“Principal Katya has asked you to come, Alice.”
“And in this, I have no choice?”
No-one ever refused a meeting with A’khet, Sarah didn’t want to be the one to take a refusal to Principal Katya.
“You can do this with A’khet. I promise. They’re good people.”
Principal Katya had treated her so well since she’d arrived, but she’d also said no more decisions would be made on her behalf, would this be the last or should she expect more? It would be unthinkable to refuse but the thought terrified her more than the dinner. She trailed along behind Sarah, her throat constricted and her heart bouncing against her ribs, undecided whether to try to steel herself and summon up courage or run from the scene, screaming. She did neither.
The figure standing beside Principal Katya in the library was around Alice’s height. She couldn’t make out if the figure was a he or she, but he or she was clad in a long orange and brown robe and around the head, a braided purple and orange band. There were no ears Alice could see and the small amount of grey hair upon the head was wispy and sparse.
What would be the proper reaction to seeing an alien for the first time? Whether it was from wide-eyed, heart-stopping fear or horrified fascination, Alice’s insides flip-flopped and turned somersaults, her legs turned to jelly, and she briefly thought how useful one of Saturn Station’s callipers would be right at this moment. Of all the amazing, odd, frightening and wonderful things to happen to her over the past months, to meet an alien took it all to another dimension.
In a vain struggle to calm her nerves, she inhaled sharply and noisily, causing Principal Katya to turn towards the library entrance. With a squeeze of Alice’s arm to encourage her, Sarah took her leave and Principal Katya beckoned Alice to join them.
As A’khet studied her halting, nervous approach, Alice felt an unspoken command to raise her eyes and when she obeyed, A’khet’s gaze held hers. A sense of calm and serenity trickled from Alice’s head down to her toes and the fear which engulfed her only moments before, melted like snow.
“Alice,” Principal Katya drew her near. “This is A’khet, here to visit an old lady and to meet you.”
Calmed and confident now, Alice’s legs grew strong again. Close up, A’khet’s large, brown eyes had no eyelashes but, as the being continued to hold her in its gaze, a third eyelid moved across the eyes at regular intervals. A’khet’s skin was dark and weathered and reminded Alice of her favourite brown leather handbag, the one with the small creases she kept for best. A’khet’s nose and mouth were petite and perfect. Normal, five-fingered hands peeped out from under a cloak.
With the softest and sweetest smile forming on the A’khet’s lips, one hand lifted and reached towards Alice to touch her lightly on the arm. At the contact, a pleasant pulsating tingle traversed her arm and shoulder, a tingling that remained even as A’khet’s hand was pulled back with a suddenness which drew a look of concern from Principal Katya. A’khet’s hand remained raised, but the fingers were folded over the palm. The tingling continued to make gentle tracks sideways through Alice’s chest before moving up through her head to disappear somewhere beyond where she stood.
Principal Katya’s concern at A’khet’s apparent recoil was partly dispelled when she saw, far from being unsettled, A’khet assumed an expression of recognition and knowing. In her ignorance, Alice didn’t realise the significance of this reaction. A’khet nodded slightly, and for a moment, all attention turned inwards, then with eyes lifted again to Alice, A’khet spoke softly.
“Alice?”
There was sadness in A’khet’s voice as if in touching Alice, something had been learned and accepted and using her name framed a sorrowful question. A question which floated between them in the ensuing silence and during which, A’khet again gazed deep into Alice’s eyes, searching.
“A’khet are gratified to see this temple,” A’khet said at length, elegantly sweeping a hand towards Alice’s body, “is restored.”
Alice didn’t answer, only smiled and tilted her head, unable to perceive the meaning behind A’khet’s words but recognising no harm would come to her from this gentle person.
For a few seconds more—trancelike, Alice and A’khet stood opposite one another. In a slow, involuntary movement, Alice lifted her hand. Her fingers opened to press just below her throat, her palm over her chest and there followed an indescribable and overwhelming sense of peace.
