by Karl Morgan
“We have to remember that the humans in our galaxy are not the same as the ones here in the Society, brother,” Dave replied. “Wendo and Antar brought us all here to show us the truth of the Society so that we learn from their mistakes and not repeat them.”
“I know, Dave.” He sat back in his chair and sighed. “It has taken these humans billions of years to devolve into the Society we see before our eyes. I spoke with Zee earlier today and he told me about the invisible people and the plight of the Opa. I must admit the Galliceans have plenty of dark shadows in our past. I just assumed that sentient Beings like us would improve over time.” Fa-a-Di’s characteristic grin crossed his beak. “Thank you, brother. Getting this anger out of my system has helped a great deal. We will continue through this journey together and return home soon. Kong-Fa out.” The screen went dark.
Another tone sounded and Dave pushed the flashing button. Lia Lawson looked back at him through the screen. “Admiral, Commander Adamsen and the away team are waiting for you in the shuttle bay,” she said.
“Tell them I’m on my way, Lia,” he said as he rose and dashed out the door. After walking down two corridors and taking a lift, he found himself back in the shuttle bay. The people of Lagamar Vol had no shuttles capable of carrying important passengers, so Dave asked Avery Adamsen to fly them down to New City. Dave noticed that everyone was already strapped in when he came inside the shuttle. “I’m sorry for being late, everyone,” he apologized. He sat next to Avery and strapped in. The shuttle bay doors opened and the ship slipped off the platform and into space. Dave looked up and saw Nightsky shrinking away as they dropped toward the atmosphere. He turned and said, “Wendo or Antar, is there anything you want to tell us about this planet? I also want you both to know that the Galliceans are furious today.”
“As well they should be, Dave,” Antar replied. “Fortunately, they will have a better day today, I can guarantee that! Lagamar Vol is a food basket for the Society, as are all fourteen hundred Vol planets.”
“Doesn’t that make them the largest group in the Society, Antar?” Darlene asked.
“In number of planets, yes,” Antar replied. “However, in number of residents, they come in a distant eighth. Lagamar Vol is pretty typical with about two billion people. Virtually all of them are in the food business. The land surface is practically one giant farming cooperative. The lakes and seas are rich with seafood as well. No race can compete with the Vol in agriculture and fishing.”
“And they are experts in sustainable agriculture and fishing as well,” Wendo interrupted. “What you will see today is a marvel of science and raw talent. This one planet can provide enough food for one hundred other planets. We want you to notice the people most of all.”
The shuttle shuddered slightly as it encountered the atmosphere. Dave remembered the shaking and shuddering of the old Opa shuttle the previous day. It was quite cloudy near New City today. Rain was abundant all over the planet which helped the crops grow and moved nutrients from sea to land and vice-versa.
“Remember what you learned on Lagamar Opa,” Antar said. “You found a planet where everyone loved to do their jobs and were damned good at it. The Opa are well paid for their minerals and are without a doubt the wealthiest planet we will show you this trip. You noticed their wealth was very modest compared to Narta Ela though. But even with all of that, they had no idea they could do so much more with their talents.”
The shuttle moved below the cloud deck and flew two thousand feet over the vast farmlands below them. Heavy rain pelted the ship and some lightning was visible on the horizon. The edges of New City began to show on the horizon as the shuttle continued to drift downward. The shuttle moved ahead of the rain and the sky cleared as they passed over the edge of the city. New City was small for a capital with only half a million residents. All of the buildings were squat and wooden. The tallest buildings in the city were stone structures only three or four stories tall. A small landing area was adjacent to a park in the center of the city. Avery aligned the shuttle with the landing marks and gently settled the ship to the ground. A group of Vol came out of one of the stone buildings and approached the shuttle. The Vol were between five and six feet tall with medium brown skin, black hair and bright green eyes that were just a bit too big for their heads. They wore green suits that looked like overalls and straw hats. When the shuttle doors opened, Wendo and Antar led the group out into the cool morning air. Dave was the last to exit the shuttle and stopped with Avery who was still at the command station.
