Aupes

CHAPTER 16

  Morning turned to afternoon as the aircraft flew onwards over the sea. Even from the low height at which they flew it looked placid down there, an inviting shade of blue with greener patches of floating seaweed. Nikki and Plisfou had talked about the history of their respective home planets, but Nikki's contribution seemed to be a litany of wars, battles, genocide and suppressions of entire populations. She did manage to introduce some technological achievements, including in that list the internal combustion engine, computers, the first moon landings and the successful manned return flights to Mars, but these didn't by any means equal the first part of her narrative.

  Plisfou told Nikki how the Aupesians had all worked together, with the obvious exception of the Paxavorra, for centuries, eliminating disease from the planet before using their technological skill to conquer first the air, then space. Space travel, she explained, had been a fact of Aupesian life for over five thousand years. Much of the detail was new to Nikki, of course, although she had been aware of how far in front of Earth Aupes had been. Nikki asked whether the Paxavorra were as disease-free as the Aupesians; Plisfou confirmed exactly what Nikki had suspected as she asked the question. Yes, she said, the eradication of disease from the planet included not just the Aupesians and the Paxavorra but all other life as well. Nothing living on Aupes, plant or animal, ever suffered from any disease.

  As the flight progressed, Nikki thought that as a bonding exercise it hadn't been a conspicuous success, but she had developed an even greater respect for the civilisation among which she and her people were now living. She also felt extremely grateful that the latent hostility towards people who were somehow different that seemed to exist in all humans had not, yet at least, manifested itself. Of course there had been Scott's token protest, but it seemed, looking back on it, to have been half-hearted and easily swept aside. Still, it wouldn't do to be complacent and Nikki's musings led her to reflect on how little time she had to talk with the majority of the settlers now she had accepted the responsibility of being Jukkakique at Botijjo #2. She knew she had to rely on Bryn, Louise and Fiona to keep her in touch with the mood at Gifford, but how much people would now be prepared to say to Bryn, if there was any discontent, remained to be seen. Things might change, she thought, once she was pregnant. That thought reminded her that she might already be carrying Bryn's child and now that there was a real chance that it either had happened or could easily happen she felt just a little scared at the prospect. It was easier to cope with the thought if she looked upon it as a duty.

  Plisfou would have agreed that the comparison of planetary histories hadn't advanced the objective of pulling the two civilisations closer together. She knew that her ancestors had dismissed races on many planets as not worth getting involved with, for all sorts of reasons, but had regarded the developing civilisations on Earth as potential allies and trading partners. The diversity of intelligent life had fascinated generations of Aupesians, as had their willingness to slaughter each other for very little gain. None of those who had gone before had predicted the final extermination of life on Earth, nor that the incredible escape from impending death that had led the little band of survivors, against massive odds, to a successful landing on Aupes would be instrumental in the survival of the Aupesians themselves, albeit in a hybridised form. Whatever she and her fellow Aupesians may have thought about the bloodthirsty history of Earth needed to be set aside now and the reality recognised. It was a remarkable achievement to travel to Aupes and the more so because, although none of the humans had admitted as much, Plisfou was as sure as she could be that from Earth the existence of Aupes could only have been surmised. That a group of travellers should undertake that journey with the, by Aupesian standards, limited technology at their disposal was laudable enough, but to head for somewhere that may not even have existed was either an act of complete desperation or almost unbelievable bravery. Now that Plisfou had come to know Nikki and many of the other humans she found it easier to accept that while this was perhaps not a representative group of humans their decisions were made rationally and bravely. They did not act out of desperation. Perhaps it was because of these conclusions, that seemed to have embedded themselves in her subconscious, that she now felt just as comfortable among humans as among Aupesians.

  They had each been thinking their own thoughts for a long time in a companionable silence, accompanied only by the high-pitched buzzing of the aircraft's drive, before the coast of Sarrijjo appeared on the horizon. As they approached it looked dark and forbidding, but gradually Nikki could see that it was in fact high cliffs of dark rock surmounted by thick forest. At least on this part of the coast there were no harbours to which they could sail a ship from Botijjo. Now she thought she understood why early explorers on Earth had called Africa the Dark Continent.

  The aircraft crossed the Sarrijjo coast and flew onwards inland. As far as Nikki could recall, there had been no change of direction since they had taken off. She mentioned this to Plisfou.

  "You are right," she said with a smile, "because this aircraft uses a system of navigation that is controlled from a tekrajej - a satellite - and I control the height and speed. I do not need to know where Sarrijjo #3 is because the tekrajej will show me."

  "I see. Before the war on Earth we had something similar, using a satellite to pinpoint a location on the surface. I forget what it was called, but it was less sophisticated than yours."

  Almost as Nikki finished her sentence a large clearing appeared in the distance and as they approached buildings could be seen increasingly clearly.

  "Sarrijjo #3," Plisfou said simply. Nikki peered out of the aircraft, eager for the first sight of Sarrijjo life. They had circled the city twice before they saw someone waving furiously at them to land as close as possible to the city.