A’khet turned her gaze to Principal Katya and with a tiny gesture, wordlessly expressed the audience be concluded.
Surprised and somewhat troubled by the meeting but losing none of her usual briskness and composure, Principal Katya took Alice’s hand.
“So, my dear, you have met A’khet. The first meeting is always brief. This is their way.” A’khet made a sideways dip of the head to acknowledge Principal Katya’s words. “Now, run along,” Principal Katya ushered her out as if speaking to a small child. “There is a surprise for you in your suite.”
Not reading anything into the way she was dismissed, Alice withdrew, acknowledging both Principal Katya and A’khet with a smile. It occurred to her as she left, she had not uttered a word during the entire interview but there had been an expression, a conveyancing or extraction of information Alice couldn’t comprehend. There’d been no reason to fear this meeting, she was such a silly goose.
Principal Katya and her guest watched as Alice disappeared through the wooden doors and headed for the staircase. As soon as she was out of sight, Principal Katya frowned.
“What happened? I have never seen A’khet recoil in this manner.”
A’khet held Principal Katya’s hand and answered without words.
“A’khet did not recoil, Katya. She is A’khet Umru. She is fluid, like the tides, she moves towards, she moves away, but uneven, irregular.”
“Umru? I will not pretend to know this word, but does she know this? Does she hide a truth from us?” Principal Katya followed the progress of the Sleeping Beauty phenomenon for decades and now, having known this lovely girl for only a day, she had made an indelible mark on her life. It would be profoundly disturbing to learn things were not as they seemed.
“She conceals nothing from you, dear sister,” A’khet knew her thoughts and reassured her with a touch. “But deeper, too deep even for A’khet, there is…a shadow—a silhouette.”
“Evil?”
“Not evil, natural—but not according to nature.”
“A’khet makes no sense. Must we fear her? Could it be her awakening is an error that will have consequences for both our species?”
A’khet considered her question and looked back towards the open doorway. Principal Katya felt palpable relief as A’khet communicated the much hoped for reassurance.
“You may love her, Katya, with all your heart, as others will. The young woman will bring immeasurable happiness to you. Do not feel fear, only rejoice she is among you.”
Alice walked calmly up the stairs then paused at the top of the staircase, turning to look down at the great hall. An alien had touched her, man or woman, she couldn’t tell but the strange, reassuring peace A’khet bestowed upon her, still tingled around her heart.
Chapter Thirty-Three
In her suite, Alice’s new clothing had arrived. Dresses and blouses were laid out across the bed and slacks and other items folded neatly on the chairs. Alice didn’t know where to start. Most of what she wore during her married life came from charity shops and jumble sales and she only ever bought the cheapest brands of shoes, now these beautiful garments, all delivered for her own personal use made her sit and weep with joy and gratitude.
Alice wiped her eyes, sniffed inelegantly and looked around. Next to her lay a large, framed portrait. She lifted the picture to get a better view, supporting the bottom of the frame on the bed.
The artist had cleverly captured the woman’s simplicity through a modest line drawing, with touches of colour added to reflect the copper glints of her hair, laid loosely
over the left shoulder. Her face was inclined towards an area below the lower right-hand corner of the frame. Her startling green eyes, looking up from under dark-lashed eyelids, held the secret of an age-old riddle. Her lips curved gently into a childlike smile.
Her neck and shoulders were bare, save for one arm crossed over her breast to lay against the opposite shoulder in a protective pose, the fingers were slender, devoid of jewellery and clasping a small spray of lavender between her finger and thumb. The delicate floral pattern on the garment she wore caught the colour of the lavender, on a background of white linen and lace.
It was superbly drawn. A portrait of her. For the first time since waking, she experienced a real connection to this body, not just an appreciation of its youth and form, but the freedom to see herself as another sees her, instead of through her own disbelieving eyes in an image definer or mirror.
“Do you like it?”