“Avery, I think we will need this shuttle today,” Dave said. “I don’t have a schedule yet, but why don’t you stay here.”
“Aye-aye, Admiral,” Avery smiled. “Please let me know the schedule when you have one, sir. I can smell breakfast cooking out there and if I’m going to be awhile, I might go get some.”
“You’ve got it,” Dave laughed. “Come with me for a minute.” The two went to the door and stepped out. “Wendo!” Dave called out. “How long before we need the shuttle?”
“We’ll be here at least two hours, Dave,” Wendo shouted back. The Vol had almost reached him.
“There you go, Avery. Have a nice meal,” Dave said as he hurried to join the others.
The group was introduced to Mulwi Deka, President of the High Council, Norwa Senda, Minister for Agriculture, Onlo Borka, Minister of Fisheries, and Bola Deka, the President’s wife and Minister of Trade. The entire group then returned to the stone building, which turned out to be the Capitol Building, where a large breakfast banquet had been set up for their guests.
Mulwi led them to the large table and Nan waiters moved around the tables pouring water and coffee for everyone. He stood at the head of the table and said, “It’s an honor to have you with us today. It is especially wonderful to have Lord Balak and Lord Arrak on Lagamar Vol again. They know that we Vol are simple farmers and fishermen. We know the value of a good breakfast before a long day of work. To us, this is more common than a large dinner and drink. While we do love our wine and whisky, our primary meal is what you see here. A drink before bed is great, but clear minds are needed to do our work well. I welcome you all and I hope you enjoy your visit.”
Dave was happy he had not eaten breakfast already. The Vol food was exceptionally good. Everything tasted very fresh and satisfying. The coffee was the best he ever had. It was like a traditional farm breakfast with eggs, meats, potatoes, bread and more. “This is fantastic, sweetheart,” he whispered to Darlene.
She smiled and replied, “I know. It tastes so fresh. I guess it is all right off the farm.”
Mulwi stood and tapped his glass with a spoon to get everyone’s attention. “Before we forget, let’s have a round of applause for our Nan brothers who have cooked and served all of this wonderful food.” Everyone applauded and the Nan smiled and waved happily.
Wendo sat across the room from Dave and was staring at him. When Dave noticed, Wendo only smiled broadly. He motioned for Dave to come over, so he stood and walked to the other table. Dave bent down to the old man. “Not so invisible here Dave, are they?” Wendo chuckled.
“Why the difference, Wendo?” Dave whispered.
“Dave, it should be somewhat obvious to you by now,” Wendo frowned. “You tell me why it’s different here.”
“The Vol are simple people, people of the land and the sea. They have no need for pretense and are grateful for anyone who helps them,” Dave guessed.
“You see, I told you it was simple,” Wendo laughed as he clapped Dave on the back. “But you missed one thing. The Nan may be on the bottom rung of the Society, but the Vol are only one or two steps above them. When you are at the top, it is simple to look far below and discount the humanity of those at the bottom. When you are right next to them, it’s much more difficult. Now go finish your breakfast. It’s going to be a long day for you.”
After the meal, the group took a small tour of the center of the city. The rain had arrived during breakfast and each guest was
given an umbrella. The Vol did not mind the rain as it brought life to their crops and was as natural as they were. Most of the buildings in this area were for the government of the planet. Those offices were generally on the two upper floors, leaving the ground floors for small businesses and restaurants. Dave counted ten coffee shops in the five blocks they walked. He hoped to bring Charlie here one day to try them all. As they were headed back to the shuttle, they passed a small restaurant just as Avery was walking out. Dave invited him to join them on the short trip.
“The food here is amazing, Admiral,” Avery said. “If I lived here, I’d gain a hundred pounds in no time.”
Bola Deka overheard the comment and joined them. “No chance of that here, son,” she said. “After breakfast, we spend the whole day in the fields or at sea working hard. By the time the day is done, you are lucky not to have lost weight. By the way, my name is Bola, what’s yours?”
