Redemption Song

by Henry A. Burns

  “If only my Torque were fully charged,” Kasumi said in an annoyed voice. Only the shivering of her crest indicated her nervousness. She sighed. “Maybe it would be best if I left.”

  “Girl, you are not going anywhere,” Mel disagreed. “Gramps has always been a good judge of character,” she declared. “He may say not to trust humans, and he’s probably right, but he trusts you,” she said. “That’s good enough for me.”

  “But …” protested Kasumi. “You could be in danger.”

  Mel shrugged. “Wouldn’t be the first time.” She smiled. “Besides, if you left, I’d have to go with you,” she pointed out. “Part of the deal.” She turned to her grandfather. “Right, Gramps?”

  “Exactly right,” Jeremy replied. He made a tossing gesture. “We’ll deal with them if and when we have to,” he said. “Until then … we train.”

  5

  CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

  Mel walked into the guest room. She carried a rolled-up pad under one arm. “I hope you don’t snore,” she chided cheerfully.

  “Snore?” Kasumi asked and then waited as her Torque provided information. “Oh, no, I don’t … snore.”

  “Good.” She placed the pad she carried on the floor and unrolled it. “Looks like we’re gonna be roomies,” she said. “Assuming that’s okay with you.”

  “Oh, spirits sing!” exclaimed Kasumi. “You don’t know how much it’s okay,” she said earnestly. “Rynn do not like to sleep alone.”

  “No?” Mel went to the closet and pulled out a thick blanket and placed it over the pad. “What do you do? Sleep in groups?”

  “Well, yes,” Kasumi replied. “Sometimes,” she amended. “I had a … we call our basic social unit a core.” Her crest drooped. “I was part of a core once.” Her crest flattened limply against her scalp. “Dancing Water was so graceful—just watching her walk could make me smile. And Gnarled Root …” She chirped a chuckle. “He was a little clumsy but honest and strong.”

  “She? He?” Mel asked. “One of each?”

  “One of each?” Kasumi queried. “Oh,” she said in understanding. “I suppose it depends on who the center is.” She sat down on her own futon. “A core is usually made up of Rynn who plan on having children together,” she explained. “The most common configurations are two males and a female or two females and a male.” Her crest rippled. “Occasionally three females would form a core.”

  “How about three males?” Mel asked in fascination.

  “It’s rare, but it happens,” Kasumi replied. Her crest flicked. “I was hoping, after this voyage … It will never happen now.” Kasumi’s crest drooped again.

  Mel quickly sat down next to Kasumi and gathered the little alien in her arms. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.” Kasumi’s crest flared. “Oh crap, I just made it worse, didn’t I?”

  “No, no, not worse,” Kasumi chittered in English. “Surprised.” She leaned her forehead against Mel’s. She chirped and chittered. “I hate sleeping alone. Spirits weep, I hate it.” Kasumi raised her head. “I had hoped Germy …” Her crest drooped.

  “Gramps?” Mel shook her head. “Never happen,” she said. “Gramps would consider that cheating on Mei Lin.”

  Kasumi nodded in understanding. “He speaks to her spirit every night,” she said. “Sometimes I think she answers.”

  “Sometimes I think so too,” Mel replied. She began to release Kasumi.

  “Please, just a little longer,” Kasumi pleaded. “It’s been so long.” She chirped contentedly when Mel tightened her hold. “Thank you.”

  Mel smiled. “Anytime.” She leaned down and kissed Kasumi on the top of her head.

  Kasumi trilled softly. “It’s surprising how comfortable it is being held by a human,” she murmured. “The first time I saw Germy, I thought he was a monster.” Her crest flicked. “Now …” Kasumi’s crest flicked again. Again the conversation ebbed for a while. “Do you have a core, Mel?”

  “Humans form pairs, not, um, triples,” Mel replied. “In fact, it’s illegal in many countries.”

  Kasumi pulled away and stared at Mel. “Illegal?” she chirped in astonishment. “You make relationships illegal?”

  “No one ever said humans are rational,” Mel replied. “In much of the world, the only legitimate relationship is one man, one woman.”

  “Spirits weep,” Kasumi chirped in disbelief. “Maybe Germy is right after all.”

