The Chronicles of Amon book 1 LINK

CHAPTER 4.

  “They NOT stay here now! We know more than them! We bigger than them! We BETTER than them! They stay here, we fight more. Better they go.”

  Chief was adamant. As leader of the new race, he had been chosen to speak on their behalf. He was the least violent of his people, the TAL (the name given them by Sef when he taught them his language). Among all of his race, Chief was the only one who could be reasoned with. The others, now close to one hundred in number, were prone to settle disputes violently, unlike their simian parents.

  Of late, the conflict between the simians and the Tal had become so intense that even Sef’s father saw a need for some sort of resolution.

  The old simian had been deposed only a few months ago, but had been allowed to remain with the clan because Sef and Chief had convinced the new simian alpha and others of the Tal that he posed no threat.

  Sef rose to his feet and began speaking.

  “We come today to find a solution to the challenge our two races face. We cannot continue to fight among ourselves. Too many of our father’s people have been harmed, and even killed because we could not find common ground.”

  “You are NOT one of us!” Chief roared. “You say you are Tal, but you are not! You are Hu-muhn! You side with THEM!” Chief pointed accusingly toward the simians, gathered not far away, obviously agitated.

  Sef could see that his father was nearing an outburst of his own in response to the slur from the Tal leader. If that happened, the meeting could quickly come apart.

  “You are NOT one of THEM! Our father . . . YOUR FATHER is not one of THEM! He speaks to you, but not to them . . . and not to Tal!”

  “But what of your mothers?” Sef pleaded. “They have cared for you when you were small. They fed you and sheltered you from the storms. Why do you not care for them now?”

  “They are SIM-UN!” Chief spat disgustedly. “They are not Hu-muhn! THEY ARE NOT TAL!”

  Sef sensed that the situation was getting out of control,as had been the case so many times before. He needed a way to de-fuse it, to avoid the violence which inevitably happened when Tal tempers flared.

  “Let us then think on this for another day. We must not decide too quickly.” Aside to Chief, he added. “Please! Go among your people tonight. Persuade them not to give way to anger. We can work together if all of us are willing. You are their leader. They will listen to you.”

  Sef understood how important it was for Chief to maintain credibility with his people. He knew he was risking a lot asking him to do this thing again. In the past, Chief had cooperated. But now, with tempers high on all sides, nothing could be taken for granted.

  Chief looked around at the faces of his people. He could see they were agitated, but they still held their eyes on him, a sure indication that they still looked to him for leadership. He knew from their response that he was still in control. He would not have to save face this time, but even HIS patience was wearing thin.

  “This I do today for you, Sef. Tomorrow I do not know.” Saying this, Chief turned and walked through the crowd of his followers. En masse, they turned and followed him away.

  That night, when Sef was sure he was alone, he took the transceiver from its hiding place and put his hand on it. Immediately the image of Evander began to form. As it was forming, Sef wondered what he would say to explain the predicament he faced.

  “Hello, my friend Sef.” Evander said, even before his image was complete. “How did things fare with your meeting?”

  “Little, if anything has changed since last we spoke. More and more I am convinced that the Tal are an aberration I cannot influence.”

  “It would appear so,” Evander began. “There is little I can offer in the way of advice, except that we must let events unfold as they will.”

  “I must agree. Nothing I have said or done has changed events. There seems to be no common ground between the two races. I think my father’s clan would cooperate, but the Tal are unwilling to compromise. It saddens me beyond description to think we cannot get beyond this impasse.”

  “It appears so, my friend. The Tal are, after all, an aberration, both physically AND psychologically. How could we have known they would be the way they are?”

  “But you are ‘seeders’!” Sef’s words betrayed his frustration. “You have spread humanity across countless worlds! How could you not have anticipated this?”

  “It is true. The human race has spread across the universe from the beginning of time. Many cultures have flourished. Many more have not. Yet we continue our mission, knowing that it is the destiny of humankind to grow, to progress. Each new world holds within it that potential. But each of us must decide our own destiny. Some of us choose poorly.”

  “Yes. I understand. Even my father, who is human in every way but physical, chose poorly when we joined his clan so long ago. Even today we must live with the consequences of his actions.”

  Sef paused, reflecting on that fateful day, many years in the past.

  “Tomorrow we meet again. Chief has committed to speak with his people. Maybe he will find a solution.”

  “Let us hope so. Until then, rest well my friend. Contact me again when you feel it appropriate.”