CHAPTER 12
After a pleasant evening the following morning saw Nikki and Masaya leave Gifford early for the flight north to Botijjo #2, Alison again at the controls of the newly repaired aircraft. On landing they were met by Plisfou, who seemed more than usually excited. Even before they had descended from the aircraft, she was trying to explain how anxious Jodie, Nina and Pete were to have Nikki and Masaya go to the laboratory. Nikki was becoming confused as Plisfou kept slipping into her own language, but Masaya calmed Plisfou down and had her start again as they walked briskly towards the laboratory.
"There have been developments," Plisfou said, "but I do not understand them well. Many of our machines in the rekkazixij are now operating again and discoveries are being made. Patlu, Bezali and Zeftio are assisting in the translation of what is being discovered. There is much excitement, but I do not know the cause. They will tell no-one until you and Nikki have been told."
"Do you think they have discovered a genetic possibility so quickly? It doesn't seem possible." Nikki tried to dampen the enthusiasm, but was just as excited by the possibility as anyone else.
"We should not prejudge," Masaya cautioned, "I have noticed this with Earth people. You are given to guessing a conclusion when you know little of the facts." She smiled as she said this, even if she may have considered it a weakness.
Their haste meant that they arrived quickly at the laboratory, in which they found the six people, working quietly and apparently efficiently in pairs. Pete and Zeftio were sitting close together studying data being printed onto paper, Patlu and Jodie were similarly engaged while Nina and the third Aupesian, who, Nikki thought, must be Bezali, were preoccupied by a VDU. There was a noticeably tense atmosphere.
Eventually, Jodie broke off, rubbing her eyes with fatigue.
"We haven't stopped since we got this lot operating. Nina did a great job, but all it needed, apparently, was attention to the power supply cables. We'd just about got it all sorted when Bryn came in and told us that was the problem with the plane and maybe it would be the same in here. And, of course, it was, but by then we already knew. What day is it?"
Nikki told her, to Jodie's evident surprise.
"Oh well, never mind, there'll be plenty of time for sleeping. At least we've been fed and watered." There was much evidence of meals and drinks taken over the last couple of days scattered about.
"So, what progress have you made?" Nikki's question sounded rather formal.
“Let's pull up some chairs. Take a break, people." Everyone sat, Masaya and Nikki looking at the tired faces of Jodie's little team and waiting for the revelations.
"Well. Our first problem was that nothing worked," Jodie explained, "but as I said it wasn't actually that difficult to put that little irritation behind us. Then we had to figure out what all this hardware actually did, a problem not helped by it throwing out data in Aupesian. Thankfully, Zeftio was here and she could translate some and then had the bright idea of enlisting a bit more help, hence the presence of Bezali and Patlu. There was a lot of stuff that wasn't relevant to the job we are doing, interesting though it is. We then started to find records, much to our surprise, that were not only relevant but seemed to be of exactly the work that we were proposing to do. There's a little way to go yet in getting it all into English, and even then the capacity for error in translation is pretty enormous. I need a chemist, ideally a biochemist and a good one, quickly."
"OK. I'll fly back and find you the best. Carry on." Nikki's face reflected clearly the anticipation building inside her.
"It seems as if our friends here really did visit Earth over a long period of time, and I mean a long period. They were travelling in interstellar space when we still thought fire was a pretty clever idea. As time went on it becomes obvious that they didn't think we were too great a race, probably rightly, as most of our progress in technology seemed to them to be driven by military needs. It's a difficult thing to argue against, I suppose. Anyway, we have records here of decisions that were made to try and change us a little. The impression I get is that they may not have liked our ideas of civilisation, but they treated us like naughty children that you can't help liking despite their horrible habits. Correct me if I'm wrong, Masaya."
"I cannot say. Before our machinery ceased to function I was young and very junior. Any decisions made meant only orders to me which I needed to carry out. Please carry on. You will cause no offence to any of us here as I am sure we did things that you would not regard as right."
"OK. There used to be stories on Earth of people being abducted by aliens. Those stories seem to be true and we now seem to be living among the abductors."
"Forgive me," Masaya interrupted, "but we were not the only ones. Those that you described as greys also carried out abductions but theirs were more sinister in intent. They wanted to probe for weaknesses that they could exploit. We wanted only to help you live peacefully."
"What we've managed to translate backs up what you've said, Masaya. It seems your motivation was to help, as you say. The idea was that genetic compatibility was to be established, just as we are trying to do now, so that Aupesian influence could bring greater peace to Earth. It was a mighty task, and they'd tried it before but it backfired."
