Aupes

CHAPTER 11

  The following morning Plisfou left Gifford early, saying that either she would return the next day with Masaya or Bryn would fly back in the newly repaired aircraft and bring Masaya with him. In return, Nikki promised to provide the first of the deliveries of surplus produce and someone to train a couple of the Vixtamol in cookery. Once Plisfou had left she walked down to Bryn's workshop where she found Gordon hard at work with Ussida and Bavex on the boat. It was obvious that Ussida had indeed learned quickly, as Bryn had said, as she was working both unsupervised and apparently skilfully while Gordon was demonstrating the necessary skills to Bavex.

  She had seemed to Nikki to be very retiring by Aupesian standards and, apart from a few polite words when she had been introduced, had hardly spoken. Now, with Gordon and Ussida, she was chatting happily and seemed delighted to be among the human settlers. Nikki was almost sorry to break them up, but she needed a few words with Gordon and drew him aside.

  "I know what you're going to say," he said.

  "Oh? What?" Nikki couldn't help smiling.

  "It's about what Bryn said, isn't it? And he asked me not to tell anyone."

  "I think it would be best, now I know that he said something, if I know exactly what he did say, don't you?"

  "Yes, I suppose you're right. Well, he asked me who I was going to join with in a family and I said I didn't know yet and anyway he's a lot older than me so it was more urgent that he made his mind up and he said he thought he already had so I asked him who and he said Alison and Nikki. I asked him if he was sure about Nikki - I mean, you - and he said why. I said because everybody would like to ask you but nobody would so he said he was going to and if anybody wanted to beat him to it they'd have to hurry."

  "Is that true, Gordon? Would everybody like to ask me?" Nikki sounded truly amazed.

  "I think so, yes. I've talked to most of the others and your name comes up most of the time. Nobody wants to ask and get turned down, though."

  "Well, nobody has yet given me a chance to turn them down. I'll see Bryn later today and you can be sure I'll raise it with him then. Of course," she said playfully, "someone else might ask me first and there's no guarantee I'd say no."

  Gordon coloured a little but said nothing. His shy smile told Nikki that he wasn't about to ask her himself, so she left him to his work.

  Her first serious job of the day was to find Fiona and sit down with her to tell her about the events of the previous day. Perhaps she ought to include Louise as well, she thought as she walked towards the administration building. It was deserted when she got there.

  We must, she thought, arrange some sort of communication system to save wandering about all over the place whenever anybody is wanted. Still, at that time there was no alternative, so she went back outside, collared the first person she saw and asked that Fiona and Louise be found and told she needed to speak to them. That done, she sat down to think.

  Her experiences with Masyayi had been eye-opening, to say the least, but the knowledge that Bryn, and, it seemed, a lot of the other men, saw her as a potential family member had, if anything, concentrated her thoughts even more. She was fairly sure that the Aupesian males were not as fit and well as the females appeared to be, but whether anything could be done was something yet to be discovered. The study taking place at Botijjo #2 would find out, if all went well, whether an Aupesian/human hybrid would ever be possible and it seemed to Nikki that a positive result might well prove to be the only hope for Aupesian survival. She was as confident as she could be that their group would expand rapidly over the next few generations and that it would be able to sustain itself, as the birth-rate was accelerating and more than enough food was being produced. Gordon's fishing initiative would add both volume and variety to their food supplies. Her meandering thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Fiona and Louise, Fiona in the sort of grubby state that had now become usual as she enjoyed nothing more than working with her animals. The closer she was to them the better she liked it with the inevitable effect on her appearance.

  The two visitors sat in front of Nikki's desk, sipping coffee and waiting for her to speak.

  "Yesterday Louise told me about Bryn's plan for a family." Nikki's look was serious.

  "Are you going to accept, then?" Louise sounded as if acceptance was a formality.

  "Perhaps. I don't know. But after what I saw yesterday I have to think carefully. I've asked you here, Fiona, because I value your opinion and you, Louise, are here because I really need your help."

  "OK," Louise replied, "whatever I can do, I will, you know that. "

  "I do. Right, to business. Yesterday I was introduced to the Aupesian means of population growth, and before you make any comment, Louise, it was just as an observer. Listen to what I have to say before you comment or ask questions."

  Nikki described her visit to the Silomiala as accurately and completely as possible, paying particular attention to the so-called breeding table and the physical state the male appeared to be in. When she finished the factual description she turned to her reactions.

