“In the beginning, Birdfolk rose together, growing in knowledge and learning, but using their planet without care.”
The dance whirled fast, nearly frantic, the ones circling into the middle launching into the sky to spin and tumble back to the outer rings of the dance group. Janlin glanced at Stepper and Gordon. Both of them stared, eyes wide, and she was glad to see them as awed by the performance as she felt.
“For thousands of years this continued, until the planet could take no more, could give no more. Life began to fail. This began the Dead Time.”
Dead Time. Or at least that’s how the translation came across, but it fit Janlin’s memories of Earth, the burnt skeletons of forests, the depleted soils, the toxic oceans rising to destroy cities, the storms that raged through what was left.
The dance slowed, and the music faded. As each row of dancers reached the middle they stopped until they all stood still, crowded together at the centre, the only movement feathers ruffling in the wind.
“Finally, we applied all our learning and skill to this planet, letting go of many things we thought were important in the struggle to care for our dying home.”
The huddled group rippled, and raised their arms in unison to wave back and forth.
“Life returned, slowly, slowly, and we promised to never let foolish things distract us again.”
From the centre emerged a spray of water, a glorious fountain lit by lights from below. The dancers fell and bowed to the bright fountain, and rose to dance in celebration around it, many rising on full-spread wings to create a multi-tiered dance.
“Space me, but that’s beautiful,” Stepper said. Janlin agreed.
The music changed, and Janlin searched for its source. It sounded like horns and drums now, low and sonorous, though she couldn’t see any musicians. She suspected it was all produced electronically.
“We began to expand outwards, building homes on orbitals with great plans of moving ever outwards. But in doing this we forgot our home, our promise to our planet. We looked outwards instead of in.”
New dancers appeared, circling to the outside but never rising up. In fact, these Huantag wore thick, padded costumes of burly shoulders, sunken heads, and masks all too familiar.
“Imag!” said many voices around her in recognition. Even the wings of those dancers acting as Imag were hidden away in the bulky costumes.
“The Imag came, stretching out into surrounding space, for they had also stripped their planet into Dead Time. We welcomed them,” the circle took the new dancers in, all swirling together, “but they did not understand the changes they needed to make to keep our home safe.”
The Imag dancers threw out their arms and Huantag fell away from them, tumbling to the ground and drawing gasps from the crowd.
“We turned our vision back to our home, finally understanding that to move away would be our undoing. The Imag nearly brought us to a new Dead Time, and would not listen to our pleas, so we sent them away for the safety of our planet, and for our very lives.”
They showed it all, the Imag pushed away, the continuation of the nurturing that brought the fountain back to life. At this time the Huantag’s source of lighting was extinguished. Darkness enveloped the area. Then the lichen spore pulsed and glowed from both the new buildings and benches and naturally through the trees in the surrounding forest. The effect was stunning.
“From this we learned to always care for our own place, and to not run away from our problems.”
The dance finished in a spiralling display that expanded out over their heads. The lichen seemed to dance too, a nebulous array of light and colour pulsing with the music. The dancers spread wider and wider out, until the music came to a crescendo and faded to a pleasant background melody that Janlin realized had been present throughout. Aquila moved into the centre, spreading his great wings, and children of all ages rushed into the stage to surround him, trilling and singing in a way that the ear-cells did not translate.
Stepper slipped his hand over hers. “Aren’t they amazing?”
She nodded, letting his hand rest there. The longing to have a family, to stay here forever, became overwhelming.
“It brightens us to greatness to have you share our story. Soon we will find a way for you to have children again, to live in peace and harmony on our beautiful home.”
She imagined a home with Stepper, imagined passionate nights and loving days like they had when they first met. She imagined being pregnant, raising children. If Anaya had tricked her, and they were stuck, would it be so bad to settle down and enjoy it?
Janlin longed for just such a life, but a glance past Stepper to Gordon’s tear-streaked face brought the true reality of things back with frightening force. She squeezed Stepper’s hand, her mind roiling. She would continue to hope on Anaya’s return. For Gordon, for Ursula, for the survivors on Earth eating each other in desperation, for those in the stations fading away from lack of food. Once she had proof there was a way home, then she could bring Stepper on board.
She sat weeping with the beauty and hope displayed before her, waiting for the ceremony to end so she could somehow comfort Gordon.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
AFTER THE CEREMONY Janlin grabbed Gordon by the hand, ignoring Stepper’s attempts to engage her in conversation, and pulled him in the direction of where she’d seen Falco.
“If you’re trying to piss Stepper off, it’s working,” Gordon said. He’d dried his eyes, but he looked hollow, his gaze burnt by salt tears.
“Stepper can wait. We’re going to sign up for one of these new houses.”
Gordon blinked. “Really?”
“Really. This is a great way to snoop around more,” she said in an undertone as they moved through the crowds viewing the new homes.
They found Falco with another Huantag discussing the possible positions that the humans could have in the community. He ended the conversation when he saw their approach with a bob of his head, and the other Huantag moved away.
“Janlin. Gordon. Did you enjoy our performance?” His eyes were bright, reflecting the lights decorating the paths.
