The Refugee (The Korvali Chronicles Book 1)

by C. A. Hartman

  As they hiked back, Catherine splashed some of her cooled water on her face and on the back of her neck, feeling herself recover. Just then, she heard a loud noise. She looked back, wondering if it were another large flare, but when she heard it again she realized it sounded different. She stopped, looking around her in concern.

  “It is the mountain,” Koni said. “It will burst earlier than expected. We must go.” He pressed a button on his sleeve and spoke in Sunai. Catherine turned to look up at the mountain. A massive ash plume billowed from the peak. “We must hurry.”

  They began to run. It took her best effort to keep up with Koni’s pace as she ran downhill, keeping her eyes down to avoid tripping on the rocks. Sweat soaked her. The mountain sounded again, so loud that Catherine put her hands to her ears. Soon she saw lights ahead; the transport ship landed nearby.

  Once inside the transport, they quickly gained elevation as Catherine peered out the windows. Bright, glowing lava spilled from the peak and rapidly descended the nearby mountain. She continued watching as the transport navigated through the rain of ash, hardly believing the violence of the eruption and the deafening noise. Soon she could see Jula below, its citizens scurrying for shelter as the encroaching lava eventually surged through the viaducts.

  The ship took them to the other end of the city, away from the erupting peak, and landed near the base of another mountain. “The transport must not fly further,” Koni said. “You are safe here, until the mountain is silent.”

  When they climbed out of the ship, a swarm of heat, gas, and ash engulfed her. She began to cough. Koni grabbed her and ushered her into a small door at the base of the peak, and soon they were inside, out of the heat and fumes. She looked around and saw a dimly lit, cave-like room with a large window overlooking Jula.

  “This is your home?”

  “Welcome,” he said, raising his chin.

  Koni’s home, like most who lived in Jula, was built into the side of the hill, allowing for better insulation from Jula’s extreme climate. It was cool, neat, and somewhat elaborately decorated, with numerous military decorations mounted on the main wall and a few musical instruments on a less prominent wall.

  She checked her contactor, wondering why it hadn’t alerted her to the eruption and ordered her back to the ship. The screen was black. “I think the heat disabled my contactor, Koni. They’ll worry if I don’t check in.”

  “I will contact your ship and tell them you are safe.”

  Once Koni contacted Cornelia, they sat down on cushions tucked into a nook that offered them a view of Jula. A minute later, a Sunai woman emerged and brought them tea. The tea was infused with an herb—not the herb that created Jula’s smell and flavored the food at the festival, but a subtler, sweeter herb. Catherine commented on it.

  “It is rare, from only the Kotui region,” Koni said. “The Kotui are difficult, always rebelling against their neighboring people, always giving trouble. We stopped these rebellions. Now, they do not sell us spice.” Koni drank his tea, appearing indifferent to the hot temperature that had already burned Catherine’s tongue.

  She put down her cup. “You’ve been so generous, Koni. I wish there was something I could do for you, in return.”

  He raised his chin. “There is.”

  “What?”

  “I was Gron once. Now I am Grono. But I want to be Gronoi. I want wives. I want children. I want my sons to leave me after five sun cycles to serve Suna, for my daughters to have more sons.” He paused. “If I know what another Grono does not, I will be Gronoi first.” His giant pupils shrank slightly. “These… Korvali. They are mystery, hiding what they know, guarding their customs and expertise. You were companion to the Korvali refugee at one time, yes? You must know what others do not.”

  Catherine hesitated. That was one thing she couldn’t give him. “I have no useful information about the Korvali. Eshel is… he was very secretive.”

  “Perhaps. But you will know how one must interact with these Korvali to gain their favor, their respect. This refugee chose you as his companion over others; you gave him something he valued, yes? Something your comrades did not give him.”