  "I'd seen all this but didn't comment at all. I won't until I am sure of my own feelings about the process. It is vital that we stay focussed on the fact that the Aupesians are an ancient civilisation, much older than ours and, until they were practically exterminated by Earth diseases, much more technologically advanced than us. I don't believe we have the right to criticise their ways even if they might seem to us to be verging on the barbaric. That is, I think, how I feel - that only certain people are allowed to breed and they are treated much as we treat our livestock, while the others have no chance to procreate. There seems to be no room in Aupesian society for any sort of emotional attachment to another individual, which is I think why the friendship between Pete and Zeftio is being very carefully watched. Some of the comments that have been made about that friendship suggest to me that the Aupesians actually know rather more about our mating habits than they have said, but I suppose this isn't surprising if they've visited Earth and studied us. I think it is also the reason why the Aupesians always seem to enjoy themselves so much when they come here - they are temporarily released from what appears to be a harsh, soulless regime, even if all the individuals in that regime are very likeable and pleasant to be with. OK, I've had my say."

  There was silence in the room as both Louise and Fiona seemed to be deep in thought. Louise looked worried and avoided eye contact with Nikki. As the seconds dragged by and became a minute Fiona spoke.

  "It’s quite something, isn't it? I have to say I agree totally about not criticising our hosts on this planet. They've gone out of their way to be hospitable and we can't expect them to be exactly like us just because there's a physical similarity. Perhaps the answer will lie with Pete Webster, you know. I'm jumping the gun here, but if Jodie’s study shows that the genetic differences can be overcome a lot could happen after an Aupesian is included in one of our family units."

  A look of fascination crossed Nikki's face, which hitherto had been just on the worried side of expressionless.

  "You seem confident that Jodie will come up with something solid. Is there something that you're not telling us?"

  "Not exactly, no, but even as far back as the late nineteen hundreds genetic engineering was employed to produce market-orientated livestock. Those skills have been developed although never used on humans, as far as I know. If we can do it with cattle, pigs and chickens it seems to me quite logical, at least on a theoretical level, to assume that the process can be applied to the so-called higher species. I mean, of course, humans but since the Aupesians need to breathe and eat just like us to exist it is equally logical to assume that the same basic process can be extended to them as well. The morality of this genetic tinkering is not something on which I have to make a decision, for which I am mightily grateful."

  "You could ask which is morally least offensive - tinkering, as you put it, with the genetic composition of a species or standing
by and watching that species become extinct. I don't have a moral problem with the tinkering given the only apparent alternative."

  "Yes, Louise, fine in theory," Fiona replied, "but if the roles were reversed and you were told that your life expectancy of, say, eighty years was to be cut to thirty so that the human race could survive you might not have a theoretical moral problem but you might be reluctant to submit to the process yourself."

  "Let's get back to the more immediate issues, you two." Nikki was smiling as she interrupted the discussion before it became an argument. "I've invited Masaya here and I suspect she knows what I want to talk to her about. What I want from each of you is two things. I want your advice about what I say to Bryn, and what I can possibly say to Masaya without causing offence. For the purposes of this exercise let's assume Jodie's team come up with an acceptable means of genetic control or whatever the correct term is to permit inter-species reproduction."

  "While Fiona's still thinking I'll tell you what I believe you should do. Firstly, you should say yes to Bryn, provided the others are acceptable to you. Secondly, I think you've got to tell Masaya a few unpalatable things, but she probably knows them anyway. You have to tell her that we don't think that the Aupesians have a hope in hell of surviving because their males seem to have had it. Without males they can't reproduce, it's that simple. You've also got to tell her, delicately, that we want no part of their baby factory."

  "That's pretty straightforward. You'll leave me to translate it into a rather more diplomatic form, I suppose?" Louise just shrugged her shoulders, saying that Nikki was good at that sort of thing.

  "Louise has really said what needs to be said. I agree you should enter a family and Bryn's as good as they come. As for Masaya, well, Louise has said it all. Perhaps the way forward, if we assume that Jodie will be successful, is to suggest that if any of the Aupesians want to, they should be allowed to join families. We may have to compromise by letting one or two of our men, if they're prepared to do it, spend a day every so often at what Louise so sweetly calls their baby factories. With respect to my illustrious colleague – " Fiona gave Louise an affectionate squeeze on the shoulder, rewarded by a friendly smile "- you can hardly tell Masaya what is going to happen and stay within the self-imposed rule of non-criticism of Aupesian civilisation."