"If I can interrupt you again," Masaya said, seeming to be almost embarrassed by the revelations, "that was long ago when we sought to provide icons - I think that is the term - for you to look up to as people whose lives you should wish to copy. You saw us as gods and used this as a reason for fighting others who had different ideas. It was an experiment that caused many wars among the humans, which we regretted. This was to be another experiment to try to alter the genetic make-up of humans over time so that peaceful life was attained. Your final war ended the experiment after less than a hundred of your years."
"I think I see," Nikki said. "We really don't seem to be an attractive people, do we?"
"We always believed that you had virtues that exceeded your less pleasant ideas. I now know from living with you for this short time that we were right."
"Can I get on to the interesting parts?"
"Yes," said Nikki, "sorry, Jodie, carry on."
"What we are now in the process of uncovering is the means that the Aupesians used to alter both human and Aupesian genetic construction to permit them to live among humans and reproduce. We have more work to do to be able to reconstruct the exact means, but we do know that Aupesian females were on Earth for long enough to give birth to perfectly normal children fathered by humans. Those children existed, and presumably went on to have children of their own. Of course, as the bloodline would become so diluted in the long term it would have had little effect, but if the war hadn't happened no doubt the experiment would have gone on and probably, over a long enough timescale, would have worked. There were some very, very clever people working on this and some of their work that we've already seen exceeds what we would have been capable of by huge margins. In a nutshell, if we'd been left to find the solution ourselves we'd have failed. Because of what the Aupesians did with human abductees a couple of centuries or more ago, we are going to succeed. Give me that chemist, Nikki, and I'll give you a pregnant Aupesian carrying a human male's baby in ten days."
"Are you sure? I mean, you can actually do it that quickly?"
"Yes, Nikki. These people were brilliant, with hundreds of years of work behind them. All we need to do is finish translating the work and follow the instructions. Am I right, Pete? You're the doctor."
"Absolutely. It's all here, as Jodie says, and way beyond what we ever imagined would be possible. The precision of the data is quite honestly incredible. There are programs here to break down both human and Aupesian body weight into water and fat, and then it calculates the exact adjustment to the chemical cocktail needed to enhance or suppress chromosomes to create a perfect genetic match between breeding partners. If this knowledge had been available on Earth, say in 1939, Hitler could have had his master race and not one damn
thing could have been done about it. It's the sort of knowledge that Earth politicians used to dread, pre-war."
"I accept what you say, Pete, and we'll need to be careful in how we use this knowledge. But you said, Jodie, that the scope for translation error is large. Aren't you concerned that any errors might alter your conclusions?"
"No. There may be some errors, but the facts recorded speak for themselves. It's already been done, Nikki, and all we're doing is repeating that success."
"Even if the errors are in translating chemical names?"
"We have Aupesian chemists. Not a problem, is it, Bezali?"
"No, because I understand the names and can prepare these chemicals." Her tone was totally confident, putting Nikki's mind a little more at rest.
"If I accept what you say for the time being, I trust you'll forgive me having a few reservations if only because it seems to good to be true. You need a biochemist, so I'll go back to Gifford and send someone up. Do you need anything else?"
"Not at the moment. In a few days we're going to need volunteers. That I'll leave entirely to Masaya and you. Just tell me who and we'll do the rest."
Nikki and Masaya left the team to its work, Nikki intending to return immediately to Gifford. Masaya held her back.
"There are some things I must explain," she said, “it will not take long. Can you wait?”
"Of course," Nikki replied with a smile, sensing that Masaya was uncomfortable. The walked together to Masaya's building and settled themselves in her office.
"There are three things I must tell you, then I will give you my answer to the offer you made yesterday. Firstly, you did not react when Jodie asked for a chemist, which I understand, but you did not react when Bezali told us she understands these things. I am wondering why. Is it because you do not trust us?"
"No, no, Masaya, not at all. Jodie has worked with Bezali, yet still asks me to bring a chemist. Since I trust her judgement I did not question it."
"Forgive me, Nikki, but I find these happenings difficult sometimes. Would it offend you if I asked Bezali why your chemist is needed?"
"Of course not."
"Thank you. I will be only a moment." Masaya stood and left the room, returning in just a couple of minutes.
"I have spoken with her. She says she understands the chemical names, but is not confident that she can follow the instructions now being revealed. It was her request that help should be provided. I am sorry."
"There's no need to apologise. I should have asked Jodie myself, and it was insensitive of me not to. I should apologise to you." Masaya smiled at Nikki in the open, friendly way that had become so familiar and carried on.
