Ranh

by Ian J Miller

"How dare you, a Cardinal, turn your back on the holy text!" From the poorly lit front right, another Ranhyn appeared, seemingly in full Cardinal's dress.

  Cardinal Sender stared at this near apparition.

  "You will hear the holy words, or you will be stripped of your Cardinal's rank right now!"

  Baht saw Cardinal Sender seem uncertain as to what to do next, so she quickly took the initiative. "The holy book of Rhenthet is quite clear on this matter," Baht continued. "Recall what is written.

  "And the day will come when a great danger will fall over Ranh. A Great One who claims to represent the Creator will conspire to destroy one of the Creator's special creations. The Creator will speak to the great One, but the Great One will take from the words of the Creator that which the fallen angel wants him to take, and will draw the wrong meaning from them. The Great One will call on the mob to destroy, against the wishes of the Creator."

  Baht turned towards the mob, and continued, "The Creator says unto you all: all such creations come from the Creator. Take it upon yourself to destroy the works of the Creator, and the Creator will take it upon himself to remove such an abomination from all lands." She paused, and added, "Take heed of the words of the Creator, praise be her name."

  There was a stunned silence, then some in the mob gave the required response, "Praise be her name; praise be her works."

  "You miserable little fowl. Get off this stage and go back to the sewer where you belong!" Sender yelled. He turned to the Guards, to get them to remove Baht, but the sight of the other Cardinal led them to ignore the order. Obey the wrong Cardinal, and they could be skewered. Much better to let this play out.

  "Let me continue with the prophecy from the Holy Book of Rhenthet," Baht said to the now stunned mob. "If the mob were to kill against the wishes of the Creator, the Creator will give the means to destroy all Ranhynn, but despite the efforts of the Great One to destroy all that is good in Ranh, a saviour will come amongst you."

  "Heresy!" Sender screamed.

  "Consider further the words of the prophet Rhenthet," Baht continued. "The one who will save Ranh will come from the lowest of the low, and will be disparaged, insulted, and although she cites the words of the Creator, she will be accused of heresy."

  There was a stunned silence, because too much seemed to have come true.

  "I am one of the unacknowledged," Baht said. "Who amongst you is lower?"

  Silence.

  "Have I not been insulted? Have I not been accused of heresy?"

  This was plainly true.

  "The words of the Creator are clear," Baht continued. "Thou shalt not kill a race. Is that not why we and the Xanex live in peace?"

  There were nods of approval.

  "So, assuming the Creator did speak to Cardinal Sender, what would his words mean? I believe it is obvious," Baht continued. "If the Creator told the Cardinal to remove the humans, that would mean he required the Cardinal to assist them to return to the planet from where they were abducted." Baht turned towards Cardinal Sender, pointed a claw, and shouted, "Is it not true that you have secretly constructed at least two dozen giant space ships on a satellite of the outer giant planet?"

  Cardinal Sender looked stunned, and a glance at the mob showed that Baht had their attention. Sender's problem was that everyone knew there had been a massive explosion near that planet. He could not deny the explosion, but while the accusation said nothing about an explosion, it would be very difficult to deny the link.

  Before he could think of some reply, Baht turned to the mob, but continued pointing a claw at the Cardinal. "He cannot deny it!" she addressed the mob. "Now, what do you think he was going to do with those ships?"

  Most of those in the crowd began to put two and two together.

  "Besides the obvious problems with our treaty partners," Baht continued, "what would the Creator think?"

  She paused to let this sink in, then she further addressed the crowd, "Would not the Creator show the Cardinal the proper way out of the situation he had got himself into?"

  There were nods of approval.

  "The message is obvious, provided you are not obsessed with killing," she shouted at Cardinal Sender. "The Cardinal has a large number of space ships that he has had built in secret. These ships are the natural requirement for taking the humans off Ranh. Yes, that will be the end of the raids on pantries, as the Cardinal promised, but it will mean that we also keep to the Creator's great plan. Praise be the Creator."

