Still the king remained silent. Lori looked at the Anawoka, nodded.
The bird spoke up. “Your highness, the feeding of the young from the mouth is quite common among the sky people. We do so, as do the illi-illi. None find it the least out of the ordinary, it is in fact, a time of great happiness among those two races, a welcoming of new life into the world. It might be, and could be among yours, as well. But the decision is yours alone to make. We will not seek to impose a way of life on you. And you must not on us, either. So you realize, that as time goes on, and our people trade and visit, you will see, on this world, or on the home worlds, or on the great stations in between, or on the ships on which you will travel, each species feeding its young according to its custom. The sky people hope such mouth feeding of our young will not cause you any distress.”
The king moved closer to Lori, watching the baby nurse. She soon switched breasts, to more intense observation. Idly, she dried her vacant nipple with a cloth. The king asked how the baby nursed, and Lori gave him a brief explanation.
The king said, “I see only a wonderful order in this manner of nourishment. And if wonderful for the humans, why is it not for the Damai? I will study this matter, and issue a finding.”
The group nearby talked of the issue, and it sounded like a discussion from Earth. The older population was seen as set in their ways, would never change, nor even approve of change, and no doubt, actively resist it, and insist on keeping the old ways. Yet time and again, a young mother, or many, were cited, arrested, harassed, jailed even, when the need to mouth feed overtook them in a public, or semi-public, place. Change might be hard, and difficult, and take a long time. Yet Lori thought the king had already made up his mind, even in the face of being criticized for bringing alien practices to his province.
The following diaper change brought additional interest, and more stories of how the other races handled the immediate needs of toileting offspring. The Anawoka told several funny stories of their efforts, and the Queen passed details of her royal children, and the universal attempts to bring order to the process.
With the baby asleep in his father’s arms, the king called for more refreshments for all, and large trays of native foods appeared. The Anawoka picked over a tray at his feet, while Morales brought out some ration packs for the humans, quickly self-heated, to more amazed comments from the natives.
King Angara said, “I understand my counterpart in Tajmyr has visited your great ship in orbit. Is this so?”
“Yes,” Lori answered. She said no more, but glanced at the king. He fidgeted, and she knew why. “Is this something you might wish to do, also?”
“Indeed, it is. Never before had a person of royalty from the province risen to the heights of orbit. Yet it is something I dare not ask of you, great visitor from the stars.”
“Yes, if so, soon an endless stream of other kings and princes and who knows else, will insist on equal treatment, and our vessels can hardly accommodate the crush of bodies wanting to squeeze into them.”
“Yes, that will surely be so.”
“Yet, I feel a fondness for you, and Queen Sayan, and wish to offer the hospitality of my ship, as a worthy reciprocal for that shown me. Only the most honorable of leaders may be invited to the ships in orbit. And if not now, perhaps at next visit. Do you wish to visit now, your excellency?”
“Yes, I do. And I would be most grateful for the honor. Just say when, and I will be ready,” King Angara said with a low voice, standing stiffly before her.
The kits set up a clamor, wanting to come along, too. The princess told of her trip to orbit, the wondrous view, the breathtaking aspect of the huge planet slowly turning beneath her, and the marvelous order and structure of the Koyaanisqatsi.
“Next bright? Or within the coming bright-cluster? Might that be possible?” the king asked. “Soon, anyway.”
“I must check on the orbital positions, and ongoing activities. And we need time to prepare for such a distinguished guest. But if possible, I will try to arrange your visit when you wish.”
“Please, Sky Lady, make no extra effort on our behalf. Just to see your ship is so wondrous, nothing extra need be done. Nothing,” he said again, for emphasis. Then pointing, he added, “The kits, may they visit again? I have seen the videos, and they do seem to have enjoyed it so.”
“Yes, they may visit as well. And their mother, too.”
Lori pulled Morales into the discussion, for security considerations. The king asked of TV coverage would be possible, start to finish. She said, “Fine with us, whatever you are comfortable with.”