  "If you both think I should commit to a family I'll have to discuss it with Bryn. It seems nobody else is going to ask me and I admit I'm fond of him. As to Masaya's visit, well, that's less clear-cut. There is pressure on Jodie and her people, whether she knows it or not, to produce a workable solution and if she does I think Fiona has made a suggestion that would be worth thinking seriously about. I can't see any of our people objecting too much if our families included Aupesians, but I can foresee resistance to our men being used - and I think that is the right word - within the Silomiala system. It might be a price worth paying, though, if we can find a couple of volunteers. Just as an experiment between the three of us, let's see if we can find a way of asking one of our men - it doesn't matter who - if he'd go. How do we put it to him? Louise? Fiona?"

  "I suppose we need to be more subtle than my usual method," Fiona suggested, "because when I want a sow fertilised I just lead the boar up behind her, whisper in his ear and he does the rest."

  "It depends what you whisper. I think," Louise said, looking thoughtful, "that if the situation is explained in general terms to everyone first the problem that our Aupesian friends have becomes well-known. Then you can approach one of the men who has yet to commit to a family and say to him something along the lines of, um, 'would you mind donating sperm to the Aupesians?' and he'd be unlikely to say no. Then you can go into the means of that donation. Explaining the system that they use to everyone here in detail doesn't serve any purpose that I can see."

  "OK, Louise, leaving aside the obvious question of why I have to do the asking, I'll try to imagine I'm one of our uncommitted men." Nikki paused for a moment. "You know, I think I can imagine it working. Before we left Earth part of the selection process that I used was suitability for reproduction, so I don't have any doubts about the physical ability to perform, if you'll forgive the term, but there is a question of attitude. I don't want them now, but it might be useful to have a few suggestions as to who might be able to handle the mental aspects of being a surrogate Aupesian male. Do you want to go away and think about it?"

  The meeting broke up with both Louise and Fiona promising to consider who could be asked to volunteer, and to keep the details of the meeting to themselves. Each returned to their routine daily tasks a little more preoccupied than normal, but happy that Nikki was, apparently, going to commit to a family with Bryn and Alison. For her part, Nikki was unsure about the family question, as she called it, but could see the advantages of being seen to be part of a family. Besides, she told herself, Bryn was the one man that she looked up to although that might have been simply because she had dealings with him regularly and didn't need to be in such regular contact with any of the others.

  Throughout the rest of the day she found herself looking at each man she encountered as a potential family member rather than as a fellow settler as she always had in the past. It could have been that, or it could have been that her earlier conversation with Gordon had become widely known, which led to several men engaging her in far more general conversations than had ever previously been the case. She found that she enjoyed the extra attention that she was getting as a woman rather than Mission Commander. That enjoyment added to her doubts about committing to Bryn, and brought home to her the realisation that she had been entirely celibate since the meeting, so long ago, with Sarah Gifford when the possibility of leaving Earth had first been suggested. She didn't grasp it at the time, but these thoughts, personal to her, pushed the wider issues that she had discussed with Louise and Fiona out of her mind.

  She kept herself busy for the rest of the day and the sun was beginning to set before she felt pangs of hunger telling her it was time to eat. The idea of a quiet stroll on the beach appealed, though, so before she returned to her quarters she headed off towards the sea. Once on the beach she pulled off her Aupesian boots, walking barefoot in the sand. She was only aware of someone with her when a voice startled her.

  "May I walk with you?" a male voice said.

  "Don't do that! You frightened the life out of me!" she turned to see the smiling face of Scott Collins, one of Fiona's biologists.

  "Sorry, I didn't mean to. Can I carry those for you?"

  "Thank you," she said, handing him her boots, "I thought I'd enjoy the sunset. I don't get the chance often."

  "You work too hard."

  They walked in an uncomfortable silence for a little while, Nikki enjoying the feel of the warm sand between her toes if not the silence.

  "Tell me," she said suddenly, "is everyone afraid of me, or something?"

  "Not afraid, no. In awe of you, I suppose, would be a better way of putting it."

  "You as well, Scott?"

  "A little, yes. Everyone respects you and what you've helped us all to accomplish here."

  "Gordon said that a lot of people would ask me to commit to a family with them, but were afraid of rejection. Now Bryn seems as if he's going to ask."

  "Are you accepting?"

