Nik heard a click and Jason opened the door. As Mischka followed Jason inside, Nik assumed this was normal and followed as well. Jason led them to a set of doors that slid open as they approached, then into the small room behind the doors. A small pad extended from a wall panel and Jason put his hand on it. The pad lit with a blue light, then the doors slid shut. Jason removed his hand and the panel retracted into the wall. The room lurched and began to move upward.
“I’ll add you and Nik into the security system from our apartment,” he said to Mischka. “Then you will be able to come and go as you need to.”
The room rose for several minutes, then stopped. When the doors slid open, Jason exited the room, followed by Mischka. Nik kept close so that the doors could not block him. Jason put his hand on a panel in the wall beside the door, then opened the door and entered the dark apartment followed by Mischka. Nik closed the door behind them, noticing the number 7743 on the door.
“Lights, low,” Jason said to no one. A gentle glow from overhead illuminated the living area. A large sofa graced the center of the floor flanked by ornate tables, with a matching chair at the corner of one table. A matching table sat in front of the sofa on top of the ornate woven rug. Off to the side an ornate table for seating eight rested below a dimly glowing orb of light.
Jason yawned. “I realize it is midday on Llanelyn, but I need to get some sleep.”
“Aiy. Show us to a sleeping chamber and then go to bed. We do not wish to be a bother.”
Jason led them each to a room, added their voiceprints to the computer for light controls, and said good night through another yawn.
Mischka sat in the chair in the living area. “Tis your first time off planet. You must have questions.”
Over the next couple of hours, Mischka patiently answered Nik’s questions regarding the trip so far and what little he had seen of Earth.
On Llanelyn, Gillian returned to her old office to begin the remaining preparations for the transition to Angel. The transition was difficult enough and having the family hover around while she cleaned out her office would only make the transition harder. Tackling this alone would keep her busy enough not to dwell on the future, or so she hoped.
Mary met Angel at home, helped her quickly gather what she needed into a traveling bag, then watched as Andrei drove away with Angel and Ian. Once they were out of sight, she headed inside to begin her work for the day. Angel was in no danger yet and Andrei would protect her for now. And unless she was wrong, her father planned for Nik to protect Angel in the future. Mary mentally prepared to spend several days alone, with the rest of the family gone traveling. At the thought of leaving home, she shuddered. Alone was better than being in a strange land.
Andrei piloted the hovercraft away from the village. He had left the top down to allow Angel a break from studies, if only for the first few hours. Besides, he wanted the time to think over everything that had been revealed. A couple of quick questions to Mary had told him that she did not know anything of what was said, giving credence to the claim that only their parents had known this all these years. Even Uncle Tashi had not known and for Mischka not to confide in his oldest friend spoke much to Andrei. But now he knew why the hotels had been built and why the computer systems had been continually upgraded with the money from the hotels. He glanced sideways to his teenage niece, wondering if she was up to the task of leading them through a war.
Angel tipped her head back and closed her eyes, smiling as the sun shone brightly on her face. With all the studying, she had not seen much of the outdoors the past few months and she had not realized how much she missed it until now. She pushed aside the events of the past two days to live in the moment.
Ian watched the two from the back seat. Andrei was unusually quiet and tense after whatever had occurred yesterday and this morning, his whispered conversation with Mary while Angel packed had not calmed him from whatever had agitated him so much. Angel appeared relaxed, so either she had already known or had not been privy to the same information as troubled Andrei. Or with the usual teenage lack of concern, she had brushed aside the gravity of the information that now troubled her uncle. He suspected he would find out everything over the course of the next two weeks, Pushing his own concerns aside, he watched the land around him zip by, fields and trees dotting a sea of grass the likes of which he never thought to see outside the history books of Earth before the Great War of 3012.
As they neared the first village, Angel broke the silence. “What is the schedule for this tour?”
“Much like your grandmother’s. We will be in this village for just a few arns for lunch, then travel to the next to spend the evening and nighttime hours there. The people will meet you at the edge much as in our own village. You will meet with the Elders and Apaugallas and tell them what the Gods said.”
“I thought most of the Elders were there yesterday.”
“Only one or two from most of the villages were there. You will meet with all from all Guilds.”
Angel sighed. “How much should I tell them?”
Andrei glanced to the young tutor in the back seat, choosing his words carefully. “Since at least some know the full story, you may as well tell the others. Though the telling will not be as entertaining as your grandmother’s telling was. Those who heard all yesterday should support you.”
Angel nodded, then turned to her tutor. “Ian, as much as I hate this, can we change the lessons over the next few days?”
“As you wish,” he said expecting her to beg for less studies and easy subjects.
“Please concentrate on politics, wars, strategy, and logic. Not just Earth wars, but any war that you have information on.”
Surprised, Ian blinked twice before asking, “Why? I thought you disliked politics and war.”
Angel made a face. “I do but . . . I will have need of it.”
Frustrated at being kept out of the loop, Ian sighed. “As you wish. I will need access to the computers back at the university.”
Andrei volunteered to arrange that as they neared the people gathered on the edge of the village.
