“Yes but…” Chailen huffed in displeasure. “My caste has lost much of its prestige,” she admitted. “You know I don’t care about that, but our people are looking to the Humans to solve their ills now, not to healers like Sharn or me.” She raised her arm to draw attention to the Human made wristcomp she wore. “They all want one of these, and the IMS that goes with it.”
“Can you blame them?”
“Of course not. Nanotech triples the average lifespan of our people. Barring accidents, we’ll live for two-hundred orbits. I want that for all of our people. The problem is, my caste isn’t needed for that to happen.”
Shima sat opposite her sib. “You’re wrong. Humans have had nanotech for centuries. They still need healers, and so will we.”
“That is a truth, but not the whole truth. Our people will need healers trained in Human medicine. Human healers are different, Shima. They’re more like Tahar than Sharn. They don’t have castes, but if they did, their healer caste would be a combination of our healer and engineering castes.”
“Change can be a good thing,” Shima said quietly, but it was her own life she was thinking of now. Change was a part of life, and it was coming. She could feel it. “The healer caste will learn and adapt.”
“It already is!” Chailen snapped. “That’s the problem. No one wants a healer like Sharn and me anymore. There are thousands like us. They want healers with knowledge of Human techniques like nanotech.”
“Calm down.”
“You calm down!” Chailen glared. “Sharn won’t even talk to me about it,” she said, sounding hurt now. “He’s a good healer, but I caught him reading a warrior caste application last night.”
“Sharn would make for a terrible warrior.”
“I know that. Don’t you think I know? He’s desperate to feel useful again, and provide for us. I told him that your partnership with Hamal was going well, and you would look after us, but he—”
Shima groaned.
Chailen paused, and her ears sagged. “I know. It just came out!”
“You shouldn’t have said that, my sib. You’ve hurt his pride.”
“I know,” Chailen said miserably. “I apologised right away, but now he won’t talk about it.”
She couldn’t interfere with Chailen’s mate bond. It would be wrong, and only make things worse. Sharn’s feelings were raw and his pride hurt. He was feeling inadequate, unable to provide for his mate. His lack of employment might force him into a hasty decision to change his caste. Sharn would make for a terrible warrior. He would be miserable, and that would transfer to Chailen, making her miserable too.
“Tell me what your caste is doing to address the nanotech question,” Shima said. The question was highly improper. She was scientist caste, not healer. Each caste had secrets. Sharing between them was always limited. “I swear not to divulge anything you tell me.”
Chailen snorted, and waived away the oath. “There are no secrets between us, my sib, but I can’t see how my telling you will help.”
“I won’t know until you tell me. I might see something you’ve missed.”
“The Humans are training our best healers,” Chailen began.
“The best ones, or the most highly connected?”
“Our Tei,” Chailen admitted. “They are our best, but you’re right. They’re high in healer caste decision making.”
“Huh,” Shima chuffed. Big surprise there. Not. “So your Tei decided Shan must learn Human techniques, and then chose themselves to lead the way?”
“It’s what they do. Tei always lead by example. Once trained, they’ll understand the new methods, and how to incorporate them into the caste. They’ll teach us what they’ve learned.”
“Sounds sensible. I’m sure the other castes are doing similar things.” She wondered if her own caste had learned anything new. “Right, I know what to do.”
“You do?” Chailen said in surprise.
“We need to contact one of these Tei, and get Sharn added to the classes they’re holding.”
Chailen groaned. “I already tried. There are thousands like us, Shima. We all want to learn from the Humans. Sharn and I are far down the list. Our Tei must train a cadre of teachers first, and the new teachers will train more. It will take orbits.”
Shima growled in frustration. “That’s too long.”
“I know.”
“I’ll think of something. I’ll fix this.”
“You can’t do it,” Chailen said sadly. “No one can.”
* * *
8 ~ A Matter of Honour
Kachina Twelve, Child of Harmony.