  "To be quite honest, Scott, I don't know." She sat down, her back resting against a rock. "Can I take the time to be a responsible family member, and if I can, would it be the right family? But if no-one else is going to ask me it might be my only chance."

  Scott still stood, looking out to sea as Nikki spoke. When he realised she was saying nothing more he turned round and sat beside her.

  "I've been thinking about a family myself. I talked to Andrea - you know Andrea Toyne of course - and she would commit with me and I think Claire Jeavons will too. She's promised to talk to Andrea and then give a definite answer."

  "There's a point to this that you haven't got to yet, isn't there?" Nikki was smiling one of her play
ful smiles.

  "Yes, there is. Do you swim?" Nikki ignored the question.

  "Get to the point, Scott. It might be what I'm waiting for."

  "Well, it's the question of the fourth member. We'd be honoured if you'd think about committing with us."

  "Thanks, Scott. You've cheered me up. Do you know you're the first one who has actually asked?" Scott shook his head. "I can't give you an answer now, but tell me what Claire says. Her answer will dictate what mine will be, but I'm not going to tell you whether I'll say yes because she has said yes, or whether I'll say yes because she's said no. When you have her answer come and see me and I'll give you mine. I'll also explain why I needed her answer first. OK?"

  "Yes, Nikki, I'll have her answer early tomorrow. Now, do you swim?"

  "I do. Why?" Scott merely grinned in reply before pulling his clothes off and running into the water. So, Nikki thought, that's what a naked man looks like, I'd almost forgotten. With a smile and a what-the-hell feeling she wriggled out of her zaxtapijj dress and, as naked as Scott, joined him in the water.

  Dinner that night was very late indeed.

  Nikki rose later than normal the next morning, wondering whether she should regret the episode with Scott on the beach. The memory of the feel of his body suggested that she shouldn't, but the thought that she had lost control told her that she should. Once behind her desk in the administration block it was easy to blot out the whole experience, except for the warm feeling inside that wouldn't go away. What was done was, of course, done and couldn't be undone and anyway Scott was coming to see her. She could clear the air then, but if she committed to his family it wouldn't matter anyway. She pulled out a piece of paper and wrote 'Claire Said?' on it then put it to one side. She knew how she was going to be fair to both Scott and herself.

  He arrived late in the morning, sitting down in front of Nikki's desk only when she asked him. There was an exchange of greeting and some small talk, which Nikki couldn't later recall, before she took out her piece of paper.

  "I know it seems strange, but put Claire's answer on there. Fairly obviously, yes if she's committing to you and Andrea, no if she isn't." Scott took the paper with an odd look at Nikki, wrote the answer and made to hand it back.

  "No, Scott, just leave it there, face down." The paper lay between them. "Let me explain, but if it turns out that I can't make the commitment to you I'd appreciate it if the explanation could stay confidential for the time being. OK?"

  "OK, but I can't say I understand."

  "You will. We've got on well with the Aupesians since we arrived, but now we know they have a major problem. They have very few males, and those who are still alive are in a pretty bad way. It is possible that the Aupesians are looking at extinction before long. We've got people at Botijjo #2, as I'm sure you know, working on finding a way for us to interbreed - I know it's an awful term, but you know what I mean. We'll know pretty soon if it's going to be possible. We are assuming that it will be possible until we know it definitely isn't, so we've drawn up some plans to put to the Aupesians. One of those plans involves families which will include at least one Aupesian female. In my position, irrespective of my own feelings, I cannot commit to a family with no space for an Aupesian to join, so I will commit to you and Andrea willingly and very happily if Claire has declined. If, however she has agreed, I would be the fourth, which is not something that I can allow to happen. I would then have to refuse, but I would do so very reluctantly. Do you understand the position I'm in, and why the answer on that piece of paper is so important?"

  "Now I understand, Nikki, yes. If I've put 'no' you'll commit to us?"

  "Very happily indeed."

  "You can't possibly know how much I appreciate what you've said. Please believe me when I say you've made Andrea and me very happy." As he spoke he turned over the paper, revealing Claire's answer. Nikki saw it and sat back in her chair, a single tear running slowly down each cheek.

  "I'm sorry, Scott, I really am. But I hope you, Andrea and Claire will be very, very happy, and that if and when the time comes you'll consider welcoming an Aupesian into your family."

  "I'm sure we will, on both counts. We'll both pretend that last night never happened, shall we?"