"I must also say that I knew of the existence of our experiment on Earth but I did not know how successful it had been. Logic told me that the information should be available if the machines could be made to work, but I said nothing as I did not want to make your people feel that they would have failed if they could not release that information. If I made a wrong decision I apologise again."
"I think it was a wise decision, and shows good leadership qualities. I hope I would have done the same in the same circumstances."
"It pleases me that you agree. The third thing I must tell you is this. I am Jukkakique here, as you know, but we have other cities and each is in the same situation as we are. The Jukkakique of each city faces the same problems that she must solve, and each will know that someone from another planet has landed here on Aupes and will know where. The time has come when I must tell those others of our experiences. Each Jukkakique will want to come here to meet you. Each will ask you to do for them what you have done for me. I ask a great deal, but will you hear them and help where you can? Travelling to the other Botijjo cities is not difficult, but Sarrijjo is across much water and we travel from continent to continent as little as possible. The three Jukkakiquen from Sarrijjo will come here together."
"Perhaps the other Jukkakiquen from Botijjo can come at the same time and be our guests at Gifford. We can hear what they have to say and offer whatever help we can, but our resources will be thinly stretched over seven cities, I'm afraid. I promise you we will do whatever we can. I think we could begin by asking Pete to take a little time away from the team here to examine Masyayi's males. He will be able to say whether they are well, which will be a useful guide for examining the males in the other cities."
"That would be useful, yes. Perhaps you would ask him before you leave."
"Of course. Now, yesterday I suggested some ways forward and Jodie's news today makes it important that we come to some decisions. I won't put pressure on you, but the sooner I know what you feel about the suggestions the sooner we can act on them."
"I have thought about what you said. If any of your males are prepared to work with our Silomiala I would be delighted. That part of your offer I accept with much gratitude. You also said that some of us could join with your families. Here I have less certainty. Only the Silomiala breed here, but your people have met only the Roxtamol and a few of the Vixtamol. These do not breed. What you suggest changes the way we have lived since we developed cities, but I said yesterday that if we are to survive at all it seems we must change. I do not want us to adopt human ways entirely as we then cease to be Aupesian and become human. I considered that we may be able to adopt your ways and then return to our own when we are greater in number, but I have seen the reactions of Ussida, Zeftio and indeed Plisfou to being among you. Returning to purely Aupesian ways will not be possible, I fear. I have to look at the destruction of our civilisation or the destruction of our race. It is not an easy choice since I fear that you will not allow your males to operate within our system if we do not let our females outside of the Silomiala join your families if they wish. I need guidance, but have no-one to offer advice to me."
"I wish I could be more helpful, but our being here has exposed your people to our ways. It now seems that we can use our males to fertilise your females," Well, Nikki thought, I'm starting to talk like an Aupesian, "but seeing our lives and being prevented from taking part may frustrate some of your people. I don't want to see an end to the Silomiala system, which has served you so well for so long, but I have to say I would not be entirely happy if that was the only way the interbreeding skills were used. I would not prevent our volunteers from working in the system, rather I would still encourage it, but I would not be as comfortable as I would if some of you adopted our ways. Perhaps only a few will want to.”
"I know you are trying to be as helpful as you can, my friend Nikki, and I appreciate what you are doing. Do you think I could allow some of my people to join with your families and later prevent any more from joining?"
"It would be very difficult, but really we have few places for Aupesians. Those few places will be even more limited if we are to help all seven of your cities. Can I suggest that we allow the ones that wish to join families to do so, as it is unlikely that there will be more than three or four?”
"Very well, but I do this with reluctance. Please do not tell anyone of my feeling."
"It will be our secret. I am joining in a family myself with Bryn and Alison. There is a place there for one of your people and I particularly wanted to be in a family with an Aupesian. That way I can see what the advantages are, and where there are difficulties. Ours should, I think, be the first."
"This I accept. There will be no resistance from me to one of the Roxtamol or Vixtamol joining with you. I think Zeftio and Ussida will want to join families, but perhaps not yours. These families will live at your Gifford?"
"I imagine so, yes. We have houses for each family as you have seen, but you must never feel that you will be unwelcome at any of our homes. I know from talking to people that you are liked and respected by everyone at Gifford."
"Thank you. I am troubled by one thing. Your families are based on the emotional attachment of one family member to another. This I fear will be difficult for my people to understand as we have no suc
h attachments."
