T-47 Book II (Saxon Saga 6)

by Frederick Gerty

  The air car began to drop, increasing speed as it did so. Lori watched the ground rush up at them, knew they would slice into the valley at a steep angle, to crash the sound barrier as they slowed, and awe the crowd. And awe it they did, a cheer sounded as soon as the sonic boom, and people waved and pointed at the shiny glint in the sky, where Eagle One began circling inward from over the furthest reaches of the crowd and slow down, all the while sinking toward the ground. Finally, it hovered a moment over the front edge of the grassy slope, moved back and down and settled onto the ground. Two cambots moved in before it, hanging in the air five meters above the grass. Immediately, the canopy opened, and Lori stepped up, and then down onto the soil of Teba again.

  If the cheers were loud before, they became overwhelming now, a tidal wave, an earthquake, a hurricane of noise, from hundreds or thousands of throats and twice that number of hands clapping, and four times that number of feet stamping a welcome for the Sky Lady, the Goddess of Blue. Behind her, the canopy slowly slid closed again.

  Lori stood there, dressed in blue. Pale blue pants, over blue boots, a light blue blouse, a dark, navy blue cap, and swirling and drifting around her, a thin cape of sky blue inside, and deep blue outside. Her image filled the screen behind her, and the others scattered about, visible to everyone, even those at the distant very end of the crowd.

  The cheering went on. And on. And on, as Lori stood and looked at the crowd, her head swiveling left, then center, then right. Finally, she raised her arms, and in the slight dip in the sound, she said loudly, “My beloved people, I have returned, to visit with you once more.”

  Like a physical force, the roaring thunderclap of reply from the packed crowd nearly pushed her backward, an immense force of sound, of her name, “Sky Lady,” over and over. But she held her ground, arms up and extended, the cape drifting back and out behind her in the mild breeze, cambots clustered around her, she a glowing goddess of blue, on a green lawn, surrounded by her adoring subjects, all lit from the side by the newly risen sun. And she knew it would be useless to try to deliver her prepared speech. Later. Tomorrow, maybe. Or never, who knew.

  The sound went on, unending. For want of anything better to do, she walked to the left limit of the upper area, smiling and waving to the crowd. There, people held up children, to better see, and shouted and waved back at her, to Morales’ worry. His honor guard paced her, on the slope just below her, but no one moved to break the thin, fragile line of the simple, yellow rope holding them back. Slowly, she walked along the top of the slope, waving, and nodding, her ears starting to ache with the noise. At the far right side, she held her hands high, and returned to the center, and stood there, at a loss as to what to do next. This was hardly proceeding as she’d expected, how would the welcoming ceremony ever get going in the midst of all this noise? In desperation, she held her hands up, palms out, and slowly lowered them, and the noise faded measurably, at least in front.

  “My people, may I ask your indulgence, as I welcome two new visitors to your wonderful country. These are my kin. One is quite small, and will be fearful of a great noise, so if you remain silent, I will be grateful.” She heard her voice booming and echoing around the arena, and the noise fell off nearly completely. Turning toward Eagle One, she said, “This is Hunter, my mate for life. And he holds my joy–my child, my son.” She pointed, as the canopy slid open, and Hunter stood up, looking out apprehensively, into a sudden, total silence, now rather unnerving after the grand wall of sound from just before.

  Hunter lifted the carrier with Eric, and in the silence slowly walked the ten meters to Lori, and stopped to her left side. She smiled at him, and bent and lifted her son from the carrier, dropping the small blanket. “Look at all the people,” she said to his perplexed face, and in one motion, she lifted him high in both her hands, held him over her head, and said, “This is my son, my first born. This is Eric Saxon Lindbloom.” The child’s image filled the screen, a tiny human face looking out into the great mass of utterly strange people before him.

  A sound arose, but a gentle one, a simpering simple slow sigh, a long, easy exhalation of breath held too long, the faces she could see frozen in amazement, in shocked, happy surprise, yet they remembered, and held the otherwise quiet silence. With some control of the crowd, and the situation now, it appeared, Lori slowly lowered Eric, and held him in the crook of her left arm. She stepped back next to Hunter, and said, “My family thanks you for the courtesy of your welcome. Long have we wanted to return to Uta, and see once again its fair people. We will stay for a long while, and hope to greet you all,” a difficult goal, perhaps impossible, but one she’d at least attempt. She planned on a long time here, and hoped it would be enough.

