Nista stopped at a spot where once a large fire had been built. Pointing to the spot, she, too, asked that a bonfire be constructed.
The day had worn on and Ourinco was low in the western sky. Already the courtyard was in deep shadow, and soon night would surround them.
With the fire roaring, and darkness now complete beyond the walls of the monastery, they continued on deeper into the temple. They walked through the courtyard and entered the dividing wing of the structure through a narrow, dark passage and into another courtyard. From here, they entered yet another attached building or wing of the previous building. This one was abutted directly up against the hillside. The room on the other side was quite wide and twelve meters deep. The natural stone ceiling was only two-and-a-half meters above the floor.
At the far end of this room, there was a carving made directly into the living stone. It was a stylized representation of an enormous gate. At the base of the wall set several glowing stones and countless offerings of food and flowers.
Nista turned toward everyone and said in English, “This is Ouk’Ko. It is the very ancient and sacred name of the gate to Onellametsa, it is the Porr tie.”
No one spoke as Nista turned around and stood before the image of the gate and began to chant a song. As she did, she got onto her knees. Nash and Tanny did likewise, as did Lent. Isso and Sairan also chanted the song in unison with Nista.
In a few short minutes, a strange white misty light began to glow before the carved stone gate.
Slowly, Nista got to her feet, her eyes glued to the mist.
Chapter 15
THE GARDEN
“Are you there?”
“I’m right here, Joe,” the angelic woman replied.
“Look, it’s Nista. She found me.”
“Of course, she did. She loves you, and she has come a long way to tell you so. Can you hear her song? It is a song proclaiming her love for you, and telling of how much she misses you. She will never forget you, Joe.”
“I love her so much.”
“Then all you want is her happiness, is that not right?”
“Of course.”
“Good, because she asks your permission to love again.”
“What?”
“Yes, Joe. She is halo vat of another, but she will forsake him if you do not release her.”
“I love her.”
“And that is a very good thing, and as you hear her singing to you now, she will always love you. And as Lu’aya told you through Nista once…you must know that love passes through the gate.”
“But I—”
“Yes, Joe?”
“All I want is her happiness. So, of course, I—I, ah―”
“You are not giving up your love. You still love her, and she loves you. You are just giving her your blessing to be happy.”
Joe remained frozen like a statue, looking intently at Nista; he was sad, and confused.
“Go on, Joe. The light of love shines in you now, and you can pass through the gates.”
○O○
Nista’s eyes had grown quite wide and her pupils had dilated larger than they had ever been in her life. A chill ran up her spine as she watched the mist form into the figure of Joe. He looked at her with a great sadness and longing in his eyes.
Isso and Sairan fell silent as Nista added her own words to her song, telling Joe she wished to love again.
Joe looked confused, so Nista repeated the lyrics adding that he would always be in her heart. The look on Joe’s face changed, but Nista could not read it. Then, he appeared to speak to someone else, and he turned. The gate behind him opened, and he started walking through it. He turned his head and looked one last time at her and a small smile inched across his face. Then, he was gone.
Nista lowered herself to the floor and wept. Lent started to rise, but was stopped by Sairan, who lightly touched his arm and shook her head no as the Tuva do.
Several minutes passed in silence. When Nista had stopped crying, she thought hard on what had just happened. She came to the conclusion that Joe had not given her his blessing to love again. She had expected a clear sign, a word, a gesture, some unmistakable response…but no.
As she rose, so did everyone else. She turned and her gaze fell on Lent standing there with concern and worry gripping him like a vice. What was she to tell him?
She approached him slowly and just stood there looking into his eyes trying to conjure up the strength to say goodbye to him.
As she slowly parted her lips to speak, Lent blurted out, “That was Ko’maton!”
A shocked Nista asked in English, “Where did you learn this word?”
“Nista, you’re speaking English!” Lent was very surprised.
“Lent,” Nista grabbed his arms, “this word, you must tell me where you learned it!”
