The Colony Ship Conestoga : The Complete Series: All Eight Books

by John Thornton

  “The whole world is a stage, and all the people mere players in various games,” Jerome said as he admired the artwork.

  “Jerome?” Sandie asked. “Anthropologically speaking this is quite revealing. The artwork shows athletic events called: basketball, soccer, and volleyball. Those were games that were popular in the era before the Great Event. This mural suggests that those games were still common when the colony ships were built. If you desire, I can display a few recordings of actual games.”

  “Sandie, we need to find Cammarry,” Jerome replied. “That is our primary focus, no, it is our only objective now.”

  Looking around, Jerome saw that the area had numerous entrances, and there were booths, tables, and benches with various people sitting on them. Most were dressed like Khin. Some held goats that were tied by a cord on a leash. Others held baskets, or skins, or other items. There were a few people who were dressed differently than the Goat People Jerome had come to recognize.

  Khin grabbed Jerome by the shoulder and squeezed. “There are Fruit people over there. That woman at the center is their leader, Wanda. I wonder why she is here?” Khin chuckled a bit, but it was without mirth. He indicated a long table where there were three people sitting. Each had a large hat, blue clothing, and very similar physical characteristics.

  “Will they know where engineering is located?” Jerome asked. “Have they seen Cammarry?”

  Khin forced out a laugh. “How would I know what is in their heads or what they have seen? We must ask them. But they are Fruit People, and this is the Trading Place. Notice how the Goat People trade here. It is not just for trade between Fruit People and Goat People, but that happens only here. Only here can we get fruits!”

  Jerome marched over to the table and the three people sitting there, Khin followed and then pushed ahead. He bowed low and stated in a formal voice, “Fruit People, may I speak with you?”

  The woman at the center replied, “Man from the Goat People, yes, you may speak to us. What have you to trade? Services or products?”

  “It is a good day to trade….” Khin began.

  Jerome interrupted, “My companion Cammarry is missing and is heading for engineering. Have you seen her?”

  “You are not of the Goat People,” the woman commented. She stood and looked over Jerome with scrutiny. “Who are you?”

  “Excuse me. I am Jerome. I have come with Khin here seeking your help and your wisdom. Will you help me?”

  “Jerome, I am Wanda of the Fruit People. You are not of the Goat People, nor do I believe you are of the Chicken people. I am unsure of your kind. Therefore, you are not a person, but a wanderer,” Wanda stated flatly. “We do not trade with wanderers.”

  Khin smiled a huge, but empty grin. “This man is a wizard and we are on a quest. The Old One sent him here.”

  Wanda’s deep brown eyes peered out from under the hat. “Some say the Old One was a wizard himself once. Other say his is mad. Still others say he is a savior like the Heroic Thirteen. I will consider this.” Her black hair was thick and hung around her oval shaped face. She steepled her fingers together, closed her eyes, and sat quietly.

  There was an uncomfortable and prolonged silence.

  After a while, Wanda opened her eyes. She looked intently at Jerome and then paused for a moment before she turned and addressed Khin.

  “This man of the Goat People claims you are a wizard,” Wanda finally said. “Some time ago I would have laughed about wizards, but then the world shook. We had many fruits damaged and dislodged by that incident, and had to salvage the fruits to prevent loss. We made dried fruits, jams, and fruit squares. As you can see, we are still offering those for trade, even though they are not up to our usual standard of excellence. They are safe, and healthy, but not especially tasty. I wonder what caused that shaking of the whole world.”

  She swept her arm over the bowls on the table. They contained the dried fruit bits and other items. Toward the end of the table were bowls with whole fruits piled up in them. Jerome was surprised at how colorful the whole fruits were, even in the dim light.

  “These are fruits?” Jerome asked, trying to divert the conversation.

  Sandie stated ever so quietly in Jerome’s ear piece from the com-link, “This is very exciting. Yes, these are fruits, and fruit products. They indicate a greater level of biodiversity than I conjectured we would find. I expected to find a single, or perhaps two kinds of fruit, but these indicate multiple varieties. Fruit of these types requires more than aeroponics can provide. So there must be suitable soil of some kind on the needle ship. Additionally, to pollinate most fruit trees, bees are required. Those insects will use pollen-bearing bouquets from other fruit trees. Most times staying within their own specific variety of fruit. However, from observations made here, I can tell that there are multiple fruits which have been bred together to form trees. Those trees produce food which contains combined varieties into one fruit. There are records describing some ‘poly-specific’ fruit. It is thrilling to see these, and my conjectures on your and Cammarry’s survival have improved.”

  Khin looked imploringly at Jerome. He had apparently heard Sandie, even though to Jerome her voice was very quiet.

  Wanda looked up at Jerome. Her dark eyes imploring. “Yes, the shaking of the world. Were you badly affected by that?”

  “Well… That shaking of the world, as you call it, well…. my companion and I were responsible for that situation,” Jerome stated.

