not officially allowed to visit Varan. If I find your ways strange, the authorities find them far stranger, and worry your ideas may spread.’ Prirella’s natural diplomacy was re-surfacing.
‘Mother told me grandmother.’
‘The Karish still come, making sure we’re not contaminated, as they call it, but they can’t stop Doella. Her father is stricter than I; he insists the younger children don’t meet her. They have an “unhealthy” fascination for things Doella and Astras.’ She was doing her best to explain and this time the hug was more natural on both sides. At least Lucessa was Varan.
‘It’s beautiful, it looks so old.’ Lucessa began, her voice hesitant.
‘I’ll take you on a tour later, it’s a long walk to our wing, I forget my way sometimes, and find myself in the garden instead, but that is perhaps because I’d prefer to be outdoors, ’ admitted Prirella. ‘Doella never gets lost.’ She stopped as the door opened and three women came in, again the family resemblance was strong. Three older, unmarried sisters of Doella, introduced as her aunts, Calessa, Dolarssa and Fresna. They carried trays and set them on the small, empty desk by the window before the fond introductions took place.
Then they were alone again, Doella’s father was calling for his wife. The room was suddenly too silent.
Doella handed her daughter a glass of spring wine. ‘I love this wine, I must ask father for cuttings to take back to Astras. Try these pastries; no one makes pastries as well as Dolarssa.’
They ate a few and Doella filled their glasses again and led her daughter down a short corridor into the garden. It was much noisier than any Astrian garden. Every insect and bird had a story to tell. Once you got used to it, it made for peace, which the near silent gardens of Astras couldn’t equal.
Doella agreed with her daughters thoughts. ‘Yes Astras is quiet, our insects carry on their work in silence, and we have no birds. I thought I could take a few back…’
‘You’d have to keep them caged, or they could endanger the environment?’
‘Yes.’
‘Do my aunts spend their lives making pastries?’
‘No, most work in the city or from home. Dolarssa works for the water council, as father does. He’s making me wait, as always, his way of disapproving of me. He still loves me, but I’ve done great damage to our family’s standing. We’re not ostracized completely, we still have friends. But my father will always be an under-councillor and he was in line for sub-councillor. I’ve ruined Dolarssa’s career too, and everyone else’s.’
‘Surely…’
‘I could fix things? Yes, but you don’t understand how being brought up here affects me. I fight everyday with what I do and shouldn’t do.’ Lucessa understood her mother more in these few short moments than in the rest of her life. ‘Father mainly works from home, and goes on inspections; it isn’t as boring a job as it sounds. He’s so angry I didn’t marry Takos, or failing him your father.’
‘Married women don’t work?’ Lucessa had taken little notice of Varan customs until now
‘It’s rare, when they have young children at home. Women who have skills in very important work may, with family help. Many return later when their families are grown. Lucessa, you’d go mad as a Varan matron.’
‘I have to work, I’m driven, and my head’s full of ideas, so I suppose I’d stay single. It’s too rigid for my taste mother, on Astras we’ve more freedom to do what we wish.’
‘Do we? We have to put the colony first,’
‘No mother, it’s not the same. Will I meet my father’s family?’
‘I’ll try, but Carnos is more unpopular there, then I am here, but your father’s mother will meet you, in secret. Not everyone is as intransigent, I get on well with many of his family, and I’m sure they’d love to meet you.’
‘I’m not sure why you brought me; I can’t be making it easier for you.’
‘Because you need more than the inside of your lab, and I’m convinced you’ll help heal rifts. Mother won’t come to Astras to meet her grandchildren because my father will be angry, but she’d love to meet everyone.’
‘Not just your Varan children?
‘No, mother’s a good person. I’m not saying she’d find it easy, most Varan have no contact with aliens, but she’d be as proud of Rucella as I am. Father’s determined to keep us waiting, so let’s make our way through the garden. It’s delightful, different than our ones on Astras. I’ll take you via the orchards too, one day our fruit will taste just as good.’
It was a long, winding walk and then another shorter path leading back in sight of the old house again. Not dissimilar to the buildings back on Astras, but much larger, with the separate buildings joined by walkways. The layout puzzled Lucessa, so Doella explained the reason for the large family groups.
