For One Nen (46 page)

A deafening cheer went up from the crowd all over the ship. Many fell t
o their knees in complete disbelief. Others cried tears of great joy. Still others hugged their loved ones, or ones they wanted to love, and some hugged people they really didn’t even know. But all were celebrating in their own way.

The captain continued. “I think we owe Henry and the other engineers our continued thanks and respect for the rest of our lives. I call an assembly in one hour to recognize the heroic deeds of Henry and the crew. So I expect to see everyone in the great dining hall in one hour.” With a voice that easily rang of smiles and laughter he added, “Have a pleasant day people. It’s a good day to fly.”

For the first time in the history of the Egress everyone assembled together. They filled the vast dining room, spilled out into the main hall and many crowded into the kitchen with the serving windows open.

The emissaries representing each tribe assembled around a podium to begin bestowing honors upon Henry and the others.

The captain called on the Most Holy Maven to introduce those being honored.

“I love how she almost floats as she walks,” Tala whispered to Deni as they sat in the front row
of the crowded assembly.

Maven Sharla stood behind the podium and turned to the crowd.

She smiled as she tried to speak but instead she grabbed Henry in a tight embrace and held him for a long time. The other engineers gathered and patted the Maven on the back for comfort.

She reluctantly let go of Henry but instead
, held his hand. She cleared her throat several times before she could force any words out of her mouth. But the words that came surprised a good many people.

“I know Henry. I call him a friend and my friend would understand if we postpone giving honor as we set right the grievous wrong that has lived among our people for way too long.”

Still holding Henry’s hand, she turned to him and gave a smiling question.

“As you wish M
aven,” Henry answered respectfully.

The Captain rose to his feet but hesitated in stopping the Most Holy Maven.

“I know most of you heard the truth today about the Hoth rebellion. A good many people down through the centuries risked their lives to keep the truth. Young Shahi, Fbathin’s sister, Tinnen, Chris, and Even Tala who found the book that will forever change our history.”

From the back of the room rose a young giant Het. He slowly strode forward and stood close enough to the Maven that she understood he was taking the podium from her. He didn’t smile
, but rather held his demeanor in a serious and respectful way. She relinquished her station to Teltel.

He gave a slight nod of respect to the Maven then turned to face the entire crowd of the Egress.

“Our ancestors were wrong in not allowing the Hoth to be free on the Egress. Making them sleep was wrong and cruel. Separating their families was wrong. Telling lies about them, and leading us to perpetuate those lies was an act of pure hatred.” He paused and looked back at the Maven who urged him on with a smile.

“The hatred has to stop. Let it begin with me. I propose that Mathis be declared Emissary as representative of the Hoth tribe.” He paused a moment before adding, “Because he carries the most Hoth blood.”

Another Emissary that had joined the line behind the honored engineers asked simply, “But who will he represent? The Hoth are no more.”

“Yes, this is absurd,” said another. “Let us get on with the celebration.”

“No, this is important,” Teltel said with strength and pride.

He faced the crowd filled with his peers, his family, his ship mates and tilted his head back to reveal his chin where two large scabs were protruding from under his scruffy whiskers.

Eyeing the crowd he revealed, “I am Het strong and proud, Denizen of Earth, and Anthro of strong mind, but I am also Hoth of the deep water. I am related to Uei.” He fell as silent as the massive crowd before him.

He took a deep breath and let it out as if he had dropped a heavy weight that he’d carried all his life. “I’ve always been too scared to tell anyone, too ashamed
, because I know how everyone thought of the Hoth. We hated them because someone told us lies and we believed those lies. When it should have been plain to see that they are good and kind and many gave their lives willingly to save not only their tribe but many others.” Teltel’s voice was beginning to shake from emotion.

“Mathis,” he called to the tiny Hoth in the back sitting with Benai and Merari. “I’m so sorry. My heart I give you, for always. I just want you to know you are not alone. The blood of the Hoth runs through me as well. You may represent me as Emissary.”

