Redemption Song

by Henry A. Burns

  “He actually called the Teacher a charlatan?” Morning Mist said in disbelief.

  “Several times,” Kasumi chirped in disgust. “He also makes mention of Germy’s time in prison and even suggests that it was the Teacher himself who murdered his wife.” She tapped the document. “‘Whose wife was killed under mysterious circumstances while her alleged murderers were conveniently silenced.’” Her crest angrily snapped open and closed several times.

  “This cannot go unanswered,” Morning Mist said angrily. “It is one thing to …” She stopped at Kasumi’s raised hand.

  “You know what the Teacher would say,” Kasumi said gently.

  “You cannot allow the Teacher to be insulted,” Morning Mist returned.

  “I have no intention of allowing Germy to be insulted,” Kasumi replied. “Nor do I intend to accede to Sawyer’s demands,” she said. “But I can’t ignore it.” She chirped to her Torque. “Ophelia, we need to talk.”

  52

  THE OPHELIA WINSLOW INTERVIEWS, PART ONE: THE TERRIBLE THREE

  “Good evening, darlings,” Ophelia Winslow boomed to her audience. “You don’t know how happy I am to put aside being the oligarch and go back to what I love doing best: talking to all you wonderful people,” she gushed. “We have an exciting lineup for our first show.”

  Her expression became serious. “But first, I have a personal message.” She turned to face a camera. “Aliens have been living among us for more than a decade now, and, for the most part, relations with the Rynn and the Alsoo have been friendly and respectful.” She frowned. “I said ‘for the most part’ because there have been incidents of intolerance and even hatred—and, I am ashamed to say, all on the part of humans.”

  She shook a finger at the camera. “Humans are now exploring the stars. Humans are now living longer than ever. Unemployment, world unemployment, is at historic lows, and yet some of you out there are willing to jeopardize all that we have gained solely because your personal philosophy has not been adopted by our friends from the stars,” she said. “I am speaking to you, Senators Seasons, Sawyer, and Coolidge.” She smiled. “We’ll be right back.”

  The director pointed to Ophelia. “And, we are back,” she said. “My first guest is actually three guests. I met them during my last visit to the colony, and I was so impressed with them that I just had to have them on the show.”

  She stood. “Ladies and gentlemen, I am so proud to introduce Morning Stars Fade, Emily Fields, and Jamal Shadowed Heart.”

  She applauded along with the audience as three young adults walked onstage. A more unusual and diverse trio would be hard to imagine: one was a young black man in his early twenties, another a young white woman of about the same age, and the third a young Rynn male with a pale blue crest.

  Ophelia waited until everyone had seated themselves. “Before we get started, I’m going to give a little background on my guests. Morning Stars Fade is, obviously, Rynn. He is a member of the combined Rynn-human tactical force and hold the rank of ensign. Emily Fields and Jamal Shadowed Heart are also members of the tactical force, and both also hold the rank of ensign,” she said. “It is also my understanding that all three are the youngest members of the tactical force.”

  She looked at Jamal. “Jamal Shadowed Heart? That seems to be almost a Rynn name.”

  “Not almost,” Jamal replied. “I was adopted by a Rynn core group and was given a Rynn name.” He chirped for a moment. “That’s how it’s pronounced in Rynn.”

  “I see,” Ophelia replied. “It’s unusual for a Rynn to adopt a human, is it not?”

  Jamal nodded. “I’m the only one that I know of,” he said. “My adoptive father is Raindrops in a Tide Pool, and my adoptive mothers are Night Storm and Dierdre McIntosh.”

  “Oh, so Dierdre McIntosh was why you were adopted,” Ophelia stated.

  “Not really,” Jamal replied. “I like Dierdre, but she is not really very maternal.” He smiled briefly. “It was really Raindrops in a Tide Pool who insisted,” he said. “I was considered unadoptable, you know.”

  He didn’t wait for a response before continuing. “I was one of the rescued,” he said. “And I had some trust issues.” He turned to the murmuring audience. “A lot of the rescued have trouble readjusting to normal life. Most of us saw our parents murdered.”

  Morning Stars Fade put a hand on Jamal’s shoulder. “Thanks, Core Brother,” Jamal said quietly.

  “We’ll be right back,” Ophelia said to the audience.

