SEABIRD: A Romantic Fantasy

by Jac Eddins

  "This lady is the guest of Prince Alaro," Dano announced. "She is to see whatever she wishes to see and any questions she has should be answered to the best of your knowledge."

  The young man bowed his head. "Yes, Tamir."

  "You’re leaving me?" Gina asked in sudden panic.

  "Just for a short time. I have some things to look up for Alaro while I’m here. I’ll be back for you by lunch time." Without further ado, he left them.

  "What would you like to see first?" the Aquan asked her.

  "What did you call him? Dano, I mean. I haven’t heard that word before."

  "Tamir? It’s a title of respect for those who serve – advise –our Prince. They are the rulers of Dath. Whenever you see the black and gold they are to be given the highest of courtesies. That gold is the metallic type. The shade I wear signifies a teacher. It may take a little time, but you’ll get to recognize the shades and what they mean."

  "This wouldn’t be a good place for anyone who was color-blind," she said with a laugh.

  The young man gave her a quizzical look. "We can cure that. It merely requires stimulation of the proper genes."

  "Does that mean you can regenerate physiologicial systems? Like spinal injuries?"

  He smiled. "Of course. The one thing we can't do is replace memory where there is brain injury."

  Gina's heart beat faster. If things worked out for her, perhaps her Uncle Bill might come here. That could be a dream come true. But for now–

  That turned out to be the first of many surprises!

  * * * *

  The Aquans had come from the planet of a distant star. They developed on a world with a sun farther into the red than earth’s yellow star. Other than that, the gravity and atmosphere had been very similar. Their science boomed as they developed, far in advance of what earth now knew. With their knowledge, they recognized the signs their sun would soon explode, enveloping their pleasant world within its expanding surface.

  The entire population combined to build three space ships of enormous size. They had no reservations about despoiling their planet. There would be no tomorrow. They completed the ships in time. Some of their older people elected to remain on the doomed world for as long as it existed. The others took the shuttles up to the spacecraft until all who wished to go were aboard. With a great deal of sadness, the pilgrims departed into the void of space in small self contained worlds of their own making.

  Generations passed aboard the ships. They traveled for untold centuries. Not even the Aquans were certain how many thousands of years they traveled. Despite all precautions, a native creature, similar to earth’s mice or rats, managed to get aboard and multiply. They remained hidden well into the voyage, until the Aquans discovered their catastrophe. The creatures had invaded the archives and destroyed many of the oldest records. They no longer even knew where their original planet had been.

  They passed thousands of worlds, but most were inhospitable to their kind. At long last they found the blue world of Earth. They arrived before humanity had developed much scientific knowledge. When they tried meeting the native inhabitants, they were sometimes welcomed as gods or, more often, attacked as demons.

  Aquans could tolerate some sun, but the earth’s star turned out to be uncomfortable for any length of exposure. Rather than face more centuries of travel through space, they looked to the seas.

  The Aquans used their space ships to descend to the depths. The hulls of the space ships became the first domes. Dath, their flagship, was largest, and became the center of government. Makresh, with all the libraries and the data that remained, became the center of learning. Tinoth became the workplace for production of all the undersea colonists required: factories to provide energy, food and breathable air, materials to build new domes and make room for their expanding population.

  They understood men would eventually evolve and develop their own science, but the Aquan religion forbade them to interfere or destroy the native life. From the very beginning they took steps to make the meeting of the races comfortable when it came about. With man’s accelerated development, that time fast approached.

  From early in their occupation of the ocean floor the Aquans sent out ships to gather things from the upper world. In many instances they rescued humans and brought them back to the domes. Those refugees were welcomed into Dath and became a part of the population. They built new domes which more closely accommodated the human way of life. Humans, Terrans, now accounted for about ten percent of the population. Many Terrans contributed to the Aquan world and were held in high esteem.

  When the time came for Aquans to meet with the outer world, they had much to offer. Their medicine far exceeded that of humanity. Many Aquan scientists decried the waste of human life which they might have saved. The violence and hatreds of mankind kept them from making overtures, however. They had hope; the Terrans raised in the domes had learned and put aside such behavior.

  One problem the Aquans foresaw was the human reluctance to control population size. Overcrowding caused enormous problems; wars, pestilence, hunger. It would be extremely difficult to teach population control to a people whose religions considered procreation an obligation. The Aquans had learned their lesson long ago and kept themselves restricted to two or three children at most.

  Still, the strong moral and religious ethic of the Aquans forbade their interference in the upper world. Only within the last few years a movement had begun among some Aquans to subjugate the Terrans. The great majority of Aquans would not abide it, but the idea appealed to a small, active group.

  Gina had arrived at a delicate time. In most eras, the Queen chose her eldest daughter to succeed her. Queen Jorlanda had chosen her son, instead. Rumor had it the Queen was displeased with Iola’s support of the Earth conquest group. Beyond that, talk abounded that Iola had some irregularity in her birth, that she had not been the true child of the King.

  Much of that situation Gina could not understand. It seemed many advisors to the Queen had wished to terminate Iola as an infant, but the belief in the sanctity of life prevented the Queen from listening to them. That was the basis of much of the controversy which now existed in Dath. Gina had a number of questions, but withheld them. She wouldn't embarrass herself or her mentor by asking on such delicate personal matters.