  Plisfou settled the aircraft on the ground as two Aupesians, Roxtamol, Nikki guessed by their uniform, sprinted towards them. Plisfou opened the door and the two leapt aboard, looking as if they had been badly frightened.

  The first to jump on the aircraft spoke rapidly, and even though Nikki couldn't understand the words she could hear the pleading and the urgency. Plisfou nodded reassuringly and returned to her seat, getting the aircraft back into the air as quickly as she could. She banked away to the North and settled into a high, level flight before she spoke again.

  "I am sorry," she said to Nikki, "but I need to speak to these Roxtamol. It is easier in our own language because they are afraid. I will tell you what they say."

  The two newcomers looked only slightly inquisitively at Nikki, who must have appeared a little strange to them, before Plisfou started firing questions that, of course, Nikki had no way of understanding. The answers seemed to be to Plisfou's satisfaction and after a final comment she spoke again to Nikki.

  "This is not good. Sarrijjo #3 has suffered badly with sickness. Many were lost to disease, but we on Botijjo did not know that the situation here was as bad as it has been. No-one now remains at Sarrijjo #3. These are the last and they have been afraid of the Paxavorra who have been entering the city at night. On Botijjo the Paxavorra do not go out at night. Some survivors of the sickness have been attacked and killed by the Paxavorra so we must now abandon Sarrijjo #3 and go to Sarrijjo #2. It is not possible to reach either Sarrijjo #2 or #3 except by air but no aircraft has been to Sarrijjo #3 for many months. Soon we will be at Sarrijjo #2 and we will find out more."

  Perhaps it was Nikki's imagination, but there seemed to be a greater urgency now. Certainly Plisfou had donned a graver expression and their airspeed seemed to be higher. As they descended into a valley just an hour after leaving Sarrijjo #3 another small city came into view.

  "There is Sarrijjo #2. I think we will approach carefully."

  One of their passengers came into the cockpit area to watch as they approached. Plisfou introduced her as Jixeda, the other being Bavaya, and told her that Nikki was now Jukkakique at Botijjo #2. Jixeda looked momentarily surprised but immediately
became deferential. She spoke in English, apparently realising that Nikki knew no Aupesian.

  "Look," Jixeda said, "there is no-one." Despite circling the city there were no signs of life. As Plisfou took them down slowly Nikki turned and looked at Jixeda, who was clearly afraid of what might be found here.

  "We were at Botijjo #3 yesterday," Nikki said in what she hoped was a reassuring tone, "and at first we could see no-one there either. But we landed and searched, and found five people alive and well. Perhaps the people here are just inside at the moment." Jixeda's eyes seemed to widen as Nikki spoke, and she pointed wordlessly at something on the ground. Nikki followed the direction she was shown, but a sudden shout from behind made her look back.

  "Pull away!" Bavaya yelled, "Pull away now!"

  Plisfou turned the aircraft over the city, giving Nikki her first ever clear sight of Paxavorra. They looked large, strong and violent in their rudimentary clothing as they seemed to stream out of every building, long dark hair flying and wielding what appeared to be clubs. The aircraft climbed from its original rooftop height but had little speed, allowing the odd stone hurled up at them by the Paxavorra to clang noisily against the its underbelly. As they climbed out of range Bavaya and Jixeda were clearly badly shaken, the sudden appearance of the Paxavorra having reawakened recent painful memories.

  Plisfou had remained tense and silent as they had made their escape from Sarrijjo #2, but now seemed to relax a little. The passengers had returned to their seats but were still visibly disturbed by the experience.

  "Sarrijjo #1 will be safe," Plisfou said quietly to Nikki, "because our equipment is linked to theirs and still works. The Paxavorra would have destroyed it so they cannot be in the city. It is the largest city on Aupes and the Vixtamol are strong. The Vixxakique knows how important it is that Sarrijjo #1 is kept safe."

  "Good. It seems that there are some real problems here, probably worse than on Botijjo. Perhaps we'll find out what's been happening when we get to Sarrijjo #1."

  The remainder of the short flight passed quickly enough, even though nobody on board felt like talking much. As soon as they landed, to much excitement on the ground, Bavaya and Jixeda were led away to be quizzed about the situation at Sarrijjo #3 while Plisfou and Nikki were taken to see the Jukkakique. There was no standing on ceremony here: everyone seemed to be aware of the Paxavorra threat and saw the arrival of an aircraft from Botijjo as a major event.

  They were settled into the Jukkakique's comfortable office by a junior Roxtamol. She withdrew, saying that Menktu, the Jukkakique, would join them very soon. Nikki could think of nothing that could be provided that would lessen the threat from the Paxavorra, but Sarrijjo #1 was, as Plisfou had said, a large settlement and well fortified against outsiders. Its boundaries encompassed the entire Aupesian space centre and were therefore large and needed a commensurately large number of people to patrol. This was clearly being done and sufficient people remained even now to guarantee that the situation would not deteriorate in the immediate future.

