“The first date in the book is Day 98, Year 1.”
A collective gasp sounded around the room as everyone looked at each other. Gillian waited patiently for the room to settle again before she continued. “Allow me to read some of the first legible entry.
“Today we are going to plant the last of the crops. Some of the seeds that we have planted have already taken off in the rich soil here. We hope to have fruit and fresh vegetables soon.
“Today is also William’s birthday. He is 35 today, although he acts much older and wiser at times. His wife Sarah is expecting their first child in a few months.
“We have yet to figure out when the season will change here, or if it does.”
Gillian paused her reading to look around. Surprise showed in everyone’s face. But she was not through with all the surprises for them. “That is only a small part of the entry. The whole book reads the same, very much like a diary. However, it is written in at least 10 different languages.”
Tashi stood up. “How can that be? Tis only one language that we speak here.”
Gillian smiled and handed him the book. “Can you read this?”
Tashi looked, flipped several pages gently, but finally shook his head. “Tis all gibberish to me.” He handed the book back.
Gillian turned and offered the book to Angel. “Cerato, can you read this?”
Angel looked at the book. While she did not recognize much, she did find a word or two she could translate. “Not well, tis in English,” she said.
“Aiy. English. The main language of Earth. Other passages are in German, French, Italian, Spanish, Gaelic, Russian, and several other languages that I cannot read or recognize. But all from Earth.” She laid the book down and indicated the next stack of five books. “These books cover the next two hundred or so years, many with spans of several years not covered. Together, they tell of a slowly growing colony of people, some who move to other areas to start other small villages.”
“Tis not possible,” Tashi began, but Gillian held up a finger to silence him.
“Some of you may recognize Dr. Jason DeWitt of Earth from the time of the Sleeping Sickness.” She looked around to see several elders nod.
Gillian turned to the vidphone. “Doctor, please tell everyone what you discovered.”
Jason nodded. “I was asked to verify genetic compatibility between Mischka and Gillian before they married. When I tested Mischka’s DNA, the genetic code matched human sequences. I thought the computer was wrong, so I ran diagnostics and rechecked. I checked using various computer systems and several other samples taken from the people at that time. I also asked two colleagues of mine to perform a comparison by hand. All test results came back the same.” He paused to let his words sink in. “The people of Llanelyn are human, same as the people on Earth.”
The room remained silent, most looked shocked by the undisputable evidence.
Jason continued. “What I haven’t told you yet, Gillian, is what I found out recently. Of the seven ships that left, one held sixty people, one held fifty, one held thirty-two, and the other four held twenty-six people each. The one that held 32 intrigued me the most. The captain was killed only days before the ship was to depart, during a protest. His wife chose not to go on the mission. Records indicated that the ship was renamed soon after takeoff by her new captain after a unanimous decision by the crew. The ship was originally named El Peregrino. The new name was The Llane Lyn, in honor of the deceased captain.” Jason held up a card with the ship’s name written on it. “If I am correct, when you run the words together, you have Llanelyn.”
Excitement lit Gillian’s face. “Truly? And do you know more regarding the crew, especially their names and what countries they were from?”
Jason set the card down and held up a datapad. He began scanning the text. “Yes. The United States, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, India, Mexico, and South Africa. Their names are listed as well, including the deceased Captain’s wife, Analisse. Oh, and I found one other tidbit that you might be interested in. The cryo chambers on the ship were the new experimental ones of the time. They could be stacked three high to conserve space on the ship. They were formed into a circle because the controls were at the feet, causing the chamber to be wider at the foot than at the head . . .”
Gillian finished the sentence for him. “Forming a wedge or triangular bed. So that is where the bed shape here came from.”
Jason grinned at her. “There are a few other interesting tidbits, but I think I will simply send them to you rather than delay the rest that we must tell everyone.”
“Aiy. Thank you for reminding me.” Gillian turned to the assembled crowd. “Several days ago, Dr. DeWitt contacted me regarding another planet of people who appeared to have the Sleeping Sickness. In trying to find a cure, they had stumbled upon some information about our fight with it.” She looked at Jason again.
Jason began his part of the story. “They found my original paper containing the symptoms. Once they determined that they had the same symptoms, they contacted me directly for the cure. I could not, in good conscience, withhold the necessary information. I visited the planet and determined that they were afflicted with the same problem. Since the solution was easy, we were able to cure everyone. DNA tests show that everyone on that planet is human as well.”
“That’s great news.”
“However,” Jason paused, unwilling to break the worst of the news to her.
“Aiy?”
“When they traced back the source, they discovered that it was not a naturally occurring phenomenon as Llanelyn’s was. The beam was coming from a generator on a neighboring planet, aimed directly at the people. Before I left they tried negotiations and diplomacy, but nothing worked. They fear that war is imminent. They are like you, a peaceful planet. Without help, they will soon be defeated. In order to protect themselves, they plan to announce their ancestry and form an alliance with Earth. Llanelyn’s history will be brought up, whether anyone likes it or not.”