"My feeling is that there is nothing to worry about. We have already seen Pete and Zeftio together and they show all the signs of having an emotional bond. I think the same is true of Ussida when she is with Gordon. I can't believe that these two are unique, nor can I believe that either Ussida or Zeftio have become emotionally linked to these men simply because they are the only ones they have dealt with. Certainly in Zeftio's case, she met just about everyone at Gifford but chose Pete, and Ussida has had the same opportunities. If we let things take their natural course these emotional attachments will form."
Masaya seemed to be satisfied with Nikki's comments, but Nikki felt that she was still doubtful about the courses of action that had been agreed. It occurred to Nikki that Masaya was in a similar position to that facing Sarah Gifford when she had realised that the human population on Earth was facing certain extinction, and just as in Sarah's situation there was no ideal answer. But, thought Nikki, what has been proposed is not ideal for us either and we're all going to have to make the best of it.
She agreed with Masaya that she would speak to Pete about the examination of the Aupesian males, then fly back to Gifford to collect a biochemist for Jodie's team. Pete agreed readily enough, since he had time to spare until the chemical cocktails could be created. It would be his responsibility to administer the genetic alteration treatments, but until those treatments began he was not excessively busy. Nikki took a moment to check on the progress of the translation of the relevant parts of the Aupesian data and was relieved to see that the work was progressing so well.
On the flight back to Gifford she sat with Alison in the cockpit, deep in thought. They were nearly back when she realised that Alison had been talking to her, possibly for some time. She apologised, but Alison laughed it off.
"I was just chattering, really," she said.
"Well, I should have been listening. What were you saying?"
"It boils down to saying that I'm looking forward to settling into a house with you and Bryn. I'm starting to feel quite broody now that I know it's going to happen."
"Good. It's going to be a huge improvement and we'll get on well. If anything I feel a bit sorry for Bryn, he won't know what's hit him. How would you feel about a fourth member, if, say, she was Aupesian?"
"Fine. It makes no difference, as long as we all can live together. Who do you have in mind?"
"Oh, nobody in particular. But if we're going to open our families to them I really have to set an example, which means you and Bryn do, too."
Alison tried to convince Nikki that she really had no objection, although Nikki couldn't see what objection she could have anyway. She told Alison that they'd have an hour or so before they needed to go back to Botijjo #2 and left her to find Bryn and check on his work on their house. Nikki went off to find Fiona, who was ultimately in charge of the chemists. Inevitably, she found her in the midst of her cows.
"OK," Fiona said when Nikki told her a biochemist was needed, "Nick's probably the best we've got, but now he's a family man he won't take kindly to being sent away. David Harper comes to mind but I'm not sure he'd be right for the job. Kirsten Larsson's your girl. She's thorough and totally unflappable, and loves working in unexplored areas of her subject. Mind you, I haven't a clue where she is."
"Never mind, I'll find her. Thanks, Fiona."
"Don't mention it. Just be careful how many people you commit to this pet project of yours. We've got work to do here and we can't be having all our best people sent up there. I know they've got problems, but we came here to solve ours."
"Point taken. We've nearly finished up there anyway. I'll see you later, or maybe tomorrow."
"Don't forget the leaders' meeting tomorrow."
Nikki promised she wouldn't and left to find Kirsten, a task that took her a little time. Eventually Nikki tracked her down to the beach, where she was asleep.
"Oh," she said sleepily, "it's you. Sorry, but I was tired. Late night last night analysing Gordon's fish. I didn't finish until dawn this morning.”
"Are you OK now?"
"Fine, yes. Why?"
"Jodie needs you up at Botijjo #2. Can you spare a few days?"
"Yes, I think so. There's nothing likely to happen here that David can't handle. What's Jodie's problem?"
"I don't understand, really. Something to do with the creation of chemical concoctions to alter genetic make-up, and the Aupesian chemists are not sure how to handle it. No doubt it will all make sense to you when you get there."
Kirsten stood up and strolled off with Nikki towards the aircraft, collecting Alison on the way. Before long, Kirsten was settled in the Aupesian laboratory and Nikki was back with Masaya. They were not allowed many minutes before Plisfou, Fejoq and Pete entered. Plisfou wore a neutral expression, her usual smile suppressed. Pete looked extremely worried and even Fejoq, who was usually full of fun, looked downcast.
"Nikki, I heard you were back," Pete said in a serious tone, "and I need to talk to you. I found these two as I think they should hear what I have to say as well as you and Masaya."
"You sound serious." Masaya sounded just as serious.” If you believe Plisfou and Fejoq should be here so be it. Tell us what you have to say. Please, everyone, sit."
Pete sat opposite Masaya and rubbed his eyes. It might have been just tiredness but it seemed that he was on the point of being overcome with the impact of what he was going to say. Eventually he began to speak.
