by D M Arnold
5 -- Christmas
Nyk set down his lunch tray and sat across from Suki. He reached into a pocket, withdrew a folded piece of paper and began to hand it to her. “What's that?” she asked.
“A thank-you note. Hospitality must be followed up with a thank-you note.”
“Read it to me -- my fingers are all tuna.”
“Dear Suki. Thank you for the wonderful dinner. It was delicious and an experience I shall never forget. It was a gift, one I accept it in the spirit in which you gave it, and I give you my thanks. Thanks also for your gift of companionship and friendship. Your friend, Nick Kane.” He folded the note and tucked it into her bag.
“That's sweet, Nick. By the way, I have a couple of gifts to thank you for. First, thank you for the wonderful cry and the shoulder to cry upon. It was cathartic. I meditated last night and my meditations were better than in years. And thanks for holding me the way you did, it felt so good.” She placed her hand on his. “Thank you, too, for being non-judgmental.”
“For being non-judgmental about what?”
“You're too sweet.” She touched the tip of his nose with her forefinger. “Are you doing anything for Thanksgiving?” Nyk recalled his Agency training course on Earth feast days. “Next week. I'd love to have your company. I don't do well alone on holidays.”
“I'm sorry. I have to travel home next week.”
“To be with your wife? I understand...”
“I probably will see her. I have to deliver my first set of cultures to the home office labs. I must also make a trip to headquarters in New York. I wish I didn't -- I'd rather be with you.”
“I'll be all right, I guess. I don't suppose you'll be here for Christmas.”
Nyk thought. “I'll be here for Christmas,” he said.
* * *
Nyk loaded a stasis canister containing bean cultures and the vial with Suki's hairs into the shuttlecar. At midnight he drove into the countryside to a secluded spot, pulled onto the shoulder, ran pre-launch diagnostics and checked the doorseals.
He pressed the launch sequencer. The car nosed up and shot into the sky. He activated countermeasures and was soon in a high orbit around Earth. A pre- programmed subjump put him close to the comm relay station. The shuttlecar's guidance homed in on the station's transponder and he parked it in the shuttlebay. The bay doors closed and the pressurization sequence began.
Nyk connected cables to recharge the shuttle's power cells and picked up his canister. He went through decontamination, dressed in a Floran tunic and xarpa and slipped into a pair of sandals. A hail from the packet's captain blared through the comm station intercom. Nyk heard and felt the thud of the vessel docking. He boarded through the docking tunnel and took his seat.
Shortly he was disembarking onto the transit platform in orbit over Floran. He walked down the concourse toward the shuttle to the planet's surface.
Veska beckoned him. “Hello, my friend and my son. How goes your tour as an ExoAgent?”
“It's too soon to tell for sure, but it's been interesting. Earth people are different, but I think I like them. It's a beautiful planet with much more interesting plant life. The land is full of life. I see flying creatures called birds as well as ground-dwellers. Floran's biology is simple and dull in comparison.”
“Don't be late for your shuttle.”
* * *
He pressed his wrist to the scanpad outside the apartment and the door popped open. It was mid-afternoon and he figured Senta was at the lab. Nyk examined the family crest hanging on the apartment wall. Ky-Ha-Na, he touched the katakana characters.
Senta's voice came from the balcony. “Thank you, Rez. I'll see you tomorrow.”
“Good day, ma'm.”
Nyk heard the skimmer door slam shut. Senta approached him from the balcony.
“Hello, korlyta,” he said. He opened his travel case, withdrew a cellophane bag and handed it to her. “I brought this for you -- Earth sweets.”
Senta slipped a peppermint lozenge into her mouth. Her eyes popped and she reached into her mouth and removed it. “The flavor's so strong,” she said as she tossed it into the waste reprocessor. “It almost made me sneeze. Don't tell me you like these.”
“Try a green one,” he said. “It's milder.”
“Maybe later.” She pointed to the stasis canister. “Are those your cultures?”