“Very much,” Janlin said. “It is a reminder of the Dead Time happening back home on Earth, and it gives us hope we can repair our own home planet someday.”
Falco’s flinch told her what she needed to know, even if he covered it well. “The story must be told again and again—so we do not forget, our children do not forget, and our children’s children do not forget.”
Gordon jumped right in. “Listen, mate, we’d like to learn from you, try to settle in better. Could you help me get into one of these homes? I’d also like to work and learn with an electrician or communications tech or something like that.”
Falco bowed slightly. “If that is your work specialty, then this can be done.”
He asked them to wait, and launched up to soar around over the crowd, displaying his absolute comfort in the sky as he dodged other flyers. Another rose to join him and they returned together.
“What about me?” Janlin asked Gordon as they watched the two approach.
“You’re welcome to crash here anytime, of course,” he said, “but wouldn’t us living together make Stepper uncomfortable?”
“Well, yeah.”
“Then why not find a place with him, give the whole thing a go? Make it look like we really are getting comfortable. It might give us more chances to act later.”
She had to agree it made sense.
Falco’s friend was shorter, more rounded, with pure white plumage marked with touches of black on wing tips, head, and down his back.
“This is Gordon, and Janlin,” Falco said, pointing to each in turn. “We will need Steve to set up my friend’s name in your translation database. For now, he will teach you how to set the power systems for the next batch of homes.”
“You’re building more?” Janlin asked.
Falco drew upright, his eyes wide. “Of course. When children come, you will need more space
for family groups and schools. Is this not good?”
Neither of them answered, and Falco blithely continued. Gordon agreed that learning the Huantag’s power systems would be an interesting job, and Falco walked them over to the smallest style of dwelling in the meadow. “This would be perfect for you. Would you like to see how the power is set up before we cover it over?” Gordon nodded. “Janlin, please wait for my partner to return before you come inside. He will have important steps to show you both inside and out for the operation of your building.”
“Sure, go ahead. I’ll be there soon,” she said, giving Gordon a smile and a nudge. Falco guided him into the building.
Stepper called out to her from the doorway of a smallish shelter done in an Earth-style look.
She joined him, and he pulled her inside with a grin. “Here? Or should we stay at the village? I do like the pools there.”
She couldn’t help but smile as his excitement. “Maybe we need both.”
“Ah, brilliant idea!” he said, giving her a warm kiss.
“Gordon is looking at taking that one, we could just bunk there when we’re here until more shelters are completed.”
Stepper got a funny look. She knew that look, and she didn’t like it. “I still can’t believe you aren’t interested in him,” he said. “You guys seem attached at the hip.”
Janlin could only shake her head. “You really have forgotten all about Ursula, haven’t you?”
“Space me, you think I’m blind? Ursula isn’t here, and you’re just waiting for him to get over her.”
“Stepper!”
“Well, it sure seems true! You are always hesitating, always missing when I go looking for you, and then you two come wandering back together . . . what am I supposed to think?”
“You’re supposed to trust me!”
“I want to, Janlin, but your actions just keep making me look like an idiot.”
"I make you look idiotic?" Her voice rose, and his did too, until they were both slinging ever-more brutal insults.
Falco and Gordon had emerged from the other house, and other Birdfolk hurried over. “Please, we do not accept this violence,” one of them said.
“Sorry,” Janlin said, to both them and Stepper.
“Whatever, Janlin.” Stepper turned and stalked off.
“Janlin?” It was Gordon.
“Just Stepper being Stepper,” she said.
“And you being you, I’d imagine,” Gordon replied, and he couldn’t keep the little smirk from his lips.
“Yeah, something like that. I guess I’ve been as much a jerk as he has.”
“Well, now, don’t take on too much of the blame.”
“He thinks I’m just waiting for you to get over Ursula. I’m afraid nothing I do or say will ever convince him otherwise.”
Gordon sighed. “You’re probably right.”
Falco approached and did his little bow. “Gordon, the building is done and ready for you to live.”
He looked over at Janlin. “Is this normal action for humans, to love one day and the next day hurt?”
Janlin gave a dry laugh. “Well, it’s normal for Stepper and me. I wish you could see Gordon and Ursula, though . . . that’s a completely different story.”
Chapter Forty
MANY SETTLED INTO the scientific community, now officially named Kavanagh Meadows after Janlin’s dad. Gordon proposed the name to the other residents without Janlin’s knowledge, and they all agreed, surprising her with a beautiful naming ceremony that doubled as a memorial for Rudigar Kavanagh.
Janlin travelled between the two communities, but Gordon never returned to the mud brick village, and Stepper never showed his face around the Meadows. It actually made things a little easier for her. And while she still didn’t tell Stepper about Anaya, she did make an effort to spend more time with him, sharing meals and baths and a bed until it started to feel like it really could be something.
Janlin took on menial work washing dishes and food-gathering, content to do her part. But she also checked for word from Anaya and continued scouting for intel on the shields. Meanwhile Falco’s friend, dubbed Lari for the Latin suborder of the gull family, taught Gordon the basics of Huantag electronics.