  "Perhaps we should," Nikki said as she tossed the paper, with 'yes' written in answer to the question, into a bin. Scott watched the ball of paper as it fell, then, standing, smiled widely at Nikki.

  "For what it's worth, I still think you're head and shoulders above anyone else here. Thanks for taking us seriously. I ought to be getting on with some work."

  "I should be thanking you, really, because I would have said yes, but as things are, well, I'm... "

  "I know. We're all here for you, you know that."

  "Go on, get to work before we both get too sentimental!" Scott laughed, to Nikki's relief, and left, leaving her to face the rest of the day without, she had to admit to herself, a great deal to do.

  It was, she mused, a shame in some ways that the piece of paper screwed up in the bin didn't have 'no' written on it. She would have committed to Scott willingly, and not just because of what had happened, or, at least officially, hadn't happened, on the beach. She genuinely liked him and got on so well with Andrea, and clearly sex wouldn't have been a problem. But what she had said to him had been true - she couldn't put herself in a position where an Aupesian couldn't join her family. The chance had passed, and unless anyone else asked her first Bryn would surely put a proposition to her when she next saw him.

  As it happened she didn't have to wait long. She'd gone for a stroll around Gifford, taking in the beach in an effort to minimise the impact of her memories of the previous evening, and on the way back to her office she met Masaya coming towards her.

  "Nikki!" she cried happily, "I must see Ussida and Bavex and then we must talk. Bryn is waiting for you and has asked where you are."

  "Before you dash off, is the aircraft flying now?"

  "It flies again, yes. It is now yours. Alison flies it well. Excuse me now, I will return soon." Masaya hurried off, leaving Nikki a little confused. Of all the Aupesians, Masaya had always appeared to be the least emotional, but she seemed today to be excited. It was unlike her to rush about as she was now doing. Nikki assumed that Bryn may know the reason so she hurried back to her office where she found him waiting for her.

  "Ah," he said, "there you are. I turn my back for a few hours and everybody starts talking about me. I gather Gordon blurted something I really wanted to keep confidential."

  "Yes, I rather think he did," Nikki replied with a mischievous look, "and when I found out I pumped him for as much detail as I could. So tell me what you have in mind."

  "This is a bit difficult," Bryn said, carefully closing Nikki's office door, "and I've been thinking about it for a long time. Actually, you might as well know I first had the idea when you organised that survey months before we arrived. I thought of who I could possibly join with in a family but there have only ever been two women, or had been at that stage, that I would have considered as a wife. I would have married Sarah Gifford twenty years ago, you know, if I'd thought she might have accepted, and you are the other one. I think you know how much I respect you, and emotionally, well, you're a close friend and a great deal more. Since we've been here I've got closer to Alison and suggested to her that we could commit to each other. She seemed to like the idea and asked who else would join us. I said I was thinking of you and she was thrilled. Of course, we'd wait until Jodie's finished her work in case we can bring one of the Aupesians in as our fourth. I want to talk to you about that when Masaya comes back, by the way. Anyway, that's what I was thinking. I know all the others are younger so if you're not interested I'd understand."

  "You want Alison and me to have your babies?" Nikki's frivolous question was taken seriously.

  "Well, yes, I suppose I do. Would you be prepared to?"

  "I've thought about this a lot. I have to set an example and I'm be
ing dilatory on the family question. You, Alison, an Aupesian and me, eh? If Alison thinks she can keep us all in order my answer, Mr Thomas, is yes." Bryn smiled brightly, said nothing and opened the door. Alison was waiting outside and one look at Bryn's face told her Nikki's answer. She ran straight to Nikki and threw her arms round her, giving her a huge hug before releasing her.

  "Well!" Nikki exclaimed, "This is all new to me! I have a question. As I said to Bryn, you'll have to keep us all in order. Can you do it?"

  "Of course. Bryn's just a man so he'll do as he's told. You're a woman so you're as sensible as me. No problem."

  "But, Alison, what about an Aupesian joining us? Will we be able to cope then?"

  "You've thought about this, haven't you Nikki? You're happy to see Aupesians in our families? So we'll cope no better or worse than anyone else, OK?"

  "Yes, yes, and yes, I suppose. Are you happy with all this, Bryn?"

  "Alison tells me I am, so yes, I'm happy.”

  "And the really great thing is that we get to move out of quarters on KonTiki and into a proper house! You'll see to building one for us all, won't you, Bryn? Alison and I will tell you what we want, but you'd better include a decent sized bath and a proper shower, right, Alison?"