  Menktu appeared suddenly, bursting into the room like a small whirlwind and grasping Plisfou as if she was a long-lost friend. Plisfou seemed equally delighted to see her, but their exchanges were in Aupesian and Nikki could understand nothing except that their tone was friendly.

  "I am sorry," Menktu unexpectedly said to Nikki, "Plisfou tells me you do not speak our language. You must think me most rude!"

  "Not at all. I try to learn a few words of the language, but that's all I understand - just a few words."

  "Well, let us sit. You are now near Botijjo #2, I understand, and have come from Earth?"

  "Yes, and we are trying to work closely with Plisfou and her people to build up our numbers. We brought less than two hundred people from Earth, and your populations have been decimated since Earth diseases were brought back here. I hope our work will slowly correct the damage done."

  "We have news to tell you, Menktu." Plisfou had adopted a graver tone now. "Masaya is no more. She decided that the arrival of the humans would be a new start for us and she believed another would be better able to use the changes for the benefit of all."

  Menktu reflected quietly for a moment on the impact of the statement, although Nikki couldn't think what effect it would have here, so far away.

  "This is indeed a surprise. There is no other Jukkakique now on Sarrijjo, and Masaya was senior on Botijjo. You are now Jukkakique?" The question was addressed to Plisfou, who smiled - Nikki could have sworn it was one of relief.

  "No, Menktu. Masaya believed that the changes forced upon us were such that another course should be chosen. She spoke with me and with Fejoq about this and we agreed. Nikki is now Jukkakique at Botijjo #2 and leads the humans. We are integrating the two communities for the good of all. There are other Jukkakiquen on Botijjo and we believe a meeting of all Jukkakiquen is needed now so that we know what the situation is on both continents. Then we decide what must be done. Will you come to such a meeting?"

  "I will come. It is indeed a change to discover that a human is Jukkakique in your city and this surprises me. Masaya was wise and if this was her decision I believe it will be proved to be right."

  "Thank you for those words," Nikki said, feeling that she should take at least some of the initiative back from Plisfou, "At the meeting I can explain what we have been able to do, how we gained the knowledge to do it and what the benefits to us all will be."

  The details of the meeting were given and Menktu asked whether her guests were intending to remain at Sarrijjo #1 overnight. Plisfou confirmed this, needlessly as there was nowhere else that they could go, and Nikki asked if it would be possible to tour the space centre. Menktu appeared proud to say that, yes, it could be arranged, which is how Nikki came to leave Sarrijjo the following day with her head reeling from the enormity of the Aupesian achievements.

  As the tour had progressed Menktu, who seemed to know everything there was to know about the centre, had explained which ships of what size had been to which planets, pointing out among the fleet of now non-functioning ships a large sleek machine which she said had visited Earth at least twice. Nikki asked the inevitable questions, and was told that, firstly, despite her age Menktu had never been off Aupes and, secondly, the ship was not repairable given the reduced skills now available and the many computer failures that had occurred since disease struck. Nikki was still excited to know that, although KonTiki had been gutted and could never fly again, there was one ship on the planet which could perhaps be readied for a return to Earth. If, that was, they ever wanted to go back, or it ever became safe to land on Earth again.

  The flight back to Botijjo was every bit as long as Nikki expected, except that the fading daylight was an additional concern. She recalled the warnings about the low level of on board power storage as the sun dipped ever closer to the horizon. Plisfou seemed unconcerned as she chatted about the trip and the immediate future, but as time passed Nikki concentrated less and less on what was being said and more on the Eastern horizon, silently begging for a sight of the Botijjo coast. Eventually she had to say something, even if it did betray nervousness.

  "I still can't see land. How much longer will it take?" Nikki asked, hoping that there wasn't too much desperation in her voice.

  "It will be dark when we land, but we have enough power. You need not worry. I would not have left Sarrijjo unless we had sufficient time to cross the water."

  "I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't worry, but I've never been out here before." Nikki noticed Plisfou smiling, but she couldn't see anything at all funny, particularly as they now seemed to be flying lower than before. The evening became darker with what seemed to Nikki to be alarming speed and she was sure that the solar panels were no longer keeping their power reserves topped up, but she had no option except to put her trust in her friend. Nevertheless, she sat rigidly, her hands tightly clenched, waiting for the aircraft to stall.

  She must have closed her eyes because she was a little
startled by Plisfou's voice, suddenly breaking the quiet in the cabin.

  "There," she said, "lights. That is Gifford. We are nearly home." Nikki looked and indeed there were lights and in just a few minutes they were landing next to the other aircraft at Gifford. Nikki didn't move until the motors had completely stopped and there was silence in the aircraft.

  "Come on," she said, relieved, "let's go and see if anyone will find us something to eat. I'm hungry!"

  "You see, Nikki - if you want to eat you must still be alive!"

