T-47 Book II (Saxon Saga 6)

by Frederick Gerty

Lori continued, “Or all should leave.”

  The head dropped again.

  “Tarue, you represented this planet on Earth as an ambassador. That is a prestigious position. Should Joshii go with you, he might be one, too, both ambassadors from Uta. To Earth. To represent the interests of the people of Uta, to obtain trade agreements, as you did earlier, and to arrange for travel between the worlds. Such people are needed for the other worlds, as well. There will be much to do, upon our return–many accounts to settle, and new trips back here to Uta to arrange and organize. We need to speak to you, perhaps to Charon, and maybe FakFak, on whom to appoint. You, both of you, could go to Earth, or to one of the other planets, whatever you wish. It is up to you all.”

  “No, it seems it is up to Joshii. He alone holds the decision. And if he stays, and we all do, then he will reap the unending enmity of his kits. Alas, I do not know what to do.”

  “Do this, then. Tell Joshii the Sky Lady offers to him, and to you, the position of Ambassadors to Earth. Tell him I think his English is fine, his accent and his abilities will be much enjoyed on Earth. Anawoka translators are available on Earth, as elsewhere,” and Lori nodded to the one sitting off to the side, listening attentively, as always. “His teaching work is of high quality here, but tell him it will be even better in that time when he returns after a chance to study languages, customs, science and everything else on Earth. He will be very busy there, believe me. And many others remain here on Uta, who can continue the teaching he started. This is my offer. Let him decide, let him see me, if he has questions. Tell him not, until he decides, what the condition is–all of the family of Joshii, or none, will go to Earth. The Sky Lady will not separate the four. You may tell the kits that, also, that if they return to Earth, they will attend school, must study and learn, and prepare themselves for their adult lives. They hold much promise for careers in the diplomatic and trade fields. They will no longer live lives of idleness and ease on Earth. Meanwhile, their resentment, should that be the case if you decide to remain, should be directed at me, not at Joshii. Or you.”

  Tarue listened in silence to the long speech, sat there after Lori finished, her demeanor a bit brighter. Nodding, she said, “I will bespeak my husband once again, and convey the offer of the Ambassadorship to Earth to him. Perhaps he will consider it. I will tell you when it is decided.”

  “I will await your decision, and support you in whatever it is.”

  Tarue moved up to Lori, took a hand, bowed and kissed it. Holding her hand, she looked up and said, “Your wisdom and generosity are gifts from the gods, gifts you share freely among all.” Dropping Lori’s hand after another kiss, she hurried away.

  The Anawoka said, “Well spoken, Lorelei of the Saxons. You conveyed the decision of those you assembled very well.”

  “Yeah, nice job, Lori,” Hunter said. “Man, I don’t know what I’d do in their place.”

  Tari said, “I know what I’d decide, I’d go to Earth. In a minute. As I did. That Joshii is crazy to stay here.”

  “Well, we shall see. They are after all, aliens, and think differently from us all,” Lori said, to general amusement, even the Anawoka shaking his wings at her.

  The drapes whipped open to their sleeping quarters, letting in orange shafts of light from the low sun. Two big furry balls bounded in, leaped up onto the bed, and began shouting, “We’re going to Earth, we’re all going to Earth. Sky Lady! We’re all going with you.”

  Startled awake, Lori struggled to turn over, the many feet of the two kits stepping all over her legs and lower back. Hunter grumbled next to her, “What the hell is going on...?”

  The kits jumped off, one to either side of the low bed, stood next to it and said, in their usual unison, “Did we disturb you?”

  “Oh, we are sorry, but wanted you to hear the news...”

  “Yes, good news...”

  “The best....”

  “We go back to Earth...”

  “Is that not wonderful?”

  “And we will be Ambassadors...”

  “No, Mom and Dad will be, not us...”

  “This study–it is difficult?”

  “Where do we study? In the city?”

  “At University? Mommy did not say.”

  By now Lori was sitting up, and Hunter glared out from under the light sheet covering his shoulders. Lori said, “I am pleased you will return to Earth with us. All of you. Your father comes, too?”

