Eetoo

by Robby Charters

  'Now, that brings me to the bit I'm now concerned about,' the bionic Shan continued. 'I'm also not sure if, whoever it is, hasn't already tried to access my circuits on a couple of occasions.'

  'How so?'

  'I have absolutely no memory of the departure of the refugee ships. There is a gap in my memory lasting from a few hours before launch time to about an hour after. It's a bit on and off at the beginning and end, as though I was going in and out of consciousness. I only know from my fellow bionics that the launch took place, and that I had a part in it. Now, you say he refugees never arrived. That concerns me.'

  It concerned Heptosh too.

  Shan gave Heptosh yet another computer, containing all of his research into the dynamics of bionic replication and their workings.

  Shan's ship was similar to Heptosh's. It sat not far from the office in the space port. Heptosh and Eetoo said their goodbye, and boarded.

  Heptosh drove Shan's ship over the mountain range and landed it near his own.

  Eetoo had proven helpful, so Heptosh decided to take him along. His property included enough grassland to accommodate a few sheep, so he told Eetoo to herd some into his old ship. Then Eetoo boarded Shan's with Heptosh, along with a few sheep that wouldn't fit in the other craft.

  Heptosh expanded the radius of the reverse beam transmitter to include his old ship, and began to simulate linear movement. Once he reached a safe distance, he relocated both ships to the Toki system, and again began to simulate linear movement for their approach to Tok.

  This ship of Shan's was every bit as good as his own. As for his own, he'd have to send it to the planet, Ashta, where the Heknosh clan were the only known experts in relocators.

  Part 2 -- The Pupil

  1

  Heptosh summed up what he had said so far: 'Thus, the tragic story of the Kalodzus' ultimate resistance. Again, we don't know what happened to those who attempted to escape. Those who stayed chose early death rather than allow an alien force to take over as them.'

  The room was full to near capacity. Besides Varasha and most of her staff from the office of Human Affairs, there were representatives from a few of the human communities. Among the non-humans was Fra the Tzozk, planet administrator for Tok, along with Nueryzh the Utz, representing the Noofrishi sector. He was also Heptosh's next door neighbour and close friend.

  Both non-humans sat, or perched, towards the back so their large bodies wouldn't obscure anyone else's view.

  A young man sitting near Varasha, had a question: 'Couldn't they have just amputated the limbs that had the implant?'

  'I wondered that myself,' answered Heptosh. 'From Shan's notes, I've found that one of the first things that happens when a bionic chip begins producing cells is, it sends extra cells to other vital parts of the body where they simply remain idle, receiving signals from the main bionic chip at various intervals. If they fail to receive that signal, such as would be the case if the limb were amputated, they then begin reproducing. Therefore getting rid of one's arm, doesn't halt the process. Whoever designed the bionic chip cleverly pre-empted that possibility.'

  Amanhep, president of the Federation of Indigenous Nephteshis of Noofrish spoke up: 'How soon will the Kalodzu area be available for re-populating?'

  Certainly Amanhep's not expecting to move Indigenous Nephteshis to Kalodzu-Famta? Though Heptosh.

  Varasha took it on herself to answer: 'We still have to do a complete assessment of all the factors on that planet. There are safety issues we need to determine,' (Heptosh hadn't told anyone but Varasha and Neuryzh about Shan's memory lapse) 'then, we'll need to assess the needs of the various communities in the sector. At the next general department meeting, I'll be proposing the formation of a committee to see to all of that. Then, of course, it has to be approved by the sector council.'

  'Committees!' huffed Amanhep. 'The Nefzedi moved to Tok without committee action!'

  'That was a Toki administrative decision. The Toki government has the right to invite anyone they choose to settle in their jurisdiction. Does anyone else have a question for Mr. Heptosh?'

  Varasha was good in that way, Heptosh observed. The way she cut through bogs of nonsense with her Akkadi feminine sense, one would never guess what an inefficient department she ran – staffed largely by Akkadi men, of course.

  One more question – this time, by a staff member: 'Mr. Heptosh, can you tell us why you chose to bring along a native from Kalodzu-Famta?'