“The people will go crazy. I will declare a provincial holiday, so that all may watch, and share in the wonder of the event,” the king said, motioning to a secretary.
After more talk and food, Lori and the humans left, the princess and her kits staying behind, for an extended visit. Later, King V’ming called Lori on the Koya, with a long expression of thanks for bringing the families together again.
“No, that has not happened,” Lori said. “You two, the fathers, the kings, remain apart.”
“Yes, each hesitates to invite the other to his realm.”
“That is so, but perhaps you will come to mine again, and be here when King Angara arrives. Then you will be on a neutral place, where each will be equal, and none will be seen as weak or without strength.”
“You will bring me to your ship once more? Under which pretense?”
“Well, perhaps you will want to see your daughter, and bring her back to her home again, after a time away.”
Silence, the hard eyes unmoving, for a time. “Yes. That is sensible. Most appropriate, also, since you brought her to Cerskogo in the first instance.” Lori remained silent, as she saw King V’ming thinking. “If it is possible, and perhaps you might say the first words, I would invite King Angara to return with me and my daughter and his grandchildren, and visit my province. Not as an official trip, a diplomatic...event, but as a courtesy call, as the guests, perhaps, we might bring them in on this, also, of the kits, so he might see where they live, and assure himself that all is well there...” Another pause. “A stop en route to his home. What do you think, Sky Lady?”
“The Sky Lady thinks that anything that brings members of a family together, of what ever rank, is a good idea. She thinks your idea is brilliant, and she will see to it that the offer is made, at the appropriate time, to the king of Cerskogo. Will you mention this to your daughter?”
“I will get word to her immediately. Now, when might I travel once again to your ship?Should I be there when he arrives?”
They discussed it, and in the end decided to arrange the arrival for some hours after King Angara, so as to not diminish the great event in his eyes, or in the eyes of his people, and in fact, to see if some subtle means might be found to suggest it as his idea. The king signed off in a mood of high anticipation, full of excitement at the bright to come.
Lori confirmed with King Angara later that day on the arrangements for his trip the next bright. Morales would bring a lighter to Val D’or to gather his party, and convey them to the Koyaanisqatsi, where Lori would meet him. He provided a list of those to accompany him, including Queen Sayan, the princess and her kits, and a half dozen nobles from the province. And a TV crew of course. Will all fit in the lighter?
“Yes, easily. However, I have a problem you might help me with, concerning Princess Tarija, and her kits. She wishes to return to Tajmyr immediately after the visit. With only one lighter available for your esteemed party, all others are on other assignments, a lengthy route will be required, unless you can accompany her to Tajmyr first, upon the return trip.”
The king stared at her image on the screen for a long minute. “Sky Lady, my arrival, unannounced and unexpected, in the Province of Tajmyr, even if brief and in the accompaniment of my beloved Daughter-in-Law, will be a breach of diplomatic and royal protocol of the highest order. I dare not inflict that upon her, or upon good King V’ming. He is of
poor health, you know.”
“Yes, I understand.” Lori said no more, just looked at King Angara, waiting. He began nodding, thinking.
“Perhaps I might suggest, instead, a meeting on a neutral place, where the princess might transfer to another of your wonderful machines?”
“What would you suggest?”
The king stroked his chin in a very human like gesture, while he thought. He shook his head, finally saying, “You know, I would like to see V’ming again, too. A brief informal meeting? But alas, I can think of no convenient province on the planet, given the present unsettled state...” and his head rose, to look directly at her. “Your starship? Might your starship serve as such?”
“Indeed, it might. It could. I could send the lighter to Tajmyr, I know V’ming wishes to visit my ship once again. Would you be willing to receive him here? For a brief time? Then I could return him and the Princess to Tajmyr, and then you to Cerskogo easily. Or would that strain protocol?”
