Wishing On A Star

Chapter 10

Chapter10

During the party, Hanna introduced me to a new friend of hers, Zarka. She belonged to an order Morkai had told me about, the Thenta Makur. Her beauty was incredible, her red hair was carefully sculpted, her demeanor and appearance commanded attention. "I feel humbled that this woman calls me friend," said Hanna, "I'm not even sure that what she does, and I did close to the same profession, she is so far above anything I ever imagined it's not funny," she added. "They start training at the age of ten, but to call them a w***e is like calling the president a county official." In talking with her, we discovered she had an interest in us. "You and Hanna are different, she has told me of her life on Kagor," said Zarka. "I have been hearing remarkable things about you as well Holly, I understand you trained as a teacher?" Nodding, I replied, "I did, I attended a university back on earth, women in my culture are generally discouraged from attending college many thinking it a waste of time, however my parents thought differently." Zarka smiled and nodded, "I'm enrolled at the university here in Cluria, currently I've begun studying off-world cultures, you Kagorians in particular. It's a small department but one that is very exciting and might I say, beginning to grow, this might be a chance to get in on something. There is a professor Narkoa who heads it up, he's trying to gather resources to expand the department, perhaps you might be able to help."

I then asked, "Morkai tells me there is some sort of government directive forbidding any sort of contact with any form of government or the people of Kagor, yet there are already several of us now here on Falth." Zarka grinned, "Very true, but you Kagorians have become quite the thing you are certainly nothing like those stuffy Amulians, there's a big interest in you Kagorians, a number of us are busy trying to find out more about you humans yet at the same time stay within the limits of the prime directive." Zarka then gave Hanna and I a resigned look, sighed and lowered her voice, "I'm going to trust you two with a secret, do not say anything to anybody." We gave our promises, "Professor Narkoa and I are trying to put a small field trip together and travel to Kagor, it would involve meeting and talking with members of your race. Right now we are still in the process of just what sort of information we want as well as exactly who to speak to. Again, it would involve nobody from any part of the government, simply everyday sort of people. I for one think that operating what Hanna here calls a "cat house," would offer me an insight into your people." Hanna laughed and my brow went up, this certainly was a revelation, "Why don't we agree to meet at the university soon for a meeting over this matter," I said, "This will require considerable thought."

That night Morkai and I shared the bed and made love just like it was the first time, I kissed him and thanked him for beings so understanding, and tolerating my previous behavior. "There's nothing to apologize for," he whispered, Morkai then snickered, "I think you've made up for any perceived

Omissions quite nicely!" "Why you!" I exclaimed in mock anger. We then tussled but ended up kissing and embracing all over again, finally after more vigorous lovemaking we lay sprawled out on the bed recovering our energy when Morkai quietly said, "So what schemes and intrigues are you and Sandrick involved in?" I crawled over to where he lay and cuddled up next to him. "No intrigues, along with myself, Ann and Sara are trying to figure out how to break the news of our current situations to our parents, while at the same time increase the supply of walnuts and even perhaps fields to grow Wort."

Morkai remained silent for a moment, "How about if I get together with the other men and we all land in front of your Uncle's place, then move on to Sara's place then Ann's. We could scare the getch out of them; fire our blasters around, do you think that might convince them?" Before I could answer such a ridiculous suggestion, he started laughing, and rather hard, even to the point tears started coming to his eyes. Finally he ceased long enough to gasp out, "I'd give a million credits to see Sandrick's face after all of us trooped into his office and announced, "Sandrick…We've got a little problem, we were only trying to help our wives explain things to their families, but in the process started a full blown war with the Kagorians." The way Morkai said it started me laughing uproariously as well. What was there left to say? My man certainly had a strange sense of humor.

Around a relfa after we were married, Morkai and the other men traveled to a place called Yedor-rus a place Nargra called "The backside of creation," in order to attend an equipment auction. This left we wives on our own for a couple days, Hanna, Weeko and I accompanied Zarka to the university to meet this professor Narkoa and discuss the human race. Weeko was hesitant to go, but we finally talked her into going, the good professor was overjoyed at our arrival and soon had iced Ipsha being served as well as tasty pastries, called "Yamma's." they were sweet and very delicious it was very hard not to take more than one. Weeko immediately caught the professor's attention. At first he didn't understand she was part of a tribe of primitive people who were trying to survive against the onslaught of a more technologically advanced civilization. He was quite charming and eventually got Weeko to talk about her people, and the terrible struggle they were facing against a more advanced civilization Hanna and I represented.

Once he realized what was actually going on he called a number of his students as well a some of the other faculty setting up an impromptu lecture with poor Weeko as the principle speaker. Needless to say, she was terrified, but Zarka and I sat down in another room with her in an attempt to calm her down. "They want to hear your story Weeko," I explained. "I'm so scared, why do they want to know of this?" Professor Narkoa who was also sitting in on our meeting spoke up. "Because on a larger scale Weeko it's the same situation between Falth and your planet, you Kagorians in this case are the primitive weaker society as your tribe is to Hanna and Holly's race, as we Falthians are more advanced. It's a social dynamic being played out on a smaller scale; many lessons can be learned here.