“Yes -- I have some of Sukiko's hairs.” He opened the canister, removed the vial and withdrew a hair with the forceps. “Look at the color... Did you ever see hair so dark? It's black!”
Senta examined the specimen. “It looks like the root is intact on this one, so we should have no trouble sequencing it. It should be done in ten days or so.”
“Ten days! Can't we get it done sooner?”
“I'm sorry, Nyk, but we're in the middle of sequencing the latest set of prototype seedstocks. I must have those analyses done before we decide which strains to put into the pilot beds. If I can work it in sooner, I will. By the way, how was she?”
“What do you mean?”
“You seduced her, didn't you? How else did you obtain those samples? You knew I'd want a full report. What kinds of lovers are Earth women?”
“I did not seduce her. I picked those out of her hairbrush.” Nyk stalked into his study, sat at the vidisplay and began scanning through Koichi's journal in the original Esperanto. His search for the word Sukiko yielded nothing. He began perusing the entire text from beginning to end, looking for family records. No references could he find to any Earth Kyhanas except Koichi's own parents.
“I'm sorry, Nyk,” Senta said from behind him. “I should've known better. You've been away. I've missed you, and I want our short time together to be pleasant.” She draped her arms across his shoulders.
He jumped, turned and looked up at her. “I'm sorry, what were you saying?”
She glowered at him. “Fine, Nyk. Spend your leave with your dusty old journal.” She stormed out of the study and slammed the door behind her.
Nyk arose and looked at the closed door, then sat. Why hadn't Koichi left a family tree as the other Floran crew had? Perhaps the answer lies elsewhere in the journal. He began translating a passage.
6.011 APF
It was five Earth years ago today we departed on our ill-fated mission to Centauri. Or as close to five Earth years as we can determine, given the differences in the planets' rotational and revolutionary periods.
I still remember that last tea ceremony with my parents.How good my mother was at keeping the old traditions. She wanted me to see the land of my heritage, and I kept putting it off. There'll be time, I said. Now, I will never have the opportunity to see the Land of the Rising Sun with my own eyes, to see the sun rise over Mount Fuji, or to rub elbows with my people. How poorer I am for that lost opportunity, and how poorer will be Yasuko, Tetsui and other of my children that may come. My humblest apologies to the reader of these words, but today is a day that fills me with regrets. Carpe diem, before it is too late.
* * *
Nyk stepped to a public vidphone at the shuttleport and placed a call to Senta. “Why didn't you wake me?”
“You were so exhausted last night, I didn't want to disturb you.”
“I overslept and I'm on standby for the shuttle. Veska won't be happy if I miss the packet he's taken the trouble to divert for me. I didn't have a chance to say goodbye.”
“What are your plans?”
“As soon as I arrive on Earth I must travel to New York...” He heard his name announced over the shuttleport's PA system. “...I have a seat, I must go.”
“Goodbye, Nykkyo,” Senta said. She kissed her fingers and placed them against the vidphone camera.
“Goodbye, korlyta.” He dashed to the gate and boarded the shuttle.
* * *
Nyk trod down the jetway at LaGuardia and hired a taxi to take him to the Tribeca section of Manhattan where Seymor's office was located. A truck passed on the street and he coughed and gasped from the
cloud of diesel fumes it left in its wake. He entered the grimy office building, climbed to the second floor and entered a door marked “FloranCo.”
A middle-aged woman with dark brown skin greeted him. “May I help you?”
“Seymor is expecting me. I'm Nick Kane.”
“Just a minute.” She picked up the phone and punched a button. “A Mr Kane to see you, sir... Go right in, Mr Kane.”
Nyk entered a door marked “private” and saw Seymor sitting behind a large desk. He closed the door.
“That is an Earth woman,” he said to Seymor.
“That's Jaquie. Earth people can be handy for some roles. Jaquie is an excellent receptionist and secretary.”
“How do you keep what we do secret when they're in the next office?”
“Experience, lad, experience. Now, do you have something for me?”
