The Visitor (27 page)

“
Good evening, Mister Ukkosal,” he said. “It’s a great pleasure and a great honor to see again you. I won't make you the affront to introduce you to our viewers; for two days now, you’ve been the talk of all medias.”
 

“
Good evening, everyone!”
 

“
Madam Okkala, we are also pleased to count you among our guests. You were here the day where Mister Ukkosal had brought upon himself the duty to cast a blow against speciesism. Which was all to his honor. Mister Ukkosal wanted you to be  present tonight. It was a pleasure to comply to his request.”
 

“
Good evening to all!”
 

“
Good evening Monsignor Ikkroya. You insisted to participate in our show. So here you are among us. We thank you very much for that.”
 

“
Good evening Mister Ukkaire.”
 

“
So, only three guests tonight to participate in this new edition of The Inquirer. To ask questions and lead the discussions, two of our current chroniclers: Madam Akkistame and Mister Kkolosmot.”
 

They both displayed their crest in a professional smile.

“
For my part,” continued the host, “rather than as usual just arbitrate the debate between guests and columnists, I’ll ask the first question myself. And, you’ve guessed it, it’s addressed to Mister Ukkosal.”
 

“
Hum?”
 

“
Mister Ukkosal, I have the honor of being the first TV professional, and even of all the media in general, to gather your
thoughts since this was made known. So I have a very simple question: what can you tell us again about these infamous civilized extraterumastrials that resemble bovs?”
 

“
Why say ‘resemble’? Does it bother you if really they were simply bovs?”
 

“
No. This isn't what I meant... I”
 

“
In that case, don’t hold back, say what you mean. It’ll be easier for everyone.”
 

Okkala’s crest addressed to Ukkosal a complicit and discreet smile that she encouraged him to have fun.

“
Yes, Yes... What more can you teach us about these extraterumastrial bovs?”
 

“
Nothing really. All I know about them was told during the Space Agency’s press conference.”
 

“Then h
ow is it, if it’s not intrusive, that you knew all this before everyone else?”
 

“
If by ‘all this’ you mean that there existed extraterumastrial bovs, the question is moot since I didn't. If by ‘all this’ you mean that we treat the bovs of our world to the most horrible cruelties, it’s rather for me to ask you why you have always refused to know that; as betrayed by your reserved attitude on the matter the last time I was here, on your set. You did nothing to help Okkala to inform your viewers. On the contrary, even!”
 

There were three seconds of hesitation at the end of which Ukkaire made a pleading glance to his columnists that he needed them.

“
I’ve a question for Madam Okkala,” began Kkasalame.
 

“
I’m all yours, Madam,” replied Okkala.
 

“
You’ve fought speciesism for a long time, Madam, and I can only congratulate you. Can’t we say, and that will be my question, that you had, to a lesser degree than Mister Ukkosal, but all the same, a sort of premonition of these events that are upsetting the planet today?”
 

“
No. We can’t say that. First, I want to remind you that I’m far from alone in this fight since a long time. Furthermore it
was never anything else than a conviction. A real conviction. Not an idea falsely adopted by mediatic opportunism. Not a posture taken in fear, as it’s your case today.”
 

“
Fear? My case?”
 

“
Yes, the one of being punished by these bovs that, we’ve been told, must have at least a million years of advance on us. No, I have never had any foreknowledge of that. I just one day realized that speciesism existed and that it isn’t something we should accept. No more than racism, or sexism. We are dealing with an ethical darkness that has to do with habit, with education. Here and now: a bov can be tortured and it can be eaten whereas a thac is petted. That's all. No explanation. Today, fortunately, it is rather fashionable to denounce racism or sexism. Number of journalists and columnists, like you in good faith, who like to use air time to rub the public the right way, do it; there’s no risk charging through doors broken down by others, it doesn’t hurt your shoulders. On the other hand, on their television shows, a so very short time ago, these same people at best, were watching with a knowing and amused look those who were denouncing speciesism, and at worst, openly mocking them. Like you, they are modern buffoons striving to please the royal ratings. Now because of this disturbing revelation coming from space, they will denounce speciesism with apparent conviction that will give the impression that they always thought that way, that they were the forerunners in this area. Excelling in the art of not being useful, they’ll still smile condescendingly at the leaders of new battles.”
 