"I have spent some time examining the males working in the Silomiala. They are all very much the same, some marginally healthier than others, but they are all very ill. I have also checked over a few of the females but so far have found no signs of any problems with them." He paused to rub his eyes again. Nikki spoke as gently as she could.
"You say they are ill - do you know what is causing their illness?"
"I do," he said, looking at Nikki then, turning to Masaya he continued, "I first noticed a growth in the testicles of the first male I examined, and having seen them all I have no doubt at all that they are suffering from testicular cancer. It is quite likely, given their general physical condition, that other parts of their bodies are affected as well. By rights a few of them should be dead already, but none of them can have long. Perhaps of greater significance for us all is that none of the males here are fertile. None of them is now capable of fathering a child as no sperm is being produced because of the cancer. How old are these people?"
Masaya glanced briefly at Plisfou and Fejoq, then spoke softly to Pete. "They are all old enough to have visited your world, and I believe all have done so. They will have walked the surface and fathered children there because that was the function of the males on our trips to your world."
"I thought as much. It is probable that they were infected on Earth but I can't say how. There you are, that is the situation. With cancer this advanced there is nothing that can be done to cure it. We may be able to reduce the pain a little, but that's all."
"Do our males suffer pain?”
"Yes, Fejoq, I'm afraid they do, even if they were reluctant to admit to it."
"So," Nikki ventured, "unless the situation is different in the other cities, we are the only hope for Aupesian survival in any form?"
Masaya seemed to shrink in her seat. Suddenly she looked old and defeated, her eyes cast down to the floor.
"It is no different. Without your help we are no more."
"Jodie is right, isn't she, Pete?” Nikki looked just a little desperate as she asked him.
"There's no doubt. We can create genetic compatibility now we know about the work the Aupesians had done on humans. It will be successful, but I'm not sure about the lifespan of the offspring. My best guess would be that it will exceed ours."
"So as soon as Jodie gives us the all clear we can start?"
"Crudely put, but yes.”
"You see, Masaya, all isn't lost. I know that the research carried out when your people visited Ea
rth was intended to be for human benefit, but because they did that research you have a chance of survival. I know you won't always be pure Aupesian, but surely it's better than the alternative?"
Masaya agreed, but with little enthusiasm. Nikki could sympathise with her position, knowing that these proud people could not survive without what was, after all, alien help. They had agreed between them that volunteers would be sought for duties in the Silomiala and that Aupesians would be able to join human families but it was unlikely that the depression into which Masaya was sinking would be lifted easily. Nikki decided to leave Jodie's team at Botijjo #2 to complete their work while she flew back to Gifford.
She needed to start getting her own people used to the idea that much closer integration with the Aupesians was going to happen.
On the flight back she was very quiet and even Alison, who sometimes could be blissfully unaware of other people's feelings, was merely quietly supportive of Nikki, who she regarded not only as a friend but also as the wisest counsel the little group of human settlers had. Nikki seemed unaware of their having landed at Gifford until Alison sat next to her.
"What can I do to help?" she asked gently.
"Oh, nothing, really. I'm just worried that I've over-committed us without talking to everybody first. I don't see what else I could have done though. Look, if you want to help me, see if you can find Bryn, Louise and Fiona. Tell them I need to see them now and I can't wait until the leaders' meeting. "
Alison set off on her errand, leaving Nikki alone in the aircraft. She sat quietly for a long time, deep in thought, but wasn't at all sure she'd reached any conclusions when she finally walked across to her office.
Her three fellow community leaders were already there when she walked in. Immediately Bryn leapt up and led Nikki to her chair.
"Very solicitous, Bryn. The idea of family life must appeal to you."
"Well," he mumbled, "actually, when you came in I thought you looked awful. White."
"You do, you know," Louise added, "and it's because you're flying about and not telling anyone very much. It's overwork and you're not letting any of us share the load, whatever it is."
"If you're concerned about me I appreciate it," Nikki replied without much conviction, "but in a little while you might not think I deserve it."
"Does that mean," asked Fiona, “that we're finally going to find out what's at the bottom of these rumours that are going round?"
"What rumours?" Nikki looked genuinely puzzled.
"Once you wouldn't have needed to ask. Some people seem to think that we're going to have Aupesians living with us and some of us are going to live with them to create a sort of hybrid race. We," Fiona said, looking at Louise and Bryn in turn, "haven't been able to say anything because we don't know anything. I know you're doing a difficult job better than any of us could do, but we need to know what's going on."