  Back in her house, with her family, Nikki felt first relaxed, then very tired. She and Plisfou disposed of a meal hastily but well prepared by Alison and Patlu before retiring to a deep sleep.

  She rose late the next morning, feeling immediately guilty. There was nobody left in the house, so after luxuriating in a cup of coffee drunk in peace and quiet in the sun Nikki made her way to her office. On the way she met several people, all of whom stopped her to ask about her trip. There seemed to be a lot of genuine interest in other parts of the planet and Nikki described everything as well as she could, including the Paxavorra. She wondered briefly whether she ought to omit any mention of these apparently fearsome creatures, but they had experienced no trouble here yet and a reminder that vigilance was necessary could be timely. That it was necessary showed as one or two people declared that they would make a check of the fences, just to be sure. She also encountered Patlu, who apologised for everyone leaving before Nikki woke, but explained that she was helping Bryn and they were quite busy, Alison had much she wanted to do and Plisfou had gone off to find Louise to spend some time with her as she had the opportunity.

  Nikki arrived in her office with a few things in her mind that she wanted to do. Firstly she wanted to speak to the teams at Botijjo #2 for an update on developments there.

  She called Jodie first, and found her surprisingly cheerful. She said that their progress was much better than she had expected.

  "We can more or less set up a production line of the stuff now, either to alter our people for the Silomiala or to alter the Aupesians to accept our men, which is much better for the families of course. I was thinking of issuing mixed families with a supply adequate for three months, if you approve. That will give us a chance to assess any side-effects, if they crop up."

  "OK, go ahead. I have no objections. Tell the others for me that I'm delighted with the work. Exciting, isn't it?"

  "Funnily enough, when I stop to think about it, yes it is. I can't wait to see the babies now!"

  Nikki felt reassured by Jodie's progress, and hoped that the computer team was doing as well. Her call to Nina went unanswered, but she reached Kirsten.

  "I was hoping to speak to Nina, but she's not answering - is everything OK?"

  "Well," said Kirsten, "it all seemed a bit chaotic really. The message about setting up a team to trawl the computers arrived through several people and we weren't really sure what was wanted. Eventually, because you and Plisfou were away, I asked Fejoq who explained the purpose but not who was supposed to be doing it. She spoke to Louise, who didn't know any more but asked Bryn if you'd said anything to him. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to say but thought Nina should be in charge with Zeftio. We haven't really got going because we don't want to waste time pursuing something that turns out to be trivial."

  Nikki was cursing herself for not giving clear instructions, and not making sure that one person was to be responsible for getting the team going. She knew it was her fault and admitted as much to Kirsten.

  "It's now down to me to put all this right," Nikki said, "leave it to me. When Louise gets up there she'll tell you everything you need to know."

  Well, Nikki thought, you messed that up. Now all you've got to do is get round Louise to sort it out once she takes up her post at Botijjo #2. Still, she owes me a favour.

  Louise was explaining to Plisfou what she filled her days with at the time, and Nikki's call interrupted a discussion about the likelihood of any Paxavorra coming anywhere near Gifford. It was still going on when the two of them arrived at Nikki's office, the first thing Nikki heard being Louise's unmistakeable voice saying, as they came in: "..and even if they do, what would they be after? I'm not at all clear on why they'd want to come here."

  "We should not upset Nikki with our speculations," Plisfou said as they settled themselves at Nikki's invitation, "Louise was asking about the Paxavorra and whether they would come to Gifford. I cannot say that they will not. Now she asks why they would come. I have no answer to this. But we have seen on Sarrijjo that they did come. What we do not know is whether they came because the cities were weak and they thought that they could gain something easily or whether they attacked a stronger city and made it weak. I do not know what they expect to gain so I do not know why they should want to come here. I just cannot say that they will not."

  "All right, so we give some thought to fortifying Gifford. But I'm going to Botijjo #2, so it becomes your job to come up with the ideas."

  Louise looked smug, as she could when she thought she'd passed a problem on, but Plisfou seemed quite happy to take the job on. Nikki decided she should change the subject.

  "I'm pleased you two are getting to grips with the details of your exchange, but that's not what I wanted to talk about. I have to confess I've messed something up."

  This was unusual enough for Louise to look temporarily lost for words, so Nikki carried on.

  "I didn't actually do anything specific about setting up the computer analysis team, and it just sort of staggered into life without any particular direction. Nina, Zeftio and Kirsten all know that they've been assigned to the job, but don't know exactly what the job is because I didn't tell them. As you're going up to Botijjo #2, Louise, I thought I could brief you and you could get them operating properly. Is that OK?"

  "Of course. Tell me what you want."

  "I'm not really sure myself. I reckon there's a lot on the Aupesian computer systems that will be relevant to our life here, but we need to get at it in a way that we can use, as we said at the meeting. I suppose the task is to pull off and translate what is relevant to us, leaving the prioritising to the team actually doing the work. We may be able to target specific areas once we know what is there, of course, but for now the only criterion is relevance to us, and by us I mean both communities, of course."

