Winter in Eden

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Strong thumbs bit deep into Enge’s flesh as she was seized and pushed down to her knees, held there as one of the retinue hurried away for bindings. Saagakel sat back with dignity as an excited babble of conversation sounded behind her. Above all this one voice rang out clearly, ordering them aside; there was one yipe of pain as a foot was trod upon. Through the assemblage a Yilanè pushed, made her way forward to stand before Enge, to look down at her closely.

“I am Ambalasi,” she said hoarsely. Now that she was close Enge could see the lines of age on her face, the ragged edge to her pale crest. Then she turned about to face the eistaa and raked the claws of one foot along the ground in a sign of great disapproval. “I don’t think that this is wise, Saagakel. There is much of importance in what Enge says, much to be learned from her.”

“Too much of importance in what she says, wise Ambalasi, to let her remain free to spread her poison. I respect your great knowledge of the working of science — but this is a matter of politics and I listen only to my own advice.”

“Do not close your mind, Eistaa. The teachings of the Daughters relate directly to our biological selves which in turn relate directly to our very existence.”

“What do you know of their teachings?” Saagakel broke in, astonished.

“A good deal — since I have talked with the Daughters at length. In a crude way they have stumbled across a mind-body link that is of immense importance to the biology of longevity and aging. Therefore it is my polite request that the prisoner, Enge, be released in my custody for study in the place of science. Will you permit that?”

Although the expressions were polite, they were spoken loosely with only surface formality, close to insult since there were hints of negative qualifiers in the mode of address-to-Eistaa, and superiority-to-all in relation to science.

Saagakel roared with anger as she sprang to her feet. “Insult of insults — and in my own ambesed! I have respected your great knowledge and great age, Ambalasi, respect them still. Therefore I do not order your instant death but instead order you from my presence and from my ambesed, to return here again only if I will it. Or better still — leave my city. You have been talking of leaving, have made your plans to go far too many times to remember. Now is the time to do as you have threatened…”

“I do not threaten. I will leave as planned. And I will relieve you of the burden and take Enge with me.”

Saagakel was quivering with rage, her thumbs snapping with anger. “Go from my presence at once and do not ever return. Go from this city as well for your presence strains my leniency.”

“You are about as lenient as an epetruk at the kill. Since you see your absolute rule as absolutely vital to your existence why not put it to the test? Expel me from this city, order me to die. It will be a most interesting experiment…”

Ambalasi’s voice was drowned out by Saagakel’s roar of rage as she lept forward, towered above her tormentor, jaws agape and thumbs spread wide for the kill. The old scientist stood, unfrightened, making just the brief expression of respect-for-age, respect-for-learning with a questioning modifier.

Saagakel howled with inarticulate anger again, spraying Ambalasi with saliva, trembling for control. In the end, she wheeled about and dropped back into her chair. There was shocked silence all about her and the only sound was the running footsteps of the fleeing fargi who poured out of the ambesed shaking with fear. Three of them lay unconscious on the sand, perhaps dead so great had been the Eistaa’s wrath.

When Saagakel finally spoke it was to signal removal-of-both who stood before her. “It is my wish never to see either of these again. Both, to the orchards, instantly.”

Willing thumbs seized Enge and Ambalasi and hurried them from the ambesed. Once out of the Eistaa’s sight they all went slower, for it was a hot afternoon, but none released their tight grip on the prisoners’ arms. Enge had much to think about and did not speak until they had reached the sealed entrance to the orchard compound, had been roughly pushed inside. When the heavy entrance gate was sealed shut behind them she turned to Ambalasi and signed gratitude.

“You risked all, strong Ambalasi, and I thank you.”

“I risked nothing. Saagakel’s words could not kill me, nor would she have physically attacked me.”

“Yes, I can see that now. I also see that you deliberately angered her so you would be imprisoned here.”

Ambalasi made a motion of joined pleasure and humor, her mouth parted to reveal her ancient yellowed teeth. “I like you, Enge, and appreciate your presence here. And you are correct. I have been planning to visit this orchard — your being sent here has just accelerated my actions by a few days. This is a city of great boredom and paralyzed ideas and I wonder why I ever came here. Only because of the research facilities I assure you. I would have moved on long before this — but then they began arresting your Daughters of Despair…”

“Daughters of Life, I beg.”

“Life, death, despair — all are the same to me. It is not the name or the philosophy that I care about, only the physiological results. I say they are Daughters of Despair because it was I who despaired of ever carrying my research any further. A long time ago, when the walls for this imprisoning orchard were first grown I came here to supervise the work. At that time I talked to some of the Daughters, but I despaired of their intelligence. They reminded me of onetsensast cropping the leaves of a single tree. Having once made a leap into the dark of this philosophy they are happy to remain unmoving ever again. I think you will move for me, Enge, in fact know that you will.”

“If you will tell me what your moving involves I will attempt to help. Thus do I welcome you as a Daughter of Life…”

“Don’t do that — I am not one of you.”

It was Enge’s turn to be baffled. “Yet — you said that you would not risk death if the eistaa ordered your death. Then you must believe…”

“No, I do not believe. I understand — and that is a different matter altogether. I am a creature of science, not of faith. Can you understand the difference? Or would you find that too disconcerting to your beliefs?”

