by Robin Roseau
She giggled. "If you aren't busy. I think perhaps my sister intends to consume your attention."
"Well, I would enjoy dancing with your sister's sister, if the opportunity arrives."
She giggled again, and then we arrived in front of her father. Without a word, she left me there, scampering off. I didn't see her again that night, and we didn't dance.
"Cecilia Grace," Baardorid said jovially. "My daughter has located you. I feared you had fled."
"I was pulled into a conversation," I said. "I would not flee improperly, Baardorid. I promised your guest I would show her the wonders on my tablet."
"So you have," he said. "And of course you would do nothing improperly."
And then I turned to the guest in question. She was watching me carefully. "Good evening, Sartine."
"Good evening, Cecilia Grace," she said, speaking carefully. We clasped hands briefly. She cocked her head. "Do I use your full name?"
"It would be uncommon in a social setting," I said.
At that moment, the music ended. Baardorid said, "Cecilia, may I invite you to dance before everyone else spirits you away from me?"
"Of course. I would love to dance with the Vendart."
His smile broadened, and he stepped forward to take my hand. I was worried the music would be a style I hadn't been taught, in spite of Chaladine's conversation with the musicians, but I trusted them. They knew my limits.
Baardorid led me onto the dance floor. We had barely arrived before the music began. We offered our courtesies to each other per the Talmonese custom, and then he drew me into his arms.
Dance expression was something else that followed mankind into the stars. Of course, over time, styles had varied dramatically, but there were some things one found in planet after planet. The dance embrace was one of those, and so that was quite natural to me.
Most of the steps were even familiar, and I was a good dancer. One did not arrive in my position without a thorough ability in the social graces, after all. What varied was that the steps allowed to me varied with the music, and that had been what was most difficult to learn.
But Baardorid was a good dancer himself, and if I made the occasional mistake, he readily forgave me for it. We had a very lovely dance.
We spoke while we danced. "Your gown is quite amazing."
"Thank you. It is in a style from my home world. You will see that Erica and Mallory are dressed quite differently."
"They are not from Centos Four."
"No. They come from a planet called simply Green." I spoke the English name but then offered the translation. "Everything is green, not just the plants. And so you will never see either of them ever wear green."
"I had not noticed, but now I will be more observant."
We danced for a minute or so before he said, "My daughter seemed very comfortable with you tonight."
"Which daughter do you mean?" I asked.
He laughed. "I suppose they were both comfortable, but I meant the elder daughter."
"She has been a good friend," I said. "You all have been."
"I wouldn't suppose if I asked, you would tell me what you discussed."
"Lost childhood," I stated.
"Lost childhood?"
"When one becomes an adult, one sets aside childhood," I explained. "And then, later in our lives, we learn it is possible to be both adult and child at the same time."
"That is not a lesson I have yet learned, but I look forward to it. I train my children to take over from me as rapidly as I am able to do so."
Another minute went by before he asked, "Have you found what you came to Talmon to find?"
"What is it you think I seek?"
"Trade."
I missed a step and nearly tripped, but Baardorid steadied me.
"We are a simple people," he said. "We do not have the things you have. And I know you have wonders long lost to us, wonders that cannot be made on our planet. You would trade them with us. But you do not offer charity, and we are a proud people. Have you found what you seek?"
"Baardorid..."
"Perhaps it is not in Sudden. Perhaps you should see more of Talmon."
"I believe the greatest value on Talmon are the people. You have made us very welcome."
He said nothing for a moment. "We have books."
"I know you do."
"We know what happens when a technologically advanced nation stumbles on a less advanced nation. It is always the same story."
"Not always," I said. "If it were always the same, I would not be here. I wouldn't be necessary."
"I would offer a galatzi trade for your promise to protect my home. You may have your choice of my children. I would accept either Aston or Blaine in exchange."
We came to a stop, there on the floor. I pushed away so I could look into his eyes. "Baardorid, I do not have that type of power. I will offer you a different promise. I will protect Talmon the best I am able. And as long as I am on Talmon, I believe you are safe."
"What happens when you leave?"
"I make my report. I explain what you have that is worth trade to us. Then others decide."
"You have found nothing your empire wants."
"No, not yet. It would be difficult to explain what a warm people you are, and that is not something that can be traded."
"And so, what happens when you leave?"
"Perhaps nothing. You are distant. Perhaps you would never hear from us again. Perhaps you would be invited into The Empire, but you would hear from us only very rarely. Or perhaps people will wish to visit your planet, to experience your warmth. Would they be welcome?"
"Of course."
"Perhaps we will find other things that you could trade for the things we have to offer."
He studied me carefully. "Are your diplomats always this honest?"
"No. But as I said, I like you. I want what is best for you."
He nodded then pulled me back into dance position. The song ended only a few measures later, and we stood there together for a moment.
"Perhaps you should widen your search."
I didn't think that would help. I didn't answer him, and then he led me back to Sartine and Valtine.