“I’m Avery Adamsen, the shuttle pilot, Bola. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Avery replied.
“It’s very fortuitous that we meet, Avery,” Bola smiled. “I was hoping that you and the Admiral here could help us on a mission of mercy later this evening. It would require another shuttle with room for cargo, if that is possible?”
“We’ll do what we can,” Dave said. “Can you give us any more details?”
“This is all part of the trip,” Wendo interrupted as he joined them next to the shuttle. The others climbed aboard and began to strap in. “You two will also need pressure suits, since your trip will take you to Lagamar 7. This is something you have to see for yourselves. Please trust me on this, Dave.”
“We’re in deep already, so we’ll do it,” Dave said. “Avery, have another shuttle sent down when our tour is finished. That pilot can take this shuttle back, and we’ll take Bola wherever she wants to go.”
“Bless you, Admiral,” she said as she hugged him. They joined the rest on the shuttle and strapped in. Dave wondered if this was going to be a mistake.
The shuttle rose through the rain and flew out over the endless farmlands. They could see large combines harvesting grains out to the horizon. Mulwi turned to face his guests and said, “Lagamar Vol is one of the most productive food baskets in the Society. Our gentle climate and vast resources allow us to grow and harvest food year round. I think you get the best view of this area from the shuttle. The scope of our farming operation is pretty evident. This region grows grains. Lord Balak has told us that many of you love coffee, so we are heading to our primary coffee growing region now.” The shuttle accelerated and continued through the rain. After ten minutes, the clouds broke and bright sunshine filled the air. The ground had become hilly and groves of trees clung to the hillsides. Fruit hung heavy on the stout trees. Groups of workers and trucks moved among the trees collecting the ripe fruit. They crossed over railroads that stretched out in all directions to get the food to the cities and star ports. The grain fields were far behind them now. The hills became steeper and coffee trees began to dominate the area. A large warehouse sat in the middle of the hills. The shuttle slowed and landed near the building which covered a square mile. A Vol and Nan stood outside waiting for them. After the doors opened, the group left the ship to meet their hosts.
“Good day to everyone. I am Orpa Nang and I am in charge of the coffee crop in this area of Lagamar Vol. This is Iku Ont, our master roaster. Come along and let’s see the facility.” It was warmer here than in New City and the sky was clear and sunny. Small flying insects buzzed around the group as they walked the hundred yards to the giant building. As they crossed the threshold, they could see the ceiling towering a hundred feet over their heads. There were very few posts to support the ceiling so it seemed to float almost magically above them. This section of the building was open, but storage racks could be seen a hundred yards or so further into the building. Those racks rose to the roof. Large lift devices strolled along the aisles placing and retrieving pallets of product.
Orpa led them through another doorway and the smell of roasting coffee was overwhelming. Twenty large roasters filled the large room and dozens of Nan workers ran around checking the product. “Most of the planets in the Society prefer to roast their own beans,” Iku began. “However, the people on some worlds like knowing their coffee was roasted at the plantation. That’s where my team comes in. We roast fifteen percent of the coffee grown here. The rest is shipped green.”
“Thanks, Iku,” Orpa said. “Personally, I think Iku is the best roaster in the Society, but no one listens to me.”
“I think I had his coffee this morning,” Dave said, “and I agree with you.” The group clapped and Iku blushed.
“Okay, folks, let’s let Iku get back to work and go see the shipping area,” Orpa said as he led them out the door. They walked down the mile-long aisle to the other end of the building. The racks seemed precariously high and were heavily laden with bags of green and roasted coffee.
Wendo put his hand on Dave’s shoulder as they walked. “Dave, that was a great gesture back there,” he said.
“It wasn’t a gesture, Wendo,” Dave replied. “That was the best coffee I’ve ever had. But the Vol seem to appreciate the Nan here. It shouldn’t be too surprising for them.”