  “Yes, he agrees. He seems scared, but we told him we would show him everything about Earth, he will like it so.”

  “And be most welcome...”

  “He does not believe what we tell him...”

  “Even when he sees it on the screen...”

  “Oh, it will be so wonderful to be back...”

  Lori let out a deep breath. Now, the baby stirred, she knew it’d want to nurse, no getting away from that, it already crawled toward her breasts, she let him flounder up to her, and latch onto her left nipple.

  “Tell you what,” she said to the kits, “How about you come back after our sleep time, and we’ll all talk about the trip? We have to stop at Magadana, you know, first. Maybe that’s a place you can visit, lots of Damai there, it’s pretty well developed...”

  “We know, we saw the tapes.”

  “They are mean to you there, I don’t think we will like them much.”

  “OK, but let us finish our sleep, OK. Meet us later? In the dim?”

  “OK, Sky Lady.” Before they left, Nif said, “May we get you anything, Sky Lady?”

  “Yeah, some peace and quiet,” Hunter mumbled beside her.

  Lori waved at him, and said, “Yes, a cup of fruit juice, or something to drink. For me. Nothing for grouchy, here, next to me.”

  The kits scurried out, twittering to one another, their form of laughter.

  “They couldn’t have waited until we got up?” Hunter said, now sitting up himself, and looking at Lori and the nursing child.

  “They’re kids. Still. Can you imagine how it’d be to you, in the same position?”

  Hunter looked at her for a long minute. “I’ve been there. Over you. So, yes, I can. I sure can. OK, all is forgiven. They coming back?” he said, standing and going to the small toilet in the corner, his penis long and stiff, though not fully erect.

  “Probably, but not for a while, I think.”

  “Good,” he said, standing there and starting to urinate. He was in the middle of it when Nif returned carrying a tall glass, looked at Hunter relieving himself, and went to Lori with the juice.

  “Is this enough?” she said. “If you need more, I will be pleased to get it for you.”

  “This will be fine, thank you.” The alien turned to leave. “You may stay for a moment, while Eric is nursing if you want.” Nif sat on the edge of the bed, facing her, as Hunter returned, climbed under the sheet again, and lay there looking at them both.

  Lori and Nif chatted for a while, both talking of what they liked best about Earth, and about Uta. It was clear Nif would miss little of her native world, seemed totally enamored with Earth, almost idolized it, which Lori tried to counter with reality. She hardly succeeded. Nif left when Lori started to change the baby. And finally, she closed the drapes, and returned to bed, and sleep.

  Chapter 25 - Glory

  Borrelia paced the length of the covered walkway outside his rooms, his bowels tight once again. More decisions. What to do? What the hell to do? Remain on this backwater planet, and rise to some prominence, not so difficult, he realized, and enjoy what luxuries and comforts it could supply, and undoubtedly prosper in future trading with the other worlds, what did these natives know of that, anyway? Or return to Magadana, and confront his past, seek a pardon from V’ming, the old and decrepit one, though showing a surprising amount of life yet in those videos, how’d he do that? Image manipulation? Whatever. Then return to his home on the hill, yes, he’d like that, if he avoids the firing squad, otherwise. But he’d committed to a life of honor, to the Sk
y Lady, now, and fealty to her as well, no more scheming and deceit, how could he go back on his word? She’d soon go off, return to that home world of hers, now that would be something to see some day, she’d not be around to watch him here, but no doubt, if he reneged on his word, she’d find out about it. And be some displeased, for sure.

  He paced some more, listening to the happy chants of the kits, as they learned and practiced English in a room below. He’d never manage to do that, it all sounded like random noises to him, without the translator, he’d be lost.

  “Well, time to talk to the family, if I can ever round them up again,” he mumbled to himself. He went to do that.

  Tannika immediately said, when he raised the question, “Can we please go back, Grandpa, please, please, please?”

  Alexii, her uncle said, “She doesn’t know what might be in store for us, and her, back home.”

