by Eric Filler
“Hi,sweetheart,”Valsaid.“Areyoufeelingbetternow?”
“Yes.Ifeelgreat.”Oncethedoorclosed,theykissedfarmorepassionately thaninthehospital.Theflowersendeduponthefloorofthecar.
Whentheyhadtocomeupforair,Jerileanedbackinherchairandthen smoothedoutthewrinklesinheruniform—herlieutenant’suniform.“There’s, um,somethingIwantedtoaskyou.Atthehospitalthedoctorcalledme LieutenantPoldarandmyuniforminsignia—”
“So?You’realieutenant.What’sthebigdeal?”
“ButIwasacaptainbefore,”Jeriwhined.
Valpattedherknee.“Sweetheart,youaren’toldenoughtobeacaptain.”
AssoonasValsaidthis,Jericringed.Sheexpectedtoshrinkintoa teenagerortoddleragain.Butnothinghappened.Shewasthesameasbefore.
“Isuppose,but—”
“Look,forthismissionIdon’twantanyconfusionaboutwhoisincharge.
Thisis myexpedition.I’mtheoneincommand,allright?”
AlthoughValtriedtosoftenherwordsbyturningthelastsentenceintoa question,therewasafirmnessinhervoicethatbroachednoargument.Jeri couldeitheracceptbeingbusteddowntoalieutenantorshecouldstayhereon Phera,probablyasachild.“Iunderstand.”
“Afterwe’vesavedPheraagain,thenit’llbeeasyenoughtogiveyoua promotiontocaptain.Ifthat’swhatyoustillwant.”
“That’sfine.”Jeriforcedherselftosmile.Thensheleanedovertokiss Val’scheek.“I’msorry.Ididn’tmeantosoundungrateful.”
“Iknow.”ShetousledJeri’shair.“Youdon’thavetobesoworried.
Everythingisgoingtobefine.I’mnotgoingtogetmadandchangeyouintoa littlegirlorafatpigoranything.Iloveyou.”
“Iloveyou,too.”Toproveit,shekissedValagain,thistimeonthelips.
***
Thecarstoppedinanupscaleneighborhood,infrontofamodesttwo-story brickhouse.JeristaredatitforamomentandthenturnedtoVal.“What’s this?”
“Ithoughtyou’dwanttoseeyourmotherbeforeyouleft.”
Jerilookeddownatherfeet.Shethoughtofherplainbrownhair,glasses, andtinybreasts.Hermotherwouldn’tevenrecognizeherlikethis.Andwhen shedidrecognizeJeri,shewouldbefuriousatwhathadhappenedtoher daughter.“Idon’tthinkIshould.”
Valtookherhandandthensqueezedit.“Don’tworry,sweetie.I’vetaken careofit.She’snotgoingtohurtyouanymore.”
“Whatdidyoudotoher?”JerithoughtofwhatTaihaddonetoJeri’s mother,howhe’dturnedherintoasenilecronesurroundedbymangycats.
“Let’sgoinandyoucanseeforyourself.”
“That’snotagoodidea.Mothermightnottaketoyourightaway.”
“Don’tworryaboutit.Comeon.”ValhadtopracticallydragJerioutof thelimousineandupthefrontsteps.BeforeJericouldsayanything,Valopened thefrontdoor.
“Wecan’tjustbargein—”
“Ofcoursewecan.”Valflashedanimpishgrin.“It’llbefuntosurprise her.”
JerifollowedValinside.Shebracedherselfforthestenchofcatshitand oldlady,butinsteadshesmelledcookiesbaking.Peanutbutterwasherguess.
ShefollowedValthroughafoyerthatliketherestofthehousewasnotasstately asithadoncebeen.Thereweren’ttheexpensivepaintingsorsculpturesor marblefloors;justanordinarycarpetandaplainvaseofflowers.
Jeristoppedtoseepicturesofherself,orherselfasshewouldhavebeenif she’dbeenlikethisherwholelife.Shesawherselfasababywithacapof blondhair.Thathairdarkenedinthesuccessivepictures,untilbyfirstgradeher pigtailsweredarkbrown.Bythattimeshehadalsogainedapairofglassesas well.Thephotoscontinuedtodepictherthroughanawkwardadolescence,upto herwithseverelyshornhairandsportingacadet’sformaluniformforher graduationfromtheacademy.Motherstoodnexttoherinthepicture,excepther motherwasshorterandchubbier,herhairjustasbrownandherglassesjustas thickasJeri’s.
“Mybaby!”awomancried.Jerispunaroundintimetoseehernewmother intheflesh.ThefatwomancrushedJeriinahug.Thenshebrushedhairfrom Jeri’sforehead.“It’sbeensolongsinceI’veseenyou.Whydidn’tyoucall?Or
write?”
“Iwasinthehospital,Mother.”
