The Blue of Antyllus

by Michael E. Gonzales

  “And the ceilings are so high. That’s a lot of air to heat and cool, Nash.”

  “That’s the reason I need to talk to you before—”

  “Before? Before what?” Tanny asked.

  “Please come sit down over here.” There were two boxes in the room Nash had placed here for just this reason.

  “E’lika…ah—”

  “What, Nash?”

  “E’lika…Tanny…I built this for you.”

  “For me?”

  “For us. Tanny, my E’lika. I love you. And I want to marry you…if you’ll have me.”

  Tanny’s face exploded into a huge smile. She was about to leap into his arms, but Nash stopped her. “My E’lika. I meant to explain before I asked that of you. I’m nervous…before you answer, there’s something you need to know about me.

  “I’ve been here for sixteen years. I spent a lot of time on patrols out in the blue. I was welcomed as a friend in several E’meset villages, and at a time when they were sure we were the first invaders returned to finish them off.

  “I, uh…I met a woman and was secretly married to her.”

  Tanny’s face fell. “Secretly?”

  “Yes, Tanny.” Nash licked his dry lips. “She was E’meset.”

  Tanny gasped and her hands rushed to her mouth.

  “She was beautiful. And so very loving.”

  Tanny was fighting back tears. “What happened to her?” The words squeaked out.

  “One day, as I was out on another patrol, an E’meset from her village sought me out. She had been out with a group, hunting, and vanished. The entire hunting party of seven skilled hunters just disappeared without leaving a sign that the E’meset could read or follow. I and her tribe searched for months. But nothing was ever found.

  “A week after Wilmington’s defeat, I was informed that records indicated my wife had been a victim of the clinic. She’d been bled white over a period of several months then murdered and cremated. I had already mourned her loss for a long time. I knew she didn’t leave me, so she had to be dead. The news only kindled hate in my heart that replaced the love I’d lost. Until you.

  “I—” Nash paused a long moment. “I have a teenage son, Tanny. He’s nearly two meters tall. He’s a very bright boy. I ensured he speaks both English and E’meset, and he can breathe either atmosphere. No one knows why but—”

  Tears were streaming down Tanny’s face. “That’s why you need three-meter-tall ceilings…to bring him in here?” she sobbed.

  “Yes. He’s a good boy, Tanny. I know he’ll love you as much as I do. If you’ll—”

  Tanny jumped up. “Oh…I am so sorry, Nash, I have to get back! What will people think? I’m so sorry, so very, very sorry!”

  She burst into tears and bolted down the spiral stairs.

  “Tanny, please!” Nash shouted, but she didn’t stop.

  “My E’lika.” he whispered aloud. As he heard the door slam downstairs he sat back down on the box and watched the dark clouds from the southwest roll slowly over the city blotting out the stars.

  Chapter 5

  THE SUMMONS

  Lieutenant Joe Billen was still on light duty the night of the revolt. He had gone to bed at 21:30 only to be awakened at 04:35 by Indra who was alerting his company, as it was the next organization to be activated in the emergency plan.

  Joe dressed and removed his sidearm from his desk where he kept it locked. He hurried to the company area where the men were drawing weapons and ammunition. He and the three platoon leaders reported to the CO and were briefed on the situation. The plan was simple. Confront them and stop them. Deadly force had been authorized. If Indra deduced their strategy or destination, then the plan would be altered as necessary.

  Joe’s company moved on foot to the scene of the action. As they ran, Indra contacted them and explained that the PCs and V-tols had been taken by two separate groups of the hostiles and, therefore, these locations must be the objectives of the fleeing mercenaries. As the reaction platoon was already engaged, Joe’s company was ordered to another location in order to cut them off.

  It was only moments later that Indra informed them that the mercenaries had hostages. So, Joe’s company was ordered to stop and hold position.

  Joe and his soldiers remained stationary in the corridor. Each soldier was wound up tight as a compressed spring just waiting to unleash their energy upon the enemy when word came to stand down. The mercenaries had been allowed to escape rather than risk the lives of the hostages. Their frustration meters were pegged out. Regardless, every soldier reacted stoically. They knew this was just the opening salvos of yet another battle.