Gillian nodded even as her heart sank. She had feared this day for so long and now that it was here, the fight was no longer hers. Gillian hoped that she had prepared Angel enough to handle this. “Jason, before I let you go, who are these distant cousins to us?”
“The second of the lost colonies is the planet Parrhesia. The Drotz are their enemy.”
“Thank you. Is there any other news, ill or good?”
“Not at the moment. I assume that there will be a diplomatic conference to discuss the Parrhesian’s problem, but I do not know when such a conference will be.”
“Please let the Cerato know as soon as you can. I realize the late hour there, but,” Gillian turned back to the room. “Does anyone have any questions for Dr. DeWitt?”
No one in the room moved.
Gillian thanked Jason again and he shut off his vidphone. Wearily, Jason crossed the room to where Morgan lay sleeping and fell into bed.
Gillian turned to face the assembled people. “I realize the surprise that all this must be. Mischka and I already faced it many years ago. Many of the Apaugallas have visited Earth and know its people. If I had to go into a war with only one ally, I would want Earth. Its strength of weapons as well as people makes it a formidable enemy.”
Tashi spoke again. “I have visited Earth many times. Tis a crime infested place where the lawless can run rampant at times. Twill be those that we will be invaded by. The weapons that you speak of cannot protect us from that.”
“You are right. But the past thirty odd years have been used to strengthen our internal systems to help protect our own. Visitors are only allowed in the existing hotels and may not stay over thirty days. The system of checking visitor identities and our own work verifications should prevent the greedy from taking everything. The Apaugallas can become a police force if necessary, though I hope it does not come to that.
“I’m not saying that the change won’t be painful. But think on this for a minute. If
we stay silent and do not step forward, we will be thought of as arrogant and disrespectful to our own ancestry. Twill not take much of a concerted effort to invade us easily.”
Gillian turned to face Angel. “Cerato, I’m sorry that my work could not be finished before this day. Now that you have heard the whole story, tis your decision that we must follow.” Angel nodded once, and Gillian continued. “What did the Gods tell you?”
For the next half hour, Angel briefly recapped the war talk of the Gods, skipping the more boring details of each battle and tactic. “They did indicate that the war would not come to our people.” She paused, then added, “Oh, and the eldest ones spoke to me as well.”
Excited, Gillian spoke in a rush. “What did they say?”
“They said it was time to go home, to show everyone the error of their ways.”
The room was silent for a few minutes.
“Goesh,” Tashi muttered. “What are we supposed to do now?”
“Well,” Mischka said with a grin, “I recommend lunch.”
Several chuckles and giggles could be heard around the room, breaking the mounting tension. Tashi motioned to the young Apaugalla standing beside the door. The man opened the door and motioned for the servers who had been waiting outside to bring lunch in.
Kira entered with the other servers and brought her tray to the front. “Congratulations, I think,” she whispered as she handed Angel her favorite lunch of cold pollo and fruit.
Angel grimaced. “I’m not sure yet,” she whispered back. “How did you get this job?”
“I asked if I could bring you your lunch and the Elder relented. I think she knew that we are friends.” She handed lunches to Mischka and Tashi.
Angel smiled. “Tis good to see a friendly face.”
Kira smiled and left with the other servers. Angel began to eat, lost in thought. Uncle Tashi would not rest until his question was answered. What next step should she take? The more she thought over the details, the more the pieces fell into place.
Her plan made and her appetite sated, she set aside her lunch. Mischka and Tashi followed her lead, their lunch trays much emptier than hers. Soon everyone else had set their lunch aside and turned expectantly to Angel. Gillian smiled and nodded at her, both knowing that Tashi’s question was the real issue at the moment.
“I think,” she paused and took a deep breath trying to calm her nerves. “We should come forward and declare our ancestry alongside our sister planet. We cannot deny the evidence presented here today and the eldest of our Gods, who I believe are the 32 settlers from the ship, meant for us to support Earth and our sister planet. That's what they meant by going home. I will attend the diplomatic conference when it is held and see what happens from there.”
“But what of the war the Gods spoke of?” Elder Cairn from Analisse called out.
“I think that the war will be to defend our sister planet against her enemy.” Angel sighed. “All of the wars the Gods explained to me and all of the others that I have read about were started for one of two reasons or both. Some were about greed, whether of money, land, or power. And the rest were started by cultural differences, both religious intolerance and politics.” The aura around Angel brightened as she continued. “We cannot stand idly by and let someone destroy another civilization like our own merely because their neighbors have not risen above their own internal personality flaws. If we do not support them now, who will support us when these same aggressive people discover our planet?”
As the aura brightened, Mischka remembered another time so long ago. Angel sounded suddenly much wiser than her seventeen years. Had the Gods been speaking through her as they had previously through Gillian? He risked a glance to Tashi and read the same realization in the other man's eyes.
“You would throw us into a war?” another Elder asked incredulously.