  "Praise be the Creator!" came a gradual upswelling from the mob.

  At that point, Cardinal Zerrantyl appeared on the stage, accompanied by four Conclave Guards. The Guards moved forward, and secured Cardinal Sender, at which point the Cardinal turned to face the mob. "This is a great day," he said. "It is not often that we are permitted to be part of a holy prophecy, but I hereby declare that this completes that particular prophecy from the prophet Rhenthet. Let us pray, and give thanks to the Creator."

  The heads went down, and while Cardinal Zerrantyl was leading the prayer, Cardinal Sender was forcibly removed from the stage. When the prayer was over, there was only one Cardinal on the stage, and he began to bless the crowd, thus initiating the time for all to leave the stadium.

  It was at this point that Katya decided to initiate her plan, and the great screens came to life, and the formal introduction announcing the message from the Ulsian embassy appeared.

  Under the symbols of Ulse, Katya's voice stated that the Ulsian embassy fully supported the conclusions reached in the stadium, and while it was not public knowledge, a group of Ranhynn had been made by Cardinal Sender to attack humans in the underground tunnels of Tukhranh. There had been a battle, and while a number of Ranhynn had been killed in the fighting, the humans had brought their captives to the Ulsian Embassy, where their wounds had been treated. All such Ranhynn would be released, but first, their situation would now be shown.

  Katya now showed Ranhynn lounging around, talking, and munching on some liver that Katya had thawed after she had found it in the frozen stores. They all seemed to be quite content, and so they should be. Katya had informed them that if they performed properly, she would set them free. If they did not, they would be turned over to the humans who would be permitted to eat them. As she mentioned, self-interest was indeed a suitable motivator.

  * * *

  "Well, that was some sort of performance," Natasha said. "I had no idea Baht was deeply religious."

  "I rather suspect she is not," Katya said, then she turned to the other humans there. "It looks like you are all going to be taken 'home', if that has any meaning."

  "We rather think of this as home," Aella said. "I am wondering how we shall fit in on Earth."

  "Notwithstanding that, I recommend that you go," Natasha said. "That other Cardinal has put a lot on the line, and if you people refuse to cooperate, you will have a holy crusade against you, and every Ranhyn will want a piece of whoever stays."

  "Then tell us about Earth. How shall we fit in?"

  "Not very well at first," Katya offered, "but don't worry. You will be helped. The first thing to deal with is to get the Treaty signed."

  "And who will sign it?" Natasha mused. "Since we have got rid of Tergyn as Tenzat of the Space Curia –"

  "There will have to be a new Tenzat," Katya said, "although this might be signed by the Conclave. We shall have to wait and see. In the meantime, we shall have to bring the battleships back, and your new friends can see the diva Lucilla."

  "That will be a shock to both sides," Natasha agreed.

  Chapter 51

  The key meeting was about to commence. Gaius, Natasha and Lucilla had gathered around a table with refreshments, and they were drinking juice when Lucius, Alexius, Marcus, Livilla and Aella entered. When the introductions were made, Lucilla's name was last, and it had an effect. There, standing before them, was someone who had been presumed dead for over two Earth millennia.

  "You may or may not believe it," Lucilla remarked, "but I am ali
ve, and I am living evidence of relativistic dynamics." As Gaius was to remark later, that was impressive because he had not believed that Lucilla had the slightest interest in physics.

  When these introductions were made, the Ranhynn who had participated in the recent events were brought in. The two Kuyrills simply nodded to Gaius and Natasha, and moved to take advantage of the food on the table. Baht seemed unsure of herself, but Kazyn insisted she come over and partake. Methrell and Tharryt seemed strangely subdued, as if they feared why they were there. Marcus and Livilla in particular were a little nervous when they entered, but they were assured that no harm would come to them.

  Cardinal Zerrantyl, together with a secretary and an advisor, then entered the room and greeted those there.

  "Thank you for coming," Zerrantyl said, then he turned towards Natasha, and said, "This draft that you supplied to the Space Curia is what you came to have agreed?"