Her sib’s words were much on Shima’s mind during the trip out to Kachina Twelve. You can’t do it. No one can. The sad desperation had been clear to the Harmonies. Shima hadn’t needed the help. She knew her sib better than anyone.
She would prove Chailen wrong. She would find a way to make her sib happy again. There must be someone she could talk to about it. The real problem was the lack of training places compared with the numbers needing them. Chailen was barely qualified. She had finished her training only recently, and already it was becoming obsolete. Sharn was a little older. He would be higher on any list for retraining than his mate, but not by much. It took time to teach people new ways of doing things. There weren’t many Human healers in the system, able to devote their energies to it.
She needed a contact within Fifth Fleet, but all of her Human friends had left. She didn’t know anyone in authority able to help her. She growled in frustration. There must be a way around this lack of teachers… her eyes narrowed. There wasn’t actually a lack of teachers. There were billions of Humans in the Alliance, and many schools able to teach her people should they wish to use them, but reaching them was the problem. She assumed a trader would take passengers, if it were made profitable. How could she find the money to reach an Alliance school?
Shima landed her car, slotting it neatly into a space in one of the many rows outside the keep’s entrance. Kachina Twelve was a busy place. There were a lot of battered vehicles like hers parked there. She followed the stream of people entering the tunnel, and passed through security without slowing. The amount of foot traffic in and out of this particular entrance, made checking identities impossible. Besides, what was the point? Fifth Fleet controlled the system, and kept watch for the Merkiaari. There was no need to prevent anyone from entering the keeps. Many people still lived in them, travelling only to find work. While visitors like her came to trade for rations, or visit friends.
Shima paused at one of the many junctions to consult a terminal. The octagonal pillar in the centre of the aisle, displayed maps and directions on each of its eight screens. She entered Nevin’s name on one of the keyboards, and a list of males with that name appeared. She found the only one with a mate and three cubs listed. The names were all correct. She was relieved to find they hadn’t emigrated to homeworld, as many had done since the war ended. She noted their address: 10-42 sub-level six-green, checked the map, and found the closest spiral way. She growled; it was a long trek, and six levels was quite a way down. She thought fondly of Human elevators, and sighed.
Shima made her way through the keep, pointedly ignoring the people stopping to stare as she passed. She heard their whispers, but again pretended not to notice. She kept her face pleasant, and didn’t allow her annoyance to show. What was wrong with them? Why couldn’t they go about their business, and let her go about hers? She knew why, and her frustration made her growl quietly. Humans had a special word for it.
Celebrity.
It was a foolishness that Kazim’s films and shows had made worse. Her people had really taken to the idea of celebrity, because it linked their modern world with the sagas they’d learned as younglings. They didn’t see her; they saw The Blind Hunter. Like actors in one of the new sensims, they imagined themselves in her place. The Human invention had gained popularity on Child of Harmony. It was a novelty entertainment that could be used to teach, which is wha
t sensims were used for in the main.
She found Nevin’s door and pressed the call button. A moment later the door slid aside to reveal Miamovi, one of Merrick’s sibs.
“Aunt Shima!”
Shima blinked in surprise. She was an aunt, when had that happened? “Miamovi, it’s good to see you again. You’ve grown tall.”
“Not really. Inaki is taller… oh! I forgot. May you live in harmony, Aunt.”
“Who is it, ’movi?” a voice called from deeper within the room.
Shima laughed. “Thank you. May you live in harmony as well. Is your father in?”
“He’s here. Please come in,” the youngling said, stepping back to clear the entrance. Shima entered to allow the door to close behind her. “It’s Aunt Shima!” Miamovi called.
Shima braced herself. Inaki and Rahuri arrived moments later in a rush. They paused briefly to make their bows, and then charged in for a hug. Shima staggered a little; they were too old for this really. They were young adults ready for their choosing ceremonies. Miamovi looked on a little wistfully, and Shima reached to gather her in. The four of them stood there and hugged, remembering other times. She imagined Merrick watching over his sibs, and smiling to see them all together again.