King Angara kept on nodding. “At one time, perhaps even yesterday, it might. But no more. Yes, I will be most pleased to join you in welcoming my old acquaintance, V’ming, and meeting him on your marvelous starship. And if it pleases you, and him, in journeying together back to Magadana. I might then see where the kits live with their wonderful mother, when not here.”
“A most noble and generous suggestion, and I thank you for your assistance. I will see to arranging the day, as you suggest, King Angara.”
“Yes. But Sky Lady, might we have some time to visit you, before the arrival of his Highness from Tajmyr? There is much to see, I understand.”
“That will be done. I will arrange for V’ming to arrive here late in your visit, just before departure, many hours after your arrival. That will be necessary, anyway, given the need for the lighter to go back to the surface for other errands, and return to the starship later. So that will give you both a brief time to meet on my ship, before both returning to the planet. Will that be satisfactory?”
Vigorous head bobbing showed Lori it was, even before King Angara gave his agreement. He closed by saying how much he looked forward to visiting her on the next bright.
Lori called Princess Tarija, told her of the proposal, and said she should get V’ming’s concurrence, before she confirmed everything.
“I’ve already spoken to him about it, and he is very anxious to see the starship again. I think he would have agreed to anything to go there again, but accepted immediately the opportunity to meet King Angara once more. I think much good will come from this, Sky Lady, and I am in your debt.” Princess Tarija bowed on the screen, before signing off after a brief report of some of the latest high jinx of the kits.
Later, Tarue told her that all the Damni who heard of her little arrangement, including Tari, said it only confirmed their impression of her god-like abilities.
“Imagine bringing together two kings, who not too long ago ruled provinces that hated one another?”
“Yes, truly, only the Sky Lady could do that.”
On the morning of his departure to the Sky Lady’s Palace in the Sky, as King Angara called it, he issued a Proclamation:
“The arrival of visitors from the sky, from other planets, from distant stars beyond the limits of what we so erroneously thought of the existent universe, with their marvelous machines, high order of honor, and fair and equal treatment of all beings, whether alike or not alike, commands us to consider our own lives, practices, beliefs, and future.
“If we are to enjoy the many promises of a better life offered by the Sky People, then we must begin to act in a manner worthy of such trust towards one another.
“Therefore, I am directing the Council of Deputies to examine all the procedures, edicts, proclamations, laws, and regulations governing the interaction of citizens of Cerskogo, and our interaction with other provinces, to insure they are honorable, fair, and just, that we might meet the standards established by the Sky People for travel and commerce with them.
“Further, and as an example of past practices that must be examined in the light of new discoveries, I, King Angara the First, on this day and in this place, declare that from this time onward, the manner of care and feeding of the newborn among us, will be the sole and only decisions of the parents themselves. The Crown, the Deputies, the Localities, will have no say in the time, place, or practice of mouth feeding. That decision is left to the mothers only. None may interfere in the giving of nourishment to our youngest citizens.
“I further decree, that any persons fined, imprisoned, or otherwise punished for the practice of mouth feeding, anywhere in the province, is to be restored and made whole, and released immediately from any place of confinement.”
He stopped, looking out at the TV camera. “My beloved countrymen. The Sky People have already shown us the wonderful, even amazing, variety of life,” and he raised his hands upward, “up there, out among the stars. Who could have ever imagined? We see it here, too, but for too long have shamed ourselves in our own needs and practices. No more. Join me, now, as we move toward the future, a time shining with hope, and promise, and excitement in exploration, discovery, trade, and knowledge. Let it start here, with us, now, this day. For indeed, the practice of mouth feeding is common among the Sky People, and if we are to meet and interact with them, we will see the Sky People mouth feeding their young. If they do so, without prejudice, why cannot we?