  With the crowd still muted, still in shock, trying to comprehend, and maybe realize, as she hoped, that she was mortal after all, Lori said, “Now, if you wish to start the formal greetings for me, I am anxious to receive it.”

  Tari hurried out, as several chairs were brought to them from the lighter by Pokoniry porters, and a small canopy erected to shield them from the rising sun. Lori and Hunter sat down, and a few of her party sat nearby.

  From the exact middle of the crowd, a small delegation stepped forward. Lori smiled, to see Charon, FakFak, and a few more notables walk to the base of the slope, and stop facing her half way up, each decked out in flowing and glowing robes of rank and status. A cambot darted down, and relayed their welcome to the crowd. Charon opened with a blessing for the event, and Lori, and forewarned, her husband and son, and her entire expedition, along with all here present, and a great thanksgiving for the return of the Sky People. Turning, he blessed the crowd, with huge circular sweeps of his arms. Stepping to the side, he yielded to FakFak.

  FakFak welcomed her and her family on behalf of the city of Karufa, the province of Teba, and the entire planet of Uta, surely a usurpation of power of unfathomable daring, Lori thought, smiling, but enjoying his largess anyway. He introduced her to more people, officials of nearby towns, provinces, a business organization of some sort, each hurrying up to bow and gesture to her, and finally, the owner of the land on which all the crowd was gathered. Tari would earn her keep recording all the new names and titles this day. With a whistle, he gestured, and a small group of younger people, they very nervous to be sure, slowly approached, and after she motioned them to move toward her, they presented Lori with gifts–large containers of bright flowers, several colorful banners, a gilded chair, and three beautiful wooden chests with crystal and jewelry items.

  Lori arrayed the banners and flowers around her, again as agreed with Morales beforehand, and accepted the other gifts, putting on a heavy golden bracelet, and a shimmering, large symbol of the Sun-god on a necklace, and letting it sit on her chest, a golden contrast to her blue blouse. It flashed and winked with reflected sunlight as she moved. She stood and thanked everyone for their generosity, and FakFak cried, “There is more, the welcome is just begun.”

  Lori called him and his party up to join her, as the parade of welcome started, music began playing, and small groups came marching in along the sweep of the lower stage area, stepping in time, and stopping to perform a dance, sing a song, enact a skit, leap and jump in gymnastics, or weave a blazing tapestry of flags and banners before her, all to welcome her once more.

  Morales had tried to negotiate with the natives to keep the greetings brief, and the overall program short, to limited success. But every village, town and province wanted to perform, the schools each sent a delegation of very well rehearsed children, which sang or chanted to her in English, delighting Lori, and businesses and farmers and all the rest demanded a chance to greet the Sky Lady, too, carrying their produce and wares. The best they could all do was obtain a break, a half hour for rest and refreshments for the Sky Lady after two hours, and every two hours thereafter, too. The welcome would take most of the bright, nearly ten hours, Earth time. Lori endured it all, sitting and smiling, feeding Eric on the break, and seeing to her own needs for
food and water and relief, in the lighter behind Eagle One. All the while, the crowd remained before her, swelling with late arrivals on the farthest edges, they patient and respectful, gently cheering each of the performers, while Lori and her group stood up and applauded each as well.

  Finally, as the last of the performers bowed and marched smartly off, the afternoon sun well along and part way down the sky, FakFak repeated his welcome. Lori responded again, with more lavish thanks, and promises of trade fairs, education, health, and business clinics, and as the cheers started anew, her own visits to the province.

  Waving again, her group struggled once more with the waves of sound pounding against them, Morales calling all the honor guard to the front, but the crowd remained where it was, respectful.

  Then the chant began, in front, from some of the priests, Lori thought, or the acolytes, disciples of Charon to be sure. First “Sky Lady,” and then, added to it, “Goddess of Blue.”