  "Right, I see what you're getting at. I'll get on it as soon as I get up there."

  "You should ensure that Fejoq makes any of her Vixtamol who are necessary available to you, as well as your own Roxtamol. She will help you."

  "Thanks, Plisfou. When am I going?"

  "Any time you like, once you and Plisfou have agreed on what you're both doing. Let Alison know and she'll fly you up."

  Later that day Nikki was reflecting quietly in her office. Louise had gone off to Botijjo #2, Alison having reported back that the commitment between Louise, Pete, Zeftio and Kirsten had been duly signed. It was that comment, made more in enthusiasm than out of a desire to inform, that had set Nikki thinking.

  She thought about her own family first. The idea of polygamous arrangements had been the core of her original selection of leavers back on Earth, but then she hadn't known whether it would work. She certainly hadn't anticipated the inclusions of aliens, genetically adjusted or not, in these proposed families. It was early days yet, she accepted that, but it seemed to be working. There were no obvious signs of any families living under internal stress and certainly the birth-rate was entirely acceptable. She was wrestling now with a thought that had introduced itself when Alison told her about Louise. She knew everyone at Gifford, of course, but with an original complement of 180, Aupesians living here, humans living more or less permanently at Botijjo #2 and babies being born regularly it was starting to be too much to keep in her head. What we need, she thought, is a census, and then we keep the information up to date so we know where everyone is and what their responsibilities are, both domestically and to t
he community. Perhaps it won't be popular, but Nikki thought that she had more or less decided it was necessary. Normally, she'd bounce the idea off Louise and Fiona, but now it would be Plisfou and Fiona of course. She decided to take a walk around Gifford, which it seemed she hadn't done for a long time, and just mention her idea when she bumped into Fiona, or Plisfou, or even Bryn although she'd see him later anyway.

  When she returned to her office there was no firm conclusion to be drawn from what had been said to her. Plisfou may not have understood the concept, but nevertheless agreed, while Fiona wanted to think about what the implications might be. She hadn't asked Bryn. She made her mind up to leave it to the Jukkakique meeting, as then she'd have to put forward sound reasons and knew she could do that if she was forced to. A little while was spent thinking about other things she wanted to bring up at the meeting, and then she made her way home for, she hoped, a quiet evening.

  That evening was indeed quiet, as were the next few days. Gordon's fish dock was operating, and he had got the docking and landing of his catch down to a fine art. He and Ussida seemed to be a good team now, aided by Tina Smith when she had time away from her botanical work. Nina, the fourth member of Gordon's new family, was stuck up at Botijjo #2, but they seemed happy enough to accept this as she was working for five or six days then spending a couple of days at home. Tina had made a significant impression on Gifford by creating a garden for their house from the plants she found, and said to anyone who expressed an interest that she intended to develop more flowering plants from those she already had.

  Because things at Gifford seemed to be progressing calmly if not spectacularly, Nikki was very relaxed about the Jukkakique meeting. The day before that meeting she had a call from Nina, saying that the computer team at Botijjo #2 had overcome some of the initial difficulties they had faced and were now starting to release information. That pleased Nikki, of course, and in her relaxed mood she didn't read anything at all into Nina's comment that some of the details being revealed might prove explosive. Nikki dismissed the thought from her mind and registered in her mind only that progress was now being made. She went home in just as light a mood as she had been in for the last few days.

  During the evening she happened to mention that the Aupesians still had a ship capable, if it was repaired, of reaching Earth and returning. Patlu accepted this as perfectly natural, but Alison looked startled.

  "You're not thinking of going back, are you? It wouldn't be safe now."

  "No, I'm not thinking about it seriously. It's just that although we are still alive, which we wouldn't be had we stayed, I'm sure, we left so much behind."

  "You're right about us dying," Bryn said with feeling, "I really can't see that five years was anything but a wildly optimistic guess. Right now, Earth is a dead planet."

  "Yet you are thinking of a return. What is there to go back for?" Patlu looked amazed at the thought of them wanting to return if the planet was dead.

  "Well?" Alison asked, "you brought up the subject of a return, Nikki, and I can't think of a sensible answer to Patlu's question, even if it was possible and not likely to be fatal. We've got every chance of a good, safe life here."

  "I'm not disputing that we can have a good life on Aupes. It was looking at what Tina's done, I think. Somehow a garden, oh, I don't know, it's just one of the things we don't have any more." Nikki paused, looking as if her mind was countless millions of miles away, before she went on. "Doesn't anyone else miss things? The music of Beethoven, Mozart, curling up with a book by Charles Dickens, watching a Shakespeare play? Those sorts of things. Our children will be educated to the best of our ability, but will never have those pleasures."

  "I take your point," Alison said, but said it in a way that suggested she wasn't too impressed, "but is that worth the risk of a return - just to raid a library?"