  The men and women of the CDF were ready to pursue the enemy into the blue and destroy them. But the CO explained that because of the threat to the hostages they were ordered to stand down. Nevertheless, half of the CDF was ordered to occupy their defensive positions and be ready.

  Back in the CDF area, the men and women of the company began after-operations maintenance on their weapons and equipment. The officers reviewed and evaluated their response and after-action reviews were prepared. Over all, the CO was pleased with the actions of his company this morning. He was, however, worried about his executive officer, his XO. He approached Joe and took him aside.

  “How you doing?” the CO asked.

  “Never better, sir.”

  “This was your first big run since your recovery.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  The CO put his hands on his hips. “Your first adrenaline rush, too, right?”

  Joe understood what the CO was asking. “Yes, sir. And a powerful rush it was. And no, sir, I experienced no ill effects as a result of my little bump on the noggin.”

  “Bump? Joe, I saw you laying there. I thought you were dead. Once we get the company back into battery, you take a couple of days off, and go get checked again. That’s an order. You’re too fine an XO for me to lose you now that I’m going to need you for real.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  The company was released at 07:00. Few that had been called up that night could go back to sleep. Joe certainly couldn’t.

  To wind down, Joe took a tram to sector three and looked out a large observation window at the growing village of Kulan Kaus. The E’meset had been at work since before sun up. The day was dawning as clear and bright as day would become on Antyllus.

  Below, Joe could see Yalga, the mother of Nista Sel’emat. She was looking up at him. The notion struck Joe like a hammer and he reacted on impulse. He turned and bolted to the nearest elevator. He rode it down to the ground floor then ran to the airlock. He donned a respirator and was soon outside.

  Joe went searching for Yalga. He was soon standing where he’d seen her, but she was no longer in sight.

  Joe walked through the market area searching the faces, but he didn’t find her.

  Near a stone building still under construction stood a typical E’meset hut made of wood and massive leaves from the forest floor. It was not a large place, but a large number of E’meset stood outside of it, waiting patiently.

  Joe felt irresistibly drawn to the hut. He slowly advanced toward it. He was first noticed by one E’meset, then another. They brought his approach to the attention of the others, and they began to step aside, clearing a path for him directly to the door. As Joe slowly walked through the tall, colorful men and women, some nodded at him, others spoke words he did not understand.

  “Lu’aya seenun kas sawsay.”

  “Key’Etos, Tuva.”

  A male, well over two meters tall, placed his hand on Joe’s shoulder and led him to the door, saying, “Menell.”

  Joe drew back the cloth that served as the door to the entrance. It was very dark inside. There were two large Volessa stones on the floor sitting on either side of a stone-lined fire pit in which some dimly glowing embers remained. The glowing Volessa stones were covered with large blue leaves which caused the room to be cast in a dim, blue light. Joe stood waiting for his eyes t
o adjust when, from out of the darkness, he heard a familiar voice, “Tear eva issay ahmen’Enum, Joe.” The voice was clear, calm, measured.

  “I’m sorry, do you speak English?”

  “Ey, mut ah umerr ran.”

  “I don’t understand.” Joe was struggling to place the voice. The memory was right there, but somehow clouded. Just then, the leaf on the left stone was lifted and the yellowish light illuminated the face of Nista Sel’emat. Joe froze as she opened and lifted her eyes toward him. He was stunned by her beauty.

  She sat on a cushion of leaves and was covered in large feathers which were attached to her hair. She was otherwise naked. All around her were a number of strange artifacts. Among them, he recognized the metal skull of a SUB and the skull of a human. Both had been highly decorated with paint and carvings.

  From the shadows stepped Yalga, her mother. “You were much quicker to come than the Hopeerlun E’meset. Those you call SUBs.”

  “Quicker? What do you mean?”

  “Nista called to you…for you to come to her.”

  Joe smiled and chuckled. “What?”

  “As you can talk to other Tuva with COMde, so Nista can speak from her heart.”