“The Gods indicated that the war would not come to our people. I must trust in their future sight.”
“If we claim our ancestry, Earth will want to rule us. They are a greedy bunch and will not stop this time.”
Angel sensed her grandmother's anger at that declaration. “No. We have lived without them for these past thousand years. I will not let them destroy what our ancestors have built here as they destroyed their own. We already have a non-aggression and non-interference treaty with them. I will endeavor to hold them to that treaty and prevent any intrusion into our way of life. Our people come first, but as with any friendship, you must be willing to support your friend in return for their support. We have been called for support and we must answer that call. For if we do not, we will be seen as arrogant and uncaring. And when we need support, our call will not be answered.”
No one moved for almost a minute, until Elder Trielo rose and came forward. He knelt down before Angel and the rest of the room left their chairs to kneel as well. Together they intoned the pledge, “Hail Cerato. We will follow where you lead us.”
“Danku,” Angel said low, awash with emotion.
Everyone returned to their seat and Gillian came forward. “Cerato, you must be tired after your visit to the Gods. You should rest before tonight.”
“Aiy. I trust what has been said here today will go no further than this room. We do not need to panic the people right now.” Everyone nodded and the meeting adjourned. Andrei, Elder Trielo, Nik, and Tashi hung back wanting to speak to Angel, Mischka, and Gillian.
Andrei pulled Mischka aside. “I will prepare to leave with her tomorrow. But I must know something. Why did you not tell me?”
“Because we needed your surprise to be genuine. We did not want everyone to think the whole family was involved in a plot to retain control.”
Andrei nodded thoughtfully. “Twas many secrets that you kept hidden.”
“Aiy. Only Gillian and I have known most until today.” Briefly Mischka explained the impact such revelations would have had thirty years ago.
Elder Trielo approached Angel. “Cerato, if I may ask. Where did you learn so much about strategy and war?”
“Our Gods and Ian,” Angel replied.
“And Ian would tell such things to me, do you think?”
“Tis a question for Grandma,” Angel said with a smile.
“Ahhh, danku.” He nodded to her and turned towards Gillian.
Gillian had overheard their conversation. “I will ask Ian if he has time.”
Elder Trielo nodded in acceptance and left the room, with Andrei close behind. Tashi closed the door behind them as Gillian hugged Angel.
“Why did you not tell me some things before now?”
“You mean the aura?” Gillian asked with a knowing grin.
“Aiy,” Angel said as her grandmother released her. “That and other things.”
“I needed your surprise to be genuine on that. There are some who believe your calling is not true and could claim that we found a way to fake the light. Your surprise showed them that we had not told you, therefore we could not be faking it.” Gillian looked at her seriously. “You are tired and need to rest. We should take you home for a while.”
“I am a little tired.”
“Angelina,” Mischka called softly to get her to look at him. “Do you remember what you said to everyone?”
“Aiy. Why would I not?”
“It seemed for a few seconds that the aura brightened around you. When that had happened before, the Gods were speaking through your grandmother. I was not sure if the words you said were your own or the Gods.”
Angel bit her lip, but finally decided the truth was best. “Aiy,” she said quietly, “they gave me the words to say. I just repeated their words. But I do remember everything that they said.”
Gillian nodded. “Twas as I suspected as well. Though I remembered nothing.”
“Come, tis time to go home and rest. For the evening will be long and boring.”
Nik stepped forward to escort Angel, but Gillian led her away without glancing at him. Mischka turned to him briefly. “Nik, go with Tas
hi for more training.” Then he followed Gillian and Angel.
Furious, Nik strode quickly across the large village with Tashi. Tashi hid his knowing grin and kept pace alongside. Once in the changing room at the training center, Nik fumed, tossing his clothes aside roughly.
Tashi let him vent a few minutes as they changed before he decided to calm the boy down. “Tis not your time yet.”
Nik stopped and looked at him. “What?”
“Tis not your time yet,” Tashi repeated. “Twill be your time to guard and escort her soon enough. Until then, you must continue to train for you have little time.”
“Aiy.” Nik sighed as he followed Tashi to the empty training center. He watched as Tashi set up a variety of items in a circle around the middle of the floor. A table arrayed with knives, a long pole, two chairs, a metal pipe, a flowerpot of dirt, and many more everyday household items joined the ring.
“Tis more to self-defense than a few twists to break holds and knowing how to use a knife. You must be able to use whatever tis at hand to protect yourself.”
Nik nodded in understanding and concentrated on the task at hand. For not only would he be protecting himself, both Mischka and Tashi had indicated that he would soon be protecting Angel as well, a task he silently vowed not to fail.
Everyone in the village gathered for the welcoming ceremony that evening. Nik arrived late and eased himself into a chair at the same table as the night before. The others were already there. Only Angel’s chair remained empty. Several hours of training with Tashi had made his entire body hurt. Torvuld and Brok noticed his slowness, but did not mention anything.
War of the Innocents Page 8