“Absolutely fascinating,” Gordon told her one night as they shared a simple evening meal of tubers and grains. “This mossy stuff absorbs nearly ten times more energy than it needs to live and grow, and the Huantag tap it, even store it in a type of fuel cell set up. Through tapping it, they can control the growth and use it to both construct buildings and produce power for anything and everything.”
Janlin only half listened. “What of their communications? Are they going to let you into that?”
“I’m working on it. Have you had any luck?”
Janlin hadn’t. She’d wandered the city, holding conversations with any Huantag that had the time and interest to do so, without gathering anything of interest. “I think the shielding setup is on a top-level need-to-know basis only. The rest of them live on comfortably knowing the shields are there and not caring how or why or where they’re run from.”
Gordon sighed, pushing his half-eaten meal away. “I’d give anything to share that with Ursula,” he said, indicating the food. “Or at least hear her voice again.”
Janlin sat up as if struck.
“What?” Gordon asked, eyebrows knitting.
But she bent and ducked her head under the table, undoing her left boot. She dug a finger into the small tear in the tongue and came up victorious.
“Gordon, I can give you Ursula’s voice,” she said, holding up the nano-recorder. “If you’re sure you want it.”
Gordon’s face twisted between longing and grief. “I do. Bloody hell, as much as it won’t matter a smidge, I do.”
Janlin dialled up the duet from so long ago, and they both cried as they watched a younger Gordon sing with his lovely wife.
JANLIN SAT OUT in the common area of Kavanagh Meadows, working with Elwood and Perry of the Renegade crew on some flight gear adjustments they were planning to propose, when the sky darkened with a large group of Huantag. Aquila landed in front of Janlin.
“We seek Gordon,” he said.
Janlin, already on her feet, frowned at the lack of greeting and the harsh tone. “He is working with Lari in the city,” she said.
“No, he is not. Gordon left a message for Lari. He threatened that he would destroy all the Birdfolk in our city if we did not reveal the location of our shielding devices by nightfall . . . to you, Janlin.” The fierce leader glared at her, his black eyes never blinking. “Now we cannot find him, or any way that he could possibly do as he says he will.”
“He wouldn’t,” Janlin said. “He’s just desperate to go home. Don’t you see? Even kind and generous men like him will go to great lengths to be free. You say we are not allowed to fight the Imag and try and get our ship back, and so we will fight you.”
He stared, the silence growing thick. Finally, he drew up to full height and made his pronouncement. “All humans must return to the outer village. You will be detained there, unwelcome to learn or work with us any longer.” Elwood and Perry both gasped. “Your flight gear will also be taken, for it is not safe to us for you to fly.”
Janlin groaned. “This will only make things worse,” she said, but they were done listening to her. Aquila launched into the sky, calling orders to escort any human found amongst Huantag back to the village and set a perimeter guard rotation.
“What about Gordon?” she called out, but he already flew too fast and far to hear.
“Please prepare to fly,” one of the remaining Huantag said over Elwood and Perry’s arguments and questions. Janlin dropped her own gear and took off at a run. The Huantag shouted for her to stop, and then made piercing calls that did not register in her translator.
More Huantag flew in, so Janlin dodged into the woods surrounding the meadow and hid behind and half under a huge boulder, trying to figure out what she was going to do. Sh
e had to avoid capture in order to help Gordon. She worked her way through the dense foliage parallel to the pathway, hoping she would get lucky.
If she had any clue what that recording would do to Gordon, she’d have crushed the nano-disk under her heel to ensure he never had a chance to see it.
Now, the only chance she and Gordon had was to stay free. Maybe they should start guerrilla tactics, doing little things to breed fear and make the Huantag realize they couldn’t cage the humans here against their will.
She could smell the river and hear the rush of water. She pushed through and saw Gordon standing on the beach. A number of Huantag landed around him with their wings spread wide.
“Dammit, Gordon,” she said under her breath. “You weren’t supposed to get caught.” She’d have to do what she could on her own, then.
She turned to go deeper into the woods, ready to go to ground, when Gordon’s cry of rage and fear reached her ears. Without a thought she turned back, charging through the trees to the riverbank.
“Enough,” she shouted as she emerged. “No more nerve whips! You are not Imag!”
The Huantag that circled Gordon backed away and a few more landed to block any chance of her escaping. Gordon lay twitching in the rocks, his body locked rigid. Janlin ran to him, taking his head into her lap. Her hands came away red—he’d smacked his head with the fall.
“Sons of bitches,” Janlin hissed. Gordon’s eyes sought hers, tears leaking down into his ears, his mouth pulled back in rictus.
“Thank you for returning, Janlin,” one of the Huantag said. “Now you will all go back to your village so that we may be sure of our safety.”
Chapter Forty-One
THE HUANTAG WERE true to their word, returning all travellers to the village and setting a vigilant guard around the clock to ensure no one went exploring. If she saw one land, Janlin would approach to beg for a word with Falco or Aquila, but the Huantag refused to speak with her, launching into the sky whenever she got close. Once, frustrated, she kept going, but that brought a flurry of stones from above until she gave up, returning bruised and sore to the village.
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