Seeds of Earth (18 page)

Indeed, one of the smaller septs working on the Agmedra'a orbital called themselves the Sundered, a race whose homeworlds had been seized by the Brolturans nearly three centuries ago. The Brolturans had once been a fundamentalist faction within Sendruka society until prophecy and an intensification of their shared zealotry drove them to seek independent territory outside the Hegemony, and the Sundered were the main victims of their aggressive colonisation. As a pacifist race without allies, the Sundered were uprooted and evicted from their handful of planets. Roughly half of them ended up eking out a miserable existence in scores of refugee cantonments scattered around the region while the rest travelled from star to star in ageing, decrepit cryostore ships, seeking aid or petitioning for intercession. But since the Brolturan Compact was now a close ally of the Hegemony none was willing to risk its wrath and the predictable consequences.

The report included interviews with some of the ordinary citizens of Darien colony, a strange people with round eyes and brown or red hair yet full of a vitality that Kao Chih immediately felt a connection with. Then there were shots of some indigenous creatures and sites of great natural beauty, followed by a brief, intriguing glimpse of excavated alien ruins that the colony's researchers were investigating along with the help of diminutive humanoid sentients from the planet's inhabited moon. Chih was amazed, and smiled to see Tumakri leaning forward to stare more closely at the half-buried stone remains while muttering dry, incomprehensible things to himself.

The holo-sequence ended with the reception of the ambassador from Earth and his short speech to the crowd of onlookers and reporters. Then it was over and the lighting came up as the Roug collapsed the projector and its stand down to a small flat unit smaller than a woman's fist.

I'd wager that's a digital device,
he thought.
Wonder how that squares with their non-digital preferences.

'Honourable K'ang Lo, and assiduous leaders of Human Sept,' said one of the senior Roug. 'The events shown took place less than two days ago and came into our hands during the last sleep cycle. It is an unfortunate fact that this world Darien is located in deepzone territory currently claimed by two opposing powers, the Imisil Mergence and the Brolturan Compact. The Darien system is very far from Earth and still further away from us, and the Human colony there is small and weak, thus the prospects of survival seem poor.

'However, strength is not always measured by the capacity for military violence. The plight of the oppressed and the destitute, when openly declared for all to know and see, exerts a moral power which weakens those that rely on violence to attain their goals. In the light of this, and of the assessment we compiled, the Contiguals of the High Index have decided to act. We are instructed to offer to Human Sept cancellation of the indenture contract, provided there is agreement on three conditions.'

There was a sudden outburst of delighted, almost disbelieving chatter, and Kao Chih stared at Tumakri.

'Noble One, did you know of this?'

The Roug's features were hidden by the tight, coppery swathes, but there was a certain tension in its movements that suggested surprise.

'Pilot Kao, I am as unprepared for this as you.'

Then the
Duizhang
stood, his face stern, his dark eyes glittering as he raised one hand for silence.

'Noble Assessors, please state your conditions, that we may determine their fitness.'

'As you wish. Condition the first, that Human Sept shall aid us in the necessary training once a replacement sept has been chosen. Condition the second, that the leaders of Human Sept shall agree to dispatch an emissary to the Darien colonyworld, to meet with the authorities there and to request permission for all surviving Pyre colonists to settle and join with their Human compatriots. This task must be undertaken promptly and without announcement or even communication with either Darien or Earthsphere - were the Suneye monoclan or the Hegemony to learn of this too soon, the consequences would certainly hamper the evacuation preparations.'

Kao Chih could scarcely take it all in.
Evacuation} Duizhang
K'ang Lo looked equally stunned. 'The greater part of my people still endure captivity on the world Pyre, Noble Ones. Are they included in your kind and generous plans?'

'They are,
Duizhang.
As soon as the Darien leaders issue their invitation, our vessels shall travel to Pyre and carry out the evacuation. Any attempt to interfere will be dealt with harshly.