  "Yes," Natasha replied. "It is, I believe, essentially the Ulsian draft, but we also hope that the two civilizations being so close together can have friendly relations, and we can try to be closer than that document suggests."

  "That will take time," Zerrantyl said. "Cardinal Sender has stirred up a lot of ill will, and the food raids by the humans has not helped."

  "We had little choice . . ." Lucius started.

  "No, but it still has not helped. The fact that your being here was a crime is to our disgrace, but that happened so long ago that the guilty have long gone." When Lucius started to protest, Zerrantyl raised a claw and continued, "I am not blaming you. I am explaining the situation."

  "Nevertheless," Natasha intervened, "we hope this will not be a long-term obstruction to goodwill between us."

  "It should not be, if certain things are done," Zerrantyl continued. "The most essential thing to do is to ensure the humans leave Ranh. The reason this is essential and non-negotiable is due to Baht."

  "Me?"

  "Yes. When you cited a prophecy and essentially completed it, you set everything you said on an essentially non-negotiable course because what you said became part of the prophecy. That makes it essentially ordained by the Creator." He turned to Natasha and added, "Whatever you may think of that, it puts an immediate end to any proposal to hunt humans. It is the only way I can see that will guarantee their survival, and if they do not agree, they are denying the Creator, then it will become a holy crusade to eliminate them, and Sender will become a hero, and all your problems restart."

  "We will agree," Lucius said, "provided we are assured we can embark and disembark safely at the other end."

  "I cannot do anything about what happens on Earth," Cardinal Zerrantyl said, "but once you agree, I will make it a holy ordinance that no human may be harmed, and all assistance must be given to them to follow the Creator's will, including providing you all with food while you are preparing, as long as this is done as reasonably quickly as possible."

  "Would that go as far as providing seeds and animals as required for starting a new colony?" Gaius asked.

  "What? Earth cannot provide for them at the other end?"

  "Of course it can," Natasha said, and frowned at Gaius.

  "I was thinking of something else," Gaius said. "I have discussed this with Lucilla, and we think this proposal will help cement in the treaty. If Rahn signs –"

  "We will sign," the Cardinal assured him.

  "Then there are zones of influence," Gaius said. "The Alpha Centauri system, and that is the Terran name, is a convenient boundary between Terran and Ranhynn influence, and the larger star has a habitable planet that a very long time ago had a civilization, but has now seemingly extinguished itself, or been extinguished. Ulsian records show that the life that was there started being based on D-ribose, so while there are some poisonous plants and animals there, basically the planet is suitable for human settlement. We could take these people back to Earth, but equally we could settle them in the Alpha Centauri system."

  "Earth could still supply them," Natasha said. She admitted later that she was concerned that adding too many conditions might spoil the deal.

  "But they would not arrive for several years," Gaius explained. "The problem we have is the humans here have a serious difference in education from those on Earth, and it would be better to keep them separate until they can be brought together. Earth will, of course, be in touch with them, when they get their space drives, which as yet they do not have, and that is another problem with the supplies issue."

  "I think we can manage something," the Cardinal said, although the level of enthusiasm was low.

  "I have also approached the Xanex about this," Gaius added, "and they are very happy to supply a lot of seeds and fruit, but for transport we are going to need your ships, perhaps those in the distant satellite, and they may have to land in the Xanex territory, and the pilots must respect the Xanex laws."

  "That will be no problem," the Cardinal said, then turned to the humans. "So, do you agree?"

  "Yes," both Lucius and Livilla said, almost together.

  "Excellent!" the Cardinal said. "You must bring all the humans to somewhere near Tukhranh. We have to be sure we have the lot before this sets out because anyone left behind will be assumed to be resisting the Creator. I shall arrange for their safety."

  "My troops will do that," Methrell said. "I know I can trust them."

  "Even if you are not their commander?"

  Methrell did not reply, but instead became a little downcast. At this point, Kazyn walked over and stood beside her.