  The amount and wealth of information could have occupied Gina for days. It came as a shock to find Dano waiting for her – for considerably longer than expected.

  Despite her tardy arrival Dano smiled with good humor in greeting her. "Did you get all the answers?"

  "I didn’t know there were so many questions," Gina laughed.

  "Hungry?"

  She hadn’t thought of food, but she nodded, "a little."

  "If you can wait an hour, we can have a real treat. Okay?"

  "Sounds good to me," she answered.

  Dano took her hand and the pair strolled toward the transportation station.

  It occurred to Gina she knew little of Dano himself and asked, "Were you born in Dath?"

  Dano nodded. "Born and raised here."

  "Amazing. You have a family here then?"

  Dano grew silent a long moment before he replied and Gina could see sadness in his expression. "My mother is here in Makresh. I stopped in to see her. She and my stepfather are both teachers here."

  He led Gina toward a small park on their right. She had seen green areas throughout the domes, spots where anyone might rest a moment and enjoy the sights. She noticed this particular spot on their way in was somewhat larger than most, a lovely garden with small trees and marble benches amid bright blossoming shrubs. She didn’t recognize the exotic flowers and speculated whether they were native to earth. The Aquans appeared to have a great love of beauty and nature, as well as order. In the center of the green oasis stood a statue of two men. Gina could see one was Aquan and the other Terran. They stood together in a pose of saluting.

  Dano paused before the bronze plaque at the statue’s base. It re
ad: In Eternal Gratitude from the people of Dath. King Alaro III and Jono of Tinoth. Dano’s head bowed and his words were choked with emotion. "That was my father."

  Gina’s eyes filled with unshed tears of sympathy and she gave his hand a little squeeze of understanding. He gave her a gentle smile, returned the squeeze, and drew her along on their way. He didn't speak again until they reached the station.

  This time, on the shuttle back to Dath, Gina remained awake, listening to the music. Dano appeared to nap and she didn’t disturb him. She suspected he was awake and wandered in paths of memory.

  CHAPTER 12

  Dano was twelve when it happened. In all the long centuries the Aquans had been on this planet, it was the one time they came close to disaster.

  At the age of five, children left the homes of their parents and went to live in Makresh at the schools. Parents visited them regularly and they returned home for the frequent holiday weeks. At thirteen the youngsters tested to determine their future, and, based on their ability and interests, they were sent on to the next level of training or education. Dano approached that milestone, still unsure what he wanted to do in his future.

  Of one thing he was certain; he didn’t want to be a scientist like his father. He found it difficult to be the son of a genius, constantly prodded by teachers and classmates to excel in something which held no interest for him. Maybe, in a way, he felt he could not match his father’s brilliance in that field and chose not to compete.

  Classes began that fateful day as usual. Sometime in mid-morning a stir went through the classroom. Their Aquan instructor became obviously upset, more so when a second teacher entered and spoke to him privately in hushed tones. Terrans had long since realized the Aquans had another sense; they knew things before being told. It wasn’t specific, more a recognition of emotional states in others. Sometimes that sensitivity had worked for him; when Dano’s frustration level rose while working on a project, his instructor always knew when he had enough for the day and let him go.

  But Aquans generally remained calm and unperturbed. Dano, seeing their agitation, became frightened himself. The teacher turned on the communications system, something rarely done unless they were to have an address by the king or a visiting dignitary.

  The deep voice from the speaker sent a chill through everyone, human and Aquan alike. "...Join in prayer for the preservation of our people. At this moment our king has arrived at the site of the crisis, but our expert source says nothing can be done. The nuclear reaction can only be stopped by a manual dropping of the damping rods, and no one can survive to reach them. All sea doors have been shut and all those listening should take as sheltered a position as possible. Some of the domes may survive."

  Young as he was, Dano felt the ice grip his heart. The nuclear facility was where his father worked. What had happened? They took such precautions there; what could possibly have gone wrong?

  He learned the details later.

  One of the Aquans snapped mentally. That was a rare thing with them; usually the Aquan medical staff detected any problems well ahead and corrected them with medications and therapy. Somehow this one slipped by, and in his madness, the Aquan caused the accident.

  The king had been notified and rushed to the scene. No one had gone into the reaction chamber to attempt the shut down. King Alaro went to the shield door and paused a moment.

  Dano’s father went forward to place his hand on the King’s shoulder. "It’s death to go in there."

  The King nodded. "One way or other, I shall surely die, but better if I die alone."

  "You can’t do it alone," Dano’s father said. "There are two units which must be moved at the same time."

  "Then there is no hope–" The king bowed his head.

  Jono took a deep breath. "These are my people, too. We can do it together."

  With that the king saluted him. Dano’s father returned the gesture and, together, they entered the chamber of death.

  * * * *

  The weeks which passed after the event became a distant and blurred memory. In the ceremonies which followed, Queen Jorlanda insisted Jono of Tinoth have equal honor with the king. Further, she insisted Dano be brought to the palace to live and study with her own son who, in his father’s honor, assumed his father’s name and became Alaro IV.