This planet has never experienced a situation such as is now playing out on Kagor in your home country, it's an incredible teaching opportunity. All you would be required to do is speak to a select number of students as well as some of my colleagues, no prepared speeches or even notes, just be yourself and speak from your heart tell everybody of your tribe and it's struggles nothing more than that." Zarka then spoke privately to Weeko getting her to accept the offer. While the symposium was being set up the professor invited us all to dinner, Weeko was still a bit nervous but started thinking about what she was going to say. After an excellent meal, we adjourned to a room filled with chairs facing four in the front behind a table with glasses of water sitting on it Weeko sat in the middle with Hanna on one side I and the professor on the other. Before long, the room filled with students as well as faculity, Weeko started getting worried, but Zarka calmed her down again.

When everybody was ready, the lights dimmed a bit and the professor said to Weeko, "When ever you are ready Miss. I touched her arm and smiled, ""Just be yourself." She hemmed around a little at first, but soon just started telling her story. She spoke of coyote and how he created the world, the first people how her tribe were originally fishermen but once the horse arrived how they quickly adopted it and became mobile. At this point I helped her explain horses since there were no animals on Falth capable of being ridden.

She went on to describe her people's way of life relations with other tribes and the inevitable clash with the white man's civilization. By this time the room was deathly quiet, Weeko had everyone's attention now, when she described Chief Joseph's flight to Canada and the clash with the army along the way and his eventual surrender in the Bear Paw Mountains I could hear quiet sobbing in the darkened room. Finally she could say no more, there was a few moments of silence, then the room erupted in wild clapping, Weeko didn't know what to make of it at first, then realized everyone was clapping at her, but all she could do was put her face in her hands and sob. Zarka and I quickly moved to comfort her, "They love you Weeko, you spoke from your heart, you reached people." One of the students stood up and spoke directly to her, "You gave us an incredible story Weeko," said the man, "you touched us all with your narrative…Thank you." Weeko then asked me, "Why do these people see what your's do not?"

I couldn't answer her, I had nothing to say. She answered a few questions before professor Narkoa called the symposium over, then asked her, "When you're ready and feel like speaking again contact me, there are many who weren't here tonight, Weeko, you have friends, we are interested, there are many lessons to be learned here, we don't wish to see this happen on a galactic scale." It was late when we left Zarka stopped a moment and said, "We don't have to take the "metra" home I have a service that I call in situations like this." She then made a call on her wrist cron and while we waited, put her hands on Weeko's arms, "Weeko you were simply incredible, and even though the prime directive prevents any direct contact or aid, we might be able to still help your people." Weeko looked at her then hugged Zarka. A vehicle somewhat like a "Tap-Tap" arrived and whisked us back to Drolugi's. Before we parted, Weeko came up to me and said, "I'm glad I came, I cannot believe people this far from earth care so much but I'm glad, thank you Holly."

Hanna and I decided to have a drink in the bar first before retiring for the night; while we were sitting, there Hanna looked at me and grinned, "How are things between you and Morkai?" I smiled at her and replied, "I never should have doubted you Hanna, you knew all along, I don't know why it took me so long for the love to come but when it did!" My face got red and Hanna snickered, "You were really starting to worry Nargra, he was fretting so about Morkai, but I kept telling him not to worry." Our discussion then focused on my ring, "I can't get over how beautiful that ring is," said Hanna, who also wore a ring made of Morbidium but hers contained a very intricate etched basket made from incredibly fine gold wire in which a beautiful greenish stone called "Aphrite" nested. In many ways, she wore the more beautiful ring, it didn't call attention to itself as mine did, in fact, I had started wearing it around my neck on a grayish silver chain made from a very strong metal called "Krimit." Morkai was concerned at first, thinking I didn't like it but I sat down with him and carefully explained how frightened I was that it would slip off my finger, especially since I always had to remove it when I put on gloves or bathed. He then suggested the chain, which accented the Morbidium and wouldn't break. In the end, I wore it as a charm necklace. Morkai wore a simple band also made of Morbidium with the date of our wedding engraved inside just as mine was.

The next morning Ann, Sara and Pricilla asked Hanna and I to join them for a leisurely breakfast. "We heard about the talk Weeko gave at the university," said Pricilla, "Are they really that interested in her?" "Absolutely," I replied, "She held them spellbound, with her story of personal tragedy as well as that of her tribe," I added. "Apparently they have never had Indian tribes or aboriginal people like we did on earth; they are simply fascinated by her." Ann and the others weren't quite sure what to make of that until I added. "They see the Indians in general as we from earth and the white man as them, representing a backward technology against a superior one, the Nuelians, but on a smaller scale. No one came right out and said it, but were the Nuel to travel to earth and decide to take over, or at least claim large tracts of land, what could we do? We would be in the same situation as Weeko's people as well as Indians in general trying to fight the US Army as well as whites in general."