  “And we’re back,” Ophelia said after the break. “While we were on break, we started receiving comments on social media.” She shook her head. “Apparently, some people do not believe that the CSA had reinstituted slavery.”

  Jamal stood and removed his coat, and then he turned his back on the audience and removed his shirt. There was a collective gasp when his naked back was displayed. It was a mass of thick, angry white and red scars. Jamal quickly put his shirt back on and turned back to the audience. “The Teacher Jeremy says that there will always be people who will deny even in the face of incontrovertible evidence.” He, Morning Stars Fade and Emily all briefly covered their eyes. He looked at the camera. “To those who deny, I say this: deny all you want, but belief is not truth, no matter how much you want it to be.”

  “You mentioned the Teacher Jeremy,” Ophelia said. “There are some who consider him a vicious murderer.”

  “They’re pretty much the same people who don’t believe the truth about the CSA,” Jamal said. “Did you know that Senator Coolidge is related to the two men that Teacher Jeremy supposedly murdered?” he asked. “And did you know that Senator Coolidge and Senator Seasons were both members of the CSA leadership?”

  “My core brother is being very circumspect,” Morning Stars Fade interjected. “Since I’m not a human, I think I can be a little more blunt.” He grinned at the implied pun and then sobered. “There are a number of human politicians in a number of countries who the Rynn consider criminals. Senator Coolidge and Senator Seasons are at the top of that list.”

  “Criminals?” gasped Ophelia.

  “Criminals,” asserted Morning Stars Fade. “Subject to arrest, imprisonment, and possible execution if they are found on Rynn territory.”

  Ophelia paled as the interview took this sudden and unexpected turn. “I didn’t … I never …” She stopped. “Execution?”

  “The Rynn are very similar to humans—we’re vain, quarrelsome, and, at times, selfish and violent—but we’ve never had slaves,” Morning Stars Fade said. “When we learned about slavery and that humans believed you could own other humans, we nearly abandoned our trade mission here.”

  “I remember that,” Ophelia replied. “But … execution?”

  “From our way of thinking, slavery is as … evil as predating on a sapient being,” Morning Stars Fade replied. “It is considered a level of incompetence unparalleled in Rynn history,” he said. “And the punishment for such incompetence is death or banishment.”

  Ophelia swallowed, and with some desperation turned to Emily Fields. “And you, Miss Fields? What do you think of all this?”

  “My core brother—” she placed a hand on Jamal’s arm “—will never be whole. Sometimes he cries in his sleep. Sometimes he can’t sleep,” she said angrily. “Sometimes he doesn’t have to be asleep to cry,” she said. “There are times when he looks at me like I’m the enemy.”

  “Em,” protested Jamal.

  “Don’t pretend, Jamal,” Emily said. “The only good thing is that those times are becoming rarer as time goes on.” She looked at the camera. “But he will never be whole,” she said. “Do you know what the Alsoo call Jamal?” she asked rhetorically. “They call him the ‘sad soul.’” She smiled grimly. “He’s one of the few humans or Rynn that the Alsoo are willing to spend any time with, and possibly the only human or Rynn they fully trust. And do you know why?” she as
ked. “Because he’s the only human or Rynn they’ve ever met who has suffered anywhere near as much as they have.”

  She tightened her hold on Jamal’s arm and turned to the camera. “To all you deniers out there: my contempt for you cannot be put into words. Stay away from me and my core,” she snapped. “Or else.”

  “That … that sounded like a threat, Miss Fields,” Ophelia said faintly.

  “Good,” Emily replied. “I wouldn’t want anyone to have gotten the wrong idea.”

  53

  THE OPHELIA WINSLOW INTERVIEWS, PART TWO: WARRIORS GO TO HELL

  “Good evening, darlings,” boomed Ophelia Winslow. “Hard as it may be to believe, I think tonight’s guests may be even more exciting than last week’s interview with the Terrible Three,” she said to her packed audience. “Not only are we going to meet with another human/Rynn core, we are going to meet an actual Alsoo.”