  Lori blinked at the translation, though she recognized the words, she’d heard them many a time before.

  “Time to go,” she said, and clicked for Eagle One to come to her. It did, sliding sideways over the grass, to stop at her feet in the midst of the banners and flowers, and await her. Only after her husband and child and everyone else, including Charon, FakFak, and three of the delegation were inside, did she step to the air car, and climb inside. With a final wave, she took control, lifted slightly, and slowly flew on out and over the crowd.

  Below her, the shadow of the air car created ripples of movement in the crowd, as people jostled and jumped to follow her. She circled outward at a leisurely pace, leaning over and waving, while Hunter held Eric, and did the same from the other side. The departure took a long twenty minutes, Lori and Hunter commenting on the immense size of the crowd. FakFak added that never before had so many gathered in one place, not even for the grandiose festivals sponsored by Mackanima. At last, she flew off, westward toward the city, and the old temple, now the center of learning. Eagle One knew the way, and where to land, and she let it fly while she looked outside, and talked to the passengers.

  Much had changed below. Now, a broad, tree lined way ran in a straight line from the city to the landing area, and homes supplanted the former fields all along the route. At the site of the first trade fair, Lori thought she’d passed an industrial area on Earth–large buildings lay scattered about, joined by a network of bright roads or paths. Only the center area lay clear, green and level.

  “That is where we ask the traders to land. When may we do so?” a business person asked, pointing to the open area.

  “Immediately, whenever you wish,” Hunter said

  Mounds and heaps of flowers surrounded the portico on the former temple where Eagle One landed. A small delegation stood by, lead by Joshii, and all bowed to Lori in respectful greeting. Lori wondered where he was at the welcoming, and now saw him waiting for her here.

  “We have refreshments awaiting you, and quarters, too, where you may remain for all the brights and dims of your visits,” FakFak said, pointing to the far end of the terrace. “We...”

  Lori held up a hand. “First, there is another matter that I must attend to, before anything else.” She nodded to Morales, he standing next to his lighter. Morales relayed a signal, and another air car darted in, and landed in front of Eagle One.

  Tarue and the kits walked out, and stopped.

  Looking at FakFak, then at Charon, she said, “Behold, people of Uta, this woman, gone for long brights, is now returned. She is born anew and restored to life by Lorelei, the Sky Lady, the Goddess of Blue, and is to live among you as one of honor, in truth and life. I, Lorelei, Sky Lady, present Tarue Timika, to Charon, FakFak, and the people of Teba, and all the lands of Uta. I return her to life, here among her kin and kind.”

  Tarue, head high, stepped forward, and stopped. Joshii moved over closer to her.

  Again addressing Charon, Lori said, “Be it known, that by the power vested in me as the Sky Lady, and leader of the Earth Expedition, I joined together, forever, before I departed last, the persons, Tarue Timika, and Joshii Okaba, in sacred union. Let none question the bond created by the Sky Lady.”

  Joshii walked to Tarue, they embraced a little self-consciously, then turned facing the group, and held hands.

  “Be it further known, that in the fullness of time, Tarue Timika, in the great starship Koyaanisqatsi, and in the depths of space, did bring forth her children, twins. They hold joint citizenship from the planet Uta and the province of the United States of America, on the planet Earth. There, they won the minds and charmed the hearts of all whom they met, and served as joyful and skillful ambassadors of their people, as did their mother. Will you now welcome them to the planet of their parents?”

  This would be the test. Lori had said nothing to Charon earlier, or anyone else, though someone from her party might have. Tarue and Joshii met days earlier, with the children, to prepare them for this formal occasion, and allow an introduction in private. She looked at Charon, and waited.

  Charon, no fool, stepped forward, and said, “Welcome, welcome home, Tarue Timika, restored to life and honor, and welcome, to both your children, blessings of the union performed by the Sky Lady. Has the naming ceremony been held yet?”

  Naming ceremony? What the fuck is that? Lori thought, one more detail, something new, to screw up the situation.

  Tarue said, slightly lowering her head, “No, High One. I thought that should await our return to the city. Might it be done soon?”