  'Well, er – ' Heptosh was beginning to wonder that himself. 'He needed some assistance in a way that it seemed rather appropriate that I – er – '

  It didn't look as though everyone in the room agreed on what the appropriate thing would have been. They certainly wouldn't swallow a tribal legend about golden tablets.

  It was Varasha who came to the rescue: 'I'm sure Heptosh has good personal reasons for his decision. If there are no more questions that relate to the former Kalodzu jurisdiction, we shall adjourn.'

  The dome on Neuryzh's head gave a warm glow that indicated he was probably sympathetic. Utzes don't smile or frown. The glow of their cranial dome does for them, what eyes and a mouth do for humans.

  'I'll keep everyone informed of any further developments.' Varasha was saying. 'There's coourzt drink, and oat and fig biscuits out in the lobby…'

  2

  landscape dominated by the colour green pasture land

  surrounded by a wood

  beyond that, atop a steep slope

  vines and green moss cling to a rock formation

  a vast configuration of six sided granite pillars

  towering overhead like a giant's pan pipes

  at the top, the granite loses the greenness, giving way to crystal

  the natural rock colour gives in to the colour of the sky

  though the grade seems unnaturally steep, the trees don't mind it

  nor do the sheep consider the slope

  things aren't as heavy on this planet

  If it weren't for the sheep, I think I'd go crazy. I need to look at something I'm used to, and they're it.

  At least the sheep are used to it. They were all giddy when we got here from feeling so light. One of them died. They jump a lot higher than they did at home.

  I guess the golden tablets aren't on this planet after all. Heptosh says I'll have to learn a lot before I go looking for them -- like how to pilot a ship and all that.

  I should forget about finding the tablets and go home. I don't know if the sheep could take suddenly getting heavier though.

  I can't take the sheep very far here -- only on Heptosh's land. At least the grass grows fast, so I don't need to take them so far.

  Everything I see here belongs to Heptosh. I didn't know you could own pieces of the countryside. At home, we only own the houses we live in.

  I hear voices -- like kids playing. I've heard them before. Some people must live on the other side of the woods downhill from here.

  I'll go near and look.

  I wouldn't dare go this fast down such a steep place back home. Here, even the trees seem to feel lighter. They grow a lot taller, but they're very thin for their height. I still carry my stick though, just in case I need it.

  I haven't been this close to the edge of the property yet. It's through some trees. There's a lake there. On the bank near the trees, I see a house. The road runs on the other side of it. There's a big shady tree, and I see some kids sitting about under it. One of them's swinging from a rope with a piece of wood attached. There's also a stone table, and a bench. Then, over on the bank on this side of the house, there's a wooden pier in the shade of another big tree.

  I'll go closer and look.

  There's a stone wall here, just high enough to keep sheep and goats from climbing over. There's a few trees over on their side as well.

  Those kids remind me of home -- at least the smaller kid who isn't wearing anything. He's trying to get something away from the biggest kid. I can't catch what he's saying. The kid who's swi
nging from the rope looks my age. The kid who's wrestling with the little one looks older. There's a girl with brown hair. She's making a chain out of some of the flowers. She might be my age too.

  The kid on the swing sees me.

  I'd better go.

  He's waving at me. I wave back.

  'You! Come!' he's saying.

  I can understand that. But I can tell it's not the language they're talking to each other. But he's talking like he doesn't know it as well.

  I climb over the wall and start walking to them.

  The big kid and the little one look around.

  'You -- new boy with Mr. Heptosh?'

  I nod.

  The kid on the swing is talking: 'We b'n Shammah family. I Shav. This, my brother Rav, and small brother, Nakham.'

  The big kid says, 'Nakham, him a little brat! I call him ladybird!'

  The kid yells something at him in their language.

  'Hey, ladybird! Ladybird!' He starts running with Nakham chasing him.

  Shav points at the girl: 'My sister, Tsaphar. Tsaphar! Come!'

  The girl looks up and starts coming. She smiles at me. She's pretty.

  'She my (something-or-other) sister.'

  'Huh?'

  'Born in the same womb.'

  I guess he means she's his twin. I say the word he said: 'Twin?'