  Mel chuckled in response.

  “Or maybe we’re not as similar as we thought,” Kasumi mused. “Most Rynn have had male and female lovers at some point in their lives.” She leaned back into Mel’s embrace. “The First Teacher told the story of a young Rynn who wanted, with all her heart, to become a stone artist. In school she excelled working with stone. All who knew her expected her to become a stone artist.” Kasumi’s crest lowered slightly. “But her parents were farmers and insisted the young Rynn follow their path.”

  “Poor thing,” commented Mel. “She probably ended up sad and lonely. And I bet she was a lousy farmer.”

  “Not lousy—her loyalty to her family prevented that—but yes, she was sad and lonely.” Kasumi covered her eyes at Mel. “It is good to know that the understanding I see in Germy shows in you as well.” Her crest lowered as she frowned. “Is such understanding so rare, then, among humans?” she questioned. “Why pass a ruling that makes so many unhappy?”

  Mel raised her hands defensively. “Hey, don’t look at me to defend that rule,” she declared. “It would make me unhappy too.” Mel hesitated. “Um, I think you should know … I like girls.”

  “I like girls too,” Kasumi replied.

  “Um, yeah, well when humans say something like that, they mean they, um …” Mel hesitated again. “It means they look to girls as, um, sexual partners.”

  Kasumi leaned back slightly to look into Mel’s eyes. “And what did you think Dancing Waters was?” Kasumi asked. “Gnarled Root used to say his third favorite thing was to watch me and Dancing Waters.”

  Mel giggled. “Third favorite?” she questioned.

  “Well, he always said that Dancing Waters and I were his favorites.” She chirped a laugh. “Though he’d never say which one of us he preferred.”

  “Smart man.” Mel giggled again.

  Kasumi chirped a sad-sounding giggle. “That would be first time anyone described Gnarled Root that way,” she sighed. “He was a simple spirit, but loyal. Too loyal.” Her crest fell even further as she sighed again. “They both were.” Mel nodded in understanding. “We were a new core, just learning about each other,” Kasumi said quietly. “But I still loved them.”

  Mel gently pushed the little alien away and looked into her eyes. “I think that’s partly why Gramps is helping you,” she said. “I think Rynn and humans are very similar after all.” Mel shrugged. “That’s not necessarily a good thing.”

  “No,” agreed Kasumi. “But it’s also not necessarily a bad thing.”

  “Now you’re starting to sound like Gramps,” laughed Mel.

  Kasumi’s crest rose, and she covered her eyes for a second. “Spirits know I do not deserve such praise,” she said. “But I thank you.” Kasumi tilted her head. “Germy’s love for Mei Lin prevents him from sleeping with me, but I believe he is attracted to me,” she observed. “Despite our being two different species.”

  “He’d have to be dead to not be attracted,” Mel stated in amused tones. “But he’s still not going to sleep with you.”

  Kasumi was silent for a moment and then she looked at Mel with what seemed to be longing. “Do you find me attractive, Mel?”

  The princess bowed to the old monk. “Greetings, honored one.”

  “Ah, it is Kasumi,” the old monk replied.

  “Yes, honored one,” the princess replied. She covered her eyes. “If it is allowed, I wish to enter the temple.”


  “Even though the path is uncertain and the way is hard?” asked the monk. “Even though death may greet you at the end?”

  The princess’s crest fluttered in agitation. “Even though,” she said finally. The princess gave the old monk a weak smile. “I fear with a fear that freezes one in place, yet I must go on.”

  “A fear shared is a fear halved,” the old monk replied. She gestured. The princess turned to see a strange being, in shape very much like the princess, except she had no face. Yet somehow the princess knew it was looking at her.

  “Who are you?” whispered the princess.

  “I could be a friend,” the being replied from its mouthless face. “If you’ll let me.”

  “I would like a friend,” the princess replied.

  Mel woke up the following morning to the sound of birdsong. The birdsong originated not from outside the window but from the diminutive—even more so than Mel—form of the birdlike Rynn, Kasumi, lying in bed next to her.

  “Someone is in a good mood this morning,” Mel commented. She stretched hugely. “Come to think of it, so am I,” she giggled. “Amazing how similar our two species are.”