Sarah stood in the doorway.
“I love it. I—I don’t know what to say. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” Alice realised she might sound prideful. “Oh, does that sound terrible?”
Sarah laughed.
“No! I sketched it for you to see how you appear to me. I stayed up all night to get it finished! Alice, you are such a mixture of happiness and sadness, of hope, joy and fear and wonder, I couldn’t resist you as a subject. And,” she gestured to the clothes lying about the room. “while it’s lovely to have all these things; everyone has them, but not everyone has this,” she picked up the portrait. “It’s something individual, like you, for you to own and to take with you to your new home.”
Alice, touched by both Sarah’s kindness and the sincerity of the gift, struggled to find the words to express her thanks.
“This is the most wonderful gift I’ve ever received, Sarah. I will treasure it.”
“I know. I won’t see you after today as my duties are finished now for a few weeks, but I will see you when you come back to visit. Now, we need to check out these new clothes! What do you think?”
To Alice’s delight, Sarah turned to the chair and held up the blouse from the portrait. She explained how it came about.
“Tailor Mitchell and I occasionally design textile patterns together. Principal Katya favours the plain colours, that was why you had little choice. When I spoke to him about your panties, I also asked him to put in a selection of printed fabrics for the coordinates and to design a garment he considered exclusively you. Hence, the blouse.”
Alice always wanted to wear something off the shoulder. It had been a long-cherished dream but in her old life, she’d grown too old to indulge in such a fashion, but now, the floral blouse with the deep frill was a fulfilment of that dream and to her surprise, everything fitted perfectly.
“My friend, Statesman Patrick arrives tomorrow. I’ll wear the blouse then.”
“I know Statesman Patrick. He’s a lovely person.”
“Yes, he’s been so kind. You all have.”
“How did your meeting with A’khet go?” It had been on Sarah’s mind after witnessing Alice’s uneasiness at the prospect.
“I’m not sure, I assume it went well,” Alice hedged a little with her reply, she didn’t really know how to answer. In hindsight, it hadn’t seemed momentous, over it seemed even before it began, the calm and peace she felt for those few minutes afterwards had passed, leaving her puzzled. She thought she would see what Sarah made of it.
“A’khet put her hand on my arm and then took it away as if something had stung her. I think it bothered Principal Katya. We stood looking at each other, it felt pleasant and peaceful, but I believe there was a lot more to it than I understood. Then Principal Katya told me to come up here and that the first meeting is always quick.”
“A’khet communicate via touch and telepathy. Verbal communication is selective.”
“This one spoke out loud, I didn’t get any sense of words in my head, she said A’khet was happy I was recovered and then she smiled. She called me a temple.”
Sarah laughed. “Not she, not he either. There is no gender with the A’khet.”
“Really? How do they have babies?”
“Alice, like you, that has been a mystery for centuries.”
“Oh.” Alice wasn’t sure she aspired to be a mystery alongside aliens.
“Now,” Sarah said, sorting through the piles of new clothes. “Choose something nice to wear to show off to Principal Katya and I’ll see you at crochet.
Alice did as she was told. Something had passed between her and A’khet she hadn’t fully grasped. Like music, it fluttered around outside the frame of remembrance. Alice shook her head to clear away the feeling and as soon as she was dressed, went out to the garden in search of Principal Katya. She didn’t know whether to hope A’khet was there or not, but she couldn’t deny a sense of relief when she found Principal Katya alone.
“Principal Katya, has your visitor left already?” Alice looked around, just in case.
“Always brief visits, my dear. A’khet do not tarry long. They are impatient for the companionship of their own kind. This time, A’khet was interested in meeting you. I find them restful, gentle beings so they are always welcome here.”
Principal Katya made no further mention of the A’khet’s visit and though Alice had a few questions, decided she would wait until she saw Patrick the next day and ask him, knowing he knew about them. Meanwhile, one of the statesmen formulated a pattern based on Alice’s teachings and wished to present it to the crochet class in the afternoon.