‘We’re not sure why we evolved this way. In the early days we lived much the same as the humans do, in small villages banded together for safety. Unlike most human civilisations, as we developed, we kept the habit because we liked it. Varan work well together, and those who can’t find a niche in the arts or sciences, may stay in the family home and tend the house or garden.’
They met several people as they walked; they were friendly and knew who Lucessa was. One quiet, young man sitting reading looked different.
‘Why so surprised Lucessa? Not everyone on Varan has fair hair,’ explained Doella. ‘The dark-haired young man is my distant cousin Ralse, he’s famous, a poet.’
‘Someone who talks in riddles?’ Lucessa had little time for the artistic.
‘Oh dear, Lucessa is that what you think? Your father’s right, it’s time we stopped being obsessed with breeding, power sources and food production and look more at the arts. We’ve been remiss thinking there’s time later. Let’s sit beside him, he won’t mind.’
After his hair, Lucessa noticed Ralse’s perfect, yet easy manners. He and Doella were good friends, and he was careful not to ask questions to embarrass them.
‘You look more like your mother Lucessa, not Carnos, how is your father? I miss his friendship, he rarely visits.’
‘Are you a friend of father?’ Lucessa was pleased.
‘Yes.’
‘She has similar skills to her father; a good technician,’ added Doella.
‘Are you? I’m not, I ask for help with anything but the most basic tasks.’ Ralse had a lovely smile.
She felt shy, unsure what to say in reply. Everyone on Astras prided themselves on their technical ability, and worked hard to improve their skills. Here on Varan was a man who admitted he was not technical. Lucessa kept her mind blank.
‘I must leave Ralse, father’s ready to see us, better not keep him waiting too long or he may change his mind.’ Doella made a face. ‘I’d like to see him alone first, Ralse would you be so kind as to show Lucessa the way?’
‘I’ll bring her to your father’s study.’
‘Thank you.’
Lucessa was shy and Ralse did his best to put her at her ease. ‘Do you have poets on Astras?’
‘No, we don’t have time.’ It sounded rude. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t mean it to sound impudent. We’ve been so busy building our world we haven’t had time for the arts. Mother’s house is pretty, she’s lots of objects she’s collected, and gives away, but as yet we haven’t had time to be as creative as the Varan. Mother used to read me poetry, but lately I’ve been too busy with my work.’
Ralse was amused, not offended, and Lucessa decided she liked him, although he looked strange with his perfect Varan features, and dark hair. She noted his eyes were the colour of the seas her mother loved so much.
‘I hope she reads you mine? She collects interesting objects, but she’s never been artistic, at least she insists she isn’t, but I’ve never seen her try.’
‘She has artefacts aboard the Black Ship. She keeps the items she likes best there, they’re safer.’ Ralse didn’t know the Black Ship and Lucessa wondered if she had said too much. He didn’t probe in any way, and
Lucessa was grateful.
‘Mother’s a technician now, better than Sark or my father,’ she said, ‘Sark’s my stepfather…’ and then she stopped, realising she’d said the wrong thing again.
‘It’s fine Lucessa, I know your mother, we’ve always been good friends and I’d never betray her. Please don’t worry.’
‘Does everyone here know about my mother?’
‘Not everything. There’s gossip and some who’ve had contact with her, tell stories, most don’t. As an unspoken rule we’re not supposed to discuss her, but her name crops up from time to time, and we wonder. Don’t be embarrassed Lucessa, we’re fond of your mother, a few envy her.’
Lucessa smiled, ‘Do they, do you? Sorry I shouldn’t ask that.’
‘Well, it might be wise not to ask so many questions, especially around your grandfather, but I’m a poet and live in my imagination. Yes, someday I want to travel the stars, for the sheer pleasure of it, and not because I’m working for our planet’s welfare. Varan is beautiful, and we can live in most ways we choose, so my time is my own. But at the harvests we lend a hand and I’ve friends to meet away from the house. One sister includes me in her family’s meals, I want for nothing. Your mother became a symbol of change to Varan, and if the Karish could capture her and take her for reconditioning they’d be very glad; we are fearful of change.’
‘They’d take me too? One of mother’s friends is a Karish, he’s a kind man, but sterner than my father and