  “Is that why so many are gathered outside? Did she call them, too?” Joe asked.

  “No, Nista is Poh’palm meas. This, I tell you before; do you not remember?”

  “Oh, yeah…down in the cave. I’m sorry, but I don’t know what Poh’palm meas means.”

  “Poh’palm meas are the chosen few who hear and speak with Eya’Etee Ki Kee. She hears and sees what Eya’Etee Ki Kee wants and directs. She speaks to Eya’Etee Ki Kee mouth to ear, and tell her what our wishes are, and sings our praises to her. Through Eya’Etee Ki Kee does she receive the blessing of Lu’aya and from this blessing she has power. Those outside come seeking help, advice, and wisdom.”

  “Not that I’m not flattered, but why did she call to me?”

  “Nista dreamed of you. I think because she sees you sea’ava—”

  Again, Nista made that “Shhhut” sound.

  Yalga shot her a disapproving glance.

  “Okay,” Joe said. “Enough of this mystery…what does sea’ava mean?”

  “Pretty.” Nista said, speaking English for the first time. The reds in her face seemed to become luminous. She was blushing.

  “Oh…ah…” Joe blushed, too. “Well, thank you. I think you’re sea’ava, too.”

  “In her dream,” Yalga said, “you are at an end, and you bring about a beginning.”

  “What does that mean?” Joe asked.

  Yalga looked at Joe. “She does not know. Lu’aya does not reveal all the future to her and Lu’aya never tells us what or why or when.”

  Nista then rose and poured a small glass full of thick, blue milk. She placed a plastic straw from the dining facility into it and brought it to Joe. She was only slightly taller than Joe, and her colors seemed pale. Her dark hair was loosened from the braids he’d last seen her in, and it flowed down over her shoulders. The large feathers in her hair draped over her body completely. In offering the drink to Joe, she looked into Joe’s eyes through his mask with those large blue eyes of hers. Joe was mesmerized.

  “Thank you,” he said, then held his breath and cracked his mask, sliding the straw up and into his mouth, and took a sip.

  “Ayavhan,” she said.

  “She wants you to drink it all,” Yalga translated.

  Joe sucked it all down. It was rather sweet, but otherwise, was a flavor he’d never known. When he finished, he sealed and cleared his respirator. “That was good. What was it?”

  “A love potion,” Yalga said.

  “What?” Joe shouted.

  Yalga laughed. The first laugh he’d ever heard from the throat of an E’meset. “Ey, no, Joe. I am making a laughter on you. It is a drink popular among the Cea Ahnato E’meset. Like you have your wis key we have Kel’wa.”

  “Okay,” Joe sighed with relief and watched as Nista also drank a small glassful. “Why do I have a feeling this means something.”

  Yalga smiled. “You are a very smart Tuva. Even though you are small, you will make a very good vavoot. You are sized for Nista.”

  “I’ll make a good what?” Joe asked.

  “Sit. It is a time of questions.”

  The three sat near a glowing stone, and Nista folded her legs under her and adjusted her feathers. Joe could see she was a very attractive woman from head to toe. He’d not thought about a woman in quite some time. But he was thinking now.

  Joe looked up to see that Yalga had watched him as he watched Nista.

  “Now, Joe,” Yalga added, “Nista will ask of you and you will have truth in your answers. Remember, Nista is Poh’palm meas. She will know if you lie.”

  Joe cracked a broad smile. “We call this game twenty questions. Let’s go.”

  “Joe, this is not a game,” Yalga said, and to emphasize her seriousness she stood up. Her almost two-meter height towered over him.

  “Okay. I get it, no problem.”

  Yalga sat back down and nodded at Nista.

  “Al’et ealy mahn kaver reen?” Nista asked.

  Yalga translated, “You are without a mate?”

  “I am…without a mate, yes.”

  “Cinula’an ulla am mon tah kaver ret?”

  “She asks if, in your life, you have had many mates.”

  “Ah…I have dated a few women, yes.”

  “And with how many did you mate?”