"I know. This is exactly why you're here. Perhaps I should start at the beginning, although you'll know some of what I'm going to say. You're quiet, Bryn, nothing to say?"
"I know what Louise and Fiona mean and sometimes I feel awkward because I'm asked questions and I don't know the answers. But I trust you to do whatever is best."
"Thanks, but as I said you might want to revise your opinion. We know that the Aupesians live much longer than we do, and that Masaya for one has been to Earth. We now know that the few remaining males have also been there. The Aupesians do not have any diseases because they eradicated them generations ago, before they took to space, and were unprepared for disease when they went to Earth. They've had interstellar travel for three thousand years, but our diseases practically wiped them out when they started having regular close contact with us on Earth. They were on the surface of the planet over two thousand years ago, but now admit they were wrong to set themselves up as icons, providing what they saw as an ideal life for humans to follow. That experiment ended with us fighting each other over differing interpretations of one ideal. We made gods of the Aupesians.
"They took a long time to construct another experiment to help us overcome our tendency to kill each other. This, it seems, took the form of genetic modification which allowed Aupesians to live on Earth and produce children fathered by human males. Over a long period the influence of the Aupesians would lead to the Earth becoming a peaceful planet, but our last war brought the process to a dramatic halt.
"Disease was brought back here and very few people now remain. We know now that all the males at Botijjo #2 are infertile because of cancer and are assuming that the same will be true of the other cities on this and the other continent. My feeling is that our race is responsible, just as we were responsible for extinctions of so many species on Earth before the war and for that war which made Earth uninhabitable. I don't think there can be a worthwhile counter-argument. Because of the Aupesian experiment and our engineering skills in repairing the equipment they have, we are in a position to prevent the extinction of the Aupesians. Without our help the Aupesian race will die out, there is no doubt about that unless our assumptions about the other cities are wrong.
"Perhaps I have exceeded my authority, but I have promised Masaya that we will give whatever help we can to them. In practice, there is nothing we can do to save the pure Aupesian race because we are too late. But we can act to save their culture and their, um, heritage, I suppose is the right word."
Nikki paused in her narrative and looked at her small but extremely attentive audience. She was worried about their reactions to the agreements that she had already committed to with Masaya and knew that she should have consulted fully with these three colleagues and friends. But the deed was done, and now she had to win their approval. Far too much depended upon how she chose her words in the next few minutes.
"We've met some of the Roxtamol here, and there are the Vixtamol back in the city and those of us who have been up there have met some of them. I think we're all pretty much agreed that we like these people, aren't we?"
Three heads nodded without hesitation.
"The Aupesian way of expanding their population, of procreation, is very different to ours. There is a third class, the Silomiala, who are the breeding stock who have all the children. Neither the Roxtamol nor the Vixtamol breed. We may not approve, but that's the way it's always been done here. They have agreed that they can't expect our help if they insist on maintaining only their own ways and are unwilling to adapt at all to ours. Given that agreement, what I have suggested to Masaya is this now that Jodie's team can recreate the genetic modifications that allow procreation between species. Firstly, we will allow those Aupesians who want to do so to join our families. There are relationships forming that could become families - Pete and Zeftio, for instance, or maybe Gordon and Ussida. I would want an Aupesian to join my own family, as I think I should set an example, and Alison is happy with the idea. I know it might be a surprise, Bryn, but we'll talk about it later."
"I've no objection in principle. Go on."
"Thanks. But we'll still talk about it. Anyway, I don't think it would be right for us to take Aupesians into our families as equals without accepting that their ways are just as important as our own. The other suggestion that Masaya has accepted is that we provide volunteers to work in the Silomiala system for short periods. I appreciate it puts a lot of pressure on us, although it will fall mostly on our men. Having said that, nothing is compulsory and we'll rely entirely on people volunteering either to include Aupesians in their families or to help in the Silomiala.
"There you are. I've said my piece and I accept I can be criticised for going too far without the community's support but I've done what I think is right. Anybody disagreeing need take no part in helping these people to survive."
Nikki had deliberately omitted to mention the other Aupesian cities, thinking that what she had said was quite enough for the time being. She would, she thought, judge whether she dared bring this additional revelation out by the reaction she got from he
r audience. She knew Bryn would be totally supportive, but was considerably less sure of either Louise or Fiona.
It was Fiona who spoke first, although she looked at Louise to see if she was going to say anything. Evidently she wasn't, just yet.
"I suppose you've made promises rather than just suggestions. If you have we seem to be stuck with it although I don't see that as a real problem. We've already decided that we'd probably find volunteers. But, and I have to say that it's quite a big but, there is a body of opinion that seems to think that we ought to step back and look after ourselves. I'm not necessarily saying that I agree with that view but you can see how it might cause problems in the future."