  “I knew that from your eyes already. Had you lied to me, that would have been the end of our trading. Perhaps the end of you as well. A paring knife can cut a throat as easily as remove a pit. However, you seem an honorable man. You were not insulted by the truth, and we all know that liars are not worthy of notice or attention,” Wanda said.

  Khin interjected, “Our usual trade items: fine leather, work leather, kidskin, jerky, cheeses, and dried goat meat will be coming as usual. The shaking of the world did not mess up our food making.” Khin sighed and chuckled at the same time in relief. “For now, we just need your permission to pass through to the Chicken People. May we do that?”

  “Do you know the way to engineering?” Jerome asked. “That was where Cammarry is heading. I want to meet her there. We need to find and use some equipment, especially communication equipment.”

  “Like the way you can speak to some system through your ear piece?” Wanda asked.

  Jerome unconsciously touched his ear, and nodded. “You understand technology?”

  “Understand?” Wanda asked in a mocking tone. “Do you accuse me of being a wizard?”

  Khin laughed and laughed. “You are leader of the Fruit People; how could you be a wizard?”

  “Indeed, how could I be a wizard?” Wanda added her own chuckle to Khin laughter. “Do I understand technology? No. Do I use technology? Yes. We have what you might call technology in our orchard. Just as Khin’s Goat People have technology to make cheeses, meats, and leather, we have technology to assist in growing and using fruits. Fruit squares do not just fall off the tree.”

  “That sounds like a metaphor,” Jerome commented and gave Wanda a slight smile. “May I ask what it means?”

  “You just asked. It means, that making fruit squares is a chore. It takes the whole tree’s cycle: dirt, water, light, bees, and much more. Everything from pollination to harvest and then to the drying method itself. The saying means there are a lot of steps and a process has to be followed. It is a job to make fruit squares, much more involved than just picking and eating. Basically it means, to reach a goal, diligent work must be done.” Wanda held up her hand and paused while she considered what to say next. “Now about your companion. I assume she was dressed as you are? And that she spoke with an unusual dialect, as you do? And that she may not have understood the ways of the Fruit People? Am I correct?”

  “Yes.”

  “Revealing. Truly revealing. Then I will need to apologize to Karmel. He is one of the workers in the orchard. I received
word that he was taken to the infirmary for eye injuries, and was ranting and raving about some mystery woman. He claims to have met such a woman, not long ago. She was described in ways that fit you and your style. I thought perhaps, in addition to the light burns on his eyes, he had been under the growth globe too long and was out of his mind. I am revising my thinking on that, now that I have encountered you. There is substance to his tale. He is the only one to have seen her, but it must have been true. This crazy female wizard could have killed Karmel, but did not. Karmel blames himself. He told me that she was not in her right mind. He said he should have been more compassionate.”

  “I apologize for any trouble she caused. I hope your worker will recover and heal quickly,” Jerome said honestly.

  “Yes, he will recover. The injury was not severe, and we know how to use ointments to sooth the eyes,” Wanda stated.

  “I am glad he will recover. Will you take me to where she was seen?” Jerome asked eagerly. He had briefly considered offering the use of the medical kit, but hearing that the man would recover he refrained from suggesting that.

  “No. The orchard has been thoroughly searched and she is not there. No one but the orchard workers are allowed entry. Bogart will be furious to know Karmel’s account of an interloper was actually true. Even more than me, he was hoping it was a wild fantasy caused by overexposure to the light.” Wanda studied her fingers for a moment. She picked up a dried fruit chunk and took a small bite. Then she continued. “However, I will allow you to use the bypass passages around the orchard. Goat People are not allowed to trespass there, but for you two I grant an exemption. If she is indeed headed to the Chicken People, that will be your fastest way to catch up to her. I have heard the old tales of places called engines, which sounds similar to the place you named engineering. The legends say that place is beyond the Chicken People’s land. The land you seek is at the end of the world.”

  “Thank you Wanda,” Jerome said heartily. “I appreciate it.”

  Khin pulled out several packages of dried meat from his pouch. “May I trade this for some of the fruits? I know it is not a standard trade, but I have not had fruits for some time, and it smells and looks so good.”

  Wanda considered the meat. She pushed it back to Khin. “You offer quality meat for these fruit squares which came from the shaking of the world. That is not a fair trade. My produce is inferior to yours. So no trade.”

  One of the other Fruit People leaned over and quietly spoke into Wanda’s ear. She nodded.

  “I have a proposition instead. You will take these fruit squares; all you can carry. You will eat them instead of your quality goat meat. When you come to the Chicken People, you will trade quality goat meat for chicken jerky and eggs. You will get a premium on your goat meats as Chicken People seldom see that. You will return to me with the proceeds of that trade. That is the deal I offer for you. Passage to the Chicken People on the condition of trade.”

  Khin’s eyes lit up. “Yes, that is a very good trade. Thank you!”

  “But make sure there is no Hidden Tricks,” Wanda stated with an air of authority.

  “No Hidden Tricks,” Khin replied. “Those are bad for everyone.”

  “Hidden Trick?” Jerome asked.

  “You need to go, the man from the Goat People can explain.”

