Amid the Crowd of Stars

by Stephen Leigh

  Ichiko watched her leave before putting her back to the clan compounds. She moved further up the slope until she reached the highest point of An Cró Mór and Great Inish. She sat on a moss-covered rock there and looked spaceward over the sea to where the blue-gray lumps of the mainland’s mountains lurked on the horizon, hiding First Base from view.

  Somewhere out there were the remaining crew members of Odysseus except for Nagasi, all of them now bereft of any chance of going home, their AMIs severed from them, gone with Odysseus. Any technology taken from Odysseus before its scuttling would have little-to-no chance of being repaired if it failed unless and until Earth sent another ship to Canis Lupus—which would be decades from now barring some technological breakthrough in ship drives—no, it would be centuries in Canis Lupus time, which was now her time, too. The crew at First Base were only slightly better off than the various clans. Ichiko suspected that, with the passing of a few generations, those who survived illness, disease, and accidents would be fully absorbed into the clan culture and have even started a few new family clan lines.

  All of them would become Homo lupus. The world would give them no choice in that.

  She wondered if they blamed her for what had happened.

  “It wasn’t my fault,” she whispered to the wind, to the world. “Our ship was infected before I first came down to Great Inish. The final outcome would have been the same or worse.”

  There was little comfort in that.

  * * *

 

  The voice—her AMI’s voice, her mother’s voice—startled Ichiko from her reverie. She gasped. The voice didn’t seem to emanate from the chip still implanted in her skull but from deeper inside herself, that place where she could hear the syna and the arracht and the other voices of the Jishtal.

  she thought back to the voice.

  the voice answered.

  Ichiko stared outward toward the Sleeping Wolf. The darkness of a storm lurked in the mountains of the mainland beyond, though the islands of the archipelago were still enveloped in the ruddy, eternal twilight sun, which cast their shadows across the waves. Ichiko felt the wind touching her face, a cold gust that must have come from the dorcha side. she asked.

 

 

  There was a pause, and Ichiko could hear other voices speaking: a mass chaotic chorus in which Ichiko could distinguish no single voice. She had the sense that this entity calling herself Machiko were listening to them. Machiko answered finally.

 

 

 

 

  Ichiko answered her.

  Then there was only silence in her head and the rustling of the wind bending the long grasses of the hilltop. Somewhere close by, a sheeper bleated a mournful cry as Ichiko continued to stare out over the islands. As Ichiko sat there, the mountains of the mainland slowly vanished, masked by the curtain of gray rain racing toward the archipelago. When the first droplets began to fall just off the White Strand, Ichiko stood and began walking back down toward the thatched roofs of the Clan Mullin compound.

  Walking home.

  Comment: Amid The Crowd Of Stars and COVID-19

  I started this novel back in 2018, long before any of us knew about COVID-19; therefore, I can guarantee that no thought of that virus played a part in the original conception of this book. It was only during the final revisions, as COVID-19 began its deadly march across the globe, that I realized that some readers might consider Amid The Crowd of Stars a “response” to our pandemic.

  I wish I could claim that I was so prescient that I foresaw this coming, but I didn’t.

  One of the (several) impetuses that started me thinking about this book was that I happened to watch an old movie—Forbidden Planet, which is less a science fiction movie than a reimagining of Shakespeare’s The Tempest—and noted (once again) that all the people were walking around just as they might on Earth. That got me reflecting on how often in science fiction movies, novels, and stories the human travelers arrive on a new planet, check the atmosphere, find that it’s a breathable mixture for humans, and everyone immediately takes off their helmets and inhales a deep, appreciative breath . . . You’ve seen or read that scene a thousand times or more, too, haven’t you?

  Of course, the whole underlying problem with that is those characters are immediately breathing in alien bacteria, viruses, dust, pollen, and so on. At the same time, they’re infecting this new planet with our own bacteria and viruses, as well as with everything else we shed/excrete/carry around with us.

  That’s not smart. In fact, it’s downright stupid. There’s a reason we sterilize all the robotic probes we send out and why we deliberately don’t bother to bring them home. (Well, there’s a second reason we don’t bring them home, as that would be very expensive, but . . . )

  So I wrote this book, which offers an alternative view to extrasolar planetary exploration. I’m absolutely not the only writer to have examined this. For that matter, I’ve at least touched on the subject in some of my earlier books and stories.

  But then COVID-19 reared its ugly, round, and spiky head (though I hope that by the time you read this, it’s no longer actively, well, plaguing us). I realized that in some fashion, I was examining that topic also: the implications of contamination and how we might deal with it.

  If we, as a species, ever do go out to other solar systems and planets, to other worlds which are already teeming with their own life, sentient or not, the consequences of cross-infection are something we must consider—and I hope we do. After all, our influenzas (and coronaviruses) often start in one species only to jump from that original vector of infection to us, who as a result have little to no herd immunity to the invader, and we consequently get very sick or even die as a result. That’s a chilling thought.

  Worlds—even this one that we know best because it spawned us—and the web of life on them, are complicated things. We ignore that complexity at our peril.

