Mparntwe

by Peter Wood

  For another half hour the questions were relentless, with Jarra answering most of them till, quite abruptly, Alira cut them all off.

  ‘Jarra, in recognition of the benefits our researchers gained from your solar collector project we already have a sum set aside for this project, but in light of what you’ve showed us here we’re going to recommend for the Council to support it in full … Yes, Kyrra?’

  ‘I’m going to push for more than your minimal proposal, Jarra, but your answer to one of the earlier questions gave me the distinct impression that you also have some ideas about implementation?’

  ‘Yes. Darri told me that would be part of a good proposal so we’ve worked out a team of people who can make it all happen.’

  Kyrra answered but they all looked astounded.

  ‘You have?’

  ‘Not me and Darri. The scientists on the InterWeb did most of it.’

  Darri activated the display wall again with a very pleased look and gave Jarra a wink while more reading took place. Kyrra in particular was nodding as his eyes went down the list.

  ‘I’ve heard of most of these people. They’re highly eminent in the scientific world, but why is our own Durrebar listed as director for the project? He oversees all our Intelligent Systems but I’m not aware he has any expertise in the Artificial Intelligence field.’

  ‘It’s his chosen field. He has a full doctorate in it but he decided not to follow the usual pattern and leave Mparntwe. He’s taken up Intelligent Systems because it’s the closest allied field we have.’

  ‘The usual pattern?’ asked Alira.

  ‘We lost four of our brightest young minds recently, Alira, because we couldn’t provide the opportunities they were looking for.’

  ‘Kyrra, is Darri correct?’

  ‘We do attract people in other areas, but yes, we simply don’t have the facilities for any meaningful AI development and any researchers with ambition or ideas have no choice but to leave. I’ve been pushing for changes for years. You know that. If Durrebar is more interested in the AI field than what he’s currently doing we could easily lose him too.’

  ‘I see. Well we can’t let that happen. Our Intelligent Systems are now the best in the country so he definitely has the management skills this project would require.’

  Alira turned to Darri.

  ‘The Council would be most enthusiastic about having one of our own people overseeing a project of this nature. Do you have any indication as to whether he’d be inclined to take the job?’

  ‘He’s 100% keen and he’d start tomorrow given the chance. Every person on that list backs this proposal and is eager and ready to be part of it.’

  ‘Ready? They’re expecting it to go ahead?’

  ‘No, quite the opposite. They all think the pressures against it will be too strong, but as Professor Allerton says, “We live in hope.”’

  Jarra listened as the three councillors went back and forth about ways Mparntwe might be affected by outside pressure and how it could be avoided or dealt with. Alira was talking about the troubles with the attempted takeover of Alkere when it became so valuable, and some of the related strategies they might be able to re-employ, when a sudden silence made Jarra open his eyes.

  ‘Jarra, come with me. There’s a first aid room with a bed just two doors down the corridor and you’re taking a break for as long as you need it. Are you all right?’

  Jarra nodded and a few minutes later stretched on the bed with his eyes closed, struggling to implement one of his relaxation exercises while his mind whirled with excitement. It took a while but the needs of his body took over and pushed him into a deep sleep.

  Alira explained to Kyrra and Lowan.

  ‘Jarra has an incurable condition which affects every voluntary muscle in his body and very much limits all his physical activity. We thought he’d manage but this meeting was the culmination of several months of dedicated effort and he must have been more stressed than he showed. If he overdoes anything he can lapse into unconsciousness. He’s usually an expert at monitoring himself but I think he was too involved in our reaction to his proposal.’

  ‘Is it all right to leave him unattended?’

  Alira looked to Darri who nodded.

  ‘I’ll check him every 5 minutes or so but rest and sleep will be all he needs.’

  ‘How bad is his condition? I wouldn’t have picked there was anything wrong from his general manner.’