  "Perhaps not, now. But in the future, maybe it will be worth recovering some of our heritage, some of what makes us who we are, that can lift spirits and fire the imagination."

  "I do not understand. You speak of these people, but what have they done to be so important to you?"

  "You don't have books to read for pleasure here, do you, Patlu?"

  "No, but we have been told of your love of stories and that you have many written down. They are not true."

  "We do," Nikki replied, "and many are written in a way that lets your mind go in different directions to those you go in every day. Perhaps it sounds silly."

  "Not silly, no. It sounds interesting. We are concerned with what is real."

  "But don't you ever imagine what could happen, what might arise in other circumstances? Didn't you wonder what we humans would be like before you met us?"

  "Yes, I and my people did wonder whether you would be like us.”

  "Well, you must have had an idea of what we might look like, or how we might act. All we have done is to imagine how something might be and write it down. Then it becomes, if it is well written, part of our heritage because such imaginings can contain messages for the reader."

  “I am not sure I understand,” Patlu said, smiling, "you perhaps must show me."

  Nikki looked slightly puzzled, but, to Bryn's evident amusement, Alison came to the rescue.

  "Look," she said, "I spend an hour or more most days on my own in that aircraft, and I pass the time by telling myself stories. Don't laugh, Bryn, this is serious. I could make the effort to write the next one down. It might not have much by way of a message, but it will be a start."

  Nikki excused herself, on the grounds that it was getting late and she had a big day ahead. The others stayed up and Nikki drifted off to sleep with the murmur of their voices still floating through the house. Yes, she thought, there's nothing wrong with family life.

  Nervousness was the first feeling Nikki experienced when she woke, bright and early, the next morning. The other Jukkakiquen would be arriving during the morning, although Menktu, coming from Sarrijjo, might be later than the rest. Plisfou had promised to help Nikki as much as she could and would make sure the meeting was properly recorded just as had been done when the leaders of the Gifford and Botijjo #2 communities had met. Much earlier than expected, Ostu arrived from Botijjo #1, almost catching Nikki unawares. She expressed great interest in seeing a community at work that was so different to her own and a guide was quickly organised to show her round. She was well into her tour of Gifford when Darzzu arrived, at the time expected, and seemed just as interested in Gifford as Ostu had been. Again, a guide took her on a tour of the community.

  It was early afternoon when Menktu flew in. She took a rather different approach, perhaps because she was from a different continent, or perhaps because she was Jukkakique of the biggest and arguably the most important city on the planet. She congratulated Nikki on what had been achieved, but declined the opportunity to see it until the business of the day had been conducted. She, Nikki and Plisfou went into Nikki's office where they were shortly joined by Ostu and Darzzu, who had seen Menktu's aircraft approach Gifford.

  Once they were all settled in the office and had been provided with their choice of coffee or akkuzu Nikki assumed the role of chair of the meeting.

  "I have asked for this meeting," she began, trying to sound as confident as possible, "for two reasons. The first of these is that I knew Masaya was going to have such a meeting, but sadly she died before it could be arranged. I am proud to think that Masaya was a friend to us at Gifford and we are all saddened by her passing."

  "Your words are kind," Menktu said gravely, "and Masaya was a friend to us also. We too are saddened, but we understand her reasons for ending her life. I think I speak for Darzzu and Ostu when I say that we believe you will be a worthy successor."

  "Thank you," Nikki replied, "I am deeply grateful to you for saying that and will try to carry out my responsibilities as Masaya would have wished. My other reason for wanting us all to meet is to tell you what we have done since we arrived on your world. We did
not know that there were already people here, and were a little afraid when Plisfou allowed us to discover your existence. Since then we have come to like and respect your people, and we want to live happily alongside you.

  "Masaya explained that this planet had suffered terrible, almost catastrophic, effects from the release of disease brought by one of your expeditions to Earth. Had we humans been as sensible as you we also would have rid our world of disease, instead of devoting our energies so much to finding new ways to kill each other. Ultimately, as I am sure you all know, only a few humans were left on Earth because of the weapons that were invented. We were lucky and escaped to come here. Those we left behind, close, dear friends, brothers, sisters, parents, are now all surely dead. It was a dreadful, appalling shock to discover that we humans had not only rendered our own planet lifeless but had caused such destruction of life among your people too.

  "I believed we should try to help in any way that we could. We soon found that your males, most of whom had already died, were infertile and those of you still living were to be the last of your race. I, on behalf of those that came with me from Earth and those we left behind, could not accept that. We started work and a great deal was done, with much help from the people at Botijjo #2, and we are now able to use human males to fertilise Aupesian females. This has been possible because your ancestors discovered how - all we did was to translate the information, once we got your computer systems working again, and put it into practice.

  "It seemed to me that I had to be fair, not only to the Aupesians but also to the human community here. In order to attain that fairness I agreed with Masaya that we would have human males working in the Silomiala at Botijjo #2, and that any Aupesian female who wanted to join with a human family would be allowed to do so. This is now happening here and we have successfully fertilised a number of omia. I am proud to say that several Aupesians are happily settled in human families, including Patlu in my own family."