“Let poor Shima breathe,” Marsali said as she approached to greet her guest. “Shoo, back to your lessons.”
“Oh mother,” all three groaned, but they obediently trooped away.
“Be welcome to our home, Shima. May you live in harmony.”
Shima bowed. “Thank you. May you and your family live in harmony also. How have you been?”
Marsali shrugged, her tail making the gesture over her left shoulder. “Fine. There are many less fortunate than us. We’re together. That’s what matters.”
Shima remembered the feral younglings living in the ruins of Zuleika. They had no one except volunteers like Chailen to care for them. Marsali was right.
Nevin appeared behind his mate, and Shima bowed very respectfully to him. She still felt that need. He was older and deserving of respect, but so was Marsali, and she didn’t feel the need to express it so formally with her. It was because Nevin reminded her of Tahar. She suspected growing up without a mother had something to do with it as well.
“Welcome, Shima,” Nevin said. “Have you eaten?”
“Yes, thank you. Chailen fed me as usual. She thinks I’d forget without her.”
Marsali and Nevin laughed. They led her into their home, and offered her a place to sit at the table. It was the only furniture in the room; a generic thing supplied to every resident in the keep. The walls like the floor were plain grey. Easy to clean, but drab.
Shima remembered the cave they’d briefly lived in. They’d been fleeing Merkiaari in fear for their lives, but that cave had been luxurious compared to this. Toilet and washing facilities were communal in the keeps, and were probably a long way from here. There was a freshwater spring, and a pool for bathing, in the cave. The younglings were studying in the only other room. It would be where they slept at night, leaving this one to their parents. The cave had been much larger.
Nevin must have guessed her thoughts. “We have food and shelter. We survived thanks to you,” he said, and patted her shoulder before sitting opposite. “It’s good to see you again, but I suspect this isn’t a social visit. How can I help you?”
“You’re right. I should have come for a visit before this.”
“You’ve been busy,” Marsali said. “You have new eyes, and must have seen wonders with them.”
Shima flicked her ears in agreement. “I thank the Harmonies for the Humans. They gave me back my sight, and my life.”
“All of us owe them our lives,” Nevin agreed. “You must tell us of your adventures since last we met. You’ve seen Snakeholme, and helped the elders choose the location for our new colony. Tell us of it.”
“Perhaps the others would like to hear as well?” Shima said, smiling when she noticed them edging closer to the open door to listen.
Marsali scowled at the younglings. “They must study for their choosing time, but… very well. They may join us.”
Shima waited for everyone to settle before beginning her story. She spun the tale of a blind female on a Human ship, headed for Snakeholme. She told them of her terror of the dark, and how healer Hymas had solved it with the magic of a sensim helmet. Shima tried to project the wonder she’d felt at being able to see alien worlds in her head. How being able to see, even in this limited and strange way, had made her feel.
“Was it like the sensims we have here at the keep?” Inaki said, and her sibs shushed her.
“Probably,” Shima said. “I could feel the wind ruffle my fur, and the warmth of Sol—that’s the name of Earth’s sun—on my face. It felt wondrous. I had to wear a helmet for it to work, but I didn’t mind. I saw Human cities, and space stations. I floated among the stars without a suit, and thought I would die of fright!”
Nevin laughed. “I doubt that.”
“It’s true! Did you know that Humans like to build towers?” Everyone said no. “They build houses so tall they touch the sky. They don’t like living underground the way we do. I think it scares them. They don’t like the dark, or being closed in. They prefer the sun, and being able to see far. I think that’s why they build so high.”
“What about the Viper Clan, what’s their home like?” Miamovi said.
“I’m coming to that. Snakeholme is so far away that it took us two seasons to reach. I didn’t know until after they gave me my new eyes, but Snakeholme has two moons, and it has rings! Have you seen the films Kazim made?” They all agreed they had. “Then you know what I saw there. While the healers worked with me, Kazim and Varya were surveying the wilds for a good colony site. There’s a lot of good land there, but we decided to recommend site five to the elders—that’s the one in the mountains near the lake. They agreed.”