Nyk opened his case and presented a sack of raw diamonds. Seymor looked them over. “These are nice. Yes, very nice. I received a complimentary memo from the plant breeders, saying you've been diligent and prompt in sending the material they've requested. I've put a copy in your permanent record. I'm pleased with your performance so far, lad.”
“I appreciate it, Seymor,” Nyk replied.
“Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“Could you explain to me the significance of Christmas? I've been invited to a friend's home, and I'm not sure I appreciate the importance of this feast day.”
Seymor stood by the window and gazed at New York's skyline. “Christmas... It's a time to buy things you don't need with money you don't have. It's day to find yourself a year older but not an hour richer ... That description's from a century and a half ago. It's just as apt today -- more so.”
“Then why is it such an important event?”
“Pay no mind to me, lad -- these are just the ramblings of a cynical old codger.” He turned to Nyk. “I think one must be a native of this rock to fully appreciate the holiday. You'll need a gift. What sort of friend?”
“She's a woman. She's been through hardship and I'd like to cheer her.”
“You know the hazards of involvement with Earth women. I'd hate to have to send you up.”
“We're only friends -- no romance. She says she's a lesbian.”
“Oh... that should be safe enough. How about this?” He took out a large, flat case and snapped it open. Inside was row after row of sparkling gemstones. “These are what your rocks get turned into ... Cut and polished diamonds. This case is worth an Earth fortune...” Seymor picked up the smallest stone. “This is about two carats -- why don't you take this? I can let you have it -- it's of second quality.” Seymor slipped the stone into a fabric pouch and put the pouch into a small cardboard box. “She'll love it.”
“Do you think so?” Nyk asked.
“Sure -- that'll put you in solid with her, lad. Just glad to help...”
Nyk pocketed the box.
* * *
He flipped open the laptop computer on the kitchen table and attempted a vidphone call to Senta. She answered on the second signal. “Hi, korlyta. I just arrived from New York.” He saw movement in the background. “Do you have company?”
“Only Andra Baxa. We had an opening in the lab schedule, so I performed the DNA analysis of your Earth friend. I compared her sequence to Gordo Kyhana's. Her genetic markers are consistent with a straight-line ancestry -- as consistent as we can get given the hodge-podge in the early times. I'd say the odds are between eighty-five and ninety percent she's a direct ancestor. I'm sorry it couldn't be more conclusive.”
“I'd say eighty-five to ninety percent is close,” Nyk replied.
“In my field, a close match is 99.9999-plus percent. This is as good a match as we can get, given the circumstances.” He saw Andra walk up behind her and whisper into her ear. “Now, if you'll excuse me...” The screen went blank.
* * *
The clock on the lab wall read 3:30. Nyk slipped a tray full of capsules into the stasis canister and locked the filing cabinet. He heard the lab door and Suki walked in.
“Howdy, stranger,” she said and sat on a lab stool.
“How were your classes today?” he asked.
“I thought I wanted to spend my life digging in the dirt. But, I really enjoy teaching. I like those kids.”
“Just on a chance ... do you have any idea what carpe diem means?”
“It's Latin,” she replied. “It means 'seize the day.'” She made a grasping gesture to illustrate the word.
“Seize the day?”
“Yes, I'm surprised you've never seen it before.”
“I guess I've led a sheltered life, with my plants and culture dishes and all.”
“You're an odd mix of innocence and wisdom, Nick. It's one of your more endearing traits.”
He talked with her as he tended his cultures. At five o'clock, he switched off the lights, locked the lab door and escorted her to her apartment building. It diverted his route home by only a short distance.
Her hand touched his. He placed his palm against hers and spread his fingers. She laced her fingers with his and he walked, holding hands with her. He walked slowly, savoring her company and the conversation.
“Nick, don't you think the lights are beautiful? I like seeing the lights this time of year. I'm so happy you accepted my invitation to come over for Christmas Eve dinner. I don't think I could bear being alone.”
“It's an important day -- one of the more important Christian holidays.”
“I think Christmas today is about twenty-five percent Christian, twenty- five percent pagan, and the rest commercial.”
“Pagan?” he asked.