  Catherine, despite her willingness to share that kind of information, still wasn’t sure how useful she would be. She took a deep breath, considering Koni’s question. “The biggest mistake people make when dealing with the Korvali is that they expect them to be… to be what they’re not. They say they understand them, and they recite those things we all know about the Korvali—that they don’t like outsiders, that they don’t share their scientific methods, that they don’t like being touched—but then they get angry when the Korvali actually behave in those ways upon meeting in person. If you want to succeed with them, Koni, you have to do what even Gronoi Okooii has difficulty with—you have to accept them for who they are. Even when they anger you.”

  Koni grunted. She didn’t know if he disliked her suggesting that Gronoi Okooii’s handling of Eshel wasn’t ideal, or if he simply found her counsel difficult to swallow. “But what of conversational themes, gestures or words to avoid, formal addresses…”

  “I can tell you all those things. But they won’t work if you don’t take my first suggestion.”

  He grunted again, taking another swig of tea. “And you… you were able to accomplish this feat, to find no judgment in the ways of the Korvali?”

  Catherine looked down, brushing a bit of ash from her pants. “Not always, unfortunately. But perhaps more than most.”

  They talked a while more, until a gonging sound reverberated through the room. Koni pressed a button on his sleeve and spoke in Sunai. Once finished, he turned to her. “I must go. A transport will return you safely to your ship.”

  And within minutes, the transport arrived.

  “Thank you for a great day, Koni. I’ll never forget it.”

  Koni beamed with pride. “You are welcome, Catherine!” He paused. “And because we are now friends, I shall offer you a warning.”

  “A warning?”

  “A warning. It is a gift, because we are friends. Your male comrade, from the festival—he shall not trifle with a Sunai female.”

  Catherine grimaced. “I’ll talk to him. Tom’s just a flirt… he doesn’t mean any harm.”

  “No. It is not Lieutenant Commander Kingston I speak of. It is the skinny one, the one with the markings on his arms.”

  Snow. “What has he done?”

  “He was seen speaking to a female musician.”

  “That’s it?”

  “That is enough,” he said sternly. “There is no warning for this—only punishment. But he is your friend, and you are my friend. If it stops, there shall be no consequences.”

  Catherine nodded. “Thank you for telling me. I’ll speak to him.”

  Catherine sat in her quarters, examining the comparative analysis she’d run on both copies of Eshel’s genetic material. The Captain had ordered the crew to remain aboard for a couple of days, until the Sunai had the volcanic ash contained enough to be safe for humans. Out her window, the setting sun offered an unusually brilliant sunset, casting an ochre glow throughout her quarters. When her door sounded, she put away her work.

  Snow walked in, cup of coffee in hand, glancing around at her quarters. “You rang?”

  “Pull up a chair.”

  Snow sat down and focused his dark eyes on her, looking for clues as to what she wanted from him.

  “So,” she said, “You’ve met a Sunai woman.”

  Snow’s expression changed. He shifted in his seat, glancing down before he looked up at her again. “How’d you find out?”

  “Grono Amsala told me. He offered me the chance to warn you first, before they punish you for it.”

  Snow rolled his eyes at the threat. Catherine expected that; Snow hated being told what he could and couldn’t do, even more than Tom did. He got a dark look on his face.

  “Do you have feelings for her?”

  Snow scowled. “Don’t say anythi
ng. Not to Tom, not to anyone.”

  She raised her eyebrows. “Tom doesn’t know?”

  “Not yet.” He drummed his hands on the table to some tune that only he heard, then took his hands off the table.

  “How did you meet her?”

  “At the festival.” Snow gave a rare smile. “At one of the booths. I tried a new guitar and we played together… she wanted to see my bass, so I brought it to her shop in Jula…” He shook his head. “I don’t know how it happened. I’m always getting on Tom for this kind of shit, for getting involved with women without thinking about the consequences…”

  “Can’t you just… be her friend?”

  He looked down again. “No.”