Much like the day before, Angel walked up between the lines of people as they knelt before her, straight to the Elders at the far end. The Elders welcomed her and she thanked the people before being led away to the Meeting Hall. Andrei motioned for Ian to follow and he found a vidphone terminal at the Meeting Hall for the tutor to use before joining Angel and the Elders.
Angel told the Elders everything that had been revealed to her by the Gods and by the previous Cerato. Eventually the Elders recovered from their shock and made their pledge to her. They ate lunch with the rest of the village. Andrei made sure that Ian joined them for lunch, then they left soon after lunch for the next village.
The drive to the next village remained quiet, each lost in their thoughts.
Their arrival at the second village that day was a mirror of the first village, the lines of people, the welcome, the meeting. Angel tried not to think about the days to come, days that would be exact repeats of today.
Andrei set Ian up at a vidphone again. Ian complied without complaint. Maybe they would come to trust him and include him in time. Though he had never heard of Llanelyn before this task for Jason, he suspected there was much more to this planet and its people than they were willing to tell him. And somehow an older link to Earth than just Gillian.
As the meeting ended, a young woman hurried up to the Elder and whispered something in his ear. “You are sure?” She nodded emphatically.
He turned to Angel. “Cerato, I know you are busy, but I have been asked if you would visit someone.” The woman hurried away.
“Aiy, I will gladly talk to them. May I ask who?”
“Elder Bethanae. I believe your grandmother has visited her many times over the years. She tis old and has asked for you to come to her. You can refuse . . .” he began, but Angel interrupted.
Angel smiled, recalling Gillian’s comments about Bethanae. “Aiy, I k
now of her. Of course I will go to her. Where?”
The meeting ended abruptly and he led her and Andrei to a large house near the center of the village. The woman opened the door and asked Angel to come inside as the Elder excused himself. “I am Aemie. I will let her know you are here.”
A few minutes later, Aemie returned to escort Angel down a brightly lit hall, the wall sconces illuminating the hallway to almost daylight brilliance. When Andrei offered to accompany Angel, she waved him away and followed Aemie to a closed door. “I had to wake her up,” she said, “Grandmother sleeps much now.”
Angel nodded and followed her through the door. An ancient woman leaned against several plumped pillows, her eyes closed. Her sparse gray hair was neatly brushed and lay in a thin braid over her shoulder. Her weathered features looked serene, as if she slept.
“Come in child, I am not asleep again,” the old woman said.
Angel approached the bed and the old woman looked up. “So like your grandmother you are, liebling. Aemie, twill be fine. You may leave us.”
“Aiy, gram.” Aemie closed the door gently behind her as she left.
“The child tis as sweet as her mother.” Bethanae smiled. “I had heard that a new Cerato had been chosen, but could not believe when Aemie told me twas Gillian’s own granddaughter. Your grandmother twas quiet inexperienced when she came to us.”
“Aiy, she has told me about you many times. She asked if I saw you to tell you that she will visit soon. She misses her talks with you.”
“Danku, child. So what tis your task?”
Briefly Angel summarized the war effort, leaving out the history part. She was not sure the old woman could take the shock of such news.
“But why would we help someone that we do not have a treaty with?”
“We will have a treaty soon. They have asked for our help.”
“But why? You are not making sense, child.” She stared into the distance for a few seconds. “Unless Gillian found the proof she sought.” Bethanae turned bright eyes to Angel. “Did your grandmother tell you anything else?”
“Like what?”
“About the origins of Llanelyn. She suspected that our distant ancestors had settled here from somewhere else.”
“Aiy.” And Angel launched into telling the history lesson that Gillian had shared with the other Elders. Bethanae closed her eyes, but continued to nod in understanding.
“Then tis true.” She opened her eyes. “Forgive me child, for you should not do this. But my old body has betrayed me and I cannot move from this bed anymore.” At Angel’s curious look she continued. “See the shelf on the far side of the room? Tis a black box on the shelf. Please bring it to me.”
Angel crossed the room and retrieved the box, setting it gently in Bethanae’s lap. Her frail hands shook greatly as she opened the box and lifted out an ancient book. “This book has been passed down through many generations of my family. Twas the diary of one of our ancestors from before the Great Cataclysm. Gillian asked to see it before, but she could not read it. I made her a promise then that I wish to keep.” Bethanae lovingly caressed the book, then handed it to Angel. “I am dying. I have spoken to my family and they have agreed that she should have this book to keep with the others. Perhaps she can find someone who can read it.”
Angel opened the book. “Tis ancient Gaelic, I believe.”
Surprise lit the old woman’s face. “You have learned the ancient languages?”
“No, just enough to recognize them.” Angel turned a few pages gently, then closed the book. “Grandmother will be thrilled. I believe she knows someone who can translate this for your family.”
“Tis goesh. I wish for her to keep the book, safe with the other ancient books that she has collected. Tis niet goesh to anyone kept here in that box. Take it with you child and give it to Gillian.” Her eyes closed again.
“Aiy, I will.”
“Take the box to keep it safe,” she whispered. “I am sleepy. Aemie will show you out.”
Angel leaned forward to kiss the old woman on the forehead. “From Gillian,” she whispered.