Alice was surprised at how interest in the group had grown in a single day. Several male statesmen and councilmen also attended plus Chef, although the majority were female stewards and female statesmen. The statesman presented the new pattern and method to the class. The design incorporated beads and gemstones and looked to be beyond anything Alice had ever attempted, but on closer examination, saw it was based only on the few stitches she had shown them. The pattern’s designer, a pleasant older lady and former engineer, had taken a scientific approach, which appeared to sit well with the intellect of the class. There were new yarns delivered too, the tailor had taken the time to research crochet and, gaining an understanding of the purpose of the yarn, refined the fabric from his first attempt to provide a more supple and workable material.
The progress from the single lesson the day before was impressive. Despite minor fumbling and frustration with co-ordination, Alice noted with interest—and she realised this was a silly old prejudice—even the men were as good at crochet as the women. Most men from her old existence wouldn’t be seen dead with a crochet hook in hand!
Between helping and instructing and answering crochet-related questions, Alice noticed everyone chatting and laughing together. Crochet, such a commonplace craft in her time, but here, the greatest minds on the planet were enjoying the simple task of hooking yarn and shaping it into patterns, all the while creating a happy social group of which she was glad to be a part.
Later, alone in her beautiful suite, with her new clothes stored, and the portrait hung on the wall, Alice was sorting through and opening the elegant bottles and scents laid out for her exclusive use. It would be an impossible task to choose between each lavish and indulgent lotion, so she ran the bath and made extravagant with them all.
As on the previous evening, Alice had eaten so much during the day, when it came to dinner, she felt no desire to eat, but knowing how much Principal Katya liked food, she was concerned not joining her for dinner might cause disappointment. She could make no excuses and decided a walk in the garden might work up an appetite, stopping as she passed the library. The piano stood in the window, polished bright and gleaming. A tune wafted through her head and though she tried to catch it, it proved too elusive.
The library, where today she met A’khet and last night, according to Statesman Mellor, she played the piano and discussed with him the merits of Mozart and Brahms. He mentioned it to her during crochet, astounded she remembered
none of it. She’d played so beautifully, he said, trying to jog her memory but in the end, allowed her assurances she had no recollection of either being in the library or speaking with him. He had not pressed his point further, assuming it must be a side effect of her amnesia.
The library’s walls were covered in books of all sizes. A few councilmen and statesmen sat on sofas and at registry tables, engrossed in study. There was even a tall, thin robot to locate and fetch the huge tomes from the highest shelf, but it reminded Alice of the blinking, listening light on the ship’s registry so she steered herself as far away as possible.
On a lower shelf, at the opposite end of the library, Alice found other, simpler and less grand-looking books. Novels maybe? Bending down, she looked through, one of the titles caught her eye and she took the book from the shelf, wandering over to sit in a window seat. The cover only gave its title, The Element, but nothing inside revealed the subject matter, or even who wrote it but she began to read anyway and in no time, was swept up in a romantic tale of pirates and wenches, old taverns and hidden treasure, though it struck her at one stage the contents of the book had little to do with its title.
As the evening drew in, the sensor lights responded to her presence. She didn’t notice she had now become the sole occupant of the library, and as she hadn’t taken the walk, hunger didn’t send her to the dining hall or garden.
Principal Katya found her much later, after Alice had read almost the entire story.
She sat beside her and peered at the book. “This is a good book, Alice. I have also read it, but I did not miss dinner. I did not miss hamburgers.”
“Principal Katya,” Alice closed the book. “I’m so sorry!”
“I am teasing, Alice. You are on vacation. You have given us of your time to teach us crochet. We can surely forgive you missing dinner, but are you hungry? A young girl should eat. It isn’t good to go without. Would you like hamburgers?”
Alice knew they’d gone to trouble to produce the hamburgers, so she didn’t protest. Principal Katya took her hand.
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