  "What you have done is more than we could have asked," Darzzu said with great dignity, "and Botijjo #2 will survive because of your efforts. I must know how Botijjo #4 is to fare. The city is necessary because of our tapijjux production. Without tapijjux from Botijjo #4 it must be found elsewhere."

  "We at Sarrijjo #1 have no males now. We are responsible for the space centre, which you have seen. It is important that we survive but we face a greater Paxavorra threat as well."

  "Darzzu, Menktu," Nikki replied, "I understand what you are telling me and I'm sure the same thoughts have occurred to Ostu as well. It is something I have thought about often enough. We don't have many men here at Gifford and I think it would be asking too much of them to expect them to go further afield than Botijjo #2 for duties in the Silomiala in your cities." Nikki paused briefly but her audience were attentive and clearly not ready to interrupt.

  "There is, I think, a way of solving this problem. I have to talk to my expert here, but I believe that we can use what we refer to as artificial insemination."

  Three heads looked at Plisfou for an explanation of these apparently strange words, but she looked just as mystified as the others. "I think, Nikki," Plisfou said, "you must explain this."

  "Oh, dear," Nikki replied with a slightly embarrassed smile, "I was afraid I might have to. I assume we all understand the mechanics of the reproductive process, that a male enters a female and ejects a substance into her?"

  "Yes," Darzzu replied with one of those twinkling Aupesian grins that by now had become so familiar, "we all understand."

  "Well, as I understand the process, to bring artificial insemination about, first the substance normally ejected by a male into the female is collected and stored. It can be preserved for a long time. When enough has been collected, someone visits another city with a supply of the stored substance. It is then divided into small amounts and each one of those amounts is delivered by an instrument into the waiting female. By this method only one person needs to travel and can inseminate, or fertilise, perhaps ten, even twenty, females. I hope that is clear enough."

  "It is clear that you believe it can be done, even if we do not understand the process you describe." Darzzu's grin was, if anything, even wider now. "This person who visits us - it must be a male?"

  "No, not necessarily. As there is no physical contact between the person and your female it could just as easily be a female - in fact, once she is shown how, I imagine your Omiakique could do it."

  "Can I ask you," Darzzu went on with her twinkling eyes suggesting that she was enjoying this subject hugely, "who will show the Omiakique what to do?"

  "You might be disappointed to learn that it won't be me, fortunately!" Nikki hoped her own eyes were twinkling back. "I have an assistant here, equivalent to a Vixxakique, who I am sure carries out this process with her animals. She will be able to demonstrate far better than I. Excuse me one moment and I'll ask her."

  Nikki called Fiona and asked if she could spare a few minutes, without explaining what she was wanted for. With the call satisfactorily completed, Nikki again addressed her audience.

  "Fiona will come here in a few minutes and you can ask her any questions about the process. Before she arrives, I must make it clear that I have not discussed this suggestion with any of our males here at Gifford and our ability to help depends upon the co-operation of our men. I know those that have families here will not volunteer for duty in the Silomiala because they see it as disloyal to their families. This is a natural human reaction that must be respected, as Masaya I'm sure understood. Those without families are happy enough to share Silomiala duties, but as we are now talking of a method of fertilisation that does not require any contact between the male and female reactions may be different. I accept that this may sound illogical to the Aupesian mind, but we are human and therefore not everything we do will follow the logical course."

  "I speak for us all," Menktu said, "when I say that whatever help you can give is welcome because it is freely given. We do not want your people to feel that they must help us. We accept that you have traditions just as we have traditions and where we are different we must agree to respect the differences. I foresee much work being done with the young to be sure that they, who will have a mother of our race and a father of yours, are able to respect each as much as the other."

  "You have said something important, Menktu, that we have already considered with Fejoq and Plisfou." Nikki felt on firmer ground now. "I have suggested that we try to translate as much as possible of the information that the computers at Botijjo #2 contain, and have asked the humans here to commit to writing their accumulated store of knowledge. It is a very big task, but when it is complete we will have a library to refer to which will, I hope, contain sufficient material about our traditions, our histories and technology to provide a good education for our children. I know that you have no tradition of literature, but we do and find great pleasure in reading. Perhaps we can introduce our children to that pleasure, as well as to music and games."

  Further discussion of this subject was stopped by Fiona's arrival in Nikki's office. Fiona looked at the assembly there, realising that there were faces that she didn't know, as those assembled looked at her almost in amazement. Because she had been with her beloved animals Fiona was, as usual, a good deal less than immaculate. Her hair contained bits of hay, her face and hands were grubby and her outfit was possibly the dirtiest piece of zaxtapijj that the Jukkakiquen had ever seen.