“Hospital?Ohdear.Whathappened?”
“Itwasnothing.Alittlefatigue.”
MothershookherheadandthenpattedJeri’sflatstomach.“It’snowonder withhowthinyouare.Comeonintothekitchenandwe’llgetsomefoodin you.”
“I’mnothungry—”
“Nonsense!Yougirlstodayalwaysstarvingyourselves.You’reallskin andbones.”MothercontinuedherdiatribeasshedraggedJeriintoahomey kitchenthatsmellednotonlyoffreshcookies,butalsofreshflowersonthe windowsill.“NowsitdownrighthereandI’llgetyousomemilk.”
“Yes,Mother,”Jerimumbled.Shedidn’tknowwhattomakeofthis.This versionofherMotherlackedtheregalbearingoftheoneshe’dgrownupwith.
ThisplumpwomanbeforeherwasthekindofcheerfulhomemakerJerihad alwaysdreamedofwhenshewasalittlegirlbeingraisedbyservants.
Valclearedherthroatfromthedoorway.Shemusthaveusedhersoldier’s skillstohideherselffromMotherbackinthelivingroom.Mothergrinnedeven wider.“Andwho’sthisprettyyoungthing?”
“ThisisVal.She’smygirlfriend.”
ValnudgedJeriintheribs.“Herfiancé,ifyou’llpermitit.”
“Fiancé?Ohdear.JeriPoldar,whydidn’tyoumentionyouhadafiancé?”
“Wewantedittobeasurprise,”Valsaid.
MotherexaminedValcloselyforamoment.“Youmustbeasoldiertoo.”
“Yes,ma’am.I’mwiththeGroundCorps,though.JeriandImetduring thewargamesrecently.Wejusthititrightoff.”
“Youshouldhavesaidyouhadafiancé,Jeri,”Motheradmonishedher.She pattedhergrayinghairpulledintoabun.“Iwouldhavegussiedmyselfupabit.
YoumustthinkI’mamess.”
“It’sallright,Mrs.Poldar.Youhavealovelyhome.Andalovely daughter.”
MotherinvitedValtositdownandthenservedherandJericookiesand milkasiftheywerelittlegirls.Motherchattedaboutrecenteventsinher neighborhoodandsomeofthepeoplesheknew,noneofwhomJeriknew.Jeri letValholduptheotherendoftheconversation;sinceValhadrecreatedthis world,sheknewitmuchbetterthanJeri.ForthemostpartJerijustenjoyedthe closeproximityofthewomanshelovedandhermotherwhileshenibbledon warmcookiesanddrankicecoldmilk.
ThismightnotbeTai’sperfectworld,butitwascloseenoughforJeri.
***
MotherbegantocrywhenValmentionedsheandJeriwouldbegonefor monthsoutinspace.MothercrushedJeriinanotherhugthatalmostcausedher tochokeonbitsofcookie.“Mypoorbaby!Idon’tlikeyougoingouttherefor solong.It’ssodangerous.”
“I’llbefine,Mother.Valwilltakecareofme.”
MotherturnedtoglareatVal.“Shehadbetter.Ican’tbearthethoughtof havingtoburymylittlegirl.”
“Mother—”
“Don’ttakethattonewithme,younglady.Youmightbetaller,butIcan stillbendyouovermyknee.”
JerismiledwhileValsuppressedagigglewiththebackofherhand.“I’m sorry,Mother.”
“It’sjustnotfairIhavetoloseyouagainsosoon.Can’tyoustayafew days?”
“Iwishwecould,butthisisanimportantmission.”
“Yes,Isuppose.Well,atleastletmewrapupsomecookiesforyou.Then youwon’thavetoeatsomuchofthatawfulspacefood.”
Besidesthecookies,Mothergavethemapieandacobbler.Valtookthese soJericouldhughermotheronelasttime.“I’llbebackbeforeyouknowit,”
Jerisaid.Shekissedhermotheronthecheek.
“Youtakecareofyourselfoutthere.”
“Iwill.”
Motherstoodonthesteptowatchthemgetintothecarandleave.She continuedtowaveevenasthecarpulledaway.Jeriwavedbackuntilthehouse wasoutofsight.ThensheturnedtoVal.“Thankyouforthat.”
“Iwentalittleoverboard,don’tyouthink?Imeanallthisfood—”
“It’swonderful.”Jerihadtowipetearsfromhereyes.“Myrealmother andIwereneverclose.Wenevercouldhavehuggedlikethat.Shedidn’teven cometomygraduationfromtheacademy.Shewasalwaystoobusyforme.”
“Youdon’thavetoworryaboutthatanymore.Fromnowon,noonewill everhurtyou.”
