Season of Passage, The (15 page)

She yawned. 'Those are pretty good odds.'

[Yes, Lauren.]

'But why aren't they a hundred percent?'

[There are many unknown factors, Lauren. For example, the Hawk's main thruster efficiency has not been critical y rated under ideal...]

Lauren heard only a part of the reasons why. She sank swiftly, as soft hands slipped gentle reins of thoughtlessness over her mind, easing her down

into a gray field of oblivion. This was how death would be, she thought, a peaceful void. But before that time came she must ask Jim once more

about why people saw canals on Mars, and why he gave Jennifer a shiny silver ring and told her to wear it. Before that final end came she had to

see, at least one last time, her Princess.

BOOKTWO

Chaneen

ELEVEN

Excerpts from Jennifer Wagner's Story

In the Garden, on the edge of the vast ocean, and the borders of the tal mountains, lived the people ofSastra, the first and greatest of human

beings. Because they were from the beginning, they were untarnished, beautiful and wise, of fair form and kind desire. Their king was Rankar,

mightiest of the Sastra, and their queen, Chaneen, loveliest of the offspring of the gods. They were man and wife, the parents of the children and the

guardians of mankind. Their powers were a mystery. Often Rankar could be found communing with the gods, seeking the knowledge of the

immortals. But although Chaneen shared Rankar's abilities to contact the higher beings, it was in her heart to care for the Garden, to bring life and

joy from the ground, and to make blessed the dwel ing of her people. Seldom did she cal upon the gods, being content to walk under the sun of her

own world.

For countless cycles the Garden enjoyed peace, forgetting even the bitter war with the Asurians long ago. But it came to pass one day that an

ambassador from Asure arrived on the outskirts of the mountains that sheltered the Gardenfrom the desert. He begged permission to enter the

Garden and exchange counsel with King Rankar. The news was brought to Rankar and Chaneen while they rested in their palace, near the pool of

sacred waters where the stars shone bright at night. Janier, Chaneen's sister, and much loved among the Sastra, brought the tidings along with her

husband, Tier, who had won great renown during the

ancient war with the Asurians. Bowing low before their King and Queen, they advised that the request of the Asurian ambassador be denied.

Rankar considered the news and the advice with a long silence. Final y he spoke.

'What does the ambassador give for a name, and how many of his people accompany him?'

Janier answered, 'There are but two who stand by his side, my Lord. 'She lowered her voice. 'It is Kratine himself who seeks entrance.'

At the mention of Kratine, a shadow fel over Chaneen's heart. Kratine was Asure, the land and its people, the King who had decreed that his race

should inhabit the Garden. It was Kratine who had been responsible for the death of so many of her children. Only by Rankar's invocation of the Fire

Messenger had the Sastra been able to defeat Kratine's army cycles ago. Scars of those battles, memories Chaneen wished to forget, returned

vividly in her thoughts.

'Why would you have me turn Kratine away at our doorstep?' Rankar asked Janier. 'Would that put an end to whatever threat he may have devised

since we last warred with him?'

'Perhaps not, my Lord,' Janier said. 'But the thought of him entering our home revolts me. I feel only grief wil fol ow should he come into the Garden.'

I agree,' Tier said. 'Better the enemy at our doorstep than in our home. Kratine is too dangerous a force to be al owed to move among our people. I

beg you deny his request, my Lord.'

'Perhaps he has come in peace,' Rankar said, 'and we would be in violation of the natural order to shun him.'

'Impossible,' Tier said.

I respectful y implore my Lord not to forget the past, 'Janier said.

Rankar turned to Chaneen. 'What are your thoughts, my wife? Amongst us four, you alone did not fight the Asurians last time. Your view may be the

clearest. Should we hear what Kratine has to say?'

Chaneen hesitated before answering. She had no desire to be involved in matters that could lead to death and destruction. Rankar knew that. Why

did he ask her? He must have his reasons. He always did.

'You are my King,' Chaneen said. I see already it is your desire to face him again. Do so.'

