by Robin Roseau
“Maybe,” she said. “Does it mean this?” And then she began to gaze intently. Once she was sure she had my complete attention, she began stalking towards me. I didn’t move as she drew closer, actually holding me by my arms. She brought our lips closer, then just when I was sure she really intended to kiss me, she danced away, laughing.
I joined the laughter but waved a finger at her. “Darratine minx!”
“Bad Talmon girl,” Darrratine said. “You should say…” and then she taught me a word, helping me pronounce it. When I got it right, Farratain clapped for me.
The three of us had a lovely dinner, although I worried for Chaladine and Luradinine. Eventually, I went to bed. I heard them come in.
I heard them make love, and I knew it was in joy, but also thought it was in sorrow.
* * * *
Morning arrived. I was sad to leave, but Chaladine and Luradinine were both miserable. I said nothing except that I would prepare the jumper. I offered my goodbyes, thanking everyone for being so nice to me, accepting hugs and kisses upon my cheeks, and offering a few of my own.
And then I carried my now much heavier suitcase from Luradinine’s home.
It was perhaps three quarters of an hour later that I heard steps across the sand. I had moved the jumper from the shelter, pointing it back down the beach, and so we could go as soon as Chaladine arrived.
I climbed from the vehicle. I could see her sorrow. She walked straight to me, bringing her own bag. I said nothing at first, but I helped her to stow her things. “Chaladine, you could stay.”
“No,” she said. “Take me home, Maddalyn.”
“Yes, Chaladine,” I said. I helped her into the jumper. She stared ahead, not paying attention. I went through the procedures then made sure there was no one in the way. The jumper lifted a half meter from the sand. Chaladine didn’t even react. Then I nudged the controls, moving forward and pointing out to sea. “No people,” I said. She didn’t respond.
I gave it power, gently at first, then full power as we moved out over the water. And soon we were high in the air. Chaladine had her face pressed to the window, and so I turned us so she could continue to watch Beacon Hill.
“Chaladine, we can go back.”
“No,” she said. But then a moment later she began sobbing, sobbing hysterically.
I commanded the jumper to take us home, and then I unstrapped from my seat, moved to her, and held her as she cried through her grief.
Friendship
“Bad Talmon girl!” I looked up. Chaladine stood before my desk. She pointed. “What are you wearing?”
“Um.”
“That is what I thought,” she said. “I can’t take you to lunch dressed like that.”
That was too much. I caught “lunch” and her tone, but that was all. “No understand.”
“No understand,” she echoed. “Lunch?”
I smiled. “Yes.”
“With me.”
I laughed. “Yes.”
“In Sudden.”
“Yes.”
She wiggled a finger at my clothing. “Not with Frantzland girl! You may change into a Talmon girl or you may go naked.”
“No understand.”
“Come.” She reached over and grabbed my wrist. I let her pull me from my desk. I felt like an errant child as she led me to my home, but I knew she was teasing. We reached the door, and she palmed the lock. I’d given her access a visit or two ago, and now she could come and go if she wished. Inside, she turned to me then began working on my clothing.
“What doing?”
“No Imperial girl!” she said. “Take off.”
I laughed and led the way to the bedroom, turning my back as I began to undress. I got halfway and looked over my shoulder. She was watching me. I waved a finger at her.
“Waiting,” she said.
“Waiting for what?”
“You naked.”
And that was when I realized what that word meant. I stomped over to her and firmly turned her around, but she complained. “This not Talmon way.”
“I always part Frantzland girl,” I said. “No look.”
“Yes, look.”
“Go next room.”
She didn’t say a word, but she didn’t peek, either, not that I saw. I finished undressing then picked one of my Talmon outfits. Finally I said. “Look now.”
She turned, smiled, then stepped over and made a few adjustments. “Better. Now Talmon girl.”
“We may go. My purse is near the door.”
She had brought a carriage, so I didn’t have to try to ride one of the horses. We were barely started when she asked, “What is the news?”