  ‘It’s cruel, Kyrra. He’s a thirteen year old boy who’s never been able to run, jump or play in a normal manner. Any strenuous activity is beyond him and it’s marked him as different at all the schools he’s attended. Jarra is a gentle soul who lost his mother just five years ago and who lives with a father who doesn’t understand the intelligence which, yet again, sets him apart from his peers.’

  Kyrra broke the silence which followed.

  ‘Thirteen? I thought he must be a young-looking fifteen or sixteen year old. So, most of this proposal should be credited to Darri then? Jarra is simply not old enough to be capable of all this.’

  Alira and Darri burst into laughter.

  ‘Kyrra, Darri has three science-related degrees and he gets left behind when Jarra puts his mind to something. As far as we’re concerned he’s capable of practically anything. This whole proposal developed from a conversation Jarra had with Darri ten weeks ago and almost all of it would be his own work.’

  Darri nodded his agreement.

  ‘Yes, about 90% I’d say. My part was mostly organising his data for presentation.’

  Kyrra and Lowan both looked round.

  ‘Ninety per cent! He did all this in just ten weeks despite his energy limitations? He really is extraordinary. Should we give him some sort of involvement in the project? He definitely has a mind we want to keep in Mparntwe.’

  Alira and Darri had already discussed this in their regular talks.

  ‘He’s too young to specialise and we want him free to follow his own interests, so some kind of voluntary association would be best, but he’ll stay in touch with the InterWeb scientists anyway so that will probably all fall into place of its own accord,’ Darri explained.

  ‘And, yes, Kyrra, we do need people like him and I hope Mparntwe can provide, but nothing is going to limit his opportunities as far as I’m concerned and if it involves overseas study then that will happen. He’s family. I made certain of that, and apart from the fact that he’s special in his own right, we are forever indebted to him for a gift we consider is priceless,’ said Alira.

  Darri knew how important Jarra was to Alira and his own family but he’d never heard this expressed so strongly. Kyrra and Lowan listened quietly.

  ‘Just recently my nephew, Mirri, underwent an evaluation which showed a miraculous development in his mental age, almost a full year beyond what his doctors had previously considered possible. That miracle is Jarra. He understands Mirrigan better than we, his own family, do, and his companionship and their activities together brought about the improvement.’

  Alira paused.

  ‘I’m off track. Darri, would you check on Jarra please while Kyrra and Lowan and I develop a strategy for getting this proposal through the full Council.’

  Chapter 6

  Mirri tickled Jarra’s ear lobe with his eagle feather to draw attention away from the Information System.

  ‘It’s explore time and we are going to our new place.’

  Jarra dodged the feather a few more times while he closed down then made Mirri laugh by taking it and returning the tickles. Normally Mirri would want to prolong this, but his anticipation for the new exploring place was too strong and he passed across the little travel pack which Jarra always carried.

  ‘Will we see the eagles?’

  ‘I think so, Mirri. The ranger man said they’re always there.’

  Jarra had researched this place, called the Valley of the Eagles, a long time ago but he’d never been able to go there because, apart from being way beyond his walking limit,
it was also very rough and rugged. Today’s trip, organised by Alira, was exciting for both of them.

  ‘Feather Eagles?’

  That meant Wedge-tailed Eagles.

  ‘Yes—and other eagles too. They like the cliffs that are there.’

  ‘Are they big cliffs?’

  That made Jarra laugh.

  ‘Yes, Mirri. Too big to climb.’

  ‘Aunty Alira is waiting.’

  That meant stop talking and get going, so they did.

  ‘Aunty Alira!’

  Alira was waiting at the Mparntwe exit to the surface and after the usual enthusiastic rush and welcome hug they started the 200 metre walk to the mag-lev station.

  ‘It’s a big day, Mirrigan, so you have to look after Jarra with extra care.’

  ‘I always look after Jarra.’

  ‘Yes, and you do it wonderfully well, but this explore is the biggest one he’s ever done and we’ll have to make him have a long rest when we get halfway through.’

  ‘We will make a bed for him.’

  ‘A bed?’

  ‘We will find grass and leaves.’

