Mating Flight

by Mating Flight (lit)

  "There's a planet near USP territory where nobody lives. Nobody's lived there for hundreds of years. Nobody can live there. They destroyed themselves and their planet. It's a smoking hulk with no life forms. No people, no animals, no plants. USP wanted them to join us, but they only wanted to fight each other. We left them alone, and one day we found that they'd fought one another to death.

  "War is ugly and it kills. War destroys the innocent as well as the guilty. War leaves horrible scars on people and places. Eons of history of ten living species in USP are littered with the dead bodies from wars. Sometimes wars are fought over the littlest things, like a dispute over property. But sometimes war begins with civil unrest over prejudice and it doesn't stop until there are dead bodies on both sides of the issue.

  "Prejudice is an ugly word. It means hating someone for being different from you, either in the way they look or the way they think. In the majority of cases of prejudice the objects of prejudice rise up to violently end their subjugation. Avera has had its first rising. History indicates there will be another, and another, and another, until you destroy the non-winged, or they destroy you. But you can't destroy them, can you? They are what you're becoming through evolution. In ten thousand years there won't be a winged person on Avera. But war might wipe out the winged before then. It may wipe out the non-winged, too. And the planet.

  "You have a bad thing on Avera. An ugly thing. You hate your own people because they're physically different from you. You hate your own sons and daughters, your own grandchildren. You hate your neighbors. They hate you for hating them. Hate leads to war. It's imminent here on Avera. You can't avoid it because you won't do anything to stop the hate."

  She had their unbroken attention. "There's a bird on my planet. When faced with danger it hides its head in the sand. The danger doesn't go away, but the bird doesn't see danger, so it feels safer. Averans are such birds." There were protests, but she continued on.

  "It's time to pull your heads out of the sand and admit the truth to yourselves. There are bad things happening on Avera. There are ugly thoughts in people's minds. The winged think ugly, prejudiced thoughts about the non-winged. The non-winged think ugly, violent thoughts about the winged. Avera is ripe for war. Avera won't survive a war.

  "I have babies in my belly. Non-winged babies." There were gasps and small outcries. "My non-winged babies are the next Avatiers. Will they be hated for being non-winged? I'm going to teach them what my mother and father taught me--that I'm wonderful and can do anything I want to do. Will you tell my children differently?" She looked several people in the eyes and they looked down or away.

  "My mother loves me. She says I'm wonderful. But I don't have wings. I love my mother. But she doesn't have wings. There are ten species in USP-billions of people-and none of them have wings. We have healers and teachers, engineers, great politicians, people who give their lives for peace, simple farmers, people who cook and clean and work hard. None of them have wings.

  "Yes, some of them hate. Yes, some of them have prejudice. Averans are just like some of them in that respect. They have prejudice against people who are old." She looked at a white-haired man. "Or people with dark skin, or people who have a different ideology than they have. No matter how hard USP works, there always seems to be someone who wants to hate. Just like all of you.

  "If nothing is done to stop the prejudice and the hate, will I live to be old? Will I watch my mate killed? Will I see my children killed? Will I watch the destruction of this planet? Because history says it will happen. You're following the path of the rest of the dead societies in history. You're just like them."

  Through a smattering of denials she continued. "How many of us will be killed next year, or the year after that, or within ten years? In fifty years, will everyone in this room be dead and Avera a smoking ruin? You hold the power in your hands, each of you. Stop cowering in fear and stand up. Stand up! The time to hide is over. You continue to hide and you're dead. Dead!

  "You've had your heads in the sand for a thousand years. You can't breathe in the sand! Stand up! There are people in the universe just like you." Heads shook below and rage made her next words snap with anger. "Yes, just like you! They get out of bed in the morning. They have a morning meal. They go to work. They eat a mid-day meal. They come home from work. They kiss their mates. They play with their children. They have an evening meal. They love. They go to sleep. They're just like you! And you're just like them. The non-wingeds look more like them, but Averans are just like them. They cry, they laugh, they celebrate, they dance, they die. Just like you.