Tala stood to her feet and walked to the front and stood next to Teltel. “Hoth blood runs through me as well and you may represent me,” she said to Mathis but loud enough for the crowd to hear every word.

Aiden of the gardens rose quietly and joined Teltel and Tala, followed closely by his grandson Bug. From all over the room people began to join the others as they accepted their identity – they were Hoth and they were finally proud. They no longer hated themselves; they no longer hated each other. They had no choice in their making but they had every choice to be proud of who they were; every part.

Maven Sharla stood between Teltel and Tala and wrapped her long arms around them.

“I don’t think there will be any objection to having Mathis made emissary and representative of this magnificent tribe. He should be welcomed into this honored place.”

From the back of the room Mathis came forward as he nervously pulled at his chin tentacles.

When he reached the front
, Teltel patted him gently on the head and smiled down to him.

“I’ve always known the stories. Grandfather told me. He told me they were passed down from a good many people – not only Hoth. I’ve known the stories of Hrilla and Fbathin, of Shahi and Higby, of Atenilek and Tinnen, of the madmen and of the saints, even of Chris and the cousins. I always wondered what happened to him; now we all know. Grandfather also told me that there were lies believed so deeply by the entire population that no one would listen to the truth. I guess he wasn’t as positive as Chris. Grandfather knew we owned the true history but he didn’t think it was possible for anyone to hear the truth and believe. I too did not think it was possible for the Hoth to be accepted. I did not think it was possible that I could ever feel alright about just being me.” His tears streamed but he spoke clearly.

“As Emissary I plan to teach the truth of my tribe and also to listen to the truth of the other tribes. To tell the true stories and do away with the lies.”

“No,” Tanik said with spite from her seat near the front. “This must not be. Our prayers are sacred. You cannot do away with them.”

“Come, Tanik,” the Maven ordered.

Reluctantly Tanik did as she was told. She stood to her dancer feet and walked to the front as her Goweli garment flowed around her.

“You are no longer the teacher of the keepers’ class. You have a new job.”

“But Maven, I don’t want a new job. My place is with my students,” she whined.

“She won’t go down without a fight,” Benai whispered to Merari.

“Your new job is to write exactly what happened here today,” the Maven said and then reiterated, “Exactly how it happened.”

“But Maven, I’m not a writer. I’m a teacher,” Tanik protested.

“There’s a new teacher for the keepers
’ class. As of today Tala will teach the class. She will compose new songs, choreograph new dances, and write new poetry of the truth we have now come to know.”

Tala almost squealed with delight. Deni dashed to the front. The Maven withdrew her arm and gave the couple space. Deni wrapped her arms around her love’s waist and kissed her. A quiet chuckle tumbled over the crowd.

The Maven turned back to the line of engineers and said, “We thank these women and men of every tribe who aided in the saving of the Egress and in fact saving our lives. And we especially thank Henry; the one who never gave up; not even at the very last moment. May we bless you as we remember your great deed.”

Taking her arms fr
om around Teltel’s shoulders Maven Sharla raised her hands into the air to declare, “Now let us all celebrate!”

With that proclamation from the Most Holy Maven
, a loud eruption of shouts and screams rippled among the ecstatic and relieved crowd.

“Drinks in the kitchen,” someone called.

“I’m making pie,” one of the cooks announced with a shout as he ran to his post.

“Wanna play games on the obs
ervatory deck?” Benai asked Beau.

Molly looked their way.

“And you can bring the little lady,” Benai teased.

Beau wrapped his arm around Molly
and said, “We might come later but I think we’ll watch the stars first.”

Benai curled his lip and said, “But the observatory deck is the best place to see…oh…” he waved his arm at them and said, “Oh, go on.”

Molly grabbed Benai in a quick tight hug as she laughed. “We’re teasing.” She took Beau’s hand and said, “We’ve got our whole lives together. Let’s go play games for now.”

Several of their classmates followed them as they hugged, and laughed, and clapped each other on the
ir backs.