  CHARACTERS

  (in order of appearance)

  Ichiko Aguilar: A Terran, protagonist of the novel.

  Chava Bishara: A lieutenant assigned to First Base.

  “Mac” McDermott: Chief Warrant Officer for First Base.

  Luciano Mercado: Commander on the Odysseus and Ichiko’s lover.

  Hugh Plunkett: Minister of Dulcia on Canis Lupus.

  Nagasi Tinubu:
The head of Ichiko’s sociological/archeological/biological team, and a lieutenant commander on the Odysseus.

  Saoirse (Seer-sha) Mullin: A young woman born of a mother from Great Inish and an unknown father from the mainland. Secondary protagonist of the novel.

  Angus Mullin: Saoirse’s “uncle” and the current Rí (head of the archipelago fishing fleet and postmaster of Great Inish).

  Liam Mullin: Saoirse’s brother.

  Johnny Fitzpatrick: Works at Fitzpatrick’s Fishmongers, son of Doireann Fitzpatrick.

  Iona (Eye-own-nah) Mullin: Banríon (head) of Clan Mullin, mother of Saoirse and Liam.

  Doireann (Dirren) Fitzpatrick: Owner of Fitzpatrick’s Fishmongers.

  Arthur Hearn: Proprietor of Hearn’s Meats in Dulcia.

  Aoife (Ee-fah) Bancroft: Manager of the Bancroft Woolery.

  Gráinne (Grahn-yah) Mullin: Younger sister of Saoirse Mullin.

  Aulie (Ah-lee) Craig: A male volunteer from Clan Craig who was on Odysseus for evaluation.

  Elspeth Mullin: A female volunteer from Clan Mullin who was on Odysseus for evaluation.

  Lileas Mullin: Saoirse’s aunt and Elspeth’s mother.

  Rada Keshmiri: Captain of the Odysseus.

  Dr. Asahi Hayashi: Medical staff on Odysseus.

  Gavin Craig: A glassmaker on Great Inish.

  Machiko Aguilar: Ichiko’s mother, and also the name with which Ichiko’s AMI identifies.

  Patrick Mullin: A member of Clan Mullin on Great Inish. A cook.

  Martin Mullin: The Seann (eldest) of Clan Mullin approximately 1,500 Lupusian years ago.

  James Mullin: One of the current Seanns (Eldest) of Clan Mullin, and the clan herbalist/healer.

  Liam Mullin: The Rí of Clan Mullin in Seann Martin’s time.

  Lieutenant Commander Barrett: Head of Security aboard the Odysseus.

  Kekeki (Keck-eck-ee): The arracht Speaker to humans.

  Keksyn (Keck-sin): The arracht Speaker to the syna.

  Una Mullin: One of Saoirse’s “aunts.” Una’s son Sean fell in love with a mainland woman and joined Clan Taggart.

  Keane (Key-in) Craig: The Rí of Clan Craig on Great Inish.

  Seamus (Shay-muss) Mullin: Rí of Clan Mullin in 5335.

  Maeve (Mayv) Mullin: Banríon of Clan Mullin in 5340.

  Gavena Mullin: Niece of Seann James back in 5335.

  Una Mullin: James Mullin’s sister and Gavena’s mother.

  Conall Mullin: James’ “uncle.”

  Fiona Mullin: Healer for Clan Mullin in 5335.

  Tara Craig: Healer for Clan Craig in 5335.

  Brodie Mullin: Healer for Clan Mullin on Fiona’s death.

  Catriona Craig: Healer for Clan Craig after Tara’s death.

  Collins: Ensign stationed at First Base.

  Dr. Huang: A medical doctor on Odysseus.

  Kekarra (Kek-arrah): The arracht Speaker to other arracht.

  Kekfinna (Kek-fin-ah): The arracht Speaker to the Deep Swimmers.

  TERMS, IDIOMS, AND PLACE NAMES

  (in alphabetical order)

  Acting the maggot: Being a jerk.

  AMI: An acronym for Autonomous Mnemonic Interface, devices that serve the Terrans as their companion, recording device, communications array, translator, and a resource connected to the extensive ship database and its artificial intelligence.

  An Cró Mór: The highest point on Great Inish.

  Arracht: Large, octopoid sea creatures native to Canis Lupus.

  Bairn: A young child or baby.

  Bakayarō: “Idiot” in Japanese.

  Bancroft Woolery: A store in Dulcia that sells wool and other woven fabrics.

  Bio-shield: A device used by the Terrans to avoid contamination with Canis Lupus’ environment and biome.

  Bloodworm: An infectious and potentially deadly local bloodstream parasite. Contact with sheeper waste is the usual route of infection.

  Blood Feeder: A savage, deep-water creature.

  Blue Mullein: Named for its resemblance to the European herb verbascum (aka mullein) and for its similar properties in easing asthma and other breathing problems.

  Bumblewort: A small, four-legged Canis Lupus creature with transparent skin, sometimes kept by the locals as a pet or to control pests.

  Canines: The slang, derogatory term those on the ship sometimes use to refer to the local inhabitants.