  “And what might that be? Anything worse than this miserable hole of a planet?” youngest daughter Kedri asked. Borrelia had seen but little of her lately, she seemed to avoid him whenever possible, and moped and griped whenever he did see her. He clamped his mouth shut, trying to let the others speak, as he’d seen the Sky Lady do time and again, and reach a unified consensus over and over. He wondered if that would be possible with his own people. Still, he’d try.

  Alexii was lecturing his sister, warning of the danger, the reprisals, the threats that their return might garner. And no assurance that their former comfortable life style would be assured, either, they might be homeless, probably would be in fact, and destitute, as well.

  “Look,” he said. “We can run all around these backward people, build a good life, have a nice home, servants even, make a fortune trading with the other worlds, do well here.”

  “Yeah, and live in abject deprivation of all the things we left behind. Dad,” Kedri said, “I don’t care, I want to go back home, I’m going back, with or without you, and you and Mom and Alexii can’t stop me.”

  A hot retort leapt to his tongue, but he held it, knowing damn well he’d keep her here if he wanted to. And he knew she knew that, too, was just being defiant. Ah, to be so young and arrogant.

  He looked to his wife, and said, weariness in his voice, “Umari, what say you?”

  The woman looked at her family, being torn apart by this question. “Part of me wants to remain here, in relative safety. With T’ming gone, the situation back home is unsettled for sure, and you made no friends when you abandoned V’ming for his wayward son. With him back in power, and who knows for how long, nothing can be certain of the welcome we’ll receive. And that’s all of us, children,” she said, looking at each in turn. “Not just Father. It’s all of us, we’re all in it together. The fate of one will be the fate of all.”

  “And that fate remains elusive, and unknown, at the moment, back on Magadana,” Alexii said.

  Silence in the room.

  Domi, the older daughter said, “I bet the Sky Lady would know what to do. I bet she could help us decide. Maybe make sure nothing bad happens when we get back, if we all go home again.”

  Her husband, Kladar, silent up to then, said, “She won’t be there forever, even if she could intercede. She has her own planet to return to. And they treated her pretty badly last time, you know, there in Tajmyr.”

  “No, that brute T’ming did, and he’s dead. V’ming invited her back, he sounded very nice, apologetic even. I saw the video. She’ll be well received this time, and if we can insinuate ourselves with her, as part of her party, maybe we could be, too,” Kedri said, showing some dexterity as a negotiator. That impressed Borrelia.

  “Well, that’s a thought,” he said. He took a deep breath. “So I gather the consensus is to return, especially if the Sky Lady can offer to provide some support for our safety with V’ming, or whoever is in charge when we get there. It won’t be for several bright clusters, you know.”

  Nods all around, only Alexii slumping his shoulders in rejection. “I’ll be shot as a deserter, whatever they’ll do for you all.”

  “I’ll ask her about that, too, Alexii, OK?”

  “I’ll go along with you all if you leave. But it won’t break my heart to remain here.”

  To his surprise, the Sky Lady met him immediately upon her return from one of her many trips out in that flying thing of hers. That she left nearly 20 other favor seekers waiting while she went off with Borrelia humbled him. As they strolled away, he told her the gist of his dilemma.

  “What does Umari think of this?”

  “She has concerns, as do we all.”

  “Perhaps we should send for her, also, that she may join the discussion.”

  Umari arrived as Lori, Hunter and Borrelia settled near a table in the open porch of her suite–Mackanima’s old quarters. Tari brought them all a beer–just obtained from a new batch made in town, and flash chilled, welcomed in the growing warmth of day.

  Borrelia, and Umari, told them of their family’s desire to return to their home world, and their former lives. Umari told of missing her mansion, servants, friends, vacations, and parties with others in the city, as did her children. Lori was hardly pleased with that, but as Tari brought more refreshments, she realized she had a servant, too, even if she preferred to call her an assistant, and many others, too, cooks and such, as well, all behind the scenes, but ready to meet her slightest whim.