  Alison agreed and Bryn confirmed that the house would be built, just as for all the other families, according to the wishes of the family. It was a happy trio that Masaya interrupted when she returned from her visit to Ussida and Bavex. She told Nikki, Bryn and Alison that work on the fishing boats was proceeding rapidly, the first vessel being just about complete. Gordon and Ussida were proposing to put it in the water for the first time either that day or the next, an event that Masaya said she very much wanted to see.

  Bryn took that opportunity to excuse himself, saying that he thought he should go and help Gordon with whatever final preparations might be necessary. Alison went with him, leaving Nikki alone with Masaya.

  "I think you will be surprised," Masaya said quietly, "but we have never used the water. Boats are unknown here and the other continent was unsettled until we became able to build aircraft."

  "I am surprised, because Earth history is very different. Our explorers seemed to have used water for trading almost as soon as our ancestors developed towns. Of course, our geography is very different. Perhaps that is why we saw the sea as a means of exploring the world."

  The atmosphere was a little strained as Nikki didn't really know how to raise the topics that she needed to discuss while Masaya was unwilling to do or say anything that might cause a rift between her and Nikki. Acutely aware of the silence in the room, Nikki decided that she needed to say something, even if it was unrelated to the subject exercising her mind.

  "Perhaps we should walk down to Bryn's workshop," Nikki suggested, "and see how this boat is progressing."

  "Yes, we should. Earlier it looked complete, but I know nothing of these things."

  They walked slowly down to the workshop, chatting with the various people they met on the way. When they arrived, they found Bryn and Gordon inching the vessel out of the workshop on its wheeled trailer with Ussida and Bavex offering advice, but not much practical help. They seemed to find the exercise hugely amusing and before long Nikki and Masaya were also enjoying the spectacle of Gordon and Bryn straining as they moved the heavily laden trailer slowly. Eventually, Bryn stood up and turned to Gordon, wiping sweat off his brow.

  "There has to be an easier way of moving this thing," he said, "and one that doesn't provide quite so much free entertainment for the ladies. Have we got any transports doing nothing?”

  "As far as I know, there's one behind Admin. I don't think anyone's using it today."

  "OK, I'll stroll up there and fetch it while you find me a nice strong piece of rope, long enough to loop round the front of a transport." Bryn strode off purposefully, rather than strolling, and Gordon disappeared into the workshop followed by Ussida and Bavex. They reappeared moments later with a long rope, which they attached to the front of the trailer, and were all ready for Bryn when he returned at the wheel of the transport. He soon had the rope around the front of his vehicle and drove slowly and steadily towards the beach. His three helpers walked alongside the trailer, steadying its load, while Nikki and Masaya followed. Bryn drove almost into the water then turned and stopped. After the rope was detached all four of them pushed the trailer into the water, going perhaps fifteen yards before the boat's buoyancy began to lift it off the trailer.

  "Steady!" Bryn shouted, "now jump on, Gordon, or it'll be off without you!" Gordon hauled himself onto the boat then helped Ussida up before dropping a crude anchor to keep the boat in place. Bryn and Bavex were easily able to drag the trailer out of the water once its load was floating free, and they joined Nikki and Masaya sitting on the beach. The four of them sat, watching the boat bobbing gently, in quiet admiration.

  Gordon was examining his creation carefully, from stem to stern, eventually shouting that there were no leaks. He and Ussida raised the sails, pulled up the anchor and the boat, nudged by the gentle breeze, moved slowly and serenely along, parallel with the shoreline. There was a growing crowd on the beach to watch the maiden sail and as Gordon turned the boat away from shore a cheer rose, causing Gordon to wave happily as the boat's speed picked up.

  Nikki watched Masaya's face show surprise as the boat moved quickly across the water, Ussida handling her tasks on board efficiently. Her expression changed to one of concern as the boat gradually became smaller as it went further from shore, turning to relief only when the boat turned in a wide arc and began to return.

  "Well," Nikki asked, "what do you think?"

  "I am proud of Ussida. She is very brave to go so far. But I am proud of Gordon also. It is a great achievement, and you say that this will be used to catch fish to eat?"

  "That's the idea, yes. They won't fish today, though, as this is just a test to make sure that everything works."

  They watched Gordon bring the boat in expertly and waited for him to complete the beaching exercise. Only then did they approach him and Ussida.