  The crowd started murmuring excitedly enough that Ophelia had to raise her hands to get them to quiet down. “Thank you,” she said when the crowd finally settled. “Tonight, we are going to meet the second oldest human/Rynn core, and one that contains someone very, very familiar to all of you.” She smiled. “Ladies and gentlemen: Captain Hendriks, Captain Cool Evening Breeze, Crystal Chandler.” She paused as the crowd erupted in shouts of surprise. “And with them is their children; two-year old Sofia and ten-year old Jesse and the core’s two associates, Burl and 3D3B..”

  Ophelia stood and applauded along with the crowd. The applause went on for a bit and then died down when no one came onstage. “Honestly,” scolded a voice, and then two figures—one human, one Rynn—half-walked and half-stumbled onstage. The crowd laughed and then started applauding again as the very familiar face of Crystal Chandler followed the stumbling figures. Crystal carried two-year old Sofia in a baby carrier; a small figure of a second Rynn followed close by holding the hand of a ten-year old boy who was nearly as tall.

  Ophelia waited until everyone was seated. She frowned. “I thought 3D3B was with you.” she began. She stopped as a snakelike figure crawled out of the carrier, climbed up Crystal’s body, and wrapped itself around Crystal’s neck.

  “Baby/she new mouth/toy have/she,” warbled the Alsoo via a translator. She held up a circular object. “Toy/she lose/she.” The crowd chuckled.

  “What I think 3D3B is trying to say was that she had to find Sofia’s pacifier,” Crystal said. “The translator tries, but the Alsoo syntax is confusing even with the Torque.” 3D3B warbled in amused agreement.

  “I hope you don’t mind,” began Ophelia. “But there aren’t too many Alsoo, and most people will never meet one,” she said. “And they’re very curious. I know I am.” She looked at 3D3B. “You were the first Alsoo adopted into a core,” she began.

  “Big/big ugly split-tails/they big/big clumsy/they baby/have/they,” 3D3B said. “Scared/they.”

  “Big ugly humans and Rynn are clumsy and afraid of the baby?” guessed Ophelia.

  “Close,” corrected Crystal. “More like they’re clumsy around the baby.” She grinned. “But you’re right about them being afraid of Jesse.”

  “Rather face a Polig-Grug,” muttered Cool Evening Breeze, “than change a diaper.” The crowd started laughing. “Hey, a Polig-Grug can only kill you,” she said in defense. “But baby poop is something else.”

  “We thought about using it to fight the Polig-Grug, but not even bug-lizards deserve that,” Hendriks added. The crowd roared.

  “Dizzy/think split-tails/they,” complained 3D3B.

  “Big/big dizzy/think split-tails/they,” agreed Burl. “Hi, I’m Burl.” He grinned. “Everyone gets that same expression on their faces when I introduce myself.”

  “Well, we’re used to hearing more descriptive names,” admitted Ophelia.

  “Well, my Rynn name is somewhat untranslatable,” Burl replied. “We don’t have trees on Nest. The plant forms that fill the same niche are more like Earth succulents, with the green—well, purple-green—part at the base and a tall spike that grows from the center. It’s only a superficial resemblance, but my name refers to when the spike sometimes gets a knot in it.”

  “A burl,” exclaimed Ophelia.

  “Yep,” agreed Burl. “Anyway, me and 3D3B were brought into the core as associates, mainly because those two big bad marines were afraid of changing a diaper.”

  “Or cooking,” added Crystal. “And no one can get Sofia to go to sleep like 3D3B can.” She reached up and caressed the little snake woman. “The two of them have been a godsend.”

  Ophelia nodded. She was about to say something when someone in the audience shouted, “Sinners! Repent!” A number of people booed the shouter and called for the shouter, a woman, to sit down and be quiet.

  “No,” Crystal Chandler said. “Let her speak. The First Teacher said, ‘Truth is like the sun; it can blind and illuminate.’” The entire core, including 3D3B briefly, covered their eyes. “And Teacher Jeremy will often quote Louis Brandeis and add, ‘Light is the best disinfectant.’ So, let’s bring this into the light.”

  She stood and stared over the audience. “What sin do you think we need to repent?” she demanded. The woman in the audience shrank back and did not answer. “You started this, and I am giving you the opportunity to speak, so speak.” She smiled. “What sin?” She cupped her ear as the woman mumbled something. “Louder. I could not hear that.”

  “You live in sin,” the woman shouted angrily. “You fornicate with animals. God says marriage is between one man and one woman.”