"Fiona's right, Nikki. Now and the next year or two won't be the problem. Those that don't want to become so involved with the Aupesians don't have to. A few years down the line we could have a situation developing that won't have an easy solution."
"I think I know what you're going to say, but explain anyway." Nikki's tone was serious, not quite aggressive but certainly more stern than usual.
"Well, think about it," Louise went on, "We'll have families with just pure human children, families with pure human and part Aupesian children and there'll be the half-human offspring of the Silomiala. It's going to be mighty tricky to keep a peaceful community."
"Oh, come on, Louise! We know our own people and they are perfectly sensible. We know the Aupesians as well and they don't seem to have any aggressive tendencies at all. I know what you're saying, but I just can't see a problem developing - if anything, it'll bring us all closer."
"Look," said Fiona quietly, "Louise and Bryn probably agree with me in thinking you're right and even if you're not we've got to do something and what you're suggesting is as good a compromise as we'll get. But there are those here in Gifford who might not share our views. I think you should have a long chat with one of the more vociferous campaigners and try to put a lid on this issue now, before it becomes divisive."
"OK, who do you suggest I talk to?"
"Scott Collins." There was no emotion in Louise's voice as she spoke the name, but it certainly affected Nikki. Images of that time on the beach made a sudden and unwelcome return to her mind. She felt as if she was colouring, hoped she wasn't and that, if she was, nobody would ask why. Come on, she told herself, say something.
“Oh, right." She paused briefly, noticing the three others flicking glances at each other. "Well, somebody had better ask him to come and see me, then." It looked for a moment as if Fiona was going to say something more, but she obviously changed her mind. Instead she stood up, announced that she was going back to work and that she'd find Scott.
"And don't worry," she said, smiling, "you'll deal with him easily enough." It didn't make Nikki feel any better. Louise also left, reassuring Nikki that she had her support. Bryn stayed in his seat, eventually speaking for the first time.
"You seemed surprised when Scott was mentioned as a dissenting voice."
"Did I? Perhaps it's because I've always thought that he, well, didn't have any strong opinions."
"Is that all?"
"Of course. What else could it be?"
"Something about not joining his family because there wasn't room for an Aupesian, perhaps?"
"All right, Bryn, how did you know?"
"I take an interest in my family-to-be. I heard he wasn't too pleased about something you'd done so I asked him. He told me you'd turned him down and why. I'm not surprised he's against closer co-operation."
"How many people has he told?"
"I don't think he's told anyone. He might have said that you and he had a disagreement to a few people, but he's only told me what actually happened. He did say you were as nice as you could be about it, so I don't think there's any real animosity there. I reckon all you've got to do is find out what the basis of his objection is so you can shoot it down."
"Maybe. Do you object to any of what I said?"
"No. I can see the logic behind what you're trying to do and I'm happy to do my bit. As long as we all get on together I don't see a problem in the family. Putting our men into their system seems perfectly reasonable if those that go volunteer. It's only for a few days at a time, isn't it?"
"Mm. Bryn, can we organise some sort of communication system? I'd like to be able to find people without rushing all over Gifford, and it would be useful to be able to contact Botijjo #2 without having to fly up there, particularly when we've got people up there and Aupesians down here."
"It would be difficult with what we've got here. We didn't bring any communication equipment from Earth - as you know, we didn't need it. With the amount of technology the Aupesians have had in the past, I'd be surprised if there isn't suitable equipment in Botijjo #2 somewhere. It probably doesn't work, but if we find some we can probably fix it."
"Good. Do you want to go up there and see what you can find when I go back?"
"Sure. Now I must get back to work. Our house won't build itself." Bryn gave Nikki's shoulder an affectionate, reassuring squeeze as he left her office. In the silence after his departure she sat thinking of her forthcoming meeting with Scott. Nothing of any possible use occurred to her.
Nikki wasn't really aware of time passing, coming back to reality only when she heard someone coming in. There was a gentle knock on her office door, then Scott appeared.
"You wanted to see me?" His smiling face seemed somehow comforting.
"Yes, thanks for making some time for me. Look, it's about our ideas for helping the Aupesians. They're staring extinction in the face, but you seem to think, so I'm told, that we shouldn't help them. I thought if we sat down and had a chat we could clear up any misunderstandings." Scott's reaction was to laugh as he pulled up a chair.
"That's a harsh charge! All I've said is that perhaps we shouldn't rush into cosy little arrangements with people we know nothing about."