  'Yes. She my twin. What you name?' says Shav.

  'Eetoo,' I say.

  'What family name?'

  'Huh?'

  'Family. We b'n Shammah. Our great great grandfather, one who first own this land, named Shammah. His children, b'n Shammah. I Shav b'n Shammah, he, Rav b'n Shammah, this, Tsaphar b'n Shammah.'

  'We Fa-tzi-zhi, we called by name of first child. My father, Eetoo Paw, my mother, Eetoo Maw -- but they dead now.'

  'We Akkadi people. We named after our fathers.' Shav sounds as though he thinks that's the only way to do it.

  Tsaphar says, 'They're dead? Oh!' She looks at me like she's sad for me.

  'Oh no. They dead a long time now. I big as him.' I point to Nakham.

  'Our father died five years ago,' she says.

  Suddenly Nakham's screaming. He's holding on to his shoulder. We all go running over.

  'Cursed bees!' says Rav. 'So much problem!'

  'Bee?' I say.

  I look at his shoulder. I pull his hand away. Sure enough, there's a stinger. I start working it out with my fingernail. I have some eucalyptus and camphor oil in a little flask in my pouch. I rub some on him.

  'Bees! Too many on Tok now!' says Shav.

  Nakham's stopped crying now.

  Rav says, 'Nefzedi, they bring bees from Nefzed. They sell honey, but some bees, they get away and build nest in forests. Now, wild bees everywhere!'

  'Where's the nest?' I ask.

  Tsaphar points to the tree next to the pier. I see the beehive hanging from it.

  'We can't swim because of bees there!' says Shav.

  These people obviously don't know how to smoke a beehive. I've done that lots of times in Kalodzu-Famta.

  'I can smoke it,' I say.

  'Huh?' say the two older boys.

  'Do you have long pole?'

  'Don't disturb them. They very bad!' says Rav.

  'No. Smoke. They go to sleep.'

  They just look at me. Then Rav says something to Shav, and he goes running towards their house.

  I look about. Those dry branches should burn slowly enough. I go get them.

  Shav comes running back with a poll. I take it and start tying the branches to the end of the poll with some long grass stalks. Now I need a fire.

  I have a metzig torch in my bag. If I take the cover off, that will give me a spark. I light the branches.

  I've got a small fire going. I wait till it's smoking.

  Now, the beehive. The others follow me -- carefully.

  I raise the end of the poll just under the beehive. The smoke is covering the whole hive. I let it soak in the smoke a while.

  Then, I put the poll down, tie up my skirt so it won't get in the way, and climb up to the branch.

  The kids all gasp as I break off the branch with the hive. They've never seen this before. Nakham runs away.

  I jump down with the hive. I take a small stick and scrape the bees off. Then I break off a bit of the comb and eat it. I hold it up for them to try some.

  They all look amazed. We start walking back to the tree.

  Nakham is peeping out from the back door. Shav shouts something to him. He comes out with a bowl, and I put the honeycomb into it.

  So here we are, eating honeycomb. Shav goes back for some bread, and we dip that into the honey.

  Now, I'm their friend.

  'We can swim now!' says Shav. He throws off his tunic. I start to pull mine off too.

  'Stop!' says Rav. 'Not yet.'

  He takes Tsaphar by the hand and leads her to the house.

  Tsaphar looks at me and smiles as they go.

  Rav comes back. Now I can take off my tunic. I guess they didn't want their sister hanging about with a naked stranger. Some Fa-tzi-zhi families are like that. We all jump into the water.

  I can't forget the way she smiled at me.

  Shav wants to see which one of us can swim the fastest. We swim from the little pier to the tree over yonder. I beat him by a foot. Then Rav wants to race me. He wins. Then, Nakhan wants to race me as well.

  Rav starts talking about some girl. 'You see daughter of miller? Her name Zukrah.'

  I tell him I haven't met the miller yet.

  'She pretty. She'll be mine.'

  Shav says, 'But Tash, son of Doctor Taknen love her. She love Tash!'

  'Tash not a strong man. I fight Tash for her. She will have me, not him.' He says something in their language.

  Nakhan cheers him.

  'Tash, he say he intelligent, his family rich...' Shav says.