  “Excellent. Thank you so very much for your assistance,” Jerome thanked her profusely.

  “Lead them to the passage, and return here. Other traders may come, so I will remain here,” Wanda commanded the person next to her.

  The person said nothing, but she got up and gestured to Khin and Jerome. They followed her out of the trading place which had once been a recreation facility. They left via a door on the opposite end of the large room. The woman leading them took a few steps along the hallway, and then opened a door in the side wall. She just pointed down another dim and gloomy stairway.

  “Is this the way to the bypass that leads us to the Chicken People?” Jerome asked. “Do you know if engineering has a shuttle or other equipment?”

  The woman looked at him with a mixture of disgust and anger. Her voice was filled with contempt. “Now you go two levels down. Follow the hallway until you get to the causeway. Turn right and continue on the main path. The tiny side paths are not for you, so stay off of them. The main path is wide and easy to see. If you get lost, it is on your own head. Stay on the way and you will go to the trading place of the Chicken People.” She just turned, and walked away.

  “Thank you!” Jerome called.

  The woman flipped her hand up in a dismissive gesture and just kept going.

  “Come now, my friend,” Khin laughed as he walked down the stairway. “We have passed a large obstacle and were even blessed in the passage. He took a bite of a fruit square and licked his lips noisily.

  “Khin? What did she mean by the Hidden Trick?” Jerome asked as he stepped down on the moss covered stairs.

  “A wizard who knows not of the Hidden Trick?” Khin shook his head from side to side.

  “Jerome?” Sandie interjected through the com-link. “I have refrained from conversing while you were in discussion with those other people. I am not sure how they would respond to my presence, even Wanda who sensed the technology. My conjectures were that they would not respond favorably.”

  “That is fine Sandie,” Jerome said. “I am still unsure what the Hidden Trick is. Any ideas?”

  “No need to ask your spirit-ghost. The Hidden Trick is when a trade looks good, but ends up bad because the other trader gives you spoiled or rotting foods. The Hidden Trick! Everyone knows it, and those who try it end up never trading again, if they keep their lives.”

  “Jerome,” Sandie replied. “That sounds like the rumors and stories which circulated just before the Great Event. There was a nation state named Huaxia, although that name is unclear from the records, which was accused of selling products that had polluted or noxious components which were not disclosed to the buyers. The database is limited, but the basic premise was that the nation state, Huaxia, was willing to distribute those toxic products all around the world in exchange for financial gain. They attempted to hide the toxins from public knowledge. References are best documented in noxious gases that were embedded in products which were traded from the nation state named Huaxia to its trade partners in the early 21st century. Dumping of pollutants led to an international crisis not long before the Great Event. It may all be legendary, or there may be other factors which are lost to us now.”

  “That is horrible,” Jerome said.

  “The Hidden Trick!” Khin laughed and laughed. “Your spirt-ghost knows of it, although the names are strange.”

  “I will beware any kind of shenanigans like that,” Jerome commented. “Sandie, will you please help me watch out for toxins, or other adverse situations?”

  “Yes, Jerome. I am already doing that. I am limited to audio and visual clues,” Sandie replied. “I can give you my visual report on the fruits which we observed back in what was called the Trading Place.”

  They reached the level two decks down from where they had been. Khin led them into a small hallway.

  “Sandie, that will be helpful. Thank you. I guess I do not understand biology very well. How can fruit be grown in this spaceship? I thought the habitats were where we would encounter biological ecosystems, or I guess on that planet were are orbiting.”

  “Obviously the growth medium that the captain spread was not the only way to have plants grow here. The fruits which we observed on the table in the Trading Place were not in my data base, but I have conjectured their origins. To pollinate most fruit trees, bees are needed to fly from one tree to another as pollinators. I have observed several species of bee on the Conestoga. The best conjecture I have about the fruits are that they are a hybrid of several different varieties. Peaches, apricots, plums, limes, and perhaps others. A full tissue analysis would render much more information, but I am only able to report on the visual observations, and th
ose were made under less than ideal conditions. The slightly fuzzy skin, is like that of an apricot, the size and shape conforms as well to those four varieties. The colorations suggest a combination as well. The conjecture is that these fruits would grow on semi-dwarf sized tress. Those trees would be roughly five meters tall as well as having a five-meter spread. Those are just conjectures, but that is the size each tree would be.”

  “Wanda mentioned an orchard. That was a term for a collection of trees, right? How could an orchard be in here?” Jerome asked.

  “Yes, an orchard is a group of trees, or an area of land dedicated to the refinement of trees, usually those that bear fruit or nuts. The fruits exist, that is a fact. The people have survived and it appears they have used fruits as a food staple. Wanda stated there is an orchard, so one does exist. The size would have to fit within the needle ship’s configuration, but that is certainly large enough to host some kind of significant place for an orchard.” Sandie sounded satisfied, but then continued. “It would be really fascinating to assess the orchard that Wanda spoke about. I would love to see the engineering involved, from growth lights, to soils, to the hybrid trees and their life cycles. She mentioned technology, and I am eager to encounter that.”