"I'd hardly say we know nothing about them. They've been very open."
"OK, next to nothing. There's an awful lot we don't know. Unless you're keeping things to yourself."
"Not intentionally. What do you want to know?"
"For a start, how many of them are there? Not just here, but in the other cities we've heard about. Why has their technology collapsed? Why didn't they see this problem coming? Will that do for now?"
"I'm not sure I can give you complete answers, but I'll try. At Botijjo #2 there are less than a hundred, of which five, I think, are male. None of those males is fertile, so if they are to survive there they need to import males. Their technological skills were lost as a result of disease brought back from Earth, and they didn't foresee their problems as they couldn't foresee that a supposedly advanced culture like us on Earth would have dedicated so much to the conquest of space while disease was still rife on the planet. Here, of course, they'd eradicated all disease before they even thought of ways to travel in space.
"Of course, as you say, there are other cities both on this continent and on Sarrijjo. None of us have yet been to these other cities but we are told that the situation is just as bad - some cities have a few more survivors, some less. Almost an entire species has been obliterated because our ancestors were more motivated to get into space than they were to find ways of keeping themselves alive and free of disease. I'm a human, just like our ancestors, and I feel a sense of guilt about what has been done to these people even if those ancestors were unaware of what they were doing. We are now on Aupes and in a position to make some sort of reparation for the harm done to these people. I intend to do whatever I can to deliver help, but as a mere woman I can do nothing personally."
"Your points are well made, but there are a couple of things you should consider before you commit others to something you can't do yourself. You were, I think, in charge of selecting people to come here before we left Earth, am I right?"
"Yes. So?"
"So, you chose people on the grounds of skill, presumably, and the ratio of men to wome
n had some reason to it, whether or not that reason is one that we all agree was correct?" Nikki nodded in reply. "It follows that the mix of gender is going to be blown out of proportion by including Aupesians in human families, more so if we send some of our men off to the Aupesian fertilisation camps. Had you thought of that?"
"Yes, Scott, I had. What else should I consider?"
“Never mind what else for the moment. When you thought about it, you must have drawn some conclusions. I'd be interested in hearing what they were."
"Before I give you the conclusion I came to, let me ask you a few simple questions. There are only three and the first is this. What is the gestation period of a human baby?"
"Nine Earth months.”
"Correct. And for an Aupesian?"
"I don't know, but I'd guess maybe a bit longer?"
"It is in fact about ten Aupesian months. Now, my third question. Within a normal family environment, however you choose to define normal, how often would you, Scott Collins, expect to have sex?" Nikki sat back as she watched Scott trying to counter her implied argument. He was evidently having some difficulty.
"Are you telling me that because I, as a fairly typical male, am physically able to fertilise females at regular intervals I should extend my family or volunteer to go to those baby farms?"
"No, I am not, under any circumstances, telling you that you should do that. What I am saying is that the division between males and females in our original plan was based solely on two criteria, being the expected need for certain skills and the certain need to procreate quickly. If you choose to volunteer your services to the Aupesian Silomiala so be it, but if you choose not to I and everyone else will respect your decision and your honesty in making it. If you invite an Aupesian to be part of your family I will be delighted, but no more so than if you decide on a wholly human family. I am not going to tell you that there are services you must perform for our hosts on this planet, as the performance of those services must be undertaken willingly. Am I putting your mind at rest?"
"Give me time to think about what you've said, then I'll tell you. If nothing else, you're making sense."
"And the other thing I should have considered?"
"Children. We'll have humans and half-humans. Doesn't that worry you?"
"I have to be honest and say that it does, a little. I think, though, that we're all capable of smoothing over any tensions that might arise in the future but it is something that we all need to be very aware of. The two societies must inevitably integrate and this is the start. It's been forced on us and the management of that integration will be a massive challenge. There is one thing that I am sure of, Scott. I, and others who must make decisions affecting us all, must be fully aware of opinions that we don't necessarily share and must take them into account. We simply can't afford to have bad feeling brewing just because of a lack of communication. This talk has taught me that much."
"I'm glad we've achieved something. I'd like to go away and think about what you've said and the implications. I feel happier having spoken to you and I reckon the others who were worried will appreciate knowing your reasons for doing what you've done. I'll make sure they know."
Scott levered himself out of his chair and, with a friendly wink, was gone. Nikki slumped back, feeling utterly exhausted. She felt she'd coped well enough with the points Scott had raised but she'd felt uneasy all the time she was talking to him. It would have been so much easier if it had been anyone but Scott…….