  ‘That’s a wonderful idea.’

  The trip involved a familiar journey on the mag-lev to the Trephina Gorge, an exciting ride with the local ranger in a small all-terrain vehicle over steep rough ground to the entrance of a gorge, and then a walk through to the valley. While Alira was talking with the ranger about return pickup arrangements, Mirri rushed to a small pool of water, climbed a boulder, threw some rocks to make a big splash, caught a little skink which was scurrying for safety when its home was overturned, and returned to show Jarra his prize. Jarra loved these skinks but could never understand how Mirri managed to catch them. His own efforts never worked because the reptiles were so fast and agile.

  ‘Look at his tiny eyes. We must be like three giants.’

  Mirri thought about Jarra’s comment, nodded, and ran to return the lizard to its home territory. Alira pointed to the gap between looming rocks.

  ‘That’s the way, Mirrigan. See if you can find our trail.’

  Mirri rushed off, at full speed, of course, because a new explore like this was totally exciting, and disappeared past the first of the rock walls.

  ‘I don’t know how he does that. It makes me nervous to watch. Have you ever seen him trip or fall?’

  Alira was talking about the precipitous rush with no apparent regard for taking a sensible course.

  ‘Hardly ever, and when he does he seems to get out of it without hurting himself very much.’

  ‘Well, we are following the trail, and there’s one of the markers.’

  Jarra walked towards the interesting-looking gap at the slow, steady pace which would allow him to cover the maximum amount of distance, but after moving only 30 metres there was a great yell and he stopped abruptly to watch Mirri hurtling towards them.

  ‘Jarra! Jarra! Jarra! It’s a adventure! You found the best adventure. Big walls! Big cliffs and water pools!’

  All this with a flurry of hugs for both Jarra and Alira.

  ‘Did you find the trail?’

  ‘The trail is easy. See.’

  Mirri pointed to one of the markers as if anyone who couldn’t see must be blind.

  ‘Aunty Alira, Jarra is the best searcher. He found the gorge for us. It’s … It’s wonderful.’

  Alira shared a look with Jarra before giving Mirri a special hug. ‘It’s wonderful’ was a new expression.

  ‘Let’s go then so we can all see it. Are you going to stay with us for a while?’

  Mirri nodded and took Jarra’s hand. That lasted while the trail was wide enough but a few minutes later it became impractical, and besides, there was too much needing closer investigation.

  Jarra agreed with Mirri. To each side the rich colour of the gorge walls, and ahead the sparkling waters of a rock pool with sandy sides next to a large flat-top boulder, indeed made this an adventure.

  For the next while they wound their way very slowly through the rugged gorge with its sometimes enclosing walls and chain of rock pools. Four times Jarra was piggybacked through steep climbs and descents till the trail flattened again, and even more times he stopped and watched while Mirri happily explored boulders and ledges, the placid pools of water, and every plant or feature which took his interest. Normally Jarra would accompany Mirri where it was feasible, but with this extended expedition he had to be content with watching and waiting till Mirri returned with his questions and comments. With the routine developed on their normal walks, Alira would accompany Mirri or stay with Jarra according to what was happening. Today she was doing more staying than usual, probably because of concern for Jarra’s energy levels.

  ‘Oh no! Look where he’s going. Do you think we should call him back?’

  Jarra shook his head and they watched as Mirri made his way to an interesting ledge overlooking the platform of rock they were sitting on.

  ‘He must have suckers on his hands and feet … What’s he doing?’

  Mirri was waving and jumping on a lump of rock and making a funny pose.

  ‘He’s being King of the Mountain. He loves it.’

  The gorge widened and the explorers stopped where the trail started to descend. The valley below was their destination and Jarra was suddenly nervous. In real life it looked farther than his planning from the InterWeb. He could manage the going down but the 103 metre incline coming back up was impossible and the plan for Mirri and Alira to carry him now looked too ambitious.

  ‘The eagles! The eagles! Look!’