None of them seemed to have considered this before and the thought frightened them. "You don't think these people would actually do that do you?" inquired Ann, "Ambor told me about some prime directive they have." This was something I hadn't really thought about much either. I told myself it was because earth was so far away, but what if we were considerably closer. Perhaps this would be a good question to pose to the professor?" After this little debate, I noted a softening of personal views towards Weeko, they made attempts to smile and be more sociable, the seeds were planted.

As we ate, the subject of coffee came up with all of them now realizing that perhaps they should have brought the beverage with them as well. Sara was the first one to suggest that money might be made selling this delight here on Falth. "A man by the name of Terkon Loterik manages Drolugi's," she added. ""Perhaps I should speak with him concerning this matter?" We wished her luck before the conversation turned to another matter, one in which I had been most curious. "

"How did you three initially meet and accompany your husbands," I inquired. They started giggling, "Being in the wrong place at the wrong time," snickered Sara. "But now we'd have to say our misfortune turned out to be good fortune as for the way things turned out," she added. Ann then spoke, "This is a matter that has caused us some little interest as well, we have discussed this matter among ourselves shortly after arriving here and realizing there were others. Weeko was the first, but since she and Gitel were never around much and I'll admit sadly, the fact that she is an Indian kept us apart." "I was the second to arrive," said Pricilla, "Then I," added Ann. "Sara came after her," continued Pricilla then you and Hanna there." "What were you ladies doing that put you in contact with your respective husbands?" I asked. "Hanna and I, and from the sound of things Weeko as well were taken after being rescued. Weeko told me Gitel happened upon her as she was stumbling around lost in a storm after becoming separated from members of her family. I told you how Hanna and I stumbled across Morkai and Nargra as they were out harvesting Wort at night."

"I was out looking for our milk cow that had gotten loose," said Ann. Pricilla chuckled, "Believe it or not, I was actually gathering walnuts, lost my way in the gathering dusk and encountered Jaerka who was preparing to take off." "I was returning from a dance with one of the local gentry, witnessed strange lights descending from the heavens, along with what sounded like thunder, insisted we investigate. To make a long story short, a final rumble frightened the horse, I fell out of the buggy, hitting my head, apparently my swain panicked, and raced off with the buggy leaving me to my fate, which now, was the best thing that worthless ingrate could have done. When I woke up Jaerka was sitting on the side of the bed grinning at me. He frightened me at first, with those eyes, but we got to talking, I think we just talked for over two shons, he asked me if I wanted to come with him. I must say that at this point I had become intrigued by those eyes of his, as I'm sure you all have."

We all laughed, knowing that she was right. Pricilla continued her story, "His offer sounded so enticing, high adventure, a better way of life, personal opportunities, I'm sure you were all told the same thing. All I could think of was that Henry Wilcox who just ran off and left me, and the prospect of ending up marrying him or someone like him, so I said yes." She looked around at the rest of us, "I can see that I wasn't the only one." We all chuckled, "I thought as much!" she laughed. "Well it would seem that we are all in agreement, As I'm sure you all were, I was scared to death at first, now…I don't think I could ever go back to live there again. Pricilla then went on to say, "Some time back, a suffragette spoke in Johnstown, I went to hear her speak. In the end, they arrested her, but her words stayed in my mind. Among other things she spoke of opportunities for women, I don't know how it was you were able to attend college Holly, but I applaud you for it, I'm thinking of attending college here but whatever I do, the opportunities are available. Every una, I find another reason never to go back."

We applauded her, then Ann spoke. "My future was jut as bleak, marrying some neighbor boy becoming a farmer's wife, such was my fate, but a footloose cow changed all that. It was getting near dusk, I was stumbling though the dark woods chasing that silly cow a shadow stepped out from behind a tree, frightened so badly, I swooned, and just as Pricilla described, I awoke in a strange vessel. A long colloquy, with a very handsome and debonair gentleman…"Ann giggled, "Ambor is the love of my life." Sara then said, "My situation was very similar, but I think it's very plain that all of us are very adventuresome, looking for something more in life and all willing to take chances. Speaking for myself, I'm glad I'm here, I love a wonderful man, and like Pricilla and Ann, I've discovered that being a woman isn't holding me back, I think we all see brighter futures ahead of us here on Falth, certainly more than back in the states."

I looked at all of them and grinned, "I can certainly see that we're all of like mind on this matter, however, let's be honest with ourselves shall we? None of us can figure out how to tell our parents the true nature of our current situations. Did any of you at least inform your parents that you were alive and in good health?" All indicated that they had but one short correspondence seemed to be the extent of their efforts. We spent the next couple of hours coming up with a scheme to inform our parents of our unusual situations. The best we could do was to involve siblings and as I was planning on doing, involving my cousin. Sara promised to write her mother again, and find out where her brother was, like Andy, he might turn out to be helpful.

Later that una, Morkai and the others returned, all complaining about the sparse and arid conditions at Yedor-rus as well as the poor selection of serviceable equipment. Morkai and Nargra, as well as Ambor were able to secure what they called "Amjac's" small rubber tired vehicles that could be useful for hauling crates of walnuts or Wort. Gitel picked up a security drone similar to our DEXX, but it was going to require a great deal of repair. Since there was still a few months until the next harvest, we de-camped Cluria, for Akdor.