  “At your earliest convenience, Tarue. Even next bright, if suitable?”

  “Most acceptable, Charon,” Joshii said. “We shall prepare the ceremony at once.”

  “And I, myself, will preside, if you wish,” Charon said.

  Now, that is good. Very good, Lori thought, looking at him.

  Tarue stepped forward, to bend to her knees before the high priest. “My thanks will be yours always, in the light of the Sun-god,” she said, bowing her head.

  Charon placed both hands on her head, and said, “Arise, Tarue Timika, for your life is restored, and we await the naming of your beloved children.”

  With a shiver and a shake, Tarue bounced upward, her happy face swiveling toward Lori, but FakFak stepped up to her, welcoming her back, too. Each of the others on the patio did the same, as Joshii stood with the kits. Last, Tarue went to Lori, and hugged her, bringing startled looks from the other natives, and thanked her once again for restoring her life. Lori hugged her back, and released her.

  As they went toward the buffet table, Joshii said, “I have plans already for the naming ceremony, normally done within one week of the birth of the kits. But I never imagined the high priest himself would do so. What an honor, Tarue will be well received by all the people now, none may question the authority of the Sky Lady and the High Priest Charon.” He turned his head to the side to look at Lori, holding one of the hands of each kit in one of hers.

  She looked at him and said, “That is good.” Then, thoughtful, she said, “Perhaps we might participate as well, for Eric.” Stunned silence followed. Joshii broke it, saying, “The high priest will surely agree, and his status and reputation enhanced for all time.”

  “Good. Just instruct me in what to do, and say.”

  After a meal, slow and relaxed, FakFak announced that more people wished to greet the Sky Lady, would she grant them an audience? Morales wanted to know who and how many, and put a time limit of two hours on it all, which proved ample. More introductions, greetings, welcomes, and gifts arrived, FakFak careful to include Tarue, but not the kits, in each.

  Lori and Hunter, with Eric and Tari, found themselves housed in Mackanima’s former quarters, as before, now redecorated with bright wall hangings, Earth-style furniture, even a large, soft bed built for human dimensions in a small separate chamber. They collapsed into it, after another long day, the highlight of which was the naming ceremony for Nif, Dayu, and Eric, all solemn and joyous, with a lavish feast afte
rward.

  The ceremony began as the edge of the sun first began to rise over the far eastern horizon. Charon gestured, and a large gong was rung, three times. He circled a small fire burning in a brasier sitting on three rocks, and threw some fine vegetation on it, which did not burn, but produced copious amounts of white smoke, which rose and spread all around, with a scent Lori found pleasing. The smoke settled lower, and then rose, revealing four tall people leading two small ones forward, and carrying one more. They stopped in front of Charon. Now other priests, no acolytes, circled them all, waving smoldering wands, carefully causing smoke to drift onto and around the small group. Meanwhile, others chanted, a song of some sort, untranslated by the machines, or the Anawoka standing nearby. The smoke lifted as the sun rose higher, and Charon walked around the group, making the sign of the circle all the while. He stopped between them and the brasier, now with flames rising six or more centimeters, and all chanting ended.

  “Who brings forth those to be named on this new bright?” he called.

  “I, Joshii, bring my children, my son.” he moved in front of Charon. The kit, clean and brushed and wearing a small sash with his name embroidered on it, but now covered by a light cloth, stood tall.

  “And I, Tarue, spouse of Joshii, bring forth my daughter, sister to my son.” She stepped forward, too, with a similar sash.

  Charon looked at Lori and Hunter, and they stepped forward, also, holding Eric.

  “I Lorelei of the Sky People, bring forth my son, with my husband, Hunter, of Earth.”

  Behind her, Captain George stepped closer from a small group.

  Charon, assisted by other priests, began a long chant, frequently gesturing to the three young people to be named, pointing to the growing image of the sun, slowly rising, as a priest added smoke-weed to the fire from time to time. Lori had no idea of what was being said, or the meaning of the many gestures, but gathered they had significance by the attention of Tarue and Joshii. She followed their lead, bowing and even kneeling once, as they did.