Theykissedinthebackseatasthelimousinespedontowardsthe spaceport.Astheycontinuedthroughthestreets,Jerinoticedsomething:she hadn’tseenasinglemaleonthestreets.EvenonthePherashehadleftovertwo yearsago,therehadalwaysbeenmalesonthestreets,usuallyengagedinsome menialjoblikecleaningorconstruction,somethingforthosewithbrawnbutno brains.Yetnowshedidn’tseeanyofthemanywhere,notevenonconstruction sites.
WhenJerifinallybroughtupthequestion,Valshrugged.“They’regone.”
“Gonewhere?”
“Disappeared.Nonexistent.”
“Buttherewerebillionsofthem—”
“Nowthereareabillionmorewomen.”
“Oh.”Jeritriedtoimaginethis,butcouldn’t.Inaninstant,Valhadturned everymanonPheraintoawoman;itseemedimpossible,butJeriknewalltoo wellwhattheStoneofChangecoulddo.“How...howarewegoingtomake babies?”
“Therearestillspermbanks.They’lllastusforalongtime.Afterthat,I canalwaysmakeafewmalestoreplenishit.”
“That’sgood,”Jerimumbled,asickfeelinginherstomach.
“Jeri,itwasamalewhoputusthroughallthis.Maybetheyweren’talllike Tai,butyouhavetoadmittheyweren’tveryuseful.Theywerestupidbrutes, everylastoneofthem.LikeyourfriendTery,remember?”
Jerinodded.“You’reright.Thisisforthebest.”
Herqueasinesshadfadedbythetimetheyreachedthespaceport.Ona launchingplatformshesawashipjustliketheoneTaihaddestroyedoutindeep space.“Isthat...isthatmyship?”
“Myshipnow,butI’llletyoupilotit.”
“Thanks.Who’stherestofthecrew?”
“Oh,Ithinkyoualreadyknowthem.”
Jerithoughttoask,butdecidedagainstit.Valclearlywantedtosurprise her.Andshewassurprisedwhenshefoundtwoidenticalcadetswaitingbythe entrydoor.Theyhadshoulder-lengthblackhairwithbangsasthickashers.
Theybothhadthesamebrowneyesandflaringhawknoses.Theonlydifference wasabeautymarktotheleftforoneandtotherightoftheother.
“Jeri,theseareourengineeringtechs,SheriandTeri.Girls,thisis LieutenantJeriPoldar,ourpilot.”
“It’sgoodtomeetyou,ma’am,”thetwinssaidinunisonandsaluted.
Jerireturnedtheirsalute.“Cadets.”Shetriedtoseeanysignofrecognition ontheirfaces,buttheyremainedstone-faced.
“Cadets,gopreptheship.We’llbelaunchingwithinthehour.There’sjust onemorepassengertobringalong.”
BeforeJericouldask,askycarstoppedneartheramp.Thechauffeur openedthebackdoor.Awomaninacamouflageuniformhelpedapassenger outofthecar.Jeri’sjawslackenedwhenshesawthepassengerwasarotund littlegirl.Thewaythegirlleanedagainstthesoldier,itwasobviousshewas blind.Thefatgirlstruggleduptherampwiththesoldier’sassistanceuntilthey
finallystoppedinfrontofValandJeri.
“Didshegiveyouanytrouble,Major?”
“No,ma’am.Shewasagoodlittlepiggy.”
“Val?”thegirlcroaked.
Valbentdowntotouslethefatgirl’sshortbrownhair.“I’mhere,sweetie.
Areyoureadytogoonatrip?”
“Val,please—”
ValsteeredthefatgirltowardsJeri.Sheguidedoneofthefatgirl’sfleshy handstotouchJeri’scheek.“ThisisLieutenantJeriPoldar.She’sgoingtobe ourpilot.Andshe’llbetheonelookingafteryou.Jeri,thisisMolegirl.You mightrememberherasKariChomar.”
JeristaredbothatthegirlandatVal.TherewasacrueltyinVal’svoicethat wasveryreminiscentofTai’swheneverhehadbeentorturingJeriandthe others.YetshethoughtKariandValhadbeenfriends.Theyhadbeenmorethan friendsatonetime.HowcouldValdothistoher?
Jeriknewnowwasnotthetimetofindout.Instead,shepattedKari’s hand.“Hi,Kari.It’sgoodtoseeyouagain.Or—”
“Don’tworryabouthurtingMolegirl’sfeelings.She’sjustheretoconsult withusabouttheplanet,”Valsaid.“Helphertoherquarters.Shecanstaythere untilweneedher.”
“Yes,ma’am,”Jerisaidwiththeenthusiasmofacadet.ThenshetookKari bythearmtoleadherinside.Shestoppedinthedoorwayforamomenttolook backatPhera.Eveniftheymadeitbackfromthismission,wouldthePherashe sawnowremain?
Withashiver,JeriledKariintotheship.