  "It's time you joined me and the rest of USP. We're your salvation, you see? We want you to live! We don't want you to fight each other any more. We don't want you to kill each other any more. Because you're just like us, inside where your hearts live. Inside your heads where you think and dream.

  "Call USP. Call my mother. She'll tell you I'm wonderful. I'm just like you."

  Her chest heaved. She felt lightheaded and drained. She'd put every ounce of energy into her plea and still didn't know the outcome.

  She heard someone clapping. Her head snapped to the left to see Lefair standing there with tears streaming down her face. Lefair with her face shining with pride and love. Lefair showing her approval by clapping so that everyone could see and hear.

  She was overcome with love for this woman who would give to another while steeped deeply in grief. She stumbled to her mother-in-law and gathered her into her arms to hold her tightly.

  "I love you, Lefair," she murmured into the scented hair. No one could ask for a better mother-in-law than Lefair. No one could be as surprised to be rewarded by a mother-in-law as generous in heart as Lefair.

  Sheleigh drew back and only then did she hear other applause from down below. She kissed Lefair's cheek and wiped the tears from her own face before turning to face the council and her husband.

  The majority of the council were on their feet, clapping. It was a greater response than she had expected. Kleet was on his feet, but stood quietly. At least he wasn't angry.

  When the applause ended, Lefair surprised her yet again. "I speak in Sheleigh's mother's stead. She is wonderful. She's like me, and like the rest of you. She's very much like the best of us in what we want for our children and our world. Kleet, I want you to call USP."

  "Mother ..."

  "I'm tired of the violence. I don't want to see you die. I want to live to see my grandchildren grow up." She took a deep breath. "I want to be the first Averan ambassador to USP."

  There were loud exclamations of shock. Sheleigh jerked in surprise. Would her mother-in-law never cease to amaze her?

  "Mother, you would leave us?" Kleet's face was a mixture of alarm and astonishment.

  "I represent what's good about Avera. I'm intelligent, cultured, well-spoken. I've been surrounded by politics all my adult life. I want to see these others who think like us. I want to show them I think like them. I was born to do this."

  Sheleigh squeezed Lefair's hand. It was perfect to send a bright woman out to meet the rest of USP.

  "Kleet, do it for me."

  The ruler of the world bowed to his mother's plea. When the vote was taken, the majority wanted to establish contact with USP. By then Sheleigh had moved to Kleet's side and when the vote was positive she handed him the hand-held com unit.

  He looked from it to her. "You were that sure?"

  "No. Averans surprised me today." She glanced at Lefair and back again. "But the future of the planet and its people depend on this. I couldn't fail."

  Kleet made the call from a circle of his supporters. Sheleigh stood on one side of him and Lefair stood on the other. Sheleigh didn't recognize the voice of whoever answered, so it wasn't the human shuttle they reached.

  "What did he say? How am I supposed to communicate with these people?" Kleet demanded, his voice ripe with frustration.

  "He said to stand by. He's getting a translator."

  "What language was he
speaking?"

  "It's called Basic. It's the universal language of USP."

  "Hello? Who's speaking?" asked a tenor voice in Averan.

  "This is the Avatier of the planet Avera. My name is Kleet Kryszan. I wish to speak with an official of Unified Sentient Planets."

  "Avatier, I'm the USP translator. I'm authorized to act as a USP official until an ambassador can reach us. My name is Mikesh Akelee. How may I help you?"

  "We need help ... to avert a war."

  "I'm skilled in making peace, Avatier. My whole species believes in peace. May I come down to the planet?"

  "You're above us now?" There were murmurs of unrest from some of the people around them.

  "No, but we're in your solar system. We're keeping your planet safe. I can be there in an hour. May I come down?"

  "How many will come with you?"

  "Just my partner. You've met a Bonwee partner before."

  "Yes. Do you know the coordinates of where the human shuttle landed?"

  "Yes, Avatier."

  "A transport will meet you when you arrive."