  Catherine sighed. “Then you’ll have to be careful, Snow. You can’t be seen in public with her. Find somewhere to go. I’ll tell Koni you were only interested in… in a custom stand for your bass.”

  Snow looked up. “I owe you, C.”

  She smiled.

  But Snow didn’t get up. He drummed his fingers again. “How far do you go?”

  “How far?”

  “You know. How far do you take something… with an otherworlder?”

  Catherine was silent for a moment, tucking her hair behind her ear. “As far as you want to.”

  “But what did you do… you know… about the physical stuff?”

  She hesitated.

  “You don’t have to tell me,” he said. “I just… no one else will understand.”

  She nodded. “We did what we wanted to do. And so should you.”

  “No regrets?”

  “Maybe at first. Because he didn’t feel the same about me. But not anymore.”

  “Maybe he did feel the same.”

  She shrugged.

  Snow tapped his fingers again, before finally standing up. When she stood, Snow came over and put his arms around her. She hugged him back. Once he released her, he looked around her quarters. “You still haven’t found anything for that empty spot?”

  Catherine glimpsed at the photos on her bulkhead and the empty space that remained. “Not yet.”

  And Snow left.

  February 12th

  Hi Dad,

  How are you? Has skiing gotten better? I know it’s been a dry winter, but you’ll probably get a good dump of snow come March, like usual.

  Yes, I have found a Sunai friend. Believe me, no one is more surprised than I am. Don’t get me wrong: they’re still full of themselves and they always think they’re right, and they have no women in their government, which is never a good sign as far as I’m concerned. (Criticize the Korvali all you want, but Eshel said they have as many females as males in their government). Anyway, I can hardly hold much against the Sunai; after that biocracker attacked me, Koni had him interrogated and wound up uncovering a whole group of them. They’d been tracking me, Eshel, and even Holloway, under the assumption that we had data they could use. What’s worse is they had plans to steal some of Eshel’s DNA—something strictly forbidden by the Korvali—but Eshel’s inability to handle Suna’s sun season has kept him ship bound, thankfully protecting him from them.

  No, I haven’t talked to Eshel since before the Thirty. Not that he’s talked to me either. Part of me wants to break the ice with him, but what’s the point? It’s clear he has no interest in my friendship. He’s focused on other things now and doesn’t even play poker anymore.

  I’ve taught Koni a few things about how to interact with the Korvali, as he believes such knowledge will aid his promotion to Gronoi. Like most Sunai, Koni doesn’t much like the Korvali, mostly because of what happened when they tried to invade Korvali space. But I think it’s more than that. When I told Koni the Korvali only touch their closest companions and don’t kiss at all, Koni became indignant, saying that all species worth knowing show affection with the mouth and that the Korvali are “bloodless and passionless” and “colder than Suna’s moon season.” Although not entirely true, I admit that made me laugh.

  The Fires of Tonaili and the eruption are still the highlights of this encampment so far. Since then, the intense heat has waned a bit and the hot winds don’t bother me anymore. And I don’t even notice the smell now.

  Hope to hear from you soon.

  Love,

  C

  CHAPTER 20

  Eshel’s contactor chirped. Report to the Captain’s office immediately. He stood up and went to Tom’s office. “The XO has asked for me.”

  “What’d you do this time?” Tom quipped.

  “I do not know.”

  When he arrived at Ferguson’s office, they asked him to sit.

  “Eshel,” Yamamoto said, “we have word that two Korvali government officials have arrived on Suna. They are here, in Jula, for diplomatic meetings with Alliance officials.”

  Ferguson leaned back in her chair and drank from her canteen. “Tell him the rest.”

  “These men requested to come aboard the ship, which we declined. But they want to meet with you.”

  “Are these the same men who visited previously?” Eshel asked.

  “One is. The younger of the two—Minel. Do you recognize the other?”

  An image appeared on the viewer: two Korvali men in blue robes, their hoods up over their heads.

  “Yes. He also works for the kunsheld.”