PartIII:SecretsoftheStone
Prologue
Dr.KariChomarreadthemessageonthescreenagain.Herproposalhad beenaccepted.Intwomonthsashipandattachedlabmodulewouldbe dispatchedtotheplanetidentifiedonlyasKF-6452301onstarcharts.Theship woulddropthemoduleofftoconductresearchontheplanetfortwomonths whiletheshipitselfwouldgoontosweeptherestoftheareaforanythingof scientificinterest.
Karitookoffherthickglassestowipetearsfromhereyes.Afterayearof pushingthemilitarybureaucracy,itwouldfinallyhappen.Karionlyhadtosee thenamelistedfortheexpedition’scommandertoknowhowthingshadgotten done.ColonelValKreewouldbeincommandoftheship.Kariwaswell-acquaintedwiththisnamesincesheandValsharedahouse,atleastwhenever Valwasoff-duty.Thatwasn’tasoftenasKariliked,butnowtheywouldhave twowholemonthsinspacetogether,alone.
Oralmostalone.TherewouldbeKari’sassistantfortheexpedition.She ranahandoverherfaceandthensighed.Hewouldbehereanymomentto beginhisorientation.A male.Theyjusthadtoassignheramaleforthis.
Thestatedreasonwasthatallthefemaleassistantswerealreadyassignedto otherprojects,butKariknewtherealreason:everyoneattheuniversitythought shewasinsane.Noneofherfellowfacultyhadbackedherfindings;shehad beenforcedtogetsupportfrominstitutionsontheothersideofPhera.Even now,aweekafterthemessageonherscreenhadbeendelivered,therestofthe facultyshoweredherwithdirtylooksandpityinggrins.
Theythoughtshewaschasingphantoms,butsheknewthatwasn’tthe truth.Thatshehadtheevidenceonhercomputerstilldidn’tconvincethem.
Onlyonceshecamebackwouldtheyseehowwrongthey’dbeen.
Therewasaknockonherdoor.Kariputherglassesbackonintimetosee ayoungermanenter.Comparedtomostmaleshewaspalerandscrawnieras befittedsomeonewhoworkedinscienceinsteadofmanuallabor.“Haveaseat, Mr.Lecau,”shesaid.
“Thankyou,Dr.Chomar.”
Shenoddedtohimandthenopenedafolderonherdesk.TaiLecauhad testscorescomparabletothoseofhisfemalecounterparts.Thatwasn’twhat concernedKari.Shewasfarmoreworriedbythenoteshisinstructorshad attached,indicatinghe—likemostmales—wasimpatientandhotheaded.She notedalittleofthatherselfinthewayhetappedhisfingersonhiskneesashe waitedforhertosaysomething.
Sheforcedherse
lftosmile.“I’mnotsurewhatDeanFomaltoldyou,but thisisanexcitingopportunity.Wearegoingtodosomethingneverbefore done.WearegoingtoprovetheancientsofPheracamefromthestars.”
“Soundsexciting,”hesaid,hisvoicedrippingcondescension,likeher colleagues.
Sheignoredthisandtappedthebuttontoactivatetheholovieweronher desk.Animageofastarsystemwithsixplanetscameontothescreen.“Wewill betravelingtothefourthplanetofthesystem.ThemilitarycallsitKF-6452301.Fornowwe’lljustcallitKif.”
Shezoomedintoshowhimalushgreenplanettenpercentlargerthan Phera.“Fromtheprobesthathavealreadybeentotheplanet,it’sbeen determinedconditionsarenotthatdifferentfromPhera.Theairisbreathable andthegravitywithintolerances.Weshouldn’thaveanyproblemsadaptingto it.Wecan’tbeentirelysureaboutpredators,buttheredoesn’tseemtobe anythingdeadly.”
“Iftheyalreadysentprobes,whyarewegoing?Shouldn’ttheyhavefound something?”
Kariwantedtoshakeherhead.Didn’theknowanythingabout archaeology?“Theprobescan’tpenetratebeneaththesurface.That’sprobably whereanyruinswillbe.Justliketheonesfoundinthesouthernhemisphereof Phera.”
“Andwhat’ssupposedtobeinthoseruins?”
“Probablynothingofmaterialvalue,”Karisaidalittlemoresharplythan intended.“Anythingwefindwillbeofhugescientificvalue.Itwillreshape everythingweknowabouthowlifedevelopedonPhera.”
“Uh-huh.”
Shetappedthebuttonontheholovieweragaintoshowastonetablet markedwithlinesofswirls,dashes,andhashmarks.“Thisisthelanguagethe ancientsusedintheruinsalreadydiscovered.It’swhatsomewouldcalla legendaboutagroupofpeoplewhofellfromtheskyinafieryvessel.They werestrandedonourworld,wheretheycreatedthecitythatwasfound.”
Sheskippedaheadtoanotherimage,thisoneofchunksofscorchedmetal.