“And as I journey today upward into the sky, to visit the Sky Lady in her Sky Palace, I will convey to her, the great courage of our people, and of our ability to grow and change, and accept the normal way each species lives and practices, as we will henceforth accept our own. For if we cannot accept each other, how will we ever be able to accept the wonders of those so unlike us in shape, size, look, and way of life?
“Come, now, and join me as I begin the amazing journey of the rest of our lives, into the destiny of our history.”
The TV showed the king and his party assembling, and moving out to the meeting point to enter the lighter, waiting for them on the snowy lawn of the Palace of Val D’or.
Lori watched the relayed broadcast with her arms folded, standing in the doorway to the com room. Only when the screen showed the lighter lifting, and slowly circling in the bright sunshine of the new day, did she say, “OK, people, let’s get ready to welcome the royalty party in style.”
But before she could take a step, Tarue stopped her, and gave her a hug, saying, “Sky Lady, you have done it. You have transformed a practice too long shameful on two planets, to one of respect and honor.”
“No, Tarue,” Lori said, shaking her head. “You have done that. I,” and she smiled, “am only the messenger. C’mon, let’s get ready to meet some royalty. Bet your kits will be glad to see Nagorje and Sredne again.”
The reception for King Angara followed the schedule previously prepared for V’ming, with much the same reactions from the native guests–amazement and astonishment at the order and complexity of the star ship, and silent wonder at the sight of their world, passing in review so serenely far below.
The princess’ kits, having been on board once before, narrated much of the tour, hurrying ahead to show their grandparents yet one more incredible feature. They, too, stood in silence at the observation deck windows, looking out, faces pressed against the glass.
“Though we are so high, it does not seem like that, more like the planet has moved away from us. Imagine that, a whole planet moving away? Such is the narrow view of self-absorbed people. Do you know, Sky Lady,” King Angara said, turning to her, “at one time, people thought the world to be flat? And that the many suns revolved around it?”
Five hours into the visit, Lori announced the lighter was returning to the ship, with more guests. Would the king welcome a meeting with the father of the princess? Forewarned, of course, King Angara and Queen Sayan accepted, and prepared to greet their long-estranged counterpart from half way around the globe.
“From here,” Queen Sayan said, “
It is hard to tell what is Tajmyr, what is Cerskogo, what is any other province. The borders do not show, only the mountains, lakes and seas, and largest rivers. No checkpoints, no guard towers. Indeed, I suspect that as air travel becomes commonplace, borders will vanish. Is that not so in your planets, Sky Lady?”
“No, borders remain, and many are still controlled, if not fortified. But much has eased, watched over and ordered by the computers in low orbit. Keeping track of millions of air cars is the job of computers, no person could do it. And with that control comes order. But the borders remain, in fact, if not in importance.”
“So it shall be here, no doubt. Now, where do we wait for our guest?”
“Here is fine, unless you wish to meet him in the landing bay?”
“No, Sky Lady, that is for you alone to attend to, for this is your palace.”
“Yes. I will beg your leave to attend to that duty now, if I may.”
King V’ming entered the landing bay on his AG sled again, and greeted Lori and Captain George warmly. Immediately, he said, quietly and confidentially, “Where is King Angara? May I meet him? Is he willing to see me?”
Assured he was, the small party went directly to the elevator, and up to the observation deck. Princess Tarija awaited them there. She curtseyed to her father, then walked with him across the short room to where King Angara and Queen Sayan stood, impassive and regal.
The official greetings went well, formal protocol giving everyone the right words to say, and when, where to stand, how to act, through well versed intermediaries, reciting titles and honors. Lori watched it all from the far side of the room, little realizing what history unfolded before her. Soon, the kits broke the formal ice, going between the two reserved kings, who slowly warmed to one another, and began talking more easily. Stewards brought trays of refreshments to the group. The queen and princess helped with the reception, doting on V’ming, to his obvious enjoyment. Before long, they were all standing at the windows, sipping wine, pointing out landmarks, the kits helping.
T-47 Book II (Saxon Saga 6) Page 56