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Authors: Harry Harrison
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destroyed—see where the limbs have fallen from that large one. They are riddled West of Eden - Harry Harrison
with wood-consuming beetles, most voracious. When the supply of wood is gone the beetles will enter a larval stage. Then we can gather the coarctate pupae which preserve themselves in hardened cuticula.
They can be stored until needed again."
Vaintè had moved back into the shade and she noticed that most of the workers had done the same. The afternoon was hot and comfortable, but not a time for getting any work done.
"When these seedlings have been planted send the workers back to the city," Vaintè said.
Enge was working alongside the others; Vaintè waited until she caught her eye, then signaled her over.
Enge expressed gratitude before she spoke.
"You have taken the shackles off your prisoners. We are most thankful."
"Don't be. The reason that I had them shackled on the uruketo was so they could not attempt to seize the craft and escape."
"You don't understand the Daughters of Life, do you? Violence is not our way…"
"I'm pleased to hear that," Vaintè said dryly. "My way is to take no chances. Now that the uruketo has gone there are only forests and jungle to escape to should anyone not be satisfied with her lot. Not only that, your companions will work better unshackled."
"Yet we are still prisoners."
"No," Vaintè said firmly, "you are not. You are free citizens of Alpèasak with all the rights and duties of other citizens. Do not confuse what happened with what will happen. The council of Inegban* deemed you unworthy of citizenship in that city and sent you here. To make new lives in a new city. I hope you will not repeat the same mistakes here that you did there.
"Is that a threat, Vaintè? Does the Eistaa of Alpèasak think that we are different from other citizens here—that we will be treated differently?"
"It is not a threat, but a warning, my efenselè. Learn by what happened. Believe what you will among yourselves—but keep your secrets to yourselves. You are forbidden to talk of these matters to others. The rest of us do not wish to know."
"You can be that sure?" Enge asked sternly. "You are that wise?"
"Wise enough to know that you are trouble-makers, Vaintè snapped. "Sure enough of that fact to take the precaution that you shall be watched closely. You'll not make the trouble here that you did in Inegban*. I shall not be as patient as the council there."
West of Eden - Harry Harrison
Enge's body scarcely moved while she spoke, her words neutral and unoffensive. "We make no trouble, intend no trouble. We just believe…"
"Fine. Just as long as you do your believing in dark places where others cannot hear. I will brook no subversion in my city."
Vaintè knew that she was beginning to lose her temper, as she always did when faced with the rock-like immobility of Enge's strange beliefs. She therefore welcomed the sight of the fargi hurrying towards her with a message. Though the youngster did not speak very well her memory was good.
"The city… comes one… name of Stallan. Things of importance to be said… presence requested."
Vaintè waved her off, then turned her back rudely on Enge and made her way into the city. Stallan was there, awaiting her arrival, success obvious in every attitude of her hard body.
"You have done that which I asked you to do?" Vaintè said.
"I have, Eistaa. I followed the killer-beasts until I came upon them. Then I shot and killed one myself and have returned with the body. It is close by. I left the worthless one Hèksei to look after it. There are strange things about this ustuzou that I find disturbing."
"Strange? What? You must tell me."
"I must show you so that you will understand."
Stallan led the way in silence to that part of the city closest to the river. Hèksei waited here, standing watch over a tightly wrapped bundle. Her skin was filthy and scratched and she began to wail in protest as soon as they appeared. Before the first words
with wood-consuming beetles, most voracious. When the supply of wood is gone the beetles will enter a larval stage. Then we can gather the coarctate pupae which preserve themselves in hardened cuticula.
They can be stored until needed again."
Vaintè had moved back into the shade and she noticed that most of the workers had done the same. The afternoon was hot and comfortable, but not a time for getting any work done.
"When these seedlings have been planted send the workers back to the city," Vaintè said.
Enge was working alongside the others; Vaintè waited until she caught her eye, then signaled her over.
Enge expressed gratitude before she spoke.
"You have taken the shackles off your prisoners. We are most thankful."
"Don't be. The reason that I had them shackled on the uruketo was so they could not attempt to seize the craft and escape."
"You don't understand the Daughters of Life, do you? Violence is not our way…"
"I'm pleased to hear that," Vaintè said dryly. "My way is to take no chances. Now that the uruketo has gone there are only forests and jungle to escape to should anyone not be satisfied with her lot. Not only that, your companions will work better unshackled."
"Yet we are still prisoners."
"No," Vaintè said firmly, "you are not. You are free citizens of Alpèasak with all the rights and duties of other citizens. Do not confuse what happened with what will happen. The council of Inegban* deemed you unworthy of citizenship in that city and sent you here. To make new lives in a new city. I hope you will not repeat the same mistakes here that you did there.
"Is that a threat, Vaintè? Does the Eistaa of Alpèasak think that we are different from other citizens here—that we will be treated differently?"
"It is not a threat, but a warning, my efenselè. Learn by what happened. Believe what you will among yourselves—but keep your secrets to yourselves. You are forbidden to talk of these matters to others. The rest of us do not wish to know."
"You can be that sure?" Enge asked sternly. "You are that wise?"
"Wise enough to know that you are trouble-makers, Vaintè snapped. "Sure enough of that fact to take the precaution that you shall be watched closely. You'll not make the trouble here that you did in Inegban*. I shall not be as patient as the council there."
West of Eden - Harry Harrison
Enge's body scarcely moved while she spoke, her words neutral and unoffensive. "We make no trouble, intend no trouble. We just believe…"
"Fine. Just as long as you do your believing in dark places where others cannot hear. I will brook no subversion in my city."
Vaintè knew that she was beginning to lose her temper, as she always did when faced with the rock-like immobility of Enge's strange beliefs. She therefore welcomed the sight of the fargi hurrying towards her with a message. Though the youngster did not speak very well her memory was good.
"The city… comes one… name of Stallan. Things of importance to be said… presence requested."
Vaintè waved her off, then turned her back rudely on Enge and made her way into the city. Stallan was there, awaiting her arrival, success obvious in every attitude of her hard body.
"You have done that which I asked you to do?" Vaintè said.
"I have, Eistaa. I followed the killer-beasts until I came upon them. Then I shot and killed one myself and have returned with the body. It is close by. I left the worthless one Hèksei to look after it. There are strange things about this ustuzou that I find disturbing."
"Strange? What? You must tell me."
"I must show you so that you will understand."
Stallan led the way in silence to that part of the city closest to the river. Hèksei waited here, standing watch over a tightly wrapped bundle. Her skin was filthy and scratched and she began to wail in protest as soon as they appeared. Before the first words
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