Rankar turned back to Janier and Tier. 'Al ow Kratine to pass our borders. But keep his two companions at bay, and send a swift group of scouts

over the mountains and into the desert beyond. See if these three Asurians are the only ones who want to enter our land.'

'I implore you to consider longer upon this matter,' Tier said.

'Myself included, my Lord, 'Janier said. 'He is hideous.'

Rankar bowed his head. I have already considered this matter for longer than you know. That is why I bid you do as I say.'

Janier and Tier bowed and left.

That evening, close to sunset, a late-night chil arrived on the lap of a foul-smel ing breeze. It was then Janier and Tier returned to the palace with

Kratine, standing to either side of him, their swords drawn. Chaneen and Rankar greeted the Asurian King in their throne room, which was open to

the sky, and had streams of flowing water on either side.

'Kratine,' Rankar said. 'We pray you have come in peace and welcome you in such spirit.'

Kratine bowed low in respect. Chaneen was surprised at his physical form. He did not appear as an Asurian should, but rather, as a human being.

How cunning of Kratine, Chaneen thought, to try and soothe their memories by taking such a shape. Yet she was not deceived. Looking into

Kratine's eyes, which regarded her with a semblance of warmth, she saw only hate.

'Thank you, Rankar,' Kratine said, for granting me this audience. Thanks, also, for honoring me with the presence of your companion. We of Asure

have heard many a tale of the wonder and beauty of Chaneen. It is indeed a joy to find that those tales fel short in glorifying her.' Kratine bowed

again. Chaneen chose to remain silent. Kratine added, glancing out of the corners of his yes, 'Would it be possible, if only for a night, to forget the

tragedies we both suffered in the past? I would have these two brave warriors stand at ease.'

'As you wish.' Rankar nodded. 'Put down your swords Janier and Tier. This is a season of peace. We wil listen to the words of our visitor with open

hearts. Tel us of your mind, Kratine.'

'The plight of Asure is grave,' Kratine said. 'Our land grows cold, our waters dry. The light dims. With each passing cycle, my people, once proud

and strong, weaken. Many more cycles and we wil perish altogether. I tel you this now, as I should have in the past, so that you wil understand why

we fought to claim your Garden for our own. I hope that you wil be able to find the compassion in your heart to forgive us. We were desperate then,

we are desperate now. But in those days, I felt if we were to survive, then we would need your land, al of your land. This was a personal decision on

my part, not a decision of my people. I was King then as lam now. lam to blame for the wrongs that were committed in the past.'

I know of your people's plight,' Rankar said. 'What do you now propose? How may I help you?'

I beg you to al ow us to live peaceful y beyond your mountains,' Kratine said. 'Far from your Garden, but stil within the confines of your land.' He

paused. 'If you deny us this request, Rankar, then you condemn a great race to death.'

'I feel your concern for your people to be genuine,' Rankar replied. 'The Asurians cannot last long without their waters. Even with your efforts to

conserve, I know your rivers grow shal ower with each passing cycle. But I am reminded of a time when you entered my lands and were not content

with the desert beyond the mountains, but tried to enter our Garden and have it for your own. How can I be reassured you would not try to do the

same thing again?'

'There is nothing I can say,' Kratine replied, 'that can erase the evils I inflicted on your people. But that is the problem I have thought long and hard

about. What could I do to show we are sincere? At length the basis of the distrust became clear to me, and the way to get rid of it. Our people,

Rankar, are much alike.'

'We are nothing like you, 'Janier hissed.

Kratine glanced Janier's way and a smile broke on his face.

'Be stil , child,' Rankar said. 'Please continue, Kratine.'

'Yes, my Lord,' Kratine said, although his gaze lingered upon Janier. She attempted to meet his stare but had to break away and look at the floor.

Kratine went on, 'As I was saying, we are much alike. At present you fear and dislike us because we seem, outwardly, to be so alien. But if you

knew us, the way we live and labor, you would understand that we possess your same love for life, your same desire for beauty and joy. I have

asked you to al ow us to inhabit the lands on the other side of your great mountains. But I believe that in time there would come a mingling of our

people, in a peaceful and beneficial manner.'

