Chapter 22
The Twin-Bred's education naturally included an overview of human religions. The education department would have dearly loved to include Tofa religions, if there were any, but had been unable to extract any information on the subject from the Tofa host mothers or staff.
The human host mothers had been admonished not to complicate the planned course of the twins’ instruction with religious education of their own. If any had violated the prohibition, she must have warned her twins not to give her away: none of the children mentioned any pre-existing notions as to deities or doctrine.
On the contrary, several of them seemed bewildered by the overall concept. Ms. Sinder did her best to explain.
“Human beings have an instinctive need for explanations. And beyond that, they look for ways to have some impact on the things that happen to them. Before humans developed the capacity to investigate the world scientifically, they made up stories to explain where the world came from, what fire was, what made crops grow, and so on. And if the stories included powerful beings — gods — they tried different ways to get those gods to treat them better.”
Fal-lar raised a hand. “But did the gods respond favorably to these efforts? I see nothing in our reading to suggest it. If not, why did the humans keep believing the gods existed?”
“Well, sometimes, after someone prayed for rain, it would rain. That would make an impression. And if next time, the prayer didn’t bring rain, the community could come up with some reason other than the god’s nonexistence. Maybe the prayer wasn’t good enough, or the person praying had evil hidden in his heart, or whatever. There was enough comfort in religious faith that people didn’t easily abandon it.”
Judy looked confused. “Why was it comforting to believe that a powerful god could keep it from raining when the community needed rain?”
Ms. Sinder sent up a half-serious prayer for guidance. “Religion isn’t just about practical concerns. People — excuse me, humans — have always wanted answers to certain fundamental questions. Questions like: why am I here? What is the purpose of my life? Religions provide answers to those questions.” She took a much-needed gulp from her water bottle.
Peer-tek and Jimmy looked at each other. “Ms. Sinder,” said Jimmy, “We know why we are here and what our purpose is. We are here because Dr. Cadell brought us into being, in order to bring peace between the human and Tofa communities. Should we worship Dr. Cadell?”
Ms. Sinder gasped, choked, and sprayed water across her desk. La-ren jumped to his feet and ran toward her. “Are you ill? Shall I bring a nurse?”
Ms. Sinder collapsed into her chair. “No, no, La-ren, sweetheart, I’m fine. I was just — startled. Worship Dr. Cadell. Oh, no. Oh, my. We’ve gotten off topic here. Let’s review the practices of the Terran religions you read about. Judy, can you tell me some of the ways that pre-scientific humans tried to please their gods?”
Jimmy and Peer-tek absorbed little of Judy’s recitation or those that followed. As soon as class was over, they headed for one of their favorite retreats, a playroom that the Twin-Bred had outgrown and which had not yet been converted for other uses.
Peer-tek opened the discussion. “If Dr. Cadell intended us to worship her, would not the appropriate catechism and rituals be included in the curriculum?”
Jimmy picked up several long-abandoned plastic figures of Terran animals — a pig, a horse, a camel — and attempted to juggle them. “Is that really the point? Communities develop religions to satisfy their own needs. If we feel the need, it is our affair, not hers.”
Peer-tek reached over and scooped the toy animals away from Jimmy, tossed them from hand to hand to hand. “Legend has it that gods can be dangerous if displeased. We should be discreet.” He tossed the pig back to Jimmy and let the horse and camel fall to the floor.
“Anonymous worshippers, then.” Jimmy picked up the horse and camel and tried again. “How shall we worship?”
“It would be more interesting to create dogma if we had more scope for creativity. We do, after all, know Dr. Cadell’s basic nature and attributes.”
“We could make offerings to our god. Some investigation may reveal what is likely to please her.” Jimmy stopped juggling and looked at the animals. “Or we could experiment.”
Mara’s assistant stuck his head through the doorway. “It isn’t your birthday soon, is it?”
“No. Not that I want people knowing when it is — but it’s safe enough to say it isn’t soon. Why?”