  'Hah! He black-skinned Nefzedi. Nefzedi think they big, they not! All slimy snakes! Zukra, miller's daughter is Akkadi. Strong Akkadi man like me can protect her. We be rich from coourzt growing. Nefzedi, they come only recent, they take...'

  Nakhan pipes in: 'Ha ha! Nefzedi -- phttttttttt!'

  Shav says something in their language. All I catch is 'Eetoo' and 'Heptosh'.

  Suddenly Rav says, 'But Mr. Heptosh, he good man. He okay. Other Nefzedi, they slimy black snakes.'

  'Eetoo,' says Shav. 'You love a woman?'

  'Er --' No one's ever asked me that before.

  Someone's giggling at the bank near the woods.

  I look. There's Tsaphar watching us from under a bush.

  Nakhan starts jumping and laughing.

  'Hoi!' yells Rav.

  He gets out of the water, yelling at her in their language. He practically drags her back to the house.

  Shav looks at me and grins. 'You like Tsaphar, yes? Maybe you and her...hah?'

  I don't know. I can't forget the way she smiled at me though.

  We play a little while longer. Then I go back to my sheep.

  * * *

  Heptosh's carrier differed from Neuryzh's in that he drove his via a control panel. Neuryzh controlled this one from inside his head, so it looked as though both were seated -- or perched -- leisurely as the countryside flew past them. The weather was just right for riding along with the canopy folded down. There was only the tall front of the carrier with the crystal windscreen separating them from the country air. As the perches could be adjusted for sitting, it was comfortable enough for Heptosh.

  'I don't know when anything official's going to happen in regards to Kalodzuland,' said Heptosh. 'The Akkadis, more than anyone else, should know human populations need the living space.'

  'So, it would seem, do the Indigenous Nephteshis.'

  'Hah! I hope Amanhep doesn't seriously hope to move a Nephteshi population there. Their problems are only a matter of some give and take on both sides.'

  'As the sector's chief negotiator, I suppose you'd know. But would that not also work for
the Akkadis and Nephteshis here on Tok?'

  'Part of our problem is, we are truly cramped for space. I don't think the other species on Tok are happy with our continuously moving into spaces reserved for them, especially the Sozk.'

  'Yes,' observed Neuryzh, 'they've been a bit touchy on that.'

  There was a pause.

  'Never-the-less, you've advanced the situation a major step forward,' said Neuryzh, finally. 'It's now on a par with other issues that must be settled. The Human Affairs Department is now responsible to the sector council to see it through.'

  'But I'm still in a quandary regarding Shan. I believe he could be useful to us, yet if I drew attention to his memory lapse and aired my suspicion that an outside party could be involved, they'd likely overreact and stop any further talk of reopening that planet.'

  'You informed the right people. I've passed the concern on to Diggin, head of Sector Security. He's quite level-headed, as well as resourceful.'

  'A matter of time then, I hope.'

  Neuryzh responded with an ever so slight glow in his translucent dome -- the Utz equivalent of a smile.

  The Utz upper lip is composed of a hard bony material, rather like a bird's beak, with the two ends turned up. While this makes it seem like a perpetual smile, it's impossible to assume any other shape. The top of the bony area which includes the nostrils are set between the two bulgy eyes, so large that they influence the shape of the head below the dome. The deep but mellow nature of the eyes, while adding to the pleasantness of the face, also tends to remain unchanged. That leaves the function of non-verbal facial communication exclusively to the dome.

  The skin of Neuryzh's dome was smooth and translucent, but became rough at eye level, except for a tuft of feathers that encircled each ear hole. No one on Tok was ever sure if the bare rough skin on Neuryzh's neck was normal for an Utz, or if was the result of baldness, as there was never another Utz around to compare him to. At about his neckline, the rough skin gave way to fine plumage. What that became, yet further down, no one but the Utz ever knew, as that was covered by a coat that also resembled fine plumage. Like everything else Utz (such as the carrier), this seemed almost an extension of Neuryzh's being, as it changes colour whenever he willed it. The only thing that ever came out of the two slots near the front were clawed hands, resembling those of a bird.