  Sheleigh tugged on Kleet's arm and he turned to her. "Avatier," she whispered. "May I speak to him, please?"

  He looked puzzled, but handed her the com unit.

  Sheleigh spoke in fluent Basic. "Messer Akelee, this is Dr. Sheleigh O'Brien Kryszan. Do you know who I am?"

  "Yes, doctor. How can I help you?"

  "If there is a choice of USP ambassador, I believe the Averans might do better with a Carisi or a Petrosian. A Carisi would impress them with Carisi culture, manners and logic. A Petrosian would exemplify the differences in physiology of USP species. Oh, and it would help if the ambassador spoke Averan."

  "I'll notify USP immediately."

  "Is the Earth expedition with you?"

  "We refueled and resupplied them before sending them on their way. Our medic treated their wounded member and he was recovering well when they left. Under the circumstances, we felt it imperative to stay within this solar system."

  "Thank you, Messer Akelee. Here's the Avatier." She handed the com unit to Kleet. "Thank you, Avatier."

  "Messer Akelee, I'll see you soon after you arrive." Sheleigh noted Kleet's use of the USP male designation 'messer' with surprise.

  "Yes, Avatier."

  As Kleet gathered the council together, Sheleigh looped her arm through Lefair's and moved towards the nearest exit. She looked up and there sat Harrier in the seat he'd been in when this all began. One armed guard stood next to him. He'd clearly been forgotten in the course of more urgent events. Then she remembered whose arm she held and she stiffened.

  Harrier stood and his guard tensed. Sheleigh felt Lefair quivering beside her.

  Harrier bowed to Lefair. "My lady. I'm sorry."

  Lefair's quivering eased. "I can't forgive you, if that's what you're looking for." There was a small wobble in her voice. Sheleigh cursed herself for coming in this direction and causing Lefair more pain.

  "I don't expect to be forgiven for what I've done. I just wanted you to know that I'm sorry."

  It was the most intricate hair-splitting Sheleigh had ever heard. She stared at Harrier, trying to read his face. Despite his premeditated act of treason, he had acted honorably since he'd admitted his complicity to her. He'd acted to secure the future of his family. He'd accepted the consequences of his actions with quiet resignation. She couldn't match the man with his actions. Here again his actions defied her knowledge of his previous actions. What was true?

  Before she could decide, he turned to her. "Thank you for that stirring speech, Dr. O'Brien."

  "I didn't do it for you."

  "I know. I have a new grandson. You did it for him."

  Shock rang through her, like the vibration of a large bell after it tolls. Harrier's grandchild would be her children's age mate. What would the children learn about the events of the past few months? Would they eventually taunt Harrier's grandchild with epithets like, "Your grandfather killed my grandfather"? Harrier's treason had further reaching repercussions than just to him.

  Lefair tugged on Sheleigh's arm, forcing her to go where she was being pulled. She continued to stare at Harrier until he was no longer in sight. Lefair closed the assembly room door with a soft 'snick.'

  Sheleigh turned to her mother-in-law. "His grandson will go to school with my children. Why didn't he consider that child's life when he acted as he did? The boy is innocent, but he will carry the stigma of Harrier's actions all his life. You and I have just done our best to avert a civil war. We've tried to better the lives of Averans. But who will stand up for that child? Does Harrier think it will be me? Is that why he told me?"

  "I don't know why he's done anything, dear. I thought you understood him better than anyone." They walked along the corridor in the direction of Kleet's office.

  "I think I've been dreaming his dreams this week."

  Lefair looked at her with curious eyes. "Is that a human expression? If so, what does it mean?"

  "It's not an expression. Harrier told me his fears about the future. My planet has a violent history, much of which is documented on freeze frames and visual recordings. I know what Avera would look like after a war, so Harrier's fears became a picture in my mind. I've been dreaming about it for a week. I'm exhausted. I wonder what Harrier's dreams look like, and how long he's been dreaming them. He doesn't look as tired as I feel."

  "You have a passion he doesn't have. You put all your energy into what you do. He didn't know the right way to make a difference in the future." Lefair's voice wobbled. "But you do."