  Dano and Alaro found they had much in common, but the deaths of their fathers affected both boys deeply. Their studies suffered and the Queen worried. Then, one of her advisors had a brilliant idea. He recommended the boys have a change of scene, a chance to sail on the maiden voyage of the recently completed ship: the Seabird.

  Both boys took to the sea with enthusiasm and their mutual love for it cemented their friendship.

  * * * *

  Back in the capitol, Dano led Gina to a small dining shop, identified as Terran by a large flashing green four-leaf clover. The proprietor, a burly fellow, greeted them with a wide grin. The moment they entered, the aromas of baking bread and roasting meat reminded her she was late eating – and she was hungry!

  The meal was as good as the aromas promised. Along with it, they had glasses of the best beer she’d ever tasted. The half-filled restaurant had both Aquan and Terran patrons. Terrans who worked in the city often took their midday meals there. Dano reminded her they were well past the traditional lunch period or it would have been much more crowded. The Aquans came only for the beer.

  "If you’re out shopping any time, and I’m not with you, this is a good place to eat," Dano told her. "Just remember it closes in late afternoon."

  "No dinners?"

  "The workers go home for dinner. You’ll find the city quiets a great deal by dinner time."

  After they had eaten, Dano strolled with her along the shops, pointing out the various wares Dath had to offer its citizens. She admired a lovely pink flowered kimono in the window of one dress shop. Dano bought it for her, over her protests.

  "But it isn’t green–"

  "The traditions of color don’t apply to dress at home. There you can wear whatever you like."

  "But you had to pay for it–"

  "I’ll put it on my expense account." Dano laughed. "Alaro won’t mind at all. He’ll tell me I should have bought you one of every color they had."

  "He’s very generous."

  "Yes." Dano grinned with mischief. "You could say he's a prince among men."

  "But then it will be Alaro I have to thank."

  Dano frowned. "It depends on how you say ‘thank you’. If it includes a kiss, it will come out of my own pocket!"

  Gina pretended she hadn’t heard what he said, but her pulse quickened. She really had to keep a firmer grip on her emotions; Dath was not her future.

  * * * *

  Alaro had sent for him. Dano hurried to the office where he found the prince busily going through petitions. Alaro set them aside at once and faced Dano with a worried frown.

  "What's wrong?" Dano inquired. He took a seat opposite Alaro.

  "The unloading crew found a body on the ship."

  "The stowaway."

  "Yes. Jacques LeBeau."

  "The decontamination ray–"

  "No. He was strangled."

  Dano came to his feet. "How?"

  "I can come to just one answer. Someone was aiding him –bringing him food –whatever. He was supposed to escape in the lifeboat with the girl. He would have known about the lethal decontamination ray and would have been captured rather than die. Whoever was helping him couldn't risk that. Jacques would have spilled everything he knew to survive."

  "Then we have a traitor in the crew."

  Alaro nodded. "And that means our enemies know the girl is here."

  "Why don't we just ask her about it?"

  "Give her a few more days. I want her to see we are peaceful and mean no harm to the top world. We're still aliens to her and she may have doubts. Meanwhile, I want you to keep close to her and protect her."

  Dano gave a lopsided grin. "If I stay as close as I'd l
ike she could be in even more danger."

  Alaro glared at him. "Don't even think about it!"

  CHAPTER 13

  Dano said he’d take her to dinner. Still, absorbed in her thoughts, Gina startled with the knock on her door. Dano smiled at her, looking dashingly handsome as usual.

  "Ready?’

  "In just a moment. I have to change." She had planned to dress a little later and still wore her new pink kimono with its delicate print of white chrysanthemums. In true feminine fashion she’d had to try it on as soon as she returned to her room. How had time slipped by so fast?

  "Don’t." Dano grinned down at her. "You look lovely in that, and it will do just fine where we’re going."

  "But it isn’t green."

  "The customs of color aren’t necessary except in public. In your own space, you can wear whatever you like."

  "Now you tell me!"

  Dano merely laughed and took her hand. "Come on. I’ve a surprise for you." He led her to the elevator and they descended to the ground floor."

  "I thought you said in public–"

  "Just wait."

  Instead of the usual corridor to the outer door, Dano led her in the opposite direction. At the far end of the hallway a metallic plate had been set into the wall beside a sturdy metal door. He placed his palm against it and the door opened. They walked through a long, dim, carpeted hall to a second door much like the first. Beyond that, lay a flight of steps downward.

  At the foot of the steps, Gina found it a small shuttle station and a car idled there awaiting them. For a moment, she feared where Dano might be taking her in such an isolated area. They seated themselves in the vehicle.

  The shuttle to Makresh had been attractive and comfortable, but it fell far short of this elegant car. This vehicle had no ostentatious decoration, just the luxury of fine leather and well designed seats.

  "We don’t need to wrap up," Dano smiled. "This trip is just a few minutes."

  They reached a small station, decorated as if it were a simple room in a lovely home. Gina’s feet sank in the plush carpet. Gold sconces lined the wall and held lights made to appear like red flames. Dano led her on.