“Oh, one of the kids was asking me about things you like. I thought there might be some scheme in motion to get you a birthday present.” He went back to his desk.
Mara forgot the conversation until two days later, when she entered her office in the morning to find several surprises atop the clutter on her desk. There was a stuffed animal of indeterminate species; a small vase of flowers; a cinnamon roll; and a ceramic object that might have been a portrait bust. Mara picked up the bust and examined it. It had no more facial features than a Tofa, but the shape of the head and some attempt to represent hair suggested that she might be its inspiration.
Mara cleared away a few print-outs and made room for the bust. She picked up the cinnamon roll and took a bite as she carried the vase of flowers to her assistant’s desk.
Jimmy and Peer-tek sat by themselves at lunch to review the data. Peer-tek took a large spoonful of Julie’s Jelly. “No more flowers. Pastry is acceptable. The success of the animal is unclear. Art is acceptable, but I am out of subjects. Our pantheon is rather limited.”
Jimmy pulled out his tablet. “I found some interesting references. Many religions have rituals involving incense. Our aroma sticks could do as a substitute.”
Peer-tek used his lower hands to cut up his vat-grown meat product. “And I have found a related custom that might be entertaining. Kindly go and get us seconds on the meat.”
Jimmy returned empty-handed. “They said there were no more seconds. Lunchtime is almost over.”
Peer-tek twiddled his lower thumbs and rubbed his cheek with an upper forefinger. “That is a setback. But service to a deity takes precedence over petty regulations. We will find a way.”
The assistant cook opened the locker for some stew meat. Looking at the thick pink slabs, he wondered what real beef would look like. Then he noticed that something was amiss. He checked his inventory. Yes, he was right. There should be twice as much meat in the locker. Why was some of it missing?
Meanwhile, a security guard making his rounds near Dr. Cadell’s quarters was alarmed to see flickering light outside her window. Arson? He pulled out his radio as he ran. Then he stood staring as his supervisor impatiently demanded to know what the fuss was about.
“Damned if I know, chief. But it’s a mess, all right.”
The mess was composed of a blazing pile of sticks, topped with charred hunks of meat, adorned with a circle of aroma sticks.
Catching movement in his peripheral vision, the guard whirled round to see a pair of Twin-Bred in the shadows, preparing to flee. “Stop right there, you! Did you do this? What the hell is going on?”
Peer-tek stood up straight with all the dignity he could muster. “Hell is not involved, officer. On the contrary. We are serving a god, not a devil. This is a burnt offering.”
It was left to Ms. Sinder to explain to the twins that Dr. Cadell utterly disclaimed divine status. That she thanked them, but declined any further worship. And that they would be spending their afternoon recreation periods for the next two weeks tending the meat vats. And that this was discipline, not religious persecution.
Manuel Jones, security guard, reported the incident to Councilman Kimball in all its delicious detail. Kimball was pleased. When the time was ripe, it would be good material for propaganda. Always supposing that Dr. Bloom did not, in the meantime, make all such propaganda unnecessary. The twins would be reaching puberty soon. With luck, Bloom would be ready to take advantage of that transition.
Chapter 23
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Melly's apparent normality as she grew from toddler to child, not to mention her potent charm, made an impression on several of the couples who had met during the Project, and on those few human host mothers and staff who had remained in pre-existing intimate relationships. An unspoken assumption against having “normal” children began to break down. More children were born. The pink dress and the green overalls that had been Melly’s favorite clothes were passed down to the newcomers: at first, in a casual way, but then as a sort of ceremonial welcome.
The presence of younger children also provided the older ones with a financial opportunity: babysitting.
Melly jumped up and down. “They’re here! Jimmy, Peer-tek, come see!”
Peer-tek scooped Melly up and planted her on his shoulders, holding her with his two upper arms. “The arrival of Judy and La-ren is hardly unusual. Or unexpected. In fact, they are several minutes late.” He pulled open the door. “Welcome! Please come in and help me cope with my excitable sister.”
La-ren plucked Melly from her perch and transferred her to Judy’s waiting arms. “At your service.”