Sartine didn't hesitate. "Cecilia, will you dance with me?"
I glanced at Valtine, but she waved me towards Sartine, and so I replied, "I would love to."
She took my arm and led me onto the floor. It was so strange being led in this fashion by such a small woman. Oh, I had dated many kinds, but rarely had I met someone so petite but so forceful. She drew me into an embrace, and she was set as the lead. A moment later the music began, and we stepped into the music.
We danced quietly for a time, but then she said, "Do you understand my words?"
"If you speak slowly and carefully."
"Chaladine told me my accent is difficult for you."
"Yes, it is."
"Your dance with your Vendart seemed..."
"Intense?"
"Ah, you know that word. Yes. Intense. What did you discuss?"
"Trade."
She laughed. "A popular topic." We danced a minute longer before she said, "You dance well."
"We both know I am missing steps."
"You dance better than either my brother or sister. You are light and easy to lead, even if the music is unfamiliar."
"Thank you," I said. "I am enjoying myself."
She tightened her hand for a moment and then said, "As am I."
We didn't speak any further until the music was over. And then instead of leading me back to Baardorid, she led me to the other side of the room. "I wish to ask a favor."
"You wish to see my tablet."
"That is only part of the favor. First I must ask, are you promised to another?"
"Promised?"
"More dances," she said. "Or other things." The last was said slowly.
"Oh. I am promised a dance with the Vendart's eldest daughter, and perhaps with the youngest, if we see each other. I have no othe
r commitments."
"Then my favor is this: I will hand you to Chaladine for your dance, but then I wish to spend the remainder of the evening with you."
"Do you not have obligations? You need to decide who you wish to take for galatzi. How will you decide if you do not meet the available choices?"
"I would not be choosing for myself; I will let my brother and sister do this duty, overseen by my aunts and uncles. I would like to hear of your world."
I smiled. "Of course."
She returned my smile then took my arm. She led me to Chaladine, who was standing along the side, watching us. The two spoke too rapidly for me, but then she handed me off, and Chaladine immediately invited me to dance.
The song had already begun, but I moved into her arms, and we began to dance.
We didn't speak, but when the song ended, she held onto me. "I wish a second dance."
"Of course, if we are not being rude."
"We aren't," she assured me. And so, a new song began, and we danced.
It was Chaladine who had taught me to dance the local styles, and she most knew what I could do. We had two good dances, and I enjoyed them thoroughly.
Furthermore, she had gotten me thinking. She was warm and lovely, and being held by her felt good. We had, indeed, become friends, and now even better friends.
And I wondered.
"You feel good," I wanted to tell her. But I didn't. But I wondered.
She would have been happy with me for a time, but not forever. Would she? Forever could be a very, very long time. I knew she didn't understand that.
And so, I said nothing. But I wondered, and I knew, now that it was out there, and I knew I had time, I would think.
I wondered what Blaine would do if I told him I had arranged a marriage for him. Yeah, I could see that conversation happening.
But still, I wondered.
* * * *
Sartine drew me away from the dancing, first next door to collect food and wine, but then into a small sitting room down the hall. There was no one there, but a warm fire burned.
"How is this room free?"
"It was given to me for the evening," she said. "Come."
She pulled me to a place before the fire, but it was far too warm, and I eschewed the offered seat. "I'm sorry. You sit there. It is far too warm for me."
"It is a cool night. The room is chilled."
"I could sit here," I said, gesturing to a seat out of direct line of the fire. It was warm, but not stifling so.
She studied me. "Where do you really wish to sit?"
"Where will you be comfortable?"
She laughed. "I wish to know where you would prefer to sit."
I gestured. "There," I said. "Near the windows."
"Then we shall sit there." She led me to a sofa, handing me into place. She set our shared plate of food on a small coffee table, then took her glass of wine from me before sitting down next to me.
"You do not fear the cold."
"No. Would you like to see something?"
"Yes. Show me."
I set my wine down after another sip, then drew out my tablet. Her eyes dropped to it immediately. I powered it on then went searching through my videos until I found the one I wanted. I handed the tablet to her. She took it reverently. Then I said, "Press here." I pointed. "Be gentle."
She did, and after a moment, the video started. But she held her finger in place, and it stopped again. I managed not to laugh.
"Like this." I reached for her finger, pulled it away, and then pressed and released, and the video began.
I retained possession of her hand, holding her fingers while she clutched the tablet. She stared at the screen.
"Snow," she said. "There is snow. Where is this?"
"My home planet."
My sister had made the movie. There was film of both of us. It was old, from when we were growing up, but it was one of my favorite films. We'd had a lovely week of skiing in the southern mountains.
"Is this you?" Sartine asked.
"My sister," I said. "Her name is Savannah. I appear in a moment."
And sure enough, a few seconds later, the screen changed, and Sartine said, "That is you!"
"Yes," I said.