  “Hmm,” Crystal Chandler noised. “Let’s take those one by one, shall we?” She smiled. “Live in sin?” she asked. “If by that you mean we’re not married … that is what you meant, isn’t it?” The woman remained angrily silent. “You know, a dialog usually implies two people talking, but for the moment, let’s assume you meant we’re not married.” She stared coldly at the woman. “Our core was duly registered with the state of California and we had a very lovely ceremony at the colony.” She made a tossing motion. “So that’s one.”

  “One man, one woman,” shouted the woman.

  “Well, that’s true for you, I suppose,” Crystal replied. “However, the colony follows Rynn traditions. Again, all duly registered with the state of California and the federal government.” She made the same tossing motion. “You may not agree, but it is perfectly legal, so that’s two,” she said. “Now let’s talk about the whole bestiality thing. Do you mean Cool Evening Breeze and Burl, or do you mean 3D3B?”

  “You fornicate with a beast of Satan.” She pointed to 3D3B. “Behold the serpent.”

  “Big/big crazy think split-tail,” warbled 3D3B. “Big split-tail family/they mate/they not.”

  For the first time, Hendriks stood and walked over to the edge of the stage.

  “Lady,” he growled, “I want to tell you something. I ran into a whole bunch of yahoos just like you. They quoted the Bible right and left and used it to justify a whole shitload of nonsense.” His growl became a snarl. “Slavery, brutality, every crime against humanity possible, all in the name of the Bible,” he snapped. “And you have the goddamn gall to come in here and … oh, don’t run away, lady, I haven’t finished.” He tapped his Torque and mumbled something. The woman who was heading toward the exits suddenly bounced. “Like I said, I ain’t done talking yet.” He walked to the stage stairs and headed toward the now-cowering woman. “They were just like you, quoting the Bible to justify their worst actions.” He now towered over the woman. “Do you want to see a serpent? Then look in the mirror,” he declared. “3D3B has more love, more compassion, more … humanity in the tip of her tail than you have in your entire body.” He tapped his Torque again and muttered something. “I’m done. You can leave now.” Hendriks turned his back on the woman and headed back to the stage.

  “God will not be denied,” the woman shouted.

  Hendrik
s stopped and turned. “No,” he said. “He won’t.” He smiled coldly. “The Teacher Jeremy says, when you point a finger at someone, remember that there are three fingers pointing right back at you.” He briefly covered his eyes. “Now get the …”

  “Hendriks!” scolded Crystal warningly.

  “Sorry, Momma,” said Hendriks. He turned back to the woman. “Just go,” he said. “I don’t want my kids exposed to your sickness.”

  Ophelia waited until the woman had scrambled out through the exit. “We’ll be right back,” she said in a hushed voice.

  “We’re back,” said a very subdued Ophelia Winslow. “I want to apologize,” she began, only to stop when Cool Evening Breeze raised a hand. “Breeze?”

  “You have nothing to apologize for,” Cool Evening Breeze said. “You have always been a good friend to the Rynn.”

  “Not always, Breeze,” Ophelia replied. “To my shame, I was …” She swallowed. “I was just like that woman.” She turned when the audience expressed disagreement. “Thank you, my friends, but I am just as guilty,” she said. “I may not have ever said or even have thought the same, but in the past, I would have just dismissed her as an aberration and would have said she was not a true Christian.” She shook her head. “It’s not enough to disavow the individual. If we are truly followers of Christ, we must disavow the poison that courses through the church itself.” She took a breath and then clapped her hands together sharply, twice. “Spirits and ancestors of humans, Rynn, and Alsoo, please forgive me. I was silent when I should have spoken,” she said.

  Cool Evening Breeze covered her eyes briefly. “Spirits bless you,” she said. “The First Teacher said the greatest blessing is providing water, food, and shelter unasked, for no other reason than because it is the right thing to do. We often forget the other half of her sermon. She then said, the greatest crime is to not offer water, food, or shelter even when asked, because we are afraid or unwilling to do the right thing.” She stood and walked to the edge of the stage. “I was a geologist. I thought my life was satisfying and complete, and then I came to Earth. I became part of colony security, but it was just play-acting. Hendriks taught me what being a soldier, being a warrior, was really about. It’s about serving something bigger than yourself. It’s about being true to an ideal. It’s about finding something to die for.”