  Canis Lupus: The third world around the red dwarf star Wolf 1061, also known as Wolf 1061c.

  Capall: A sluglike, six-legged creature that the locals use much like a carthorse or a plow mule.

  Chachalahs: An avian species named for its distinctive call. Large, unafraid of humans, they often roost in the thatched roofs of local cottages and houses. Their eggs are eaten, and female chachalahs are also a food source.

  Chikushō: “Oh, shit!” in Japanese.

  Chumming with me: Going with or accompanying someone, especially as a friend.

  Clontarf (klon-tahrf): An egotist who dominates conversations and has to have the last word.

  Connor Pass: Easiest overland route through the mountains to Dulcia and other settlements.

  Cycle (Canis Lupus time): A “day” on Canis Lupus. The Lupusian “year,” then, is approximately 18 days in Earth time or ship-time (the Odysseus artificially retains Earth’s solar timing).

  Compass points: Since Canis Lupus is tidally locked with the habitable zone being a wide strip girdling the planet vertical to the orbital plane, directions are by necessity somewhat arbitrary. For those on the planet, “solas” (sah-liss) means toward the sunward side, while “dorcha” (doork-kah) means toward the spaceward side. Facing the starward side, you can move “ar chlé” (air klay) which is to the left, or you can move “ar dheis” (air yesh) which is to the right. To move “chlé-dorca” thus means to move diagonally left toward the starward side. The words come from Scottish Gaelic and Irish.

  Cragshells: A mussel-like shellfish that grows in shallow water, attaching itself to rocks. The creature inside the cragshells is both nutritious and delicious, the shells opening up for easy removal when boiled.

  Currach (ker-ack): A small two-to-eight–person rowing boat used in the Inish archipelago, sometimes with a mast for a single sail.

  Dia duit (jee-ah ghwitch): An Irish-based greeting from the Gaelic-speaking areas. It means, literally, “God to you,” or “God be with you.” The “ghwitch” is pronounced very throatily.:

  Dulcia: A harbor town on the mainland.

  Dunbrody: The name of the starship that originally brought humans to Canis Lupus.

  False Walker: A soft-bodied sea slug that hides inside the shell of a dead Spiny Walker for protection.

  First Base: The original on-planet habitat of the initial Terran expedition.

  Fitzpatrick’s Fishmongers: A store in Dulcia run by Clan Fitzpatrick. They buy and sell seafood.

  Flapjack: A colorful disk-shaped animal that flies by flapping the thin edges of its body or by sailing on the wind. Feeds by diving on sea creatures caught in its large mouth with seine-like teeth.

  Flutterbys: Brightly colored, iridescent flying insects roughly the size of a child’s hand, with large wings similar to terrestrial butterflies. They’re particularly attracted to seaweed or kelp, from which they lap up decaying juices

  Fold Drive: The drive that allows Terran ships to exceed light speed—the journey out to Canis Lupus (nearly 14 light-years from Earth) via Fold Drive only requires five years each way, ship-time.

  Four-Limb Land Walkers: Or, more simply, just Four-Limbs. This is the arracht’s term for humans, or, in their language “eki.”

  Gingifer: Named for its strong spicy resemblance to ginger on the tongue, this is a root found in drier hilly areas on Canis Lupus. Used medicinally as well as a flavoring in teas and foods.
<
br />   Go seikō o inorimasu: “I wish you success” or “good luck” in Japanese.

  (goh say-ko oh in-oh-ree-mahs)

  Gray Threads: A childhood infectious disease of the throat and lungs that still plagues those of Canis Lupus. Gray Threads was once nearly 90% fatal; treatments discovered since have reduced that to 30–40%.

  Great Inish: The largest island of the Inish archipelago.

  Grinders: Slang for teeth.

  Head full of mince: A person who talks nonsense.

  The Inish: The people who live on the Inish archipelago.

  Inisher: Someone from the archipelago.

  Interregnum: The period after the catastrophic meteor strike on Earth to the point where the ability for interstellar travel was regained.

  Jishtal: The arracht term for the Gestalt Intelligence or group mind of Canis Lupus.

  Lashing: Storming hard with lots of rain and wind.

  Lupusians: The preferred “polite” term for those of Canis Lupus when referring to the populace as a whole. The Terrans sometimes use the far more derogatory term “Canines.”

  Kek-: A prefix that roughly means “Speaker” to the arracht. Thus, Kekeki means “Speaker to the Four-Limb Land Walkers” – the “Eki” or humans.

  Ki wo tsukete: “Take care” in Japanese.

  Knackered: Tired or exhausted.

  Konbanwa: Good evening in Japanese.

  Mainlander: Someone from the continent.

  Milch-goats: Another six-legged domesticated species. Provides milk for drinking and (especially) for cheeses. They’re also (occasionally) eaten by the locals, though the meat is tough and not particularly palatable unless heavily seasoned and stewed. Milch-goats are foragers that eat nearly anything, hence the “goat” reference given to them by the original settlers.

  Mondai nai: A Japanese expression essentially meaning “no problem.”