“News?”
“Things to tell.”
“Ah.” I smiled. “Cecilia and Sartine tomorrow.”
“Really?”
“Yes,” I said.
“It will be good to see her.”
“Yes,” I said again. Then I grew quiet.
“What’s wrong?” Chaladine asked a minute later.
“Nothing.”
“Maddalyn, good Talmon girl not lie Vendart’s Daughter.”
I said nothing for a while and finally admitted, “Is good day. Lunch with you. Cecilia and Sartine tomorrow.”
“I think you want that spanking.”
“I think you want spanking. Talk, talk, talk. Think you ask for spanking.”
She snorted. “If I want a spanking, I won’t ask you.” That hurt, and I turned away. But she set a hand on my arm. “You don’t understand.”
“Is okay,” I said. “Friends.”
“Maddalyn, look at me.” I didn’t want to, but slowly I turned to her. “You have never in your life spanked someone.” She had to say it again, slowly and in parts before I understood.
“You sure?”
“Yes. Am I wrong?”
“No.”
“With us, Chaladine say.”
“Maddalyn do,” I finished.
“That’s right.”
I nodded. “Okay. That good.”
“That’s what I thought. Now answer my question.”
“What question?”
“What is wrong?”
“One small bad thought,” I said. I wasn’t going to tell her I was afraid Cecilia would send me away. “All gone. Here with you. Watch horse butt.” I smiled. “Wonder you spank horse.”
“I didn’t spank the horse.”
“You sure?” I lifted one hand like I was holding the reins. Then I rocked as if I was on a running horse and reached with my free hand behind me as if I was slapping the beast to run faster.
Chaladine laughed. “When have you seen someone do that?”
“Old movie,” I said. “Think Chaladine spank horse butt.”
“I did not spank the horse,” she said. She waved a finger at me. I smiled sweetly then settled back into the seat, leaning against her.
“Thank you take lunch.”
* * * *
The next day I made myself scarce. If I were doing my job, I would have met Cecilia and Sartine when they landed. Instead, I ran errands in Sudden, and I vowed to myself I wouldn’t go back until I heard the lander take off again.
I was thankful it didn’t stay a few days.
As soon as I heard it leaving, I began walking back to the embassy, and was just arriving when Sartine and Cecilia appeared, riding a carriage towards me. They came to a stop, both of them looking at me.
“Welcome home, Governor Grace,” I said. In German.
“Welcome home, my ass,” she said. “You were hiding from me.” She looked skyward. The shuttle was out of sight. “Did you really think I was going to kick you off the planet?”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Did you?”
“Did you have a nice trip, Governor Grace?”
“Offer greetings to Sartine in a language she understands.”
I thought about it. She had just spent months off planet. I smiled and switched to English. “Welc
ome home, Sartine. Did you enjoy Centos Four?”
“Maddalyn Herschel,” said the governor in a firm tone. Her next words were in Talmonese. “Try again in this language. I can call that shuttle back, you know.”
“So I not only one think you make leave,” I said, in Talmonese. “You plan.”
She paused. “Say Hello to Sartine.”
“Welcome home, Sartine,” I said. “Did good trip have?”
“A very good trip,” Sartine said. “Have you been well?”
“Quite well, thank you,” I replied.
Cecilia nodded. “I read your reports,” she said. “Did someone help you write them?”
“No. I wrote alone.”
She switched back to German, and I knew it was a bad sign. “I want you to translate everything you wrote.”
“I wrote in English.”
“I know, and now I want you to translate them into Talmonese. I imagine it will take you a day or two.” I said nothing. The only reason she would make me do that was to see if I could. “Maddalyn, if it takes you two days, there is no way, short of an extreme emergency, I could call the shuttle back.”
“Send me away next trip.”
“I’m not sending you away,” she said. “But I need to know when I can begin to count on you for other things.”
“Can count now.”
“I need you to translate them into Talmonese.”