  Kasumi chirped her own giggle. “Mel, gut-ah, gut-ah bed-uh dancer,” she said in broken English.

  “Bed dancer, huh?” Mel replied.

  Kasumi reached over to a nightstand, picked up her Torque, and put it on. “A very good bed dancer,” Kasumi corrected. “If I take back my ship—”

  “When,” corrected Mel firmly.

  Kasumi chirped and nodded. “When I take back my ship, I don’t think I will tell anyone how good a bed dancer you are.”

  “No?” Mel raised an eyebrow. “Afraid someone might steal me away?” Kasumi’s crest fluttered. “Not gonna happen, baby,” Mel replied. She gathered the little alien into a hug. “I think I’m already half in love with you.”

  “There are other, prettier Rynn females on the ship,” Kasumi pointed out, though she made no attempt to escape the hug.

  “And there are other, prettier human females … well, everywhere,” Mel countered. She placed a finger on Kasumi’s lips. “We can spend our time worrying that this will end, or we can spend our time enjoying our time together. We can’t do both.”

  Kasumi’s crest fluttered, and then it rose almost to its fullest extension. “Humans are so wise,” she said in admiration. “I think I prefer enjoying our time together.”

  “Good girl,” Mel said in approval. “Speaking of either/or situations, we either get up or we spend the day … bed dancing.”

  Kasumi chirped a laugh. “That’s an easy decision.” She cuddled closer.

  “Speak for yourself,” Mel replied. “I’m hungry and I gotta pee.”

  “Okay, we eat, pee, and then come back and do more bed dancing,” Kasumi said. Mel laughed.

  There was a knock on the door. “Get up, you two,” Jeremy’s voice came through the closed door. “We have things to do.”

  “Spoilsport,” grumbled Mel. “We’re up, Gramps.”

  “Good,” Jeremy replied through the door. “Dao chung, ten minutes.”

  “Yes, Gramps,” Mel replied. She turned to Kasumi. “Time to go to work, baby.”

  “Work?” Kasumi asked.

  “Training,” Mel replied.

  Kasumi’s crest fell. “Why am I suddenly afraid?” Kasumi asked in a quiet chirp.

  “Good instincts,” Mel replied with a laugh. “We better get up. The less time we give Gramps to consider how to train us, the better.”

  “Pee first,” Kasumi chirped. Mel laughed.

  Mel and Kasumi entered the training hall, the dao chung. Mel immediately bowed to an altar. Kasumi copied the bow a moment later. Jeremy, wearing a black silk outfit, waited patiently for the two women—one human, one alien—to assemble in front of him.

  “Bow to the past masters,” he ordered. “Bow to me,” he said. “Bow to each other.” He clasped his hands behind his back. “Of all the times you bow, the bow you make to each other is the most important.” His gaze moved from woman to woman. “Despite your experimentations of last night, you are not yet partners in truth.”

  Mel and Kasumi looked at each other. “From now on, you will eat together, sleep together, train together,” Jeremy continued. “At no time will you not know where the other is.” Mel and Kasumi looked at each other again.

  “Mel, Kasumi is weaker than you,” Jeremy stated. “Kasumi, Mel is slower than you.”

  “Makes sense,” murmured Mel. “Excuse me, tai si fu, may I speak?” Jeremy waved a hand. “Thank you, tai si fu,” Mel said. “We only need Kasumi to be able to defeat Rocky,” she said. “Why?”

  “Defeating Rocky is only part of what is needed,” Jeremy answered. He snorted. “The easiest part.” He pursed his lips. “Last night, you and Kasumi proved humans and Rynn are compatible.” A brief smile crossed his face and was immediately erased. “Now we will find out if we can build on that.”

  “I don’t understand, Germy,” Kasumi asked.

  “Tai si fu,” Jeremy said sternly. “In here, you will address me as tai si fu.”

  “‘Supreme master’?” Kasumi asked after the Torque translated.

  “Close,” Mel said. “‘Grand master’ is a better translation.”

  Kasumi nodded and chirped quietly.

  “Gramps is a grand master in a number of martial arts,” Mel explained.