  They entered Kleet's old office and Lefair shut the door. Sheleigh looked around her at the office generations of heirs had used. There were pieces of ore and metal, bone and wood, books and data discs. The office contained old and new, raw and finished, history and the future. Her children would work here when they were old enough. She ran her hand over the marble desk top, feeling its ancient coolness.

  Something Lefair said tickled her mind. Harrier hadn't known the right way to make a difference in the future. But he'd known Avera's future needed USP. How had he known? Because she'd told him. What she'd briefly realized the day Harrier confessed to her hit her fully in the face now. She staggered under the blow.

  "Sheleigh! What's wrong?" Lefair was at her side in an instant, supporting her.

  "I started all of this. It was me. I was the catalyst."

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Stunned, Sheleigh turned to Lefair. "I was the catalyst. What I said to Harrier when I arrived on Avera started everything happening. I gave the radicals a focus. I gave Harrier a purpose. Kleet taking me as his mate triggered the violence. My being on Avera caused Kelfer's death. I'm just as guilty as Harrier."

  Lefair's face paled. "No, Sheleigh. You didn't cause Kelfer's death. You didn't have anything to do with it."

  Sheleigh grabbed Lefair's arms with her hands. "Knowledge is powerful. I brought knowledge with me to Avera. I told Kleet the day he made me his mate that he'd brought the future into his home. He had. Harrier and the radicals took my knowledge, took that power and used it to kill Kelfer. What I did was like bringing a weapon into this world. That weapon was used to end a man's life." Her voice dropped to a whisper. Self-loathing writhed like snakes in her belly. "Everything was my fault. Kelfer's death. Kleet being crippled. All my fault."

  "No! None if it was your fault. No one can know how information will be used, especially by hateful people. Some people will twist beautiful things and make them ugly. You can't control that. You didn't kill Kelfer. You didn't cripple Kleet. Don't think like that."

  "Kleet will never love me again when he finds out." Her tone was fatalistic and flat.

  "You're tired. You need to sleep. Let me find someplace for you to lie down for awhile. Sit down here and rest." Lefair pushed her into a chair. Sheleigh felt shell-shocked. Lefair's caress on her hair was a balm on the pain she felt. "You're wonderful, Sheleigh. Don't think otherwise. I'll be back as so
on as I can."

  The little eddy of air containing Lefair's light perfume marked her passing out of the room. Sheleigh sat with her hands in her lap, not daring to touch her babies. She didn't want to taint them with her touch. They were innocent while she was a betrayer. She believed deeply that every person had the power to make a difference. She'd made a difference, all right. Her father-in-law was dead. Her husband was crippled. She couldn't bring Kelfer back to life, but maybe she could help Kleet to fly again. She owed him. More than the power of flight, she owed him for taking away his father. She needed to atone for the violence she'd sparked in Averan society.

  USP doctors might be able to heal Kleet. She had to convince him to let the doctors look at his wing. She owed him. Perhaps if he could fly again his grief over his father could be put to rest. Then maybe their relationship could be repaired. They mated every night, but there was still separateness about them. She owed him. The words were a mantra in her mind.

  Lefair bustled back into the room. There was vitality to her movements. She had a purpose that invigorated her again. She would infuse the position of ambassador with the same vitality. Something good would come out of this affair.

  Sheleigh allowed herself to be led down the hall to another room where she gratefully lay down on a couch. It had become difficult to think through the morass in her mind. Her thoughts slowed. She murmured a contented sound when Lefair covered her with a soft blanket. She snuggled down into the cushions, gave a long sigh, and slid into sleep.

  She didn't want to wake up when a hand shook her shoulder. She'd just fallen asleep. Didn't the person understand that?

  "Sheleigh, it's time to wake up." Lefair's melodic voice held a mother's firmness. Sheleigh opened her eyes. Her mother-in-law looked fresh. Excitement made her eyes shine. "USP is here. Kleet's been asking for you. I explained that you needed to rest. But you need to get up now."