“I don’t know. I must have heard someone say it.”
“No, Lent. It is an ancient word not any more used.”
“I don’t know, Nista. I just somehow knew I had to say it. What does it mean?”
“It means incredible,” she said, looking away.
“Yes, that was incredible.”
Was this the sign she was looking for? Or was it some bizarre coincidence? She remembered the event that last brought this word to her ears. She and Joe were at the red boulder called the heart of dreams. They touched and their worlds changed.
Nista placed her heart side hand onto Lent’s chest over his heart, then looked into his eyes. Lent got the message and did likewise. As his hand touched her, they both felt it instantly, the feeling of an empty, dark, sad, place being suddenly filled with great joy and light. The sorrow inside was gone, replaced with profound love.
Nista had felt this only once before in her entire life.
“Wow!” Lent said.
Nista’s wide blue eyes searched Lent’s face and she whispered, “Ko’maton.” Then, she glanced over her shoulder at the carving of the gate on the wall and whispered, “Key’Etos menoun Joe, Key’Etos.”
○O○
The investigation into the uprising took months. Then, the trials began. It was a full year before the last decisions were handed down.
The mercenaries were fortunate in that the E’meset put justice into the hands of the Tuva, trusting them to do what was right. Had they been extradited to the indigenous people’s keeping, justice would have been much swifter, and much more final.
In the end, all the surviving officers were found guilty of rebellion. They were sentenced to prison within New Roanoke at hard labor. They were sentenced for life.
The rank and file mercenaries were also found guilty. Their sentence was banishment for life from this entire hemisphere of the planet.
In support of this decision, a habitat was constructed in sections at the factory by the inmates themselves. It was then transported in pieces under the V-tols to a location on the opposite side of the planet very near the equator. The habitat was fitted with an oxygen plant, water purifier, and also initial supplies for their population of nine hundred forty persons to last a year.
There were few E’meset in that area. All those within many hundreds of kilometers were provided full details about these Ukse. From them, the word would spread over their entire hemisphere.
On their last day before relocation, they were addressed by Dave Mitchel, who was accompanied by his wife, Kathy, Colonel Lindsey, and his new XO, recently promoted Major Rastaban, who himself was in the company of Isso Tekkmah, representing the E’meset population.
Colonel Lindsey spoke. “Today begins the first day of your exile. At least, that is one way to look at it. At this point in time, you all need to ask yourselves where the water level is in your cups. You can turn your new location into a prison, if that’s how you want to live, or it can become your new home. If you work hard, you can thrive. Dwell on the past, sit on your butts and bemoan your outcast state, and this planet will kill all of you in a month.
“The indigenous peoples out there
are aware of your presence, and the threat you represent. Don’t try to pull any shit on them; rather than put up with any nonsense, they will kill you. They will be keeping an eye on you for us, and making regular reports.
“And don’t call them peacocks…they don’t like it any more than I do.
“The day may come when you’re ready to rejoin our growing society on Antyllus. When that day comes, the E’meset will tell us, and we’ll tell you.
“We’ll drop in on you from time to time, both to check your progress, and to ensure you’re not up to any mischief. I wish you good luck…and I really do mean that.”
A large man in the front stood up. “Sir, I am Sergeant Major Calhoun. I am the ranking member here, and so I am in charge, at this point. Sir, you are dropping us on the other side of the planet. We can’t threaten you from there—so why can’t we have just a few weapons?”
“Sergeant Major, you are being provided with the same weapons that have ensured the survival of the E’meset for millennia on this world.”
“That’s unsatisfactory, sir.”
“What?” Kathy Mitchel shouted, and fought to maintain her composure as she ran up to the front of the dais to look directly at the man. “Before you leave, how about I take you to our cemetery and we discuss things that are unsatisfactory? There are close to five thousand Earth colonists buried there. Isso, here, just interred almost a thousand of his people, and there are over a thousand of your people in the ground, now. Don’t talk to me about what is and isn’t unsatisfactory!”
