The Lani People

by Jesse F. Bone

  CHAPTER XIX

  "What are you going to do with that girl?" Brainard asked.

  "Formalize our mating as soon as she is able to get out of bed," Kennonreplied.

  "She is an ignorant, untrained savage!" Brainard protested. "You shouldhear the stories the nurses tell about her!"

  Kennon chuckled. "You don't have to tell me about those. I've lived withLani for two years. But she's not stupid."

  "What are your plans?"

  "After we establish her humanity legally," Kennon said, "I'm going tosend her to school."

  "For twenty years?"

  "If necessary. But I don't think it will take that long. She has someschooling."

  "But no training--and what of the Lani in the meantime?"

  "I have plans for that. I'm going back to Kardon and give Alexander achance to make restitution. I think he is an honorable man. Slavery maybe as revolting to him as it is to any civilized human. He deserves achance to rectify his grandfather's error."

  "That is reasonable--and in the best traditions of the Brotherhood."

  "Furthermore, it's practical," Kennon said. "Alexander is the only onefully qualified to handle the problems of enfranchisement. He's knownthe Lani all his life, and he is an executive type. A Brotherhoodcommittee would probably botch the whole affair. What with colonialjurisdiction, territorial rights, and all the legal quibbling thatcommittees love, the Lani would get a poor deal. And there's no reasonto wreck the lives of a couple of hundred million Kardonians becausethe rightful owners of Kardon were illegally enslaved. That happenedtoo long ago to have any practical meaning. There are other and bettersolutions."

  "What?"

  "How should I know?" Kennon asked. "But I'm sure Alexander will. That'shis field."

  "All you have to worry about is whether he'll co-operate," Brainardsaid.

  "He'll co-operate once he knows the score," Kennon said confidently."And he'll have to make some form of restitution. But it shouldn'tinvolve Kardon. Actually the Lani were never in a position to developthat world. They'd probably have remained on Flora indefinitely. The oldcourt records showed no tendency for their culture to expand. Theywere an inbred group, a static, balanced society in harmony with theirenvironment. In nearly thirty-five hundred years their numbers increasedonly to a few thousand. Actually there is a good possibility that therace would ultimately have died out if Old Alexander hadn't enslavedthem and instituted a controlled breeding program. There are more Lanialive today than there were at the height of their power. So in a wayOld Alexander did them a favor. He kept their race alive. All we canexpect is a fair and just settlement."

  "But if Alexander doesn't co-operate?"

  "That's where you come in. You'll be a watchdog. If you don't receiveannual progress reports from me--and see or talk to me personally everysecond year, you are released from our bond and can do what you wishwith the evidence I've accumulated."

  "We'd better get this into Private Record," Brainard said. "We cantranscribe an agreement and place it in the Public Repository."

  "A good idea and we'd better waste no time. Alexander might still belooking for me--and if he is, it's merely a question of time before hecatches up."

  "Ten years have passed. It's doubtful. But we could keep you here at theCenter."

  Kennon shook his head. "Too dangerous. And besides it would compromiseyou. No--we'll get everything possible done to make the Lani's caseairtight, and then I'll return to Kardon. It will put our case ina better light if it ever comes to trial, if I go back voluntarily.Anyway--I'm morally bound to return. Now let's make this record."

  "It's your decision," Brainard said. "And it's your neck--but I mustadmit that I agree with you."

  "I'll feel safer when we get the legal details clarified," Kennon said.

  "And what of the girl?"

  "Can you take care of her if I have to leave quickly?"

  "Of course. I'll give her personal attention, and after she has herchild I'll see that she is sent to you."

  "That's decent of you, Doctor."

  "It's my moral responsibility," Brainard said as he slipped a new tapeinto the recorder.

  * * *

  Copper responded quickly to rest and therapy. The space shock cleared upquickly. The gerontological treatments put her to bed again, but withina month she was completely normal, and her lifespan was now that of anormal human. She could look forward to some four hundred years withKennon--and the prospect was not unpleasant. The Center fascinated her.Never before had she seen a hospital devoted to the care andtreatment of humans. It was a far cry, in its polished steel and stonemagnificence, from the tiny primitive structure over which Kennon hadpresided. Yet both places served the same purpose. Perhaps Kennon wasright--that there was no difference between man and Lani. The idea wasnot nearly as unbelievable as it was at first.