“Yes. Many of the Christmas customs derive from pagan solstice festivals, like the Roman Saturnalia ... I'm sorry, Nick, I'm lecturing you as if you were one of my students.”
“Please continue -- I enjoy listening to you. You teach comparative religion. Are you religious?”
“No, I'm not. I don't believe in a specific, personal god, in heaven or an afterlife. I do believe in spirituality and I try to be a spiritual person -- it's the reason I meditate. I think it's possible to be spiritual without being religious, and the other way around. I do think all religions are valid as a metaphor for the fundamental mystery of the universe -- 'Where did I come from and where am I going?' What about you?”
“I'm not religious and I'm not sure I know what it means. I do believe in Destiny. The universe appears chaotic, but I think there's some underlying plan for how it unfolds. Destiny traces a path for each of us, one we have no choice but to follow.” He reached her apartment. “Lunch tomorrow?” he asked.
“Of course.” She gave his hand a squeeze, then unlocked the door and went into her apartment building. He stood and watched the door close, turned and headed home.
* * *
Nyk locked up the lab and walked to Suki's apartment. “Thank you for coming,” she said. “Christmas Eve makes me sad and your company will cheer me up.”
“Why are you sad?”
“Because it reminds me of happier and simpler times. My mother is Buddhist, and my father is ... well, I don't know what he is, but he's not a practicing Christian. They used to celebrate Christmas for my sake, so I wouldn't feel too different from the rest of the kids at my school. They'd put up a Christmas tree, hang stockings, and have presents... As I grew older the tradition wasn't so special. The last Christmas I remember celebrating was when I was in the eighth grade, I think. The last three were nothing special, believe me.”
She presented him a package, about half the dimensions of his laptop computer and wrapped in colorful paper. “Merry Christmas, Nick. Open it.” He opened it and inside was an Indian cookbook. “This one is the best -- it's the one I use. It's also out of print, so I had a used bookstore hunt a copy down for me. There are some inspired vegetarian meals in here.”
She looked into his eyes. “Please accept this gift, from one stranger to another.”
Nyk replied
, “Thank you -- this is special, and I shall cherish it. Now, I have a gift for you. Merry Christmas, Suki.” He handed her the small box. She opened it, removed the pouch, and held the stone in the palm of her hand.
“I ... I can't accept this ... it's too much.”
“Please accept this gift in the spirit in which I give it.”
“It's too much. I'd feel obligated in a way that makes me uncomfortable. There's no way I could afford to reciprocate.”
“The stone is synthetic. It didn't cost me a thing. I brought this because I thought it would cheer you. Please accept it.”
“You mean it's an artificial stone? I know something about gems, Nick. Remember, my grandfather was a jeweler. This sure looks like a real diamond to me!”
“Oh, it's real, it's just synthetic. My company makes them. We've developed a technology to make diamonds synthetically. They're just as real as natural stones. Please accept it.”
Suki looked up at him. “It's beautiful. I've never seen a more beautiful diamond. It looks to be about two carats. Thank you very much.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Let's have dinner.”
* * *
Nyk sat with her on her sofa until nearly midnight. “It's getting late,” he said. “I'd better be leaving.”
“Please don't leave me alone tonight. I couldn't bear it. I get sad at Christmas now, because it reminds me of happy times that are gone -- gone forever and replaced with sad memories. We strangers must stick together. You said if I ever felt alone or afraid, I should call on you. Please stay with me tonight.”
“Are you afraid?” he asked.
“I don't want to be alone on Christmas.” Nyk put his arm around her and held her. She leaned against him. “Mmm, this feels so good, Nick.” Nyk dozed and his head fell against hers. He awoke with a start.
He held her hand and followed her into the bedroom. Nyk stretched out on the bed and Suki lay beside him. He put his arm around her and held her tightly, stroking her back. She let out a contented sigh. Nyk smoothed her hair. He felt her arms and legs twitch as she drowsed. Her lips parted and she began to breathe regularly through her nose and mouth. Her body relaxed.