The sergeant major sat down.
○O○
Two-and-a-half years had passed since the end of Fau’Paut’Us, the war of liberation.
The merc rebellion had slowed the recovery efforts inside New Roanoke, but now, with the fighting ended and the criminals exiled, great progress was made.
Nista and Lent were married just a month after Nash and Tanny. Lent purchased the condo next to Nash, and he and Nash removed the drop ceiling Nash had installed on that side. Lent also obtained a great deal of E’meset furniture for his place. This, and the oversized respirators Joe had designed for the E’meset, allowed Lent and Nista to entertain their taller friends and relatives within their homes. They were also regular visitors to Kulan Kaus, where their names and faces were as well-known as those of Le’ha and Talme Zolna.
Nash and Tanny were as happy as any two newlyweds had ever been. Day’Ka returned to Reggie’s school in the Fish, but regularly returned home. He was quite good at chess, and struck up a friendship with what Nash considered to be the most unlikely of humans…the mess sergeant of the regimental dining facility, who had insulted Nista to Joe’s face.
A couple of weeks after the wedding, the mess sergeant noticed Nista and Lent eating in his dining room. He went to Nista and politely introduced himself. He reminded her of the incident, and apologized profusely. A week later, he ran into Day’Ka at a meeting of the chess club and a fast friendship ensued. The sergeant was greatly shocked to discover the boy was Nash’s son.
“Bob,” Day’Ka had said to him, “how could you not know? There are only two oxygen breathing E’meset, and I’m the tall one.”
○O○
It was a lovely Saturday afternoon. All the members of the city council—Dave, Kathy, Mitch, Cassie, Zolna, Le’ha, and several E’meset leaders of Kulan Kaus—were meeting at a table set up under a tree.
Le’ha’s children, Poy eka Hondar, and Kawness Suitusand were nearby enjoying the beautiful weather.
A large number of the Tuva population was outside doing the same, and mingling with the E’meset of Kulan Kaus. Many games were being played, both those imported from Earth and local E’meset games. For the young, there was football, dal’set, baseball, and Sat la far. For the less spry, there was chess, checkers, Mad’su kam, and Un.
Not far from the council table, Tanny, Nash, and Day’Ka, as well as Nista, Lent, and Yalga, sat upon the blue and orange grass and aided Lent and Tanny with their language classes. They were having a great deal of fun, and there was a considerable amount of laughter.
Under a nearby tree, Isso and Sairan, who had recently made Ilannan, leaned against a tree as Isso recited E’meset poetry to her.
The business of the council meeting had come to an end and the conversation at the table became casual and light-hearted.
Another outburst of laughter at the circle of friends caught the attention of those at the council table. Dave turned to the others and said, “It’s good to hear everyone so happy.”
Dave and Kathy, hand in hand, walked a short distance away from the table and looked around at the two groups, now one. Dave pointed to all the trees the E’meset had planted in the main street of Kulan Kaus and smiled as a group of E’meset children ran, playing, between them.
He turned again and his gaze fell on Nista and Lent laughing with their friends. He realized that, before long, these two would be adding to the population with another hybrid child, able to live among both peoples. Perhaps the day would come when all would be one.
Dave nodded and smiled to himself in satisfaction. “Kathy, it’s all been worthwhile.”
Kathy smiled as she glanced around. “It’s like the garden of Eden.”
Chapter 16
NO GREATER LOVE
It was a couple of years later when Nash, Tanny, and Day’Ka, who had grown into a fully matured E’meset adult, asked to see Dave and Kathy. Nash had wanted an appointment to see him in his office; Dave suggested dinner.
“Uh…Dave,” Nash felt it necessary to point out the obvious, “you and Kathy don’t eat.”
Dave laughed, saying, “No, but we can live vicariously through you.”