'But you are of a separate origin,' Rankar said. 'Would it not be a violation of the natural order for us to mingle in the way you describe?'

'That is a misunderstanding,' Kratine said. 'One I have come to your Garden to correct. The natural order is progressive. It can always be improved.'

'You speak of ways of life, 'Janier said. I have heard stories of your Asurian ways. They disgust me.'

Again Kratine turned his attention to Janier. 'Stories, my child ? What are stories? Would you deny us a chance to prove ourselves as worthy of life

as the Sastra?' Kratine smiled. 'Are you afraid to see the truth?'

I am afraid of nothing, 'Janier said.

'How do you propose to demonstrate this truth?' Rankar asked.

'Very easily, my Lord,' Kratine said. 'Al ow an exchange of our people, two of your race for two of mine. A male and a female would be ideal. With

your people living in Asure, and mine living here, a deep appreciation for each other's culture wil natural y spring up. Then the differences and

hostilities between us wil dissolve, and be shown for the il usions they are.'

'Would you be one of those who wil remain in our Garden?' Rankar asked.

I would not al ow it,' Tier said quickly.

'No,' Kratine said. 'The two who wait at the edge of your fair Garden have traveled with me with the hope that they may have the privilege.'

'Why a man and a woman?' Rankar asked.

'It is of no particular importance,' Kratine said. 'But I feel that a male and female of your race would give my people a more complete understanding

of the Sastra. I'm sure my Lord can see the wisdom of what I say.'

'This is al you wish at present?' Rankar asked. 'This exchange of people?'

'Yes,' Kratine said. 'We have no desire to enter any portion of your lands without first reassuring your people that we come in peace.'

'What if after a cycle of this exchange I do not feel reassured?' Rankar asked. 'What if the couple I choose to send to your land stil feels that you are

a threat, even after living with you?'

'I pray that wil not be the case,' Kratine said. 'But should it be so, what can we do? We do not have the strength we did ages ago. As you wel know,

we cannot defeat the Sastra in battle,' Kratine added. 'Not with your powers supporting them.'

Chaneen sensed that he was downplaying the Asurians' might. Nevertheless, she was confused, for Kratine's offer seemed reasonable.

'Who would arrange for the transportation of my two people?' Rankar asked.

I wil personal y accompany them to my home,' Kraline said. 'My bridge is waiting at the edge of your deserts.'

'Do you have any preference who I send?' Rankar asked. 'Besides that they be a male and a female?'

'No, my Lord,' Kratine said. 'But two of your strongest might be best. My people admire strength, and such a couple could demonstrate to my

people how worthy the Sastra are of respect.' He appraised Tier and Janier. 'Perhaps these two warriors would be a good choice. Their spirit

appears good.'

I have your word they would not be harmed?' Rankar asked. 'You swear on the name of Asure?'

Kratine nodded.

'Do you?' Rankar insisted.

Kratine bowed. 'Yes, my Lord. Nothing wil be done to arouse your wrath. And I feel at ease with those I leave behind, knowing that above al else

you would take no action that would harm your own children.'

Chaneen felt both truth and deceit in his words. Rankar must be equal y aware, she thought. She watched as her husband sat back in his throne

after a thoughtful pause.

I wil consider your request and meet with you tomorrow, Kratine,' Rankar said. 'Tonight you may stay in our palace, and enjoy its comforts.'

I appreciate the invitation to stay,' Kratine said. 'But I must decline. No Asurian wil stay in your Garden until your final decision has been made. But I

am anxious to return tomorrow to see what that decision may be. Already I sense your consent, am I not correct, Lord Rankar?'

'Your goal to remove hostilities between our peoples is noble,' Rankar said. 'Stil , I must confer with those I might choose to send. Tomorrow,

Kratine, come when the sun stands at its peak.'

'Very wel ,' Kratine said. 'However, if the time is not important, I wil visit your palace a bit later, after the sun has set. If my Lord permits?'

'Fine,' Rankar said. 'My warriors waiting at the front of the palace wil escort you to the edge of the Garden.'