For One Nen Read online

  “Where’s Ehic?” Tinnen asked as he took a seat next to his giant friend.

  “He is no more,” Atenilek said.

  “How?” Tinnen asked softly.

  “Madness stole his life. He charged a surface dweller and together they fell from a great height,” Atenilek.

  “Now they fear us,” Soshin said.

  “Yes, just as much as they fear all who come from the underground,” Atenilek added.

  “Why do they fear us? And how did they even know about us?” Tinnen asked.

  “They know the story of Hrilla; how she rebelled and stole the children,” Teltel explained. “But they say she didn’t kill the children. She brought them to the surface and when their parents came from the underground she wouldn’t give them back. I don’t know the entire story but it is different than we’ve heard it.”

  “The painting,” Tinnen said. “In the tunnels near the surface, there were paintings and writings that told the story of Hrilla. It read as you are telling it now. But in the paintings she was a hero.”

  “Yes I saw the story as well. I just wonder whose version of the story is correct,” Atenilek wondered aloud.

  “Will they let us go?” asked Tinnen.

  “They are waiting to see if we go mad and sparse like Ehic did,” Soshin answered.

  A man came to the door and shouted, “Stand away.”

  The door opened and a man with a staff stood in the opening. “What is the story with the new one?” he asked the men.

  “He is the Nen I told you about,” Atenilek answered.

  “The one you gave your life to save?” the man questioned, and yet he didn’t wait for an answer.

  “I was hoping you were telling me the truth. Now I see that you were,” the man smiled.

  Turning to Tinnen he asked, “And what say you?”

  Tinnen stood to his full height, which showed he was a Nen, small and swift.

  “Atenilek is my Master,” he said. “I stole his arm but I didn’t mean to.”

  “No,” Atenilek said with his deep rumbling voice. He stood next to his tiny friend and gave his explanation. “As I’ve told you before, I tried to touch Ot and Ot took my arm. It was not Tinnen’s fault.”

  “But I asked the Giver of Life to spare you and in return I’ve given my life in service to you,” Tinnen argued.

  “Your kindness intrigues me,” the man said. “but never-the-less the vote of the council is distrust in you. We banish you to the far valley. This is near the water and we know some of you still use your gills. This is also the place where the Hoth enter the water, so beware. They also are not to be trusted. After a sufficient time, if you have proven yourself to sparse no more, you may petition the council to join us.”

  And so Tinnen, Atenilek, and the others hiked all that day to the valley that was to be their home.

  There were a few scattered trees through the valley and the men found that standing under a tree gave both a cooling affect and relief for their strained eyes.

  “We must build shelter,” Soshin said. “We must gather food for our escape.”

  “Escape?” asked Tinnen. “But they’ve let us go.”

  “We must sneak through town to get back to the cave,” Soshin said.

  “But I don’t want to go back,” Tinnen said.

  “I will stay with Tinnen and he with me,” Atenilek said.

  “But I have family down there,” Soshin said. “Eolik will worry.”

  Hopek, who had been silent for most of the journey, began to break long thin limbs from a nearby tree. The men fell silent as they watched him.

  Tinnen was the first to scamper up the tree and pull the strong vines down to help Hopek build a shelter.

  “I think there’s more over there,” Atenilek said to Tinnen pointing to another tree not far away.

  Penelk and Keshel walked away to other trees and began to break limbs as well.

  Soshin stood for a moment watching four Het and one small Nen. They were not the people he wanted to grow old alongside. He wanted his wife, Eolik. He wanted his family. He stood for the time it took the men to raise a shelter big enough for the six men before he convinced himself of his fate. He knew he could never go back because if he did Kent would have him killed, or worse, kill his family. He had been pushed by Emperor Kent long enough and hard enough to know that Kent could force him to tell the truth about Atenilek and the surface. Having let Atenilek live would undoubtedly make the Emperor angry. He was certain that Emperor Kent would turn his anger upon him and his family by pushing him to perform unspeakable acts.