“Well,” Nevin said taking a deep breath. “I’m sure they were wise to listen to you.”
Shima shrugged. “There were many good choices, and any of them would be fine. Snakeholme is mostly wild. Perhaps Tei’Burgton will give us a second site later, when we need to expand.”
“I’m sure he will. He is wise,” Nevin said, and Shima agreed that he was. Nevin mock glared at his cubs. “Back to your studies, you lazy creatures!”
The younglings laughed and went back to work in the other room, while their mother rose to fetch refreshments.
Nevin focussed upon Shima. “You seem troubled.”
“I need help. Advice. I think…” she lowered her voice so only Nevin might hear. “I think Merrick wanted me to come.”
Nevin’s ears quivered at the name of his dead cub. “His kah came to you?”
“In a dream. Many times.”
“I see. All know that you’re strong in the Harmonies, Shima. What do you think I can do that you cannot?”
“I don’t know, but when I meditated upon the dreams, I felt strongly the answer lay with you.”
“Curious,” Nevin said. “Tell me everything, and we shall see.”
Shima began with her dreams of Merrick, and her belief they were a response to the dedication ceremony. She’d blamed Kazim’s films for bringing back bad memories, but the night terrors continued long after any normal bad dream would have faded. She spoke of meditating and asking the Harmonies for help. Last of all, she brought up Chailen and her mate’s lack of employment, and the meeting with Tei’Thrand.
Nevin concentrated upon Shima’s words to the exclusion of all else. His eyes were closed, but his ears were high, soaking up her words. Shima told him everything. Her fears, her desires, her hopes for Chailen and Sharn. She ran out of things to say when Marsali returned with refreshments. They drank the tea in silence.
Nevin put aside his empty cup. “You gave your life to me.”
Shima froze, her cup still half-full. She put it on the table, and inclined her head. “I did.”
“You believe the Harmonies sent
you to me.”
“I do.”
“What will you do, if I advise you to take Tei’Thrand’s offer?”
Shima stared in dismay, her ears quivered, and tried to flatten. She willed them to be still. “I would ask you not to do that.”
“But you would obey me? Your life for Merrick’s life? Your honour for his?”
“My sib needs me. Please, I beg you.”
“Answer the question. Will you become the Blind Hunter if I ask it?”
Her ears were flat, and her eyes white-rimmed. She panted; her panic made her want to run away. Tahar had taught her the old ways, and instilled his sense of honour in her. She would never betray his teaching.
“Yes,” she whispered, her voice betraying her horror.
“I will not ask it,” Nevin said kindly.
Shima gasped, her sudden relief making her feel faint.
“But,” Nevin said, and she froze. “I will advise you not to waste the gifts the Harmonies have given you. The Merkiaari aren’t done with us, Shima. We have entered a time of great change. I’ve heard you call yourself a gardener.”
“I am a gardener!”
Nevin’s ears flicked in agreement. “It’s better to be a warrior in a garden, than to be a gardener in a war. Become the Blind Hunter, take Tei’Thrand’s offer, and use both to help our people.”
“But my sib. She needs me.”
“We all need you, Shima. You can help Chailen best by helping everyone. You have many friends. If you ask it, Kazim will help. If you ask, the entire warrior caste will aid you. Many living here in Kachina Twelve owe you their lives. Tei’Thrand and Tei’Laran aren’t the only ones who want the Great Harmony rebuilt among the stars.”
That was obviously true, but she didn’t see how she could make that happen. Their cities were in ruins, their fleet destroyed. The stations and factories in orbit were being replaced, but it would take time. She had no power over any of those things.
“How will becoming the Blind Hunter help my sib, or anyone else? I have no power over anyone’s actions but my own.”
Incursion: Merkiaari Wars Book 5 Page 6