“You are right about the Vol, Dave, but you are not a Vol. All Iku knows is you are a visitor from another galaxy that looks like a Pa. Unfortunately, we Pa are not as accepting as the Vol. We treat and pay them fairly, but they remain servants and janitors for us too. Here it is a unique partnership. The Vol are incredible farmers and fishermen, however, preparing the food and keeping the equipment running are not their strengths. The Vol know their profit comes from the partnership, not just their hard work. So what do you think about the Society now.”
“It has a lot of flaws, like all civilizations, Wendo,” Dave replied. “I was horrified by what Fa-a-Di told me this morning. I could never imagine the Opa doing something like that.”
“That’s why I want you to go with Bola later,” Wendo smiled. “You’ll learn many answers when you are away from the group, and from me.”
The exited the building and stepped into the warm afternoon air. Before them was a large star port with ten freighters lined up on the tarmac. Nan crews rushed containers of coffee from the building and out to the waiting ships. As soon as a ship was filled, it would lift off and move off toward the heavens. Within a few minutes, another would fly out of the scattered clouds to take its place. There was a rail spur at the far end of the port where more crews loaded roasted coffee to be sent to the cities and towns across Lagamar Vol. While they watched, a burly Pa rushed out of the building and bumped into them and turned suddenly. “Oh, I’m so sorry, but my ship is late,” he said as he straightened Wendo’s robes. He looked closely and tears began to fill his eyes. “Lord Balak, I had no idea. I am so sorry, sir.”
“Don’t worry son,” Wendo said. “It was an accident.”
“Lord Balak, my name is Wendo Othee. I am a simple trader from Molta Pa. It is an honor to meet you. As you can tell, my mother gave me your name,” he said.
“I am happy to meet you Wendo,” he replied. “As one Wendo to another, you need to relax and let things happen. Stress is a killer.”
“Yes, sir, my wife tells me the same thing constantly,” the trader said. “Unfortunately, I don’t get home very often anymore. In fact, I’m headed there now, which is why I’m in such a hurry.”
“Before you go, let me introduce you to my dear friend, Admiral Dave Brewster,” Wendo said. “He and I have come from the Ulagong Galaxy to meet the High Council.”
“It’s an honor to meet you sir,” the trader said. “I hate to chat and run, but my crew is expecting me. Have a blessed day.” He turned and raced to the closest ship. After a couple minutes, it rose into the air and flew away toward the stars.
Serena Vanatee came up from behind them and took their arms. “Grandfather, you missed the discussion on the tonnage that travels through here every day. Lucky you,�
�� she smiled. “We are headed back to the shuttle and the next location, gentlemen and we are falling behind again.”
The shuttle traveled northward through the driving rain. The fields below were full of vegetables drinking in the water. Crowds of Vol workers moved through the fields removing weeds and checking the progress of the crops. The fields ended in rocky terrain, marking one of the few areas with no agriculture. After a few minutes, the rocks gave way to the sea. A small town with a large sea port clung to the rocks. Outcrops reached out into the sea to form an artificial harbor, holding hundreds of ships and fishing boats. By the time the shuttle landed near the harbor, the rain had stopped, but clouds were hung low in the sky. The shuttle had landed in another star port where several freighters were waiting to be loaded. It was gray and cold when they left the shuttle and walked to the large market next to the harbor. Salt spray and the smell of the sea filled the air as they walked into the market building. Just inside the door, twenty refrigerated containers from the freighters waited to be filled. Each was guarded by a crew member. Three of the guards were Ela. Dave remembered the Ela were master traders, so it made sense they would be here. The rest was a mix of human races that Dave had never seen before. He remembered there were fifty-one, so he thought no more of it and hurried to catch up to his group. He passed through an air curtain into the main auction area of the building.
Boxes and glass cases of seafood seemed to stretch for ever. Dave had almost caught up to the group when a pair of odd eyes caught his. He turned to see a large glass box filled with water. Inside were two large crustaceans thrashing about in the water. Each was six to eight feet long with eight legs. They had small claws that looked almost like hands. One of the beasts stopped moving and stared at Dave with its large blue eyes, which were on stalks protruding from its head. The creature seemed very frightened and its eyes seemed to be begging for release from this box.