  Accepting these facts he walked far off from the group, close to the water where he began to ‘cha’. He rumbled so loudly as he threw his fists at the air and kicked his feet in anger that three Hoth came to the surface of the water to watch him ‘cha’ through his sorrow.

  297 AE

  Aboard the EGRESS

  Tala looked down at the little crowd that had gathered just for her stories. They made no sound or movement.

  “Seems a shame to stop there but that’s the end of this book,” she called down. “I could read more if someone will send up another.”

  “I think I’m done for today,” Teltel said softly.

  “Yes,” Bug agreed.

  “Hey, we could hear another,” Benai said as he tried to rally the gang.

  “It’s just a lot to take in,” Trina said.

  “Yeah,” agreed Molly. “I mean, think of it. He couldn’t go back because he would probably be killed or worse be forced to kill his wife and family. Antip’s pushing was strong enough back then and they could do that. He must’ve been just heartbroken.”

  Trina added, “The first people of the Egress probably felt a lot like Soshin. They couldn’t stay in their home. The ones who left believed they would probably die from the nova if they stayed, and most feared the underground so much that boarding the Egress was their only hope.”

  “Deni, can I go to the fallow field a while?” asked Teltel with sagging shoulders and a somber stance.

  “Stay as long as you like,” Deni answered. “You might leave the main door open since life support is off in there.”

  “C’mon,” Teltel said to Benai and Beau. They followed the giant to the fallow field to practice combat and the art of ‘cha’.

  Bug, Trina, Merari and Molly headed for the dining hall. Everyone got a tray of food except for Merari.

  “Aren’t you hungry?” Bug asked. “Planting always makes me hungry.”

  “I just don’t want anything, alright?” she snapped.

  “Okay,” Bug said, “Just asking.”

  Molly looked at Bug silently and raised her eyebrows in concern.

  “What’s up?” Molly said softly.

  Merari was banging her knees nervously together.

  “Seriously, are you okay?” Molly asked as she touched her dear friend lightly on the arm.

  Merari stood to her feet quickly, which made her chair tumble over into the aisle. She set the chair up again and said, “I just don’t feel well. I’m going to my quarters.”

  She left the other students and headed for the elevator, but instead of getting on, she passed the elevator and kept walking. She rounded the bend past the gardens, the officer’s lounge, the emissaries’ offices, the area where the keeper’s class met every day, to the next door. She opened the door and walked into the library. She quietly looked around the room filled with books. The room was dimmer than the bright light of the hallway. Her eyes adjusted and she walked further into the library.

  She ran her fingers across a shelf of books and looked disgustedly at her dusty fingers.

  “Can I help you find something?” a voice came from behind her.

  “Who cleans this place?” Merari said without turning around.

  “We don’t get many people in here. Fewer still since the gamma burst hit. No one seems to want to read anymore. But Tanik sees to it that we stay at our post just the same.”

  Me
rari finally turned around to find a beautiful Goweli boy smiling at her. Having a shy moment, Merari turned back around and slipped a book off the shelf.

  “I was just looking for something to pass the time,” she said.

  “Well, you picked one of the greats,” the boy said. “See there,” he pointed to the opened cover, “It’s by Tanik’s great-great uncle Fraelic. He was a great musician, composer, and poet. Tanik’s mother even has books in here.”

  “Do they have books about history?” Merari asked.

  “Of, course,” the boy said. “You’re a keeper, you should know that.”

  “Yes, yes, I know there are books of history. I just meant are there other stories, other accounts of history that people don’t widely know about? Something not on the central computer?”

  The boy’s expression changed drastically as he said gruffly, “What are you asking?”

  “Never mind. I think I’ll just browse,” Merari said hastily. She placed the book back on the dusty shelf and strolled down the aisle.

  The boy walked away leaving her alone.