“
You’re being very severe with our profession,” shyly pointed out Kkolosmot.
 

“
Oh! I'm not saying that all journalists are in the same bag. I know some who have been penalized for being more authentic than careerist. Sadly, those poor souls have much less audience than you. It’s a vicious circle that is inevitable. More you say the expected, more you get listened to. The bigger your audience, more you are influential. The more influence you have, the more you comfort your audience in what it wants to hear and then you're obligated to provide more of
the same. Your careerism locks you up in this hellish loop without end.”
 

“
We can also simply be mistaken. I mean be authentic, as you say, but without taking full measure of the value of a new idea.”
 

“
Definitely, yes! Fortunately, in your profession, there are also those kind of people, but you can easily recognize them, because they aren’t arrogant.”
 

Monsignor Ikkroya intervened:

“
Mister Ukkosal and Madam Okkala, I would like to ask you a question: you, Madam Okkala, you talked about fear, fear of being punished, to be more precise. Do you think that some of us, umas, have something to fear?”
 

“
God only knows!” exclaimed Ukkosal.
 

The prelate did not know how to react to this laconic reply.

“
And, you Madam Okkala?”
 

“
Well!... No doubt those bovine creatures would copy his actions.”
 

“
His? Who’s actions?”
 

“
The only one that knows, according to Ukkosal, God.”
 

“
These bovs from outer space will take example on God, I don’t understand.”
 

“
I mean they’ll recognize their own kind as God recognizes his own.”
 

Once again, Monsignor Ikkroya didn’t know how to grasp the answer.

Ukkaire, who had become increasingly anxious that the show should come to an end, tried to create a diversion to relax the atmosphere:

“
Mister Ukkosal, of course, probably due to your humility, we understand that you had no foreknowledge pertaining to bovs from outer space. But, anyway, could you provide us from your obvious intuition advice for our future conduct?”
 

“
Most likely you mean advice for staying in the good graces of extraterumastrial bovs to avoid their punishment.”
 

“
That’s putting it a bit... roughly... but...”
 

“
But it's a bit like that, isn't it? It’s good that you’ve asked me that question. I’ll address the viewers also because their help will be invaluable.”
 

“
Truly? We’re all ears.”
 

“
I'll tell you something and you’ll understand. It’s a true story that happened to a bov and his companion. The male we’ll call Sneaky, you’ll soon know why. Both are very much in love with one other.”
 

“
Excuse me, you’re talking about outer space bovs, now! Are you in contact with them?”
 

“
No. I'm talking about bovs who are living among us. As terumastrial as you and me.”
 

“
Ah, but! Bovs from here! Very much in love with one another?”
 

“
Yes. Our bovs, very much in love one another! What’s shocking you?”
 

“
Uh... nothing, nothing... I just wanted viewers…”
 

“
Let me tell you their story and show you the videos I brought. Then, I'll tell you what we can do for them, because they need help.”
 

In his recounting, Ukkosal forgot only one thing, he didn’t identify who fired on Sneaky and his companion. He simply spoke of hunters.

*

Thanks to the story that Ukkosal told of the terrible adventures of Sneaky and of his female, there was an enormous amount of donations. Sincerely touched by the story, or wanting to buy redemption in the eyes of the ‘bovs from outer space', as the public were now calling them, umas gave more than was necessary to operate Mahisa. Much more indeed since her care had suddenly become free. All participants, from surgeons to owners of facilities and equipment, would no longer accept any money.