Judy hugged Melly and set her down. “I’m sorry we’re a bit late. We stopped off to pick up a few games. We weren’t sure which ones you still had.”
Veda came out of her bedroom, dressed to the nines. “Well, I’m off to pick up Laura. We’ll see if either of us remembers how to dance. It may not be the sort of club I frequented in my misspent youth, but at least they’ve come up with some pale imitation of night life. . . . Good luck, you four. Buzz me if she brings you to your knees, or the equivalent.”
Jimmy gave her a kiss on the cheek. “We’ll take turns sitting on her. It’ll be fine.”
Melly charged at him. “I’ll sit on you!” Jimmy squatted down so she could land on his knees. Veda picked up a jacket and escaped out the door, the sound of her heels receding rapidly.
La-ren put down the stack of games and spread them out on the table. “Here we are. We have checkers, Go, Junior Scrabble, Star Collector, Chutes and Ladders, Pachisi, and our Project version of Trivial Pursuit. What would you like to play, little one?”
Melly scrambled down from Jimmy’s knees, ran to her room and returned with a dilapidated box. “This one!”
Jimmy and Peer-tek groaned in unison. Peer-tek put all his hands in front of his face. “Not another round of Candy Land. Of all the games to carry across the voids of space. I wish I knew which colonist to blame.”
Judy pushed the other games aside, took the box and plopped it decidedly on the table. “I happen to like Candy Land. Melly, should we let them play, even though they’re being so rude?”
Melly beckoned imperiously. “Come on, all of you. Play!” La-ren, radiating amusement, grabbed Jimmy and Peer-tek and towed them to the table. They played the game through three times before Melly started nodding over the board and finally let Judy and La-ren take turns carrying her off to bed.
“Mama Veda?”
Veda turned. Jimmy had an odd look on his face: somehow forlorn. “What is it, honey?”
“Mama Veda, please tell me about pets.”
Veda sat on the sofa and patted the cushions. Jimmy came and sat beside her. She wished he would cuddle up against her, the way Melly still did.
“What do you want to know?”
Jimmy scooted toward her, just a little. “Some of the books you read to Melly — they talk about dogs. And cats. But dogs seem the most rewarding. Do they really play with you, and follow you around, and wait for you to come back from places?”
“Yes, honey, they do all that. And they kiss you — in their own way. They lick you with their tongues.”
Jimmy wrinkled his forehead. “I don’t know if I’d like that. It sounds — strange.”
“Anything’s strange when you’re not used to it. You must have learned that.”
“Did you ever have a pet?”
Veda sighed. “I was almost grown by the time people could have pets. There were other animals we needed more. Some people think we made them too soon.” She smiled wryly. “I heard that someone on the Council really, really wanted a kitten. I don’t know if it’s true.”
“But you’ve seen some. Dogs or cats.”
“Yes. My father was on the Council. Pets were more common where we lived. . . . Cats are rather nice, too. At least, they’re fun to watch. They seem to feel important, most of the time — except when they get excited and act like babies.” Like the Council, she thought. On both points.
“Why don’t we have any pets here?”
“I don’t know, honey. The Tofa don’t seem to keep pets. Not that we’ve seen, anyway. Maybe Dr. Cadell and the others didn’t want to complicate things.”
“One of the books I read — the boy’s dog died. He was very, very sad. As if someone he loved had died.”
“People do love their pets, honey. Pets are sort of like family.”
Jimmy was silent for a moment. “So humans can love an animal that isn’t human, and feel as if it's family. And we don’t know whether Tofa do.”
Was she being called upon to defend the Tofa? “That’s right — we don’t know. So let's not go jumping to conclusions.”
Jimmy shrugged and got up. He headed for the door and then stopped. “Mama Veda, maybe when we’re older, and we’ve changed some things — maybe we can get you a puppy. You’d like that.”
The dear boy. Veda swallowed hard as Jimmy turned and left the room.