  "Any time either of you wants to come sailing, just let us know - we'd be happy to take you."

  "Thanks but no thanks, Gordon, I'm too fond of dry land. Masaya might come out with you one day."

  "Perhaps I will. If Ussida can operate a boat and overcome any fear of being on the water it is possible that I can overcome my fear too." Ussida laughed, bravely in Nikki's opinion, at her Jukkakique, who joined in the laughter with Nikki and Gordon as they all walked back to the workshop. Gordon took the chance to voice an idea.

  "I was thinking that once we've got two or three boats we could construct a dock in the river with a building to process the fish that we catch. What do you think, Nikki?"

  "It seems a sound enough idea, but how much work would it take? Surely building a dock is going to be complicated?"

  "Not necessarily. The river is navigable for boats like this and the bottom would take piles easily enough. And it wouldn't need to be a large building."

  "OK, talk to Bryn and if he can spare the manpower I have no objection. But, and it is a very large but indeed, he has a house to build first. I'm not putting off family life just so that you can gut fish in comfort!"

  "You mean, you, Bryn and Alison are going to do it? That's great, Nikki, I'm really pleased for you all. Who will be your fourth?"

  "Ah, well, that's something I need to talk to Masaya about and really one of the reasons that she's here. When we've decided what to do about a few things the mystery of our fourth will be solved." Nikki looked at Gordon's face. Perhaps, she thought, Louise was right and I do have an enigmatic smile.

  She and Masaya left Gordon to his work and returned to the administration building. Masaya had talked about her favourable impressions of Gordon's boat until they were safely indoors, then carefully turned the conversation to the topic they had been, equally carefully, avoiding.

  "We are friends, N
ikki, and can speak plainly, I hope, without causing offence."

  "I hope so, yes."

  "I think you do not approve of the Silomiala, but you will not say so."

  "I was, I admit, surprised by the system, but I can neither approve nor disapprove. I feel sorry that your males appear to be unwell and that this causes so much difficulty for Masyayi."

  "Our males have been a disappointment for a long time, but this is the same in our other cities. It is now rare for a breeding to be successful and this concerns me greatly. Your people working at Botijjo #2 seemed to be excited about their work when I left and I think you will forgive me if I say that I hope this excitement means that there may be a way for us to interbreed."

  "Bryn said there was something he wanted to tell me, but he has not yet said what it is. I share your hope that Jodie's team has made progress because we have discussed here how her work can be used to benefit both our community and yours."

  "It is, I think, we Aupesians who will benefit most, and I want you to know that we are grateful to you for your efforts to help us."

  "Well, we haven't achieved anything yet. But, if we assume that the team finds a way we think that there might be two ways that we can help. Firstly, you heard Gordon ask who the fourth member of my family was to be?"

  "Yes, and you gave a strange answer."

  "Because I am waiting for Jodie's results. If she says we can interbreed, I hope you will permit some of your people to join human families to raise children. I realise that this is a major change to your culture, and I would understand if you were reluctant to allow this, or indeed prevented it."

  "You should not prejudge my reactions, Nikki. I know that our system is failing us and we must change."

  "Perhaps so, but we can't expect you to cast aside thousands of years of tradition just because we say so. Our second suggestion is that we seek volunteers among our males to work for a few days at a time within your Silomiala system. It is so completely different to anything that we have ever experienced, but I really think that we can find people to volunteer."

  "It is a most remarkable offer, Nikki, but let us talk about it more fully when we know what is happening at Botijjo #2. Your people there will I'm sure want to report to you soon. They have said that they will not report to either of us individually, but instead will speak to you and me together. I respect their honesty in saying this."

  As Masaya spoke Nikki stood up and was beginning to make coffee. She had no chance to reply as Bryn bustled in to the office.

  "Great," he said, "coffee. Just what I wanted."

  "Careful. If you start treating me like a wife I might start acting like one. If I did that I'd say, for instance, get your own coffee."

  "Right, I'm put in my place. What I came to say was that Jodie spoke to me before we left. She obviously didn't want to say too much to me, but she asked me to tell you, when I got the two of you together, that it appears from the equipment that is now working that a lot of the work has already been done and it looks very promising. I don't have a clue what she means, but it might be wise to fly back up there tomorrow and see for yourselves what she's up to. Alison will fly you, so you can talk about me in my absence."

  Nikki looked at Masaya, who looked at Bryn.

  "It seems," Masaya said, "that our hopes may be fulfilled."