the cliff edge , relieved to be alone. She felt weak from
hunger . She hadn ' t eaten anything since before hibernation , and that , combined with side effects from the hiber drugs, made her feel as
if she were on a spi ri t fast.
Only the Mother Sun still twinkled above the hori zon and the sky was
turning violet . She took a deep breath, as though the air , with its
smells of ea rt h , grass, and water , could wed her to this world ... and make it hers.
She wanted to belong here, to become part of this beautiful, wild place. Gl
an cing back tow ar d the l ar ge Quonset - hut shelter, painted in a camouflage pattern in T ri nity ' s autumn shades, Tesa watched as Meg and Thorn went inside.
She pulled the two eagle feathers from her hair. How long had it been
since she'd danced ? When she lived at home, it had been like breathing to her, an integral pa rt of her life.
Tesa had earn ed her feathers by acts of brave ry. Reaching into her
pocket , she pulled out the leather wrapping that protected the red
stone pipe, the canunpa , her grandfather had ca rv ed for her. Then she held the feathers and pipe in her open palms an d st re tched her arms out before her. Turning to the four directions , she offe re d a prayer to the Wakan T an ka, the Great Spi ri t, of this world.
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" I come with clean hands and an open hea rt ," she signed. All living places have what the Dakota call wakanda, the
Iroquois orenda, the Athabascan coen - the living power that perv ades a place. For Tesa that had been missing on StarB ri dge, a lifeless chunk
of shattered planet spinning in vacuum. But T ri nity was full of life, full
of nagi as Doctor Blanket had said.
Then, putting the pipe back in her pocket , she took a feather in each
hand, stretched her arms like wings , and feeling the drumbeat in her
Silent Dances Page 8