  Joe hesitated. Yalga raised a hand and then indicated Nista with all five fingers. “Poh’palm meas. Remember!”

  “Okay…four.”

  “You are sudamine with these women?”

  “Sudamine?”

  “Love. You love these women?”

  “No, I can’t even remember their names.”

  “You, then, did not love them? You only halo vat them?”

  “Halo vat?” Joe shook his head.

  “The only word you have is desire,” Yalga said.

  “Yes, I guess. We needed each other. At the time, it seemed quite urgent.”

  “You have family?” Yalga again translated for her daughter.

  “I have an older brother. He lives on a planet we call Mars with his wife and two kids.”

  “Is that all that remains of your family?”

  “Yes. Mom died when I was a kid, and dad died about a year before I came here.”

  “Do you miss your family?”

  Again, Joe paused. He took a deep breath. “Yeah, I guess so.”

  Nista began to speak and Yalga translated just as fast as the words escaped her daughter’s lips. “You and your brother are not friends. It has been many rains since you last spoke to him. Your heart aches for him. You do not remember why you two do not speak.”

  “Wow.” Joe was very impressed. “Can she read my mind?”

  “She hears the voice of Lu’aya. There are no secrets from Lu’aya.”

  “Okay. When is it my turn to ask some questions?”

  “Ask now, if you like,” Yalga said.

  “Why is she so different from the other E’meset?”

  Yalga lowered her head and said nothing for several seconds. Joe was about to ask if she was all right, when she spoke. She spoke low, and slowly. “In the first Ukse war, when those who look as you do first came to our world in the great flying fish, I was So torrie, a warrior. I led many So torrie to war on the Ukse. Many, many die. I was taken by the Ukse, and they locked me inside their house where they lived and breathed. Here was I made to Nyadah with their males. You must understand we do not have word for this. Nyadah is a beautiful thing between two E’meset. What the Ukse did to me had no beauty.”

  “Rape,” Joe said under his breath. “They raped you.”

  “As Lu’aya teaches, beauty can come from the most ugly of things if you but open your eyes to see. I and my people were given Nista. Though her hair is dark, her colors faint, her eyes blue, and…and she is close
to the ground…despite this, she was given the gift of Poh’palm meas.”

  Joe sat stunned. He looked at Nista a long while.

  “Joe,” Yalga said, “is she not sea’ava in your eyes?”

  Joe did not take his eyes from Nista. “Yalga, I think she is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

  “Good, then you halo vat her?”

  “Ah…yeah, listen, Yalga. On my world, we don’t tell the mother of a woman we desire that we want to…ah…be close to her daughter.”

  “You are a backward people who waste life in pursuit. Nista will dress down from being Poh’palm meas and again become only Nista.” She turned to Nista and said, “Vi’ata latsin.”

  “Coola, Eya’Etee,” Nista replied, and disappeared into another room.

  Joe looked up at Yalga and asked, “I hear the word Eya’Etee all the time from you people. I thought that was the name of your god, but Nista just called you by that name. What does it mean?”

  “Eya’Etee means mother. I am the mother of Nista. Our home, you say world, is the Eya’Etaa Ki Kee, mother of all. But Lu’aya is the great creator of all mothers. We do not know the name of Lu’aya.”

  Just then, Nista returned from the other room. The feathers were gone, in their place, she now wore a beautifully decorated loincloth. About her waist were beads of colored stone. Her hair was long, and full; she had combed it out and laid it over her shoulders where it reached down to her waist. In her hair, she had placed colorful blades of grass and flowers. She had put bands with colored stones and feathers on her arms, thighs, and each calf. And in this light, her blue eyes seemed to glow.

  “Now,” Yalga spoke, “you two must go into the forest alone with each other.”

  Joe was still drinking Nista in when he heard these words. He did not take his eyes off Nista when he replied, “Alone…together?”

  “Yes,” it was Nista who responded with a smile.

  They exited the city through the east gate and then Nista directed their footsteps northeast.

  Not speaking the same language, they began to play a game. As they walked along Joe would point to an object and say its name in English. Nista would counter with the object’s name in E’meset.