  Merari walked down an aisle filled with books on either side. She reached the end of the aisle and walked around to the next aisle. There she found the musty smell she had faintly smelled when she first entered. It was getting stronger. She found the source of the smell. There was a book with a similar cover like the one Trina had read to them in the elevator. She picked it up and opened the cover. She couldn’t read any of the writing but she believed it to be like the book Trina had referred to as Denizen. She tucked it under her arm and continued down another aisle.

  When she came to the end of the row she saw the boy from across the room point at her. Standing next to him was Tanik.

  Her teacher came near and Merari asked, “What is this? Why have I never heard of personal journals?”

  “You needn’t fret over unsanctioned writings.” Tanik answered. “I don’t even know why they keep these useless things around?” Tanik smirked.

  Merari nervously ran her fingers over a book lying on a table nearby. “It’s just strange that I’m a keeper and I’ve never heard of it.”

  “It’s from a time lost and forgotten.” Tanik’s smile made Merari uneasy.

  “But isn’t that our job; to keep the past and to not let it be forgotten?” Merari continued.

  “Our job,” Tanik said as she over pronounced her words, “is to keep the truth.”

  Again, Tanik’s expression relaxed into a smile that made Merari very uncomfortable.

  “How do you know what to keep?” Merari asked as she picked up the book from the table.

  “You believe your teacher. I’ve kept what my teacher taught me. You shall keep what I teach you.” Tanik reached out and took the book from Merari and opened it.

  “Have you been reading?” Tanik asked as she looked at the book.

  “Um, no, well, we’ve been hearing stories,” Merari admitted.

  “And are these stories, the truth?” Tanik asked with her same pretend smile.

  “I don’t know what that means,” Merari said with a slight tilt of her head.

  “Have you heard stories that are contradictory to the beliefs I’ve taught you?” Tanik said sternly.

  Merari sucked in her bottom lip and hesitated. “Yes,” she said.

  “Would it not be best for the whole of the Egress to live in truth?” Tanik said with a growing smile of pride.

  Merari gave a slight nod.

  Tanik stretched her arm over Merari’s shoulders and squeezed her close. Her words were like drinking syrup and her expression was convincing.

  “It’s my job to teach you the truth. And it’s your job to spread the truth.” Tanik put her hands on Merari’s shoulders and looked down at her as her face became quite serious.

  “Now I need you to tell me when these gatherings take place so we can spread the truth instead of letting a few unbelievers spread their lies.”

  Merari again, gave a slight nod.

  “Good, good.” Tanik pulled Merari in close for a tight hug. “Oh! I’m so proud of you for believing the truth. You are one of my best pupils. Now, run along and be sure to let me know whenever you hear of another gathering.” Tanik put her finger to her mouth as she said softly, “It’ll be our little secret.”

  Again Merari nodded and slowly she opened the door to the library. Turning back to Tanik she said softly, “Benai brings a transmitter to class.”

  She waited a moment for Tanik to show her approval with a proud smile and a satisfied sigh before she left the library. Letting the door close behind her, Merari smiled.

  As she walked slowly toward the wide open dining hall she saw Mathis walk down the hall toward the elevator.

  He walked with his head down and his hands in his pockets. When he reached the elevator he punched the ‘up’ button and stuffed his hand back into his pocket.

  While he waited a moment he noticed someone standing close to him.

  “Oh, Hello, Maven Sharla. I didn’t see you there.” He said and then dropped his eyes back to the floor and shrugged his shoulders to readjust his backpack.

  “I was headed to the observatory deck,” the Maven said. “Want to join me?”

  Mathis’s head shot up, “That’s where I was going,” he said.

  “How about I just tag along?” the Maven said with a kind and soft expression.

  The door gave a ding and they entered. Mathis pressed the button for the observatory deck and after he pushed his curly hair off his eyebrows he again shoved his hands into his pockets.

  After a moment in silence the Maven said, “Henry is such a kind man. I saw him this morning and he looked so tired, but he still took time to speak to this old woman; such a nice man.”

  The corners of Mathis’ mouth curved upward but he didn’t raise his head.