  Mirri’s keen eyes, anticipating, had seen them first. A pair lofting above and gliding. Jarra watched the apparently random course with his sense of wonder stirred. A quick glance showed Alira watching, as rapt as they were.

  ‘Another one! See!’

  Mirri pointed to a third Wedge Tail tracking along the cliff-tops towards them. It was harder to see because it wasn’t silhouetted, but that changed as it came closer and closer. Jarra felt a flash of disappointment when it wheeled and disappeared, then renewed pleasure when, lifted on an updraught, it reappeared and started gliding towards them again. The great raptor circled above and Jarra was almost certain he could see its eyes checking the intruders. The tableau of silent watching was broken by a sudden sound, and for the 20 or 30 seconds the eagle remained above, Mirri sang his happiness.

  ‘Did he come to say hello, Aunt Alira?’

  Alira didn’t answer for a moment and Jarra thought she had a strange look on her face.

  ‘I don’t know, Mirri. It felt like it, didn’t it?’

  She shared out a drink and the little group started its cautious way down to the valley floor. Jarra closed his eyes and relaxed on the bed Mirri had made for him in the shade of a rocky shelter. Alira had helped, collecting soft grass and a bunch of gum leaves to serve as a pillow. Jarra liked this pillow because the eucalyptus scent added to the outdoor adventure feeling. Mirri insisted it was rest time and Alira backed him up with an edict to stay put for at least an hour. Quite a relief, really, and Jarra’s plan was to sleep for at least half of that. He cracked an eyelid to see if Mirri and Alira were still in view. Yes, there they were, farther down the valley so they wouldn’t disturb him and walking towards a clump of kangaroo tail bushes.

  A splashing sound registered and Jarra lifted his head to see what was happening. Alira was sitting close by and, farther away, Mirri was swimming. A look at his InfoPad showed 40 minutes since he sat down and also alerted Alira he was awake.

  ‘Sleep well? We’ve only just got back.’

  Jarra nodded.

  ‘Did Mirri find anything interesting?’

  ‘Everything was interesting. The kangaroo tails are in flower and we watched the insects searching for nectar. We kept seeing eagles, though some of them were hawks, and he was really excited to see a tiny eagle hover in the air then stoop down on something. He now knows what a kestrel is. I’ve just told him to do his own thing for a while so you can keep resting …
Do you want to close your eyes again?’

  ‘Not at the moment. I like watching him do things.’

  Mirri was floating on his back and squirting water into the air.

  ‘I do too. Keeping him company on our once a week exploration is good for my soul … Does that mean anything?’

  ‘The squirting? Yes, he’s done it before. I showed him some whales on the InterWeb and he’s pretending to be one.’

  ‘Does he sing very often when he’s with you? Jarra, I was almost overcome with wonder at his reaction to the Wedge Tail.’

  So that was the strange look.

  ‘It changes. It happens a lot when we’re exploring, but any time he’s happy or excited it can start as well.’

  ‘Do you have many records of times when it’s happened?’

  ‘From my ComPatch? Yes, I have it on whenever we’re out and I do store everything. It would be a big job to search for all the occasions though.’

  ‘We must collect them all. They’re treasures … What’s he doing now?’

  Mirri, his body horizontal and submerged except for his head, was dragging himself along the shallow edge, but Jarra knew what Alira meant.

  ‘He’s a crocodile. He usually does that when I’m there to be his prey and he dives on me and eats me.’

  ‘Amazing. I think you read each other’s minds.’

  The two of them sat watching Mirri, before Alira said, ‘Jarra, I have some good news for you. It’s three weeks since you made your proposal and you must be wondering why nothing seems to have happened. In fact it’s been a major item and the full Council has met four times to deliberate. It was quite stormy at first, but with the help of Durrebar and our own experts pushing strongly there is now unanimous agreement to go ahead. Sometime soon a special project will start at the Alkere Research centre, with Durrebar overseeing its development. It will go ahead quietly with no public announcements in the hope of staving off any external pressures till it’s reasonably well established.’