  Kasumi nodded. “I don’t understand, tai si fu,” Kasumi asked. “What are you trying to do?”

  “If you recall, I asked that Mel accompany you when you take back your ship,” Jeremy replied. “But she will not be a passenger,” he said. “Or just your lover.” He raised a quelling hand to stop Kasumi from protesting. “You lost your ship because you were isolated and, forgive me, weak.” Kasumi’s crest fluttered, but she did not object to Jeremy’s words. “I can make you stronger, but what you really need is a friend.”

  “Friend, tai si fu?” Mel asked. “Sounds to me more like you want me to be a bodyguard.”

  “How often do bodyguards sleep with their charges?” Jeremy asked in amused tones. “You’re not going to be a bodyguard, not exactly.” He rubbed the back of his head. “If Kasumi is attacked, you will defend her,” he said. “As she will defend you, if you are attacked in turn.” His expression became grim. “If she is killed, I expect you to kill her murderer.” He made a slashing gesture with his hand. “Enough talk!” he growled. “The training begins … now.”

  For the next several hours, training is what they did. First Jeremy led Mel and Kasumi through a series of qigong exercises that started off gentle and got progressively more difficult, so that by the time Jeremy allowed a break and a chance for Mel and Kasumi to drink some water, the two women were covered in sweat.

  Not that the break lasted all that long; the training quickly resumed. After the qigong, Jeremy had Mel and Kasumi strike a practice dummy with wooden wands. It was only after Kasumi felt her muscles begin to burn that Jeremy began actual sword training.

  If she had thought her previous training would offer some advantage, she was quickly disappointed, as it seemed that nothing she had learned before was correct. There were times when Kasumi wanted to quit or at least scream, but every time she considered it, she recalled the old monk from her dream. The path is uncertain and the way is hard, she thought. So be it.

  Finally, after what seemed like an eternity but turned out to be only three Earth hours, Jeremy called a halt. “That’s enough for today,” Jeremy barked. “Line up.” The two women stood side by side in front of Jeremy. “Not bad, Kasumi,” he said. “I thought for sure you’d try to quit at least once.”

  “I did think it, Ger … tai si fu,” Kasumi replied.

  Jeremy snorted. “I’m sure,” he said. “Hot bath for both of you. Breakfast will be ready when you get out.” He smiled. “I think we ha
ve some carrots left.” He raised his hands and cupped his fist with one hand. “Bow,” he commanded. The two women bowed. “Dismissed.”

  Mel grabbed Kasumi’s hand. “Come on, let’s get out of here before Gramps changes his mind.” The two women ran out of the dao chung laughing.

  Jeremy watched them go, though it wasn’t until they exited the training salon that his stern expression faded and was replaced by an approving one. “Well done, Kasumi,” he said quietly.

  Mel and Kasumi walked into the bathroom. They had already stripped off their sweat-soaked clothes and were wrapped in towels. Mel immediately started filling the large tub with warm water. “How are you holding up, baby?” she asked Kasumi.

  Kasumi was sitting on the toilet seat rubbing her shoulder. She chirped and twittered. “I think my aches have aches,” came the translation. Mel laughed in response. “How do you do it?” Kasumi asked. “You were barely breathing hard.”

  “Training,” Mel replied. “Don’t sell yourself short. You did very well.” Mel turned off the tub’s taps. “That should be enough,” she said. Mel climbed into the tub. “Get in.”

  Kasumi walked over to the tub and prodded the water with a toe. “Ow, hot!” she complained, even as she lowered herself into the water. “I think humans like hot water too much,” she sighed as she was pulled into an embrace by Mel. “The things I have to do in order to get a hug,” she mock-complained.

  Mel chuckled. “Think of it as additional training,” she teased. “You impressed the hell out of Gramps, you know.” She started washing Kasumi’s back. “He was trying to get you to quit.”

  Kasumi twisted around and looked at Mel in shock. “He was? I don’t understand. Isn’t he trying to help me?”

  “Of course he’s trying to help you,” Mel said soothingly. “But he needed to see if you were truly committed to getting your ship back.” She rinsed off some of the suds. “If you had broken, he would still have helped. He just would have changed how he went about it.”