“Yes, Governor Grace.”
“There is no hurry.”
“I understand, Governor Grace.”
“I understand you have been very helpful at the embassy. Thank you.”
“I help when I am able.”
“I know you do. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
I switched back to Talmonese again. “Enjoy your evening, Governor Grace, Mrs. Governor.”
Sartine snorted then flicked the reins.
* * * *
I didn’t see Cecilia the next day or for a few days after. Instead, she went away, and I heard she had gone to Beacon Hill. I heard also she was upset.
I imagine for once it wasn’t with me.
But then she returned. She invited me to her office and then asked, “Did you translate the reports?”
“They’re waiting for you,” I replied.
She took on a faraway look. I waited as she read them. I didn’t think she read them to completion, but she spent a few minutes at it. I hung my head. I knew they were done very poorly.
“All right,” she said finally. She set an envelope on the desk, then pushed it across to me. I glanced at it. “I need you to bring this to Sudden Vendart. If you cannot find him, find Valtine. Under no circumstances do you give that to Chaladine. Wait for a response and return here. Can you do that?”
“Yes, Governor Grace.”
She paused then said, “I want to know how you will get there.”
I smiled. “I will ride a horse, Governor Grace, unless the ones we have are in use. If so, I can walk. It isn’t so far.”
“Ride a horse, will you?”
“Yes, Governor Grace. Chaladine and Beacon Hill Vendart taught me. Governor Grace?”
“Are you going to ask about them?”
“I should mind my own business.”
“You made friends, didn’t you?”
“Aunt Anna said the people of Talmon were special people. She was right.”
“Yes, she was,” she replied. “Chaladine feels her responsibilities deeply. In that, she reminds me of myself.” She paused. “And your Aunt Anna. And, Maddalyn, you.”
“Me?”
“You.” She smiled. “I like the clothes. You look quite dashing.”
“Thank you, Governor Grace. I like the clothes, too.”
Cecilia tapped the envelope. “Please see to this.”
“Right away, Governor Grace.” I collected the envelope and hurried from her office.
It was the first real duty she’d given me.
* * * *
There was a horse available. She was a gentle creature and didn’t fuss as I prepared her, working carefully, the way I had been taught. Then I headed for the Vendart’s home.
The leaders on Talmon did not have servants. The front door to their home held a mighty knocker, which was how one requested attention. And so I wrapped the reins around the nearby stand, walked up the steps, and then gave the door three loud clangs. Then I waited.
It was perhaps a minute or two before the door opened. Rordano, Chaladine’s younger brother, looked surprised to see me. “Maddalyn?”
“Good afternoon, Rordano,” I said. “Governor Grace send.”
“I’ll get Chaladine,” he offered.
“No,” I said. I withdrew the envelope. “I see Sudden Vendart, please.”
“Oh. Okay. Come in.” He backed aside. I followed him into the house and then through the house. Baardorid was in his office, talking to a man I didn’t know. Rordano stepped right in and spoke more quickly than I could hear. I heard my name and Cecilia’s.
Baardorid listened to Rordano and then gestured to me. I looked at the man seated before him but stepped forward. Both men stood, and Baardorid smiled. “Maddalyn,” he said. “This is Masitano.”
“Greetings, Masitano,” I said. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
He looked at me, smiling, and it was the look of a man meeting a woman. But then he spoke quickly, and I didn’t understand. “I am sorry,” I said.
“Masitano asks,” Baardorid said carefully, “if you are a star person.”
I smiled. “I am Talmon now. This my home. Good people Talmon. Beautiful planet. I like.” Then I gestured to my clothes. “Worry confuse dress Talmon. Chaladine say I dress this. She like.”
“I like it, too,” said the man, and that I understood.
I turned to the vendart. “Baardorid, sorry interrupt.” I handed him the envelope. “Governor Grace. You and Valtine read only. Say me wait.”