They would all meet at Dave and Kathy’s place. Kathy had the food catered from one of New Roanoke’s finer dining establishments, The Blue Lagoon Lounge.
Once dinner was complete, Dave asked the question Nash had dreaded. “So, Nash, what’s on your mind?”
Nash exchanged glances with Tanny and Day’Ka, then cleared his throat. “Dave, this is a little hard to explain, but…I’ve had this funny feeling since the Demeter departed.”
“Funny feeling?” Kathy asked.
“Yes,” Tanny replied. “We’ve all discussed it, we have all had this nagging feeling.”
“It’s the feeling of a task left uncompleted.” Day’Ka added. “Akin to walking away from a fire pit in the forest with embers still aglow.”
“Okay, hold it right there,” Dave said softly. “Nista, Lent, Cassie, and Mitch have all reported the same “feeling of dread,” as they called it. Like there was something more that had to be done.
“Well, you’re all correct. There is something more. I’ve had those feelings myself—so has Kathy. We have been contemplating this for some years, now. We’ve actually put together a draft proposal.”
“Are we talking about the same thing?” Nash asked.
“I believe so. We’re all worried that we’ve taken no steps to defend ourselves in the event that the IIEA or Wilmington should return. Let’s face it, if Wilmington comes back, he’ll nuke us from orbit. Indra might just have time to warn us of impending death.
“If the IIEA come, and to my mind that’s a mighty big if, it’ll be because they don’t want to lose their investment. All this, the colony, the clinic, the factory, it was all paid for by the IIEA. They may want to come down and take it all back by force.
“Planning for that eventuality has occupied mine and Kathy’s thoughts as of late.”
“What is it you’re considering?” Tanny asked.
Kathy leaned forward and took Tanny’s hand. “Listen to what we’ve come up with. Later, we’ll convene a meeting of the minds.”
○O○
The fifteenth year after their victory—almost to the day—found the city’s leaders ― Dave, Kathy, Mitch, Cassie ― and a few E’meset, and their friends Zolna, Le’ha and their children, also Nista and Lent outside in the sun on a beautiful spring day.
; Just then, over an Ismay system only recently restored to a range just a little beyond the city's interior, Indra spoke to Dave and Kathy, the other SUBs at the table, and the leaders of the CDF exclusively.
"City council members, and all members of the Colony Defense Force, may I have your attention?"
"You have it, Indra," Dave responded.
"Council members, and CDF, there is a spacecraft entering geosynchronous orbit three hundred fifty kilometers above us."
Dave shot everyone a wide-eyed look.
On a private channel, Cassie said, "If they have a bomb, it won't do to panic everyone and run. No one could get far enough away."
"True," Dave agreed, "but if they plan on a ground assault, then we better execute plan W.”
Everyone nodded, and Dave stood up. "City council and Colony Defense Force," he said on the emergency channel. "I'm declaring a Wilmington. This is not a drill. CDF, prepare all defenses, Le'ha, go to the E’meset ― you know what to do. The rest of you, come with me." Then, Dave spoke again to Indra. "Indra, we're going to DEFCON two."
"Understood, sir."
"Have they attempted to contact us?"
"Not as yet, sir."
Twenty minutes later, they and the colony defense staff, Lieutenant Colonel Lindsay, Nash, and their combined staffs, were gathered in one of several control rooms inside the city.
"Indra?" Dave said aloud. "Has there been any sign of life at all from the ship?"
"One moment, please."
They waited an uncomfortable minute before Indra spoke again. "Sir, the ship is indeed the Demeter. I have attempted to speak with Narcissia. It appears she has been replaced with an antiquated analog computer. The captain would like to speak with you, Major."
Dave shot Lieutenant Colonel Lindsay a glance; he nodded.
"Put him on." Dave said calmly.
"Hello, New Roanoke. Hello, New Roanoke. This is Captain Scott Renfield of the ISA Demeter." The reception was poor, but the voice had a distinct German accent.
The Blue of Antyllus Page 22