Many Goweli brought out their musical instruments and began to play happy tunes. Many danced and sang along
, linking arms and twirling in exuberant celebration.

Deni and Tala joined in for many hours before they fi
nally retired to their room where they fell into each other’s arms, physically exhausted, emotionally drained, completely in love, and happy to be alive.

APPENDIX

TIMELINE

(BE=Before Departure of the ‘Egress’, AE=After Departure of the ‘Egress’)

Event
                   (Elapsed time to next event)                              Reen Date                Earth Date

Previous Nova in Reen System (CSX
3875)                 95581 BE                     1771 CE

     (500 y
ears)

Nova Gamma Burst reaches Earth, followed by

an Intelligent Message from the Reen System                 95081 BE                      2271 CE

       (50 y
ears)

Departure of the
Colonizing Starship ‘Eden’                  95031 BE                   2321 CE

       (20 y
ears)

Departure of t
he Colonizing Starship ‘Arcadia’                95011 BE                      2341 CE

(92,711 y
ears)

Time of Hr
illa & the Hoth rebellion                                2300 BE                    95052 CE

  (1,100 y
ears)

Ti
me of Atenilek and Tinnen                                              1200 BE                    96152 CE

  (1,169 y
ears)

Arrival of ‘Eden’ and establishment of the first

Denizen (Earth/Human) colony on Reen                                     31 BE                    97321 CE

       (20 y
ears)

Arrival of ‘Arcadia’ and war
ning of impending

Nova
                                                                                                              11 BE                    97341 CE

       (11 y
ears)

Departure of
the Starship ‘Egress’                                         0 BE/AE  97352 CE

     (297 y
ears)

Gamma Burst from the N
ova reaches the

‘Egress’  
                                                                                           297 AE                    97649 CE

     (276 days)

Particle Radiation Wave from the Nova is expected to reach the ‘Egress’…

SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND

VOYAGES OF THE ‘EDEN’ AND THE ‘ARCADIA’

Distance (Earth to Reen)              500 Light Years

             
                                          (32 million Astronomical Units)

             
                                          (4.7*10
14
kilometers, or 2.9*10
14
miles)

Acceleration                                          2.15*10
-7
g (Compared to Earth Surface Gravity)

Duration of voyages              95,000 years (Earth/Reen reference frame)

Maximum speed                            10.5% c (Fraction of the Speed of Light)

             
                                          (31,500 kilometers per second)

             
                                          (19,530 miles per second)

VOYAGE OF THE ‘EGRESS’

Dista
nce (travelled at time

of Nova)
                                          300 Astronomical Units

             
                                          (44.9 billion kilometers or 27.8 billion miles)

Distance to destination

(Z.O.E. System)
                            250 Light Years

             
                                          (16 million Astronomical Units)

             
                                          (2.35*10
14
kilometers, or 1.45*10
14
miles)

Acceleration                                          1.04 *10
-7
g (Compared to Earth Surface Gravity)

Duration of travel

(at time of Nova)
                            297 years

Speed at time of Nova              0.0032% c (Fraction of the Speed of Light)

             
                                          (9.57 kilometers per second)

             
                                          (5.9 miles per second)

Expected duration

(
to reach Z.O.E.)                            96,500 years (Reen/Z.O.E. reference frame)

Maximum speed                            0.52%
c (Fraction of the Speed of Light)

             
                                          (1,560 kilometers per second)

             
                                          (967 miles per second)

RECURRENT NOVA IN THE REEN SYSTEM

             
The planet Reen is in a binary star system containing a red giant and a white dwarf.  The period of nova recurrence is approximately 96,000 years (there were 95,878 years between the previous and current novae).  The nova produces a powerful gamma ray burst followed by high energy particle wave.  The gamma burst reaches the ‘Egress’ in about 42 hours.  Particle wave is travelling at a velocity of 0.63% of the Speed of Light (1,882 kilometers per second or 1,167 miles per second) and is expected to reach the ‘Egress’ 276 days after the gamma burst.