He opened the envelope, withdrew a short letter, and read it. Then he grunted and offer a nod. He looked up. “Rordano, bring your mother. Masitano, I must see to this. I will find you later.”
“Of course, Vendart.” He turned to me. “Perhaps we’ll meet again.”
“Yes,” I said. “Sorry interrupt.”
He said something then turned and followed Rordano from the room. Baardorid gestured to the vacated chair, and so I sat. “Sorry,” I said.
“Don’t be,” he said. “Do you know what this is?”
“A letter,” I said.
He smiled. “Do you know what it says?”
“No. Governor Grace not say.”
He nodded. “You and Chaladine have become friends.”
“Yes. Chaladine is good to me.”
“Chaladine is good to everyone.”
I smiled. “Yes.”
“Talmon is home now?”
“Is okay?” I asked.
“With me?” he asked. “Of course. Did you leave a boy behind when you came?”
I struggled with that for a minute then smiled, shaking my head. “No boy never. Left four girls.”
He laughed. “Four? At once.”
“Pippa today. Tranquility tomorrow. Serenity next day. Then Talitha. Pippa again. Tranquility and Serenity sisters. But all know I come here. No love. Just fun. Dance.”
“So many girls?”
“When I with Tranquility, Pippa with Serenity,” I said. “All friends. Just one, too hard not love. Four? Easier.”
“I believe I understand,” he replied. “Very wise.”
I shrugged. “I am not wise. Young. Many mistakes. That big choice not mistake. Lucky not mistake. Understand? Luck, not wisdom.”
“Perhaps a little wisdom,” he suggested. “Ah. Valtine.”
We both stood and turned to Valtine, standing in the doorway. She closed the door then crossed the room to me. She gave me a cheek-kiss greeting and a more proper kiss to her husband. Then, without explanation, he gave his wife Cecilia’s letter.
“And you nee
ded me to make this decision, Vendart?” Valtine asked with a smile.
“Yes,” he said. “Go make decisions. Go.” But he came around and gave me a gentle hug before sending me off with Valtine.
We didn’t go far, just across the hall to her own office. There I sat and waited while she wrote a note and slipped it into an envelope. She handed it to me, and I slipped it away. “Thank you, Valtine.”
“You are welcome,” she said. “You look very nice in your Talmon clothes, Maddalyn.”
“Thank you,” I said, standing up. “I like them.”
“Good. I do, too.” Then she walked me to the door, talking animatedly, but I understood very little. I thought perhaps she knew that, but she spoke anyway.
At the door, she hugged and kissed me before sending me on my way.
* * * *
It was the next day when I learned what my mission had accomplished. It was early, and I had only been to work a few minutes before Chaladine stepped into the embassy. She had a large backpack, which she unlimbered and set onto the ground. “Good morning, Maddalyn,” she said brightly.
I rose from my desk. The two of us offered our typical greeting, and then I asked, “What that?”
“A bag.”
“Funny girl.”
“My things.”
“Have fight with Sudden Vendart? Come to live with me?”
She laughed. “I have a new job.”
“New job?”
“Yes. I am to be,” and then she switched to English, “Personal Assistant to the Governor.”
My job.
My features fell for a moment, then froze. If she noticed, I don’t know. But I said, as brightly as I could, “Congratulations!”
“I get to help!” she said. “I’ll go everywhere with Cecilia and take care of everything for her. We’re leaving for Indartha this morning. Can you tell her I’m here?”
“Yes,” I said.
I used my implant to send my message, and a moment later, there was a reply. “Will you arrange for a ride out to my jumper?”
“Governor Grace coming,” I said. “I will drive you to the jumper.”
I stepped over and lifted her bag, but Chaladine took it from me and shouldered it. “Lead the way.”
Cecilia appeared just as we stowed Chaladine’s bag. The two embraced, and then she asked, “Who is driving us?”
“I am,” I said.
“All right, thank you.” We climbed in, and a minute later, we were moving, with the two of them talking quickly. I didn’t understand much, and I felt helpless.