“I do not find it disconcerting in the slightest,” Enge said, registering joy-of-thought. “Quite the opposite. I see it as a testing of my courage and of Ugunenapsa’s words and would talk long with you about this.”

“I as well. Welcome to the fruit groves of Yebèisk, welcome. Now I ask you a question. If you and your Daughters were free of this place, all of you, would you come with me to a city where you would be welcome? Where you could be free, not oppressed, able to go your own way?”

“We ask nothing else, wise Ambalasi. That is our only desire and we would be your fargi if you could do that.”

“It is possible. But before I aid you, I have another request, and you must think carefully before you answer. When you are free I want to make you captive again to my studies. I wish to understand how this new phenomenon operates and the string-knife of my research may cut deep.” When Enge registered fear-of-pain Ambalasi signed negative in return. “You misunderstand. It is the string-knife of thought that I wish to use, to cut deep into your philosophy and see what makes it operate.”

“That indeed I would welcome. It is what I do myself. If you can aid me in that, then I welcome your help.”

“More than aid, Enge. I may dig so deep that I destroy the roots of your tree of knowledge and pull it out.”

“If you do then it was a dead tree, a false tree, and I would welcome that as well. I open to you. Embrace my thoughts — do as you will.”

Ambalasi seized Enge’s arm in the quick gesture of greatest-pleasure. “Then it is agreed. I must now give my attention to our exodus. Since I have long been determined to leave this city I have already made all the necessary arrangements with my assistants and within a day — two at the most — there will be firm results.”

Enge signed apologies and lack of understanding.

“You will understand when the time comes. Now there are other things to do. There is one here among the daughters whom I would speak to. Her name is Shakasas‹.”

“Confusion-naming,” Enge said. “Shakasas‹, speed-in-changing-movement is a name that one of us would not use, a name that belongs to the existence before the understanding. As a sign of our acceptance of Ugunenapsa’s wisdom we take new names.”

“I was aware of the ritual. But I am sure that your convert will remember her earlier existence before conversion. Send for her under that name and I will address her in any manner she wishes.”

Enge signed respectful understanding and turned away to issue the order. Only then did she realize for the first time that they had been talking in the middle of a circle of silent listeners. Omal stepped forward and welcomed her.

“The one whose presence has been requested has been sent for. But I have pleasure-to-see you, unhappiness-your-imprisonment.”

“We must discard unhappiness. This Yilanè of great wisdom whom I have been speaking with may be our salvation. Now let me see and meet with our sisters here, for I wish to know them all.”

Ambalasi stepped aside as they greeted each other and waited with stolid patience until she was aware of a Yilanè who appeared before her and signed respectful attention.

“Are you Shakasas‹?” Ambalasi asked.

“I was, before the time of my understanding. Because of my joy at accepting Ugunenapsa’s words I am now called Elem. What do you wish of me, Ambalasi?”

“The answer to a single question. I have heard that you once served on the crew of an uruketo. Is this true?”

“When I was first Yilanè it was my pleasure. This led me to my interest in air and sea currents. The mysteries of navigation became my study, and through them my interest in the work of Ugunenapsa.”

“Explanation satisfactory. Now tell me who leads you?”

“Ugunenapsa, for it is her example—”

“Enough! I refer to your physical presence in this despicable orchard. Who among you is in charge?”

“None, for we are all equal…”

Ambalasi silenced her with a rude gesture normally used only when commanding fargi, raking her toenails along the ground with great agitation. “Silence! Your Ugunenapsa has a lot to answer for. There must be someone who stands above you in this hierarchy of mindlessness. Enge, do you see her there? Good. Can she command you?”

“Certainly. I have heard much of her and her wisdom and would willingly do as she commanded.”

“At last, communication. The three of us will speak together at once. After that has been done you will stay by my side at all times and will do as I order. Will you do this if she tells you to?”

Elem signed pleased agreement and Ambalasi dismissed her quickly before she could begin again on Ugunenapsa.

The island just off the coast of Gendasi , south of Alpèasak, was small and crowded with quickly grown structures, most of them little more than covers to keep the rain off. Only the joined rooms where Ukhereb labored had any look of permanence, solidity. The eistaa, Lanefenuu, had been taken there when she emerged from the uruketo that had brought her across the ocean, but she listened to the explanations with bored disinterest, caring only about the results of the scientists’ labors, not the details. Only the masinduu drew more than casual attention.

“This is very amusing,” Lanefenuu said. “You must grow me one to take back to Ikhalmenets. I have never seen anything like it before.”

“The reason for that, Eistaa,” Akotolp said with some pride, “is that it has never existed before. Ukhereb and I needed to work with the new plants we developed, to work together on their modification. But they are most difficult to handle since they are so poisonous. For this we needed the magnifying abilities of the sanduu. You know the creature I refer to?”

“I do not,” Lanefenuu said, proud of her ignorance. “I am much too busy to devote my time to a study of your squalid beasts.”