Chapter 24
The soccer game was tied. Mahmoud O'Mara turned and smiled at Julie Tran, bouncing on her toes and pumping her fists. “Enjoying the game, are we?”
She tossed her head. “Go ahead, laugh! But I do love a close game! I was a pretty mean goalie back at school. In fact, as of this week, I’m one of the coaches.”
“Good for you, then! Was adding soccer your idea?”
“I wish I could take the credit. It was actually Dr. Cadell. You wouldn’t take her for a sports fan, and maybe she isn’t. But she said it was just logic. When you’ve got players with different numbers of arms, you’ve got to find a sport where arms don’t give you much advantage.”
Mahmoud watched the Tofa racing up and down the field. “Still helps to have long legs. Look at ‘em go!”
La-ren shouted in excitement. Judy had just scored a goal.
Julie pointed in La-ren's direction. “It’s nice the way the twins cheer each other on. As a rule. Jimmy and Peer-tek can get pretty competitive with each other, when there's a game on. We’re experimenting, putting them on opposite teams one day, and on the same team another day. It’ll be interesting to see how it works out.”
“I’d still like to see some basketball around here. Besides what the teachers play." Mahmoud shifted his feet back and forth as if dribbling the ball. “Maybe we can come up with a Tofa version. Two or three balls in play at one time. It won’t hurt for the human kids to sit and watch once in a while.”
“And the Tofa can watch when the human Twin-Bred learn to dive. None of the Tofa seem very keen on diving. Something about where to put their arms.”
Peer-tek evaded three defenders and sent the ball flying toward the goal. Fel-lar leaped to block it, but the ball sailed in.
Mahmoud applauded. “And it’s tied again. I hope you weren’t betting on much of a point spread.”
Julie wrinkled her nose at him. “Go on, you. I’ve got better things to do with my money.”
Mahmoud’s smile faded. “Here? Like what?”
Julie turned and watched the game.
The children stood, if their restless shuffling and leaning and whispering could be called standing. They were unused to separating into human and Tofa groups. Some sidled toward the other group as if the attraction between twins were too great to withstand.
Ms. Wilson clapped her hands for attention. “Now then! We’re going to do a very important exercise. And it should also be a lot of fun. So listen up!
“You all know that when you’re o
lder, you’ll be going out into the world, to try and help groups of humans and Tofa understand each other. Much of the time, you’ll be coming into situations where Tofa are upset and humans don’t know why, or vice versa. So that’s what we’re going to try today.
“Larry and Til-sal, you step out of your groups and stand together. You’ll be the first to play the role of a mediation team. All the rest of you will get a turn another time.”
Larry and Til-sal left their groups and stood holding hands. Larry looked relieved; Til-sal seemed more nervous about the task ahead.
“Now, this first time, we’ll have the humans doing some activity together, and the Tofa will try to stop it. First, let’s have the humans decide what you’re going to do together. When you’ve decided, go over to the empty part of the room and start acting it out.” The children formed a huddle. There was much excited whispering, and some giggling. After a few minutes, the huddle broke and they streamed over to the other side of the room. With exaggerated movements and broad grins, they mimed the construction of a building. Some hammered; some sawed invisible wood; some laid imagined bricks one on top of another.
“Okay, now it’s the Tofa’s turn. Get together and decide what’s wrong with what the humans are doing, why it’s upsetting to you. Then go and make trouble!” She thought better of her phrasing. “Don’t get too excited, you don’t want anyone to get hurt. Just go and interfere enough that they can’t work around you.”
The Tofa children stood in a circle like a copse of trees, heads leaned toward each other. After a consultation notably quieter than their twins’, they formed into ranks and advanced upon the builders. Poo-lat took firm hold of Stevie’s hammer. Li-sen calmly began dismantling the wall of bricks.
“Okay, I’ll be the sheriff.” To a chorus of muffled giggles and whistles, Ms. Wilson stomped over and stood with her hands on her hips. She slapped her forehead dramatically, shook her finger at the Tofa, and then whipped out her belt phone and punched in a number.