  "This," Nikki managed to say without a trace of embarrassment, "is Fiona, who can both answer your questions and, I have no doubt, demonstrate the techniques involved. Fiona, let me introduce the other Jukkakiquen, firstly Menktu from Sarrijjo #1, then Ostu from Botijjo #1 and finally Darzzu from Botijjo #4, where all the tapijjux comes from. We've been talking about artificial insemination - " Fiona's eyebrows were suddenly raised high "- and I thought you'd be the perfect person to cover the subject. You know the processes involved, I suppose?"

  "Yes. But it's a lot more di
fficult to describe than to demonstrate. We've used AI a lot, starting on our flight from Earth. Our arrangements are a bit rough and ready, but they work."

  "I can think of no questions," Darzzu said, "except those that show how little we know of your animals. Perhaps we can have a demonstration, and ask our questions then?"

  This was readily agreed, Fiona saying that she could set things up at any time. Nikki suggested that they all go to Fiona's animal sheds once the meeting had finished. As this was settled, Fiona made her escape and those left in the room who had never met her before looked at each other as if wanting to say something but unwilling to cause offence. Nikki guessed at the cause of the silence.

  "Fiona is extremely able and very knowledgeable. But she likes to get involved with the animals that we have here with inevitable, and rather obvious, consequences. She doesn't always look so messy!" There was laughter at Fiona's expense, but Nikki's obvious respect for Fiona's abilities was clearly recognised by the others.

  Plisfou spoke quietly in Nikki's ear, reminding her that Fiona's appearance had meant that they had left the subject of education abruptly.

  "Plisfou has reminded me," Nikki said a little more seriously, "that we were discussing the education of children. I understand that in your society children are educated within the Silomiala system, but our ways are very different. I am in no position to criticise your ways, because they have been instrumental in allowing you to achieve so much more than we on Earth ever achieved, but I cannot convince myself that children born within the Silomiala should be educated any differently to those born to families here, whether or not children born here are from human or Aupesian mothers. It is perhaps not a decision that we need take today, but I believe that we should aim to have a school system where all our children, wherever they are born, are treated the same. Because of the success you have had in creating a peaceful society I believe that this system should be under the control of an Aupesian, but time should be devoted to teaching Earth history, geography and arts. The question of language has occurred to me, and beyond a wish to see that neither yours nor ours dies out I have nothing useful to say."

  "You have thought much about this matter," Ostu said, "and I believe that what you say is what should be done. Our ways have led to a peaceful society and this we can give to our children if we base a system for teaching children on that which we have used. The children should know of this planet and of yours. I think also that both languages should be taught. The time will come when one is no longer used but it is not for us to decide which."

  "Ostu is speaking wise words." Menktu looked both serious and happy at the same time. "At Sarrijjo #1 we have places where our people were trained for space and in the complexities of machines - forgive my words, but I do not know the right words in your language - but these places are no longer used. My Vixtamol can prepare these places for the education of all the children, but there is the matter of transport."

  "I think, Menktu, that you might be well on the way to solving the problem," Nikki said, reflectively. "We have looked at the possibility of building a ship to travel between Botijjo and Sarrijjo and once that is done we can take the children on board ship to Sarrijjo #1 for, say, five days at a time, bringing them back for a couple of days break in between. It would be a sort of residential college.”

  The possibility put forward by Menktu, and met enthusiastically by Nikki, was discussed in detail for quite some time. Yet again Nikki found herself admiring the way that these proud people could see their own position so clearly and what was needed to guarantee the survival of their race. She couldn't help wondering if, were the circumstances to have been reversed, humans could have embraced such radical changes so readily, even faced with certain extinction. On balance she rather thought they couldn't.

  Eventually, matters seemed to be decided, with each of the other three Jukkakiquen agreeing to prepare different aspects of Aupesian history, so that a definitive work could ultimately be put together for the first time ever. This was intended to cover both factual history of the planet and the few stories that were told to children about mythical events. It seemed to Nikki that the Aupesians were reluctant to admit to the existence of these, but she chose to pass no comment.

  It was surprising to Nikki that the last major item that was raised actually had little impact. She had believed that the threat from the Paxavorra would be a major worry, but neither Darzzu nor Ostu seemed to think that the threat on Botijjo was worth getting excited about, whilst Menktu acknowledged that the threat on Sarrijjo was much greater, but as only one city on that continent now existed and that was far too strong for the Paxavorra to come anywhere near she dismissed the threat as nothing to be concerned about. She did agree that transport from the coast to Sarrijjo #1 would, once ocean crossings were being made by ship, need to be carefully planned to be safe but believed that this was a matter of no great difficulty.

  Acceptance of the Aupesians' viewpoint on the Paxavorra was really forced upon Nikki, and Plisfou seemed to agree with what was being said. As none of the others had any matters to raise the formal part of their meeting drew to a close amicably enough and, Nikki thought, beneficially. All that remained was Fiona's demonstration, to which Nikki decided she was looking forward. So, she led her little group out of her office to see what Fiona was to stage for them.