'Condition the third, that the emissary shall be Pilot Kao Chih, son of Kao Hsien. He has been the subject of close assessment, most recently by Overseer Tumakri, and we are satisfied that he meets the criteria for such a crucial role. We shall provide him with a small but durable craft and a Roug companion, Overseer Tumakri, who will be able to impress upon the Darien authorities the true nature of the Sendruka Hegemony, and thus the need for secrecy until all the colonists have departed Pyre.'

Kao Chih sat back in his chair, astonished. Next thing he knew, people were leaning over to pat his shoulder or shake his hand, smiling and congratulating him. Mostly he felt elated, but nervousness assailed his stomach, as if he were about to step off a precipice.

Out into deep space,
he thought.
All the place and races I've heard about and now I'm going to see them!

Then a hush settled quickly over the room as K'ang Lo broke away from hasty consultations with his advisers, facing the Roug again.

'Noble Ones,' he said. 'We are humbled by the extent of your generosity. Indeed, there are scarcely words to express the depth of our gratitude, yet a few of us insist that we ascertain the reason for this sweeping, purposeful benevolence. May we ask how your people would benefit from it?'

For a moment or two there was silence. The Roug assessors were motionless, as was Tumakri next to Kao Chih, who thought that the
Duizhang
must have comitted some grave offence. But then one of them spoke.

'Honourable
Duizhang,
we are not accustomed to giving explanations, but these are unusual circumstances so we shall endeavour to put your mind at rest. We are an old race, so old that the world V'Harant is not our original home, nor are these bodies the original physical form of our species. Yet once we were as novices to a alliance of ancient races whose wisdom and intellect puts us to shame even now.

'They fell in a vast and cataclysmic war, sacrificing themselves to ensure the defeat of a terrible, pitiless enemy. The last of them charged us with the duty of overseeing this part of the galaxy, and in the aeons since we have from time to time moved to undermine or eliminate certain forces that posed a serious threat to galactic civilisation. For the last 25,000 cycles - in human terms, a little over 10,000 years - a degree of calm has held sway, but now, unfortunately, the Sendruka Hegemony is working to bring it to an end. Its proxy, the Brolturan Compact, is currently in dispute with the nations of the Erenate over who controls the bulk of the Huvuun Deepzone, where Darien is located. If a military response can be provoked from the Erenate, this would justify an overwhelming intervention by the Hegemony; the resulting conflict would draw in all the Erenate nations and could spread to Milybi or even the Indroma. It would be an interstellar war of horrifying ferocity.

'The discovery of the lost colony on Darien has fundamentally altered the balance of power. Humans are involved in the heart of it, which means that Earth and by extension the Earthsphere federation are also involved. The Aranja Tesh are already keeping a close watch on Hegemony strategy, as are the Indroma Solidarity, and this will only heighten their interest. And when it emerges that the survivors of a second lost Human colony are to settle on Darien, having been rescued from captivity under the harsh rule of a Sendruka monoclan, the Hegemony will be forced to punish Suneye or lose face. The Darien colony will gain too much sympathy and tiernet attention for the Hegemony to risk putting its plan into operation, so it will go into abeyance. During which time we hope that saner minds will prevail and reshape certain policies.'

Again K'ang Lo conferred with his advisers and the leading elders, and to Kao Chih's eyes he seemed less than happy. But before a consensus could be achieved, a diminutive old man, bald and leaning on a stick, stood up from amongst the rest, scowling. This was GreatGrandfather Wu, once deputy to an earlier
duizhang
and father to another, and one of a handful still living who remembered Pyre. He was also well known for his acerbic tongue.

'Duizhang,
come now, why this delay, heh?' he said. 'Everyone here is eager to see the start of something good for us - please, more haste.'

'Most venerable Wu,' said one of the elders, Tan Hua. 'There are several uncertainties which need to be resolved. Be calm, all shall proceed correctly.'

His condescending tone infuriated Wu.

'Be calm! You hesitate and quibble over petty details while a precious gift waits to be accepted, and you expect us to keep calm?' He gazed about him for a moment. 'I cannot speak for anyone else here, but I yearn to feel solid ground and honest grass beneath my feet before I die! Honourable K'ang Lo, do not listen to the squeakings of this
hsiao jen.
We
must
accept the noble Roug's offer, and young Kao Chih there
must
leave for Darien without delay!'