The paralyzed bov was operated upon successfully. The problem that remained was not to scare her when she awoke from anesthesia. They found no other solution than to give anti-anxiety medication at sufficient dosage to keep her relatively calm. She regained full use of her body before Sneaky did.

The latter had to wait thirty days for his fractures to heal, the most urgent was to first get him out of his mortal depression. But, to do that, Akkaliza knew that there was only one solution. He had to see his companion alive, healthy and clear of mind. Alive, that was already the case. Healthy too, though since less long. Clear of mind, how to achieve that, as it was impossible to approach her without knocking her out with a psychotropic drug?

Akkaliza had no other idea to let Sneaky heal in his cage in the presence of his companion. All that had to be done was to put them both to sleep while transferring them together.

*

Etos was beginning to awaken. Lying on his back, his treasure tight against his right cheek, he smiled fondly while thinking of Mahisa. Although he seemed to be almost happy, he suddenly began to cry is eyes out. The terrible memory of Mahisa collapsing suddenly in front of him, just behind the standing branches, had just resurfaced in his mind. He shed huge tears with heart-rending moans. He saw himself again stretching out his arm to touch her and he also saw two lightning-slayers take her away from him.

The narcotic releasing gradually its hold on his spirit, his senses awoke at the same time he did. This was how a sweet, familiar scent fondled the depths of his sensibility. He turned his head to the right to follow this magical emanation. Then stupor enlarged his eyes and an explosion of happiness shook his heart. Mahisa! Mahisa was there, lying near him. Raising his head, he saw that they were both lying on a layer of grass in the thing that consisted of standing branches all around. The smell of Gentle Lightning also came to tickle his nostrils, but he wasn’t interested no more than that. He put his left hand on the Mahisa’s cheek with such caution and such softness, that this contact wouldn’t even have damaged a dandelion’s fluff. Maybe he was afraid that his hand was crossing into a dream. No doubt he dreaded confirmation that this was only an illusion produced by his heart. But as soft as his gesture was, he did feet a contact and warmth in his hand. Both claimed that she wasn’t a mirage, but reality, that Mahisa was indeed there, next to him, and that he touched her. She seemed to be sleeping peacefully. So crazy with happiness, he continued to caress her face while tenderly calling her.

*

Akkaliza’s beak vibrated with emotion when she saw Sneaky caress his female’s mouth with so much delicacy. The tactile manifestations of tenderness were universal; the two species had at least that in common.

Touched by what the bov had endured to find Sneaky, she had named her Loyalty.

She had asked that the doses of sedative were made so that the male would wake the first. As Sneaky was already used to seeing her and that he wasn’t afraid of her, she relied on him to reassure his companion, to convince her that she wasn’t a dangerous uma. It was essential to be able to provide the last treatments that would allow complete recovery and avoid systematic sedation.

*

At the bottom of the mists of what she was taking for a dream, Mahisa heard wonderful words uttered by a wonderful voice. Etos told her he loved her and that he was overjoyed to see her again:

“
Mahisa! Etos love Mahisa! Heart of Etos full with love. Etos so happy to see Mahisa again that heart of Etos dances with joy. Etos belongs to Mahisa, always, always.”
 

Being used to dreaming of him while all awake, she was happy to provide whispered replies that barely crossed her lips that were still numb:

“
Etos, Mahisa wants you! Mahisa is yours. Mahisa love Etos stronger than all the forces of all the forests! Mahisa gave Mahisa to you.”
 

It would have been a shame, but Etos was about to succumb to happiness. Which nearly happened to Mahisa also as soon as she recovered her lucidity and she realized that she wasn’t dreaming. In the arms of one another, the two lovers were dizzy with ecstatic bliss.

*

In all likelihood thanks to Sneaky, Fidelity let herself be cared for. It was just to regularly replace the bandages on her neck and giving her a few injections of antibiotics. Akkaliza did this work to try to win, every time a little more, the confidence of the animal, that at the beginning was scared, despite the reassuring bovgrunting of her companion.