  "I never realized what it meant to be human," Copper said as she heldKennon's hand. "It is nice to feel important and to know that our childis a member of the race that rules the galaxy."

  "So you're convinced?" Kennon chuckled.

  "The serological identity--" she began.

  "Hmm. You've been getting some education, I see."

  "Well," Copper smiled, "I didn't think you wanted a stupid woman. I canread--and since you are around so seldom nowadays, there is little elseto do. I've been reading history, medicine, and novels," she finishedproudly.

  "A fine catholic selection," Kennon said, "Now if you add mathematics,sociology, and philosophy you'll have a well-rounded basic education."

  "Dr. Brainard has been trying something he calls 'hypno.' He says itwill help me learn faster. But I can't see that it's done much good."

  "You won't until you need the information," Kennon said.

  "That technique is only good for implanting basic knowledge, and much ofthat will merely supplement or complete that which you already have. Youwon't be conscious of it."

  "Oh--I think I see what you mean."

  "Of course, you'll have to continue your formal education. There's agreat deal for you to learn. It should keep you busy while I'm away."

  "Away? Where are you going?"

  "Back to Kardon."

  "But you can't! Alexander will destroy you."

  "I think not. After all, ten years have elapsed since we left there andhe's had plenty of time to think. Douglas must have told him about us.I wouldn't be surprised if he has already done something about yourpeople."

  She shivered. "He might--but the question is what would he do? He couldhave killed them all!"

  Kennon shook his head. "I don't think so. He never struck me as a massmurderer."

  She shook her head. "You don't know the Alexanders like I do. I wasraised by them. They're capable of anything. But what is this businessof ten years? That's silly. I haven't had my child yet--and it doesn'ttake ten years of pregnancy to produce a baby."

  "It's the difference between subjective and objective time," Kennonsaid. "We traveled here through hyperspace--low Cth--in an uncompensatedship, and there is little temporal flow in the levels below the blue."

  "Oh--of course."

  Kennon chuckled. "That would have been Greek to you a couple of weeksago. See where that basic data fits?"

  "But I've always known that."

  "You just think you have. Search your memory and see if I'm not right."

  Copper shook her head. "It's very strange," she said. "But that's notimportant. This idea of going back to Kardon, though--that's a differentthing--that is important."

  "I have to do it. Not only because it's a personal moral obligation butalso because of the Lani. They must have their freedom."

  "Providing there are any still alive."

  "Stop being a calamity howler. Whatever Alexander may be, he's not abutcher. He even loved a Lani once. You told me so yourself. And hecouldn't kill where he loved."

  She nodded. "I suppose you're right, but I've never lost my fear of theMan Alexander. He held the power of life and death over me. But
if youmust go then I should go too. My obligation is greater than yours."

  "Later," Kennon said. "You're not ready to return. It will be timeenough after you have learned some civilized habits."

  Copper's face lengthened. "You mean like wrapping myself in cloth likethese people do?"

  "That's part of it."

  "Why can't they be sensible--or are they so ashamed of what the godsgave them that they must hide themselves?"

  "No, it's not that. At least not exactly. It's custom. And you mustlearn to conform to customs--outwardly at least--no matter what you mayreally think."

  "Isn't that a form of lying?" Copper asked.

  "I suppose so."

  "Isn't that strange. Your society exalts truth, honor, morality, andintelligence--yet you lie about your attitude."

  "It's called diplomacy," Kennon said. "It's part of respect for others'attitudes and beliefs, a necessary part of human relationships."

  "Then you'd be a nudist on Santos?"

  "Of course--even though I think it isn't proper, I couldn't inflict myideas and attitudes on the customs of an independent world."

  "Oh--you think I'm doing that?"

  "Yes--and it is a mark of barbarism."

  "Sometimes you're not very nice," Copper said.

  Kennon smiled wryly. "I suppose I'm not," he agreed.

  "I'll try to be civilized," Copper said. "But if you go to Kardon--I'mgoing with you."

  "Perhaps," Kennon said. "We'll see how things turn out."

  "You don't want me to go with you?"

  "To be honest--no," Kennon said. "You're safe here, and until yourstatus is cleared by a Brotherhood court, I wouldn't care to place youin Alexander's hands. And clearing your status is going to take time."