“Perfectly correct, Eistaa,” Akotolp said. “It is a messy occupation. Explanation-offered. The sanduu magnifies, that is it makes things look bigger, up to two hundred times bigger and is an essential scientific tool. However, only one Yilanè at a time can use it — Ukhereb and I needed to work together. Therefore we developed this masinduu, which might be called an image-projecting sanduu. We use it in microsurgery, but now we are using it to show you pictures of what we have done, without the necessity of exposing your honored body to the dangers involved.”

“This honored body is much pleased by your efforts. And what may this thing be that we are looking at?”

Akotolp turned one eye toward the brightly lit image on the wall. Sunlight fell on the eye of the masinduu in the outer wall, was amplified to project the multifaceted and brilliant image. “Those are diatoms, Eistaa, tiny creatures that live in the sea. We use them to adjust the masinduu. The colors that you see are generated by a polarized filter…” Akotolp broke off when Lanefenuu signed boredom-of-scientific-detail.

The room brightened as Ukhereb entered, followed by a fargi carrying a tray of pictures.

“All is ready, Eistaa,” she said, motioning the fargi to put down the tray and leave. “Here are the latest prints and they will show you the unqualified success of our efforts on your behalf.”

“Begin at once,” Lanefenuu commanded.

The imaged diatoms vanished and a seascape took its place. Beyond the sea was a green coastline above white beaches. As Ukhereb talked she manipulated the masinduu so that one image faded into another so it appeared that the coast grew closer.

“This is the shore of Gendasi , south of the city of Alpèasak . We selected this site since we could establish ourselves there unobserved. The temperature and soil are the same as the city so our plants could develop in the correct environment.”

“Why not go to the city itself?” Lanefenuu asked.

“The ustuzou have occupied it,” Vaintè said as she entered. “I went there to see. Not all of the city was burned — but it is filled with these vermin.”

“Whose destiny is death, Vaintè,” Lanefenuu said. “I ordered your presence because these accomplished scientists have arranged a demonstration of what has been accomplished here in my name. You will watch with me since you have created all this.”

Vaintè signed pleasure-in-gratitude and settled down on her tail next to the eistaa — who ordered continuation-of-seeing.

Green shrubbery grew larger until dead animals could be seen around it, impaled on the thorns. “The mutated vines and shrubs,” Akotolp explained. “All of them growing and mingled with those broad-leaved plants which are rich with water and therefore fire resistant, protecting the others. All of this was not hard to do, simple variations of the walls that protect most cities. While these were being developed and grown in enough numbers to raise for seed, we were also developing this creature.”

The image of a multi-colored, shining lizard filled the screen. Akotolp walked over to point to the rows of nodules on the creature’s back. “These cysts develop when the lizard matures, burst, then regrow. You will notice the thick skin and slime coating that protects the animal from the deadly environment that it sows. A perfect development.”

“Need-for-clarity,” Lanefenuu communicated sharply.

“Apologies without count, Eistaa. I proceed out of sequence. The deadly plants we have just seen were designed to be sown in the city that the ustuzou occupy. Various self-perpetuating techniques were considered and this system was devised. When the cysts burst the seeds of poisonous plants are released. They grow and the lizards live beneath their protection — where no other animal could survive. So without any further effort on our part, without the loss of a single Yilanè life, the city itself drives out the invaders. It will not happen at once, but it will happen with the inexorable and unopposable persistance of the incoming tide. The plants will fill the city, the ustuzou will be forced out — and tomorrow’s tomorrow will be as yesterday’s yesterday.”

“Admirable.” Lanefenuu expressed pleasure and happiness. “But how will Yilanè live in this city of death?”

“With great ease. Parasites and viruses have already been developed to destroy the growths and wipe out the lizards — affecting nothing else.”

“It is indeed an excellent plan. Then why has it not been put into effect?”

“A single detail,” Akotolp said, “since resolved. It required the development of a parasitical worm that carries the encysted seeds in its body. This worm infects the lizards, causing the cysts that spread the seeds. The worm’s eggs, also with the encysted seeds, emerge in the lizard’s droppings…”

She broke off at the Eistaa’s gesture of termination.

“Good Akotolp, I know these details fascinate you Yilanè of science, but I find them both repulsive and boring. Terminate your talk with details of progress.”

“All is ready, Eistaa,” Vaintè said, opening the door and pointing out into the sunshine. “As soon as Ukhereb and Akotolp reported success I sent for you. While you traveled here generations of lizards have been bred, are in an enclosure which I will now show you. All is in readiness — simply awaiting your command.”

“This is admirable. I now speak. Let it be done. Alpèasak will be cleansed of vermin and rebuilt. So when the cold winds come to Ikhalmenets, Ikhalmenets will come to Alpèasak. Do this thing now.”

“It begins, Eistaa,” Vaintè said.

It begins — but does not end there, she added, but in un-moving silence so that none could hear her thoughts. The city will be cleansed and will be Yilanè again. When that is done I will ask a boon and it will be granted. I will ask the eistaa only that I be permitted to use the seed-lizards to make the rest of this land uninhabitable for ustuzou. Then will I seek them out and destroy them. Thus will I kill the Kerrick-ustuzou at last.