  “Have you dealt with him personally?” Ferguson asked.

  “I have not.”

  “We’ve organized a meeting with them,” she said. “It will take place at Jula’s headquarters, and Gronoi Sansuai has agreed to oversee the meeting. The Korvali have been difficult with the Alliance regarding your living among us and potentially sharing your knowledge. Perhaps the meeting will set their minds at ease.”

  “I doubt that, Captain,” Eshel said. “But I will attend.”

  The following day, Eshel, in full uniform as requested, walked down the dark, cool corridor with Ferguson and Yamamoto until they arrived at a guarded door.

  “Remove your weapons and devices,” the guard ordered.

  They did as they were asked. The guard scanned them and, to Eshel’s relief, didn’t attempt to touch him. When they entered the room, two Korvali sat on one angled side of the trapezoidal table. Eshel immediately made eye contact with Minel, and then the other. Both watched him. He’d forgotten just how powerful the gaze of his people could be.

  They wore blue robes, their hoods removed from their heads and resting on their backs. Two containers of chilled water sat in front of them. Eshel considered commenting on their wearing the blue robe of the Shereb, rather than attempting to pose as members of the Guard. But he thought better of it, knowing the others would find such a remark insolent.

  “You have arrived!” Gronoi Sansuai called out in his gravelly voice. “Most excellent!” He offered his palm to Ferguson and Yamamoto in greeting, and offered Eshel only a nod. “Captain, Commander, Private, you may sit here,” he said, gesturing to three empty chairs at the other angled edge of the table. He introduced his officers, Grono Amsala and Grono Amui. Eshel recognized both officers from the music festival, where he saw them talking with Catherine.

  Finally, Sansuai sat at the short side of the table and spoke. “Our Korvali neighbors requested this meeting. They wish to speak with Private Eshel first. You must speak in English. Then, we open discussion to all.”

  Minel began. “Eshel. You look well.”

  Eshel did not reply.

  “How is your scientific work? Have you made progress?”

  “You know I am doing no such work, Minel.”

  “So it is true,” Minel said, sitting perfectly still in his chair. “You have not shared that which does not belong to the others.”

  “I have not.”

  Gronoi Sansuai spoke. “It is always the Alliance’s position, Minel, that Korvali technology or knowledge shall not be shared unless the kunsheld himself approves both the content to be shared and those he wishes to share it with!”

  The two men kept their eyes on E
shel. “And what work do you do now?” the other Korvali asked him.

  “I have duties in the Weapons section. I also study, to learn more of the technology of the humans.”

  “And do you find the work to your satisfaction?”

  “It is acceptable.” He noticed a stirring among the Sunai officers. He knew such a lukewarm response about his service would seem disrespectful to them. But they could not understand. No Sunai could appreciate the true importance of science, of the work he’d been prevented from doing.

  “And you have made friends among the others,” Minel said. “One in particular, a female geneticist, seems especially worthy of your attention.”

  Eshel knew the Captain and XO would find such a comment unexpected, would wonder how the two men could know whom he’d befriended. But Eshel expected such an inquiry. “She helped me adapt to life among the others.”

  “Such an extended period of acclimation,” Minel said, “for someone so intelligent.”

  “She said acclimation would take one Earth year. And that is how long I befriended her.”

  “Long enough to do the unspeakable?” Minel sneered in Korvali.

  “Don’t be disgusting,” Eshel replied in Korvali.

  “Do not speak your native language here!” Gronoi Sansuai bellowed, his voice resonating throughout the stone-walled room.

  Minel didn’t acknowledge Sansuai as he continued to stare at Eshel. Eshel turned to the Gronoi. “An apology, Gronoi.” Sansuai raised his chin, then nodded slightly.

  Minel spoke again, this time to Ferguson. “Captain, the kunsheld is still distressed that our citizen lives among those who are not his people. However, I believe such discomfort would be assuaged with information from yourself.”