  But Umari went onto speak of her other activities, too–helping those dispossessed by one or more excesses of T’ming, and told of several times her husband helped spirit relatives of someone who had displeased the despot out of the city, right under the watch of guards or those sent to find them, but in reality, they often did not try too hard, knowing the same might happen to their own loved ones. Sometimes helped along by a hefty bribe, too. In any event, they secured pensions for widows, helped with orphanages, and did what they could to mitigate the harsh policies of T’ming, especially when they fell on the innocents. They hoped such would no longer be necessary, but were prepared to continue, should it be so.

  “You will be free to do so, we’ll be glad to take you back with us, if that’s what you’re asking,” Hunter said, with a nod from Lori.

  “Well, it’s a little more than that,” Borrelia said. He looked shrunken, Lori noticed, depressed and dispirited. “In the past, I backed the ascension of the son over the father–much to my later regret, but it was too late for that. In Tajmyr, we have long memories, it is said, and it’s right. Neither V’ming, nor his supporters, of which there are legions, as you know, will forget, either. I...think I might be taken, charged with treason, and shot. In fact, I know that.” He turned to look at Lori. “My son, formerly a soldier, now deserted, or at best, absent without authority, may share a similar fate. But perhaps, were you to put in a good recommendation for my family, for clemency, perhaps they might be left alone. I did what I did of my own accord, without the knowledge or support of my family. I am prepared to accept my fate, some retribution will no doubt be exacted, but beg my family be spared from sharing that with me.”

  Lori’s eyes found Hunter’s and they locked. She clicked off her translator, and said to him in English, though rude to their guests, “That’s twice he’s offered his own life to spare the family. He has some honor.”

  “Yes, but what can we guarantee, especially once we leave?”

  Lori nodded, and clicked on the translator again. “I apologize for the brief consultation with my mate in our language. You see, we share the same concern–even if my word held sway back on, what is the place...?”

  “Tajmyr.”

  “Yes, Tajmyr,” she said slowly, “we will soon leave, and with our departure, so may go whatever favors were granted while present.” She looked at the two. “If not granted upon arrival, we can, of course, offer you shelter for the time of our stay on the ship. Then we could send you to some other part of the planet. But none will return here to Uta, I think, we all plan to depart Magadana for home.” She stopped then, not offering passag
e for six refugees to Earth. Then she added, “Passage to Earth is not assured.”

  “We do not seek that,” Umari said. “Only your good word upon our return to Magadana. If you wish to grant it.”

  Lori looked at Borrelia. She flicked her eyes back to Umari. “I find your husband to be a person of honor, one who places the lives and safety of his family above his own.” She paused a moment, pensive. “I will seek to obtain clemency for your husband, and for his fine family, and do what I can while back on Magadana, if you wish to return. But I can guarantee nothing, still do not know how well I will be received myself, or by whom. And upon our departure, all I can do is to seek to locate you in a place of relative safety, inside, or out of...ah, Tammijar,” she said, stumbling on the word.

  It was close enough, and both aliens stood and bowed to Lori. “Sky Lady,” Borrelia said, “you are most kind to those least deserving, and we will remember your kindness all the days of our lives.”

  They stood up, and Lori said, “Thank you. Now, may I ask that you draft a document, or statement, that reflects the customs of your people, in properly requesting the action you seek for my signature? Some sort of clemency, or a pardon? I assume there is a protocol for this sort of thing? That would help me when the time is reached to offer it.”

  “Of course, immediately,” Borrelia said.

  “Good. Now, would you like to stay and have another beer with us, and tell me more of your life back home?”

  Umari looked out past the open doorway. “Sky Lady, I see others seek your wise counsel, and we have taken much of your valuable time. Thank you, may we talk more on another bright?”

  Lori looked over, to see Tari holding several people back, and said, “Later, then. See you both again.”

  As promised, Captain George returned 28 days after his departure, at least Eagle One announced the arrival of the Koyaanisqatsi in-system, at a time when Lori was half way around the planet from Kendu. She met him the next day, with another video from V’ming, a pre-welcome of some length, with clips of interactions between the natives and members of the expedition, including the illi-illi, to Lori’s delight.