  "To conclude this piece of business," Cardinal Zerrantyl said, "the next task for each of us is to get a timetable for when the humans will leave. We can start assembling all of them now, and I shall see what transport is actually available. We assume there are working ships near the far planet, but we don't actually know their condition. One way or another, we shall arrange the supplies, and in the meantime, I shall announce that this is exactly what the Creator has ordained. That should set things on the right path."

  "Thank you for your assistance," Gaius said.

  "There is a second piece of business," the Cardinal said, "although in principle it does not affect the humans." He turned to Tharryt, and said, "You have served well, and I wish to offer you a position in the new Conclave Guard as a Captain."

  "Thank you," Tharryt bowed.

  "And as such, you can drop that qu'. You are now a proper two-namer."

  "Oh, thank you," an elated Tharryt said.

  The Cardinal then turned towards Baht, and said, with what Gaius considered the equivalent of a broad smile, "And you are Baht."

  Baht lowered her head, obviously disappointed.

  "Baht, what did you expect?"

  "I thought I might get out of the unacknowledged class," Baht said in a submissive voice.

  "Of course you might," Zerrantyl beamed. "You can't get much further away."

  "What?" a bemused Baht asked. She was glancing between the others, hoping someone would explain, but nobody did.

  "Baht, you fulfilled a holy prophecy, and that gives you the highest status of any Ranhyn. You have the right to enter any Curia at any time, you have the right to speak at any level, even to the Conclave. If you so desire, you may found the House of Baht, or alternatively, you might even become a Cardinal, although I suspect you might be better off not to. You are unique amongst the living."

  Baht simply stood there, as if she did not believe it, or she did not comprehend it.

  "I am also hoping you will recall what has happened and never permit yourself to be corrupt."

  "Corrupt? How could I?"

  "Very easily," the Cardinal said. "Many of the Curiae will soon require new Tenzatynn, and if you want influence, you can veto anyone you really do not like. You must not use that power for personal gain."

  "Of course I wouldn't," Baht protested.

  "I know," the Cardinal said. "I checked your history before coming here, and you were admirably honest. I trust you will stay that way. To
help you through the coming months, I shall have someone guide you and instruct you."

  The Cardinal then turned to the others and began to explain what else had happened. "Sender had been brewing this plot for some time, and he knew he had to get help from the military Curia. Seppet Zakryn made it very clear to Sender that weapons belonged only to the Military Curia, and certain limited ones to the Police, however Sender got to a number of other Seppets, probably through Tes, and the net consequence was that quite a bit of military equipment was stolen from the Military Curia, and the reports to Zakryn did not mention this. There is no doubt that Zakryn was honourable, but Zakryn is dead, and I have no idea how deep the problem went, but it was widespread. Accordingly, I have decided that the House of Seppet will be struck off the list of Houses."

  He then turned towards Methrell, who lowered her head. With the House of Seppet struck off, she had fallen from where Baht had risen. "Which leaves you," the Cardinal said.

  "Which means," Kazyn said, and began scratching the feathers behind her head, "you have to make some decisions very quickly before the Cardinal makes a declaration"

  When Natasha gave a quizzical look at Kazyn, Hadell touched her arm, and said, "The rules are, when the Cardinal declares her to be the equivalent of the unacknowledged, which he must do if he is to strike off the House of Seppet, she is doomed to be just that, but right now, she is being offered something while she is still a Seppet."

  "Decisions? Plural?"

  "Two," Kazyn said, and continued scratching. "The second one is acceptance of my honorary nestling."

  "Of course," Methrell said, then stared at Kazyn, then let out a dreadful roar. Kazyn immediately roared back. Methrell roared again, and Kazyn returned the roar if anything louder than before, at which point Methrell lowered her head, and Kazyn began preening her feathers. After about a minute of preening, he stepped back and offered his neck, and in turn Methrell began preening his feathers.

  "I shall leave the formal announcement of the dissolution of the House of Seppet until tomorrow at noon," the Cardinal said. "Sort out your paper work before then."