  After another long silence the door dinged and opened. They both walked off the elevator and slowly to the glass wall where they looked below at the destruction.

  Maven Sharla pressed her hands against the glass and sighed. “So much loss,” she said.

  A stream of tears escaped from her wondrous eyes.

  She cleared her throat and said “I remember when they all came aboard.”

  Mathis’ face sprang upward at this tall beauty. He had never seen the Most Holy Maven cry before. He put his hand on hers and said, “It’s okay, Maven Sharla.”

  “No, this is not Okay.” She slid down the glass and sat with her gaze still on the destruction below.

  Mathis watched this old wise woman weep and his heart ached for her.

  Maven Sharla felt a hand on hers and she gazed upward at the teenage Hoth entreating her to join him. She took his hand as he led her slowly around the large circular observatory deck. After leaving the area where they had been able to see the Hoth sector clearly, they followed the curved glass wall to the next stasis sector.

  Mathis stopped and pointed. “See Maven, the Het remain.”

  “But…” the Maven began but Mathis pulled her on ahead with his tiny hand.

  They continued their walking tour.

  “And see,” Mathis pointed again, “your Neph still sleep. They will be always with us.”

  On and on around the ship Mathis tried his best to take away the sorrow from the Most Holy Maven by showing her the stasis sectors of the thousands of tribes-women and men and children that would someday repopulate the Z.O.E. star system. He tried his best to give her hope.

  Completing the tour they circled back to where they had begun. The Maven dropped the boy’s hand and leaned into the glass. She stared at the loss below for a heartbreakingly long moment before sliding to the floor beneath her.

  “If only the Hoth had been permitted to have a portion of their tribe living among us, then you would not be…” she couldn’t find the words to express her grief.

  “It was such a mess back then; getting on board,” she began. “I was so little and my father carried me high on his shoulders. I could se
e the crowd of tiny Hoth with the tags around their necks being loaded into their sections. There was a little boy that cried and cried until his mother held him and she entered a section with him in her arms. They fell asleep together.”

  “My mother used to tell me that story,” Mathis said. “They were right over there, real high up.”

  “Yes. Some officials brought in a long device that made steps all the way to the top. She started on the steps and he was still crying. By the time they had gotten to the top he had stopped. He looked down. I think he saw me.” The Maven shook her head as if trying to stop her tears from brimming. “I should’ve smiled at him.”

  She looked down at Mathis and smiled. He gave a gushing smile back.

  “Is that why you smile at everyone now?” he asked.

  She pressed her lips together and nodded her head.

  “There was another family I knew of. The mother was Hoth and the father was Denizen. They had a son that looked just like his Denizen father, he didn’t have gills or tentacles or anything that would give him away as being a Hoth. I know many Hoth who had intermarried had to make tough choices about splitting up their family to go on the Egress or to keep their family together and stay on Reen to face the nova.”

  “I heard my father talking about it. The Hoth woman went missing. And a day after, her husband found her in stasis. My father said she probably wanted her husband and son to live freely on the Egress so she sacrificed her life with them so their son could live out his life as a Denizen. But since the Emissaries didn’t allow any Hoth, not even mixed ones to live freely on the Egress, I don’t know what happened to them. I never heard anything more. I’ve always wondered if any of them made it on secretly. They only allowed two Hoth to be awake on board. They were to over-see the ones in stasis. And they weren’t even allowed to mix with the other passengers.”

  “Like my parents did,” Mathis said. “They were overseers too.”

  “Yes. But a few years later when we were racing away from the inescapable nova those first two overseers had a baby.”

  “My great-great great-great grandfather,” Mathis interrupted proudly.

  “Yes, Baby Arvin,” the Maven said as she continued to smile. “And they petitioned the emissaries to have him join the keepers’ class. They wanted the Hoth represented. They believed they could have Hoth representation more easily among the emissaries if they could first get representation in the keepers’ class. It seems a simple enough request.”