Matriarch’s Journal: 1st Moonday of the Month of Restoration, 3617
Lens looked considerably better in the morning. “I apologize for my dolor last night,” he said.
“No need. You weren’t the worst by far. Remember Aran?”
“Ah, but his circumstances were unique. As for myself, I must simply be strong enough to endure my joy.” He took my hand.
We were going to see to Clive, but Neliit met us on the way. “I put some pressure on the SongLuminants,” she said. “They’ve already begun construction on the orchard. Our reports say that the Hreck have been left miraculously unhindered. My guess is that the Denolin Turym must have some understanding of what is happening.”
“It’s possible,” said Lens. “We know what Lorcan understood about them, but we have no way of knowing how much they learned of us by experiencing Lorcan.”
“I believe they understood his intent. I believe they understood that we were looking for a way to bridge the gap between our species.” She placed her hand lightly on his arm. “They understood that Ashtara possessed the means to accomplish it.”
Am I losing my mind, or is this bitch flirting up my husband?
“There’s a topic I would like to broach,” she continued smoothly. “My people are very interested in forming a symbiotic relationship with you.”
“We have collected many seeds for the colonial project,” Lens replied. “I’m sure we could find volunteers…”
“We don’t want Cu’enashti seeds. We want your seeds in particular. It’s clear to us that you have arrived at an evolutionary level far greater than your people.”
I’m not losing my mind. What kind of tramp asks a man for his seed right in front of his wife? I kept smiling, hoping that my temper wasn’t going to escalate into a diplomatic incident.
Lens looked horribly embarrassed. I wonder if Neliit even recognized the physical signs. He said, “I am probably not the right person to ask. I am a young branch, and have not yet borne fruit of my own.” He glanced into the distance, and I recognized that particular glazed expression an emanation gets when trying to listen to a dozen voices all at once. “However, all of our fruit is the sole property of my wife. You should ask her.”
I was on the spot. I would never give her fruit – that’s far too intimate. But I do have seeds. The traditional way of dealing with them is to throw them onto the ground to sprout or die. The modern way is to establish a family grove – which will eventually lead to an enormous overpopulation problem. I didn’t want to be a bad example, so I never started a grove. Then again, I couldn’t bear to throw the seeds away. I have them all in cryo, labeled as to the father. I could therefore see enormous advantage in complying with her request, from a personal, diplomatic and evolutionary level. But to send one of your children alone, to a new galaxy amongst an alien people?
“Neliit, this is a big decision. If you don’t mind, I’d like some time to think about it and discuss it with my husband.”
“Of course,” she said, with a slight bow. “When will you want to return to the station?”
“Soon. But we’ve got the Enlightenment Festival coming up this weekend, and Driscoll needs to set some things in motion concerning the celebration for human incorporation into the Combine. Since the Hreck seem safe, for the moment, our primary concern is fulfilling our promise to Marty, a promise that will save the lives of millions of particles.”
“That’s right. When is he thinking of holding the celebration?”
Lens answered her. “He says that something that elaborate will take at least two months advanced notice – he needs caterers, decorations, entertainers, fireworks…so we might as well push it a little later to coincide with New Year’s.”
“That should give us some time to get things set up properly in Tucana,” I said.
“Very well,” said Neliit. “Let’s plan on departing immediately after the Enlightenment Festival.”
We parted with her upon reaching Clive’s flat. He was looking considerably better. He greeted Lens with mild surprise. “One of the new ones?”
Lens circled, peering at him. “This is precision work,” he said. “It will require taxing amounts of concentration. I expect that I could complete it in three weeks, more or less, with treatments of an hour a day.”
“But if we’re leaving right after the festival, we only have a week.”
Lens shrugged. “Bring him with us. His current state of health is not bad. It is possible that he might be of use.” It’s true that Clive has a uniquely valuable skill set including theoretical physics, weapons design and hand-to-hand combat. He can also draw upon Edom St. John’s knowledge of xenobiology as an added bonus.
“I don’t like the idea,” said Clive. “It will take me out of the action for as long as we have to stay in Tucana. But obviously, I’m not swimming in a sea of options.”
*****
I had lunch delivered to my suite again. I still didn’t want Lens to have to go public, and also, I needed to have a private conversation with him about Neliit’s proposal.
“It was forward of her,” said Lens. “We are a trifle uncomfortable with it. And yet…”
“It would give those seeds a chance for life.”
“Dermot says that there’s another issue. Neliit’s people have three genders. We’re not certain a Cu’enashti could bond to two Chosen. It might be a bad idea depending on Eer-gaaani ideas of fidelity. But bonding to one might also be a problem. It might cause an unbalance in the relationship that doesn’t naturally exist with the Eer-gaaani.”
“Well, Raoul seems to get along just fine in a threesome.” For a moment, we sat in silence. Lens seemed much more sure of himself than yesterday, but he still had an air of being so solemn, so burdened. “It’s hard for you, isn’t it? To be able to see like that.”
“At first I wondered why, if I had been intended to have this vision, my eyes were not fashioned in that way. Being able to share the vision, like I did with you yesterday, is surely part of it. But I think now that it is a blessing I can remove my spectacles.”
“It’s not so different from the blue amrita. It isn’t so much a matter of seeing what Ash sees – it’s understanding what you’ve seen.”
He laughed. “Yes, exactly.”
“You said to Neliit that having no fruit of your own, you felt awkward being asked. Would you like to fruit?”
Lens sat very till for a moment. Then he removed his glasses, tucking them into his pocket, and looked at me, scrutinizing my expression. “Did you just proposition me?” he asked.
I closed the curtains.