Approving voices rose on all sides and heads nodded vigorously. An argument broke out between one of the clan elders, an ally of Tan Hua, and someone seated at the front, who was then egged on by the crowd. But before tempers became still more heated and the language less than courteous, K'ang Lo clapped his hands loudly twice and shouted, 'Enough!'

Abruptly, all fell silent, and those on their feet shamefacedly sat back down. His expression thunderous, the
duizhang
turned to the waiting Roug.

'Noble Ones, despite the reservations of a few, it is clearly the will of the elders of Human Sept that we accept your most generous proposal. In accordance with your wishes, I shall see that all conditions are met.' He looked round, straight at Kao Chih. 'Pilot Kao - come forward.'

Once more the focus of attention, he rose and went to stand before the
duizhang.

'Pilot Kao, you are called upon to be our emissary, our representative to the leaders of the Darien colony, indeed to all our brothers and sisters in the great family of Humanity. You are to be our voice, our face. Be honourable and courageous but not foolish. Use the tactics of fox and lion when either is appropriate.' He turned back to the tall Roug. 'Noble Assessors, how soon must Pilot Kao depart?'

'Within the hour, honourable
Duizhang.
A scoutcraft has been made ready and is in transit from Agmedra'a as we speak.'

'Very well. Pilot Kao, my technical officer shall prepare a datachip containing various files documenting all the adversities endured by our people, and including a personal greeting from myself. May the spirits of our ancestors protect and guide you in your mission. Now, you have little enough time left to you, lad, so spend it with your family, neh?'

Never had he experienced such a frantic sixty minutes. In between grabbing mouthfuls of food and trying to pack a small assembly of clothes and belongings, he attempted to reassure his mother that no, hyperspace was quite safe, and yes, he would be cautious and wary in busy places, and yes, he would stay near his Roug companion . . .

His father was quick to undo such placating talk, pointing out that he was a man, not a child, and he was engaged on a great task that did not require any mollycoddling. And during all this, his elder brother, Feng, made up and enacted ridiculous exploits and perils which, predictably, served to make his mother still more anxious. In contrast, his younger sister, Ti, periodically burst into tears. In addition, other relatives and family friends came to deliver their farewells, dallying to partake of Kao Hsien's peach brandy before departing.

Then suddenly there were less than fifteen minutes to grab his jacket and kitbag and dash through the tunnels and chambers, hurriedly waving and greeting other acquaintances along the way to the old loading bay. His thoughts whirled as he half-walked, half-ran, thoughts about this ship of theirs, about his destination, about all the unknown worlds and creatures waiting for him out in the vast black distance. The rest of his family was catching up as he entered the big oval space of the bay and saw K'ang Lo and all three Roug waiting off to the right, near the end of the dockside walkway. Nearby, resting in the worn, battered arms of a berth cradle, was a shining, metallic-grey ship some 30 metres long, its main drive nacelles jutting on curved vanes that mirrored the vessel's swept, beaklike prow and superstructure.

There was the final leavetaking, last words of encouragement and well-wishing as well as tearful pleas from his mother, and his father gave him a jade fu-dog pendant, an old good-luck charm reputedly brought from Earth, then firmly clasped his shoulders before turning away to blow his nose. The
duizhang
K'ang Lo handed him a small red pouch containing the datachip and a scroll bearing ribbons and seals, a declaration of Kao Chih's role as supreme envoy for the colonists of Pyre. He and Tumakri bowed to K'ang Lo and the Roug assessors, then together mounted the long, overswung gantry which led up to the hatch in the scout's upper hull. And his thoughts began to slow down, settling on the minutes, hours, days to come and the realisation that he was leaving the Roug system, possibly for good, heading outwards on a great adventure, every young man's dream.

'So, noble Tumakri, what do you think of our fine ship?' he said as they clambered down into the vessel, where small lamps illuminated a cramped space.

'It is a Henkayan two-seater, Pilot Kao, a
Shobrulig
class fast courier with cross-fractulate shields, full-boundary thrusters and a Tier-1 hyperspace drive ...'