  "You mean that I am still his property?"

  "Yes. But there is a legal doubt that will prevent him from exercisinghis claim as long as you stay on Beta. In the area where he has power,that doubt might not hold. So until your status is definitely proven tobe human, you should not leave."

  "And what happens if this court denies my claim?"

  "Then we appeal to the Council. However, with the evidence we have, yourclaim cannot reasonably be denied. The only question is one of time. Itmay take years. Still, I don't think there is anything to worry about. Idon't think Alexander will give us any trouble, but there's no sense intaking chances."

  "You still think I'm a Lani," she said accusingly.

  "I do not."

  "Then you think that I'd obey Alexander, after what I did to Douglas."

  "I can only repeat that Douglas isn't the Boss-man."

  "I wish I knew what you really thought."

  "That isn't hard. I think you should stay here until I get this businessstraightened out."

  "That's all?" she asked suspiciously. "After all, I know I'm not verypretty now. And there's lots of Lani on Flora--"

  "Oh, for Ochsner's sake! Do you think that I'm--" He paused, speechless."Just what do you think I am?"

  "You're a man. And that's the trouble."

  Kennon chuckled. "So that's it! You don't trust me."

  "I love you," Copper said.

  "Sometimes I wonder why men ever finalize their status with women,"Kennon murmured. "It does no good. It doesn't convince the woman. She'sstill fearful, jealous, and suspicious--always belittling her abilityto hold what she has, always alert for competition, clinging, holding,absorbing--when she should be working as part of a team."

  "That's not true!"

  "Then prove it."

  "How--by staying here while you go to the end of the galaxy and playnoble?"

  "I'm only doing what I have to do."

  "And so am I--and if you go I'm going with you."

  Kennon shrugged. There was no sense arguing. The only thing to do wasmake his plans and leave quietly. If she was faced with an establishedfact, she might be more reasonable. He doubted it, but alone, she coulddo nothing--and Brainard would see that she was comfortable. The salvagemoney from the Egg would keep her from being a public charge. And he hadmore banked in Albertsville which he could send her once he got there.He'd start making plans to leave as soon as possible.

  Copper looked up at him as he stood above her bed. Slowly she reachedout and placed one slim hand in his. "I know what you are thinking," shesaid, "and--" her face twisted in a grimace of pain, and the hand in hisclutched with convulsive strength at his fingers.

  "What's the matter?" he said.

  "Nothing--it's perfectly normal," she said. "I'm just going to give youa son. Now if you'd call for the doctor, perhaps we can get this over.That pain was only twenty minutes from the last. I think it's abouttime."

  Kennon--who had attended several hundred Lani births and had developed acertain callousness about them--was suddenly frightened and helplessas he pushed the call button. He could feel the cold sweat form on hisforehead. He had started this. It was his fault if anything went wrong.He wished that it was someone else rather than Copper who was goingthrough this trial. He was nervous, unsure, and guilty. In a word, hefelt like a man whose mate was giving birth to their first child.

  * * *

  "It's a boy," Dr. Brainard said. He smiled down at Kennon's haggardface.

  "How is Copper?" Kennon asked.

  "Fine--she's healthy as a horse."

  Kennon winced at the cliche It was so ancient that it had lost allmeaning. Most Betans didn't know what a horse was, let alone whetherit was healthy or not. From what Kennon could remember of veterinaryhistory, the horse wasn't too healthy an animal. It was rather delicate,in fact.

  "How is the child?" Kennon asked. It took a little courage to ask thisquestion. The baby could be anything from normal to a monstrosity.

  "Perfectly normal," Brainard said. "A true Betan type even down to thevestigial tail. We amputated that, of course."

  "Thank Ochsner!" Kennon breathed. "I was afraid."

  "Of course you were," Brainard said. "Do you want to see them now? WhenI left, Copper was asking for you."

  Kennon sighed. Leaving, he realized, wasn't going to be as easy as hehad thought.

  "We'll have to keep them here for a couple of months," Brainard said."We must take exhaustive tests if we expect the court to reverse itsprior decision."

  "I expected that," Kennon said. He shrugged, "It's probably best," hesaid. "Now show me where Copper is."

  "She's back in the same room. You don't need a guide."

  Kennon didn't. In fact, he behaved quite admirably.