The video switched back and forth, some of it Savannah, but because it was her video, more of it was of me, although at times there were the two of us together. Sartine watched aptly.
"You ski."
"I do. Or did, anyway. Watch."
I was never an athlete, but I had been a decent skier, once upon a time. And I loved to take the jumps. Savannah did a series of jumps, both her and me. She was every bit as good as I was.
But Savannah had finished the film with my favorite part, a huge, huge wipeout. I took a jump badly, landed poorly, and then slid halfway down the hill. The video switches to a close up of me, absolutely covered with snow, and there was snow places snow had never gone before.
I was laughing my head off.
"This is a different fall."
"No," I said.
"But your sister was below you. You could not be there that long."
"My father filmed that. He skied up to me and filmed me while I laughed. He didn't ask if I was hurt until after I finally began to get up."
The film ended with a shot of my sister and parents together.
"Who were those at the end?" Sartine asked.
I didn't want to explain about rejuvenation. "Friends," I said. It wasn't a lie, not exactly, but it wasn't the truth, either. But she wouldn't have believed the truth, and I didn't want her to think I lied to her.
"Your planet is so cold?"
"This was in the mountains," I said. "I grew up somewhere colder than Sudden, but not so cold as to have such deep, deep snow."
"But you know snow."
"Yes, I know snow."
"Your skis are different than ours. We could not do what you did."
"We have skis that are probably much like yours as well, but as you say, you could not do the same things."
"And do you ski on skis the way I do?"
"I have. It is a lot of work."
She laughed. "Life is work."
"That it is," I agreed.
She looked at my tablet, her desire clear. "What else would you like to see?" I asked her.
"Your home? Where you grew up?"
"All right," I said. "Let me see what I have." I wondered what I should show her. I dug through my videos until I found one of me playing with my childhood dog in the neighborhood park. I stared at the still video introduction for a moment.
"Is something wrong?"
"This appears as a happy video," I said. "It is my dog from when I was younger. I still miss him."
"You have dogs."
"I did." I turned the tablet around and handed it to her, pointing to where she should tap. This time I didn't hold her hand, but I listened to my own laughs coming from the tablet, accompanied by the sounds of a barking dog, now dead for eighty years. I brushed tears away long before the video ended.
"What was his name?" she asked gently.
"Spot." I said the word in English. "It means. Um." I pointed to a freckle on my skin, but then said, "But bigger, like this." I held my finger in a circle.
She offered a word in Talmonese. "Some dogs have these spots. This dog had no spots."
"It was a joke," I explained.
"He loved you," she said. I nodded and brushed away one more tear. She handed the tablet back to me. "Something happy."
I nodded and took the tablet from her. I found something far more recent and handed it back. She hit start then stared at the screen again.
"What is this?"
"A world I visited," I said. "A lovely world with lovely, wonderful people."
"What is this world?"
"The locals call it Talmon."
Her eyes snapped back to the screen, and then she brushed her fingers across the screen, causing the video to freeze. But she stared just the same. I reached a
round and tapped the screen so it would start again.
There wasn't any music, just the noise of people speaking in the background. She wouldn't understand the words; they were in English.
"What are they saying?"
"Nothing important. One is a member of the ship's crew and is talking about the job he just did. Mallory and Erica are talking about Erica's mother."
"You come to a new planet, and no one wonders what you will find?"
I was impressed she would ask. "Everyone wondered. It took two months to arrive here, and by the time I took this video, we had been over your home for several days. We were talked out."
She nodded.
She watched the video to the end. I had stayed for an entire orbit, but I had made the video to jump ahead periodically. She looked up at me then rotated in her seat, edging over until we were sitting side-by-side instead of facing each other. "Will you play it again and tell me what we are seeing?"
"I didn't recognize anything while we were in orbit," I said. "But I can show you Sudden." I took the tablet from her and adjusted the playback until the eastern coastline of her continent was just coming into view. I showed it to her.
"I do not know where exactly. Sudden is here, somewhere." I gestured on the screen. "I'm sorry. This is not what I am good at."
She stared at the image. "How do I make it play?"
I tapped it for her, and the image moved forward, but then it shifted, as I had skipped ahead in our orbit. I paused it again. "I'm sorry. When I made this video, I didn't know where anything was. I can try to make a better video, but not tonight. I need to use a different computer."
"Will you back it up again?"
I showed her how, and she told me where to stop.
"Sudden is here."
"Somewhere there, yes."
She gestured. "Then my home is here, in the north, hidden under these clouds."
"I'm sorry," I said. "I don't have any video without clouds there. I didn't take that much, just one orbit."
"Orbit?" I had used the English word.
"Yes, sorry." I held my fist up. "You understand your world is a ball."
"Yes."
"We fly very, very high, like this," and I traced my finger in an orbit around my fist. "One time around is one orbit. Or we may say we are in orbit."
"I see."
We talked for a while, finally edging around to the difference is laws and customs. "When you are here, do you follow your laws or ours?"