“So like your grandmother.” Bethanae smiled. “Innocent and . . .” her voice trailed away as she fell asleep.
Angel tucked the book safely into its box, then let herself out and told Aemie that Bethanae was asleep.
“Danku for seeing gram. She misses Gillian greatly.”
“She should vidphone my grandmother.”
Aemie shook her head. “She cannot see the vidphone screen well. I was surprised that she recognized you.”
Angel nodded. “I will let my grandmother know then.”
“The doctors have said that she is living on borrowed time. We do not know how much longer she has. She turns 108 cyclistas next week.” Aemie looked at the box Angel carried. “I see she gave you the book. She was most adamant that Gillian should have the book.”
The two girls returned to the main room where the Andrei was resting. Angel held the box tightly and indicated it was time to go.
Later that evening, Angel managed to get a few minutes apart from the others with Ian. She opened the box and the book and showed him the text. “Can you read this?”
“No, that is ancient Gaelic.” He flipped a few pages.
“I thought so, but I wasn’t sure. Do you know anyone who can?”
“I have a friend who might be able to. Where did you get this?”
Angel briefly explained her visit with Bethanae. “I’m sure grandmother will want to know what this says.”
“I will do what I can after this trip, provided that Gillian wants me to. For now, keep the book safe.”
“Aiy. Excuse me. I must call grandmother. Bethanae may die any day and I know grandmother wants to see her again.”
Angel accessed the vidphone and called home. After brief pleasantries, she held up the box and opened it to reveal the book. Gillian’s smiled disappeared. “Tis Bethanae’s?” she asked.
When Angel nodded, she appeared stricken. “She has but days, Mema. I’m sorry, but I thought you might want to visit her. I know she would like to see you.”
“Aiy. I will come tomorrow. Please let Aemie know.”
“Aiy. Shall I leave the book here for you?”
“Can Ian read it?”
“No. Tis ancient Gaelic. He said he knows someone who might be able to translate it though.”
“May I speak to Ian a moment?”
Angel looked around and caught Ian’s attention. She motioned him over, then stepped aside so the he could speak to Gillian. “Yes?”
“Ian, I’ll be blunt. I need that book translated, but it cannot leave the planet. Do you think your friend would come here to translate it and a few others?”
“I can ask. I mentioned the other books to him once and he seemed intrigued.”
“Please do. If this particular book contains what I think it does, it will provide the missing proof of the origins of this civilization.” Gillian looked away for a moment, lost in thought. “Is Angel still there?”
“Yes.” Ian slid sideways to let Angel up to the vidphone.
“Angel, have you explained our history to Ian yet?”
“No. I thought best to wait until our own people knew.”
“I think tis best to tell him everything now. He needs to know the import of these books and why they cannot leave the planet.” She turned back to Ian. “You may need to alter your instruction plan as well.”
“Yes ma’am.”
Gillian turned back to Angel. “I spoke with your Uncle Jason last night. He will try to arrange the meeting for a week after you get back.”
Angel made a face, then nodded. “Aiy, tis best to get this over with sooner rather than later.”
Gillian laughed. “How is the trip so far?”
Ian excused himself and left them to talk. He suspected, from the bits he had heard so far, that he knew part of their history.
Later that evening, when Mischka called from Earth, Gillian
relayed the news on Bethanae and the book. “I have to visit her.”
Mischka nodded. “Morgan will understand. Do what you must. We can come back later.”
“Amourité.”
Mischka echoed her “I love you” and changed the conversation to his progress with Nik. “He learns quickly, as Tashi said. But I still do not believe his claim of friendship where Angel tis concerned.”
Gillian grinned. “He reminds me of you, mi amour.”
Mischka nodded. “Aiy, and like I once was, he too is torn. Just differently. Tis not his desired job, as tis obvious. But he indicated that he twill not let her go anywhere alone. Tis enough for me.”
They talked a few minutes until Gillian began to yawn. Mischka wished her good night, then clicked off the vidphone to go have breakfast with Jason and Morgan.
The following morning, during the drive between villages, Angel briefly explained the history that Gillian had told everyone, only leaving out the information about the Lost Colonies.
Ian was not surprised. “I suspected as much. With all the meetings both here and on Earth and wanting a tutor from Earth, it was obvious there was a connection somewhere. Do you know how your people came here? I don’t remember many of the settlement ships.”
Angel sighed. Ian was sharp and would eventually figure it out. “The ship was one of the Seven Lost Colonies, the El Peregrino captained by Llane Lyn.”
Surprised, Ian could only stare are her. Finally he asked, “And the other planet?”
“Parrhesia. I do not know which ship, but yes they are believed to be another of the Seven.”
Ian whistled sharply. He had not expected this. After several minutes, he asked, “May I see the book that you received yesterday?”
Angel passed the box back, glad Andrei had put the rain top up to make conversation easier. She turned to watch as Ian opened the book gently and flipped through the first few pages. “I’m right,” he exclaimed as he passed the book back forward, pointing to a spot in the text with his finger. The script was hard to decipher, but